Frian Wadia, MNZM

Frian is mum to 3 teens with a range of sensory, learning and neurodevelopmental disabilities and lives in Tāmaki Makaurau. Her experiences of discrimination and lack of adequate supports has led her to become a passionate advocate for systemic change to ensure inclusion and equity for disabled children and whānau.

Frian is connected to various parent and whanau networks and is an admin for VIPS Equity in Education, a grass roots whanau advocacy group. She is also on the Parent to Parent national board and the Lottery Individuals with Disability distribution committee; and has been on various working / advisory groups in the disability and education sectors. In her professional role Frian works as an Early Intervention Specialist with Autism NZ.

Frian strongly believes in empowering whānau so they can support their disabled child to have a good inclusive life, and always aims to carry forward whanau voices to influence the required systemic changes for equity and inclusion.