Isaiah
“My job has just been to sit alongside Carissa, Isaiah’s Mum. She’s in charge, I’m just there for backup!”
We work with families and whānau early on to remove barriers so kids thrive at school. Support is different for every family; one example is helping to apply for teacher aide funding. For Isaiah’s family in Auckland, backup from community support coordinator Joel during medical assessments or school meetings has made a huge difference.
Single mum Carissa is a loving mum who wants the best for her two boys. Her youngest, Isaiah, is 14 and he lives with neurological impairments that impact his learning and his behaviour. Keeping calm when things aren’t going as expected is challenging for the outgoing and energetic teen.
Isaiah and Carissa.
Carissa was referred to CCS Disability Action Auckland when Isaiah was around six years old and met Joel, a community support coordinator. “A lot of the time I felt very helpless and didn’t know what I was doing. Everything was a struggle with Isaiah and his behaviour was very difficult to manage. I felt I had no one to turn to or depend on” Carissa explains.
Joel has supported the family through most of Isaiah’s time at primary school and now at high school. Working closely with the pair, Joel says, “Carissa is so dedicated to Isaiah. She is so responsive to his needs. She’s always thinking ahead about what might work. Like any mum, she wants to see him learn and grow, be happy and succeed in life”.
Joel has supported with funding applications and securing equipment Isaiah needed to assist with school. But he describes his main role as an advocate for the family.
Joel.
Carissa explains that, unfortunately, the support she has been offered over the years is very different when there’s a ‘professional’ in the room. It’s an area where Joel is happy to lend his time and presence to get better outcomes for the family.
“We have worked together across a wide range of areas now. With medical assessments – trying to secure a diagnosis. Working with the local Needs Assessment and Coordination Service to ensure Isaiah has access to the right level of supports, and meetings with school staff. My job has just been to sit alongside Carissa. She’s in charge, I’m just there for backup!” he says.
Isaiah has struggled with school over the years and found it challenging to return after the Covid-19 lockdowns. Carissa tried everything, including a period of home-schooling but ultimately, wanted to find an environment where Isaiah could be with kids his own age and make some friends.
She is hopeful that she’s found a lasting solution at an alternative education class based at their local school, where he has been successfully attending since early 2023.
At Joel’s suggestion, Isaiah also started attending Tae Kwon Do, after showing some interest in martial arts movies. Carissa was rightly proud when Isaiah gained a yellow belt in a grading event last year. “It’s worked out marvellously,” she says.
He’s now also shining on the soccer pitch, receiving a Player of the Day award at a recent tournament. It’s been an awesome feeling for Carissa, adding moments of joy into their lives. “Isaiah is really enjoying participating in these sports – he is a much happier person now.”
Isaiah at Taekwondo.
Not only has it allowed him to foster some friendships, but she’s also noticed he’s calmer overall and feeling good about himself as a person. Isaiah is also interested in playing rugby and touch rugby. With Joel’s support, Carissa has begun investigating their options.
“Isaiah used to get very upset because he felt like he had no friends. He now has some really good mates,” she explains. “He told everyone in his class he would like to be a professional sportsman when he grows up.”
Isaiah recently received a formal diagnosis for a learning disability, something that will now free up a range of additional support that she hopes will also make a difference.
Carissa appreciates the relationship she has built with Joel over many years and having someone to rely on as she’s been through the ups and downs of raising her son. “Joel has assisted us to get things done, and ‘figure things out’ for Isaiah. We are eternally thankful to him for all his support and expertise.”
