Rett NZ Conference 14–16 MAY 2010
LET’S GET TOGETHER & COMMUNICATE

Ibis Hotel Ellerslie 14-16 May, 2010

Guest Speakers

Dr Rosie Marks, President of NZ Paediatric Society, Starship Hospital Auckland
Susan Norwell Specialist in Non Verbal Communication, Chicago, USA

Conference Sponsors

Dr Phil Palmer, Mrs. Dawn Ibbotson, Year 8 Religious Studies Group Diocesan School, Deane Endowment Trust

Programme (proposed)

Friday 14
6pm	Cocktail Party
Saturday 15
7.30am	Breakfast
8.30am	Susan Norwell
10.15am	Morning tea
12.30–1.30pm	Lunch
1.30–3.30pm	Panel Discussion on the Educational Implications of Communication Ideas Susan Norwell, Fiona Rammell, Jean Campbell
3.30pm	Afternoon tea
4–5.30pm	Question time
7.00pm	Dinner
Sunday 16
7.30	Buffet Breakfast
8.30am	Dr Rosie Marks, President Paediatric Society of NZ, Starship Hospital, Auckland
11am	Morning tea
12noon	Conference ends

NZ Rett Specialist Provides Update to Paediatric Conference in Hamilton
(November 24–27 2009)

Dr Rosemary Marks is a Developmental Paediatrician at Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland and President of The Paediatric Society of New Zealand. Rett NZ is fortunate indeed to have had Rosie deliver an update on Rett Syndrome to Doctors, Nurses and other health professionals at the recent Scientific Meeting of the Paediatric Society in Hamilton.

This allowed those present to ask questions about Rett and indeed raise overall awareness of the condition in New Zealand. One of our key objectives as a charity is to raise awareness of Rett amongst health professionals and specifically provide insight into how to recognise the signs to facilitate an early diagnosis.

On behalf of the Rett NZ Charitable Trust, we are grateful to Rosie for her dedication to broadening the knowledge and understanding of Rett as well as those Rett girls she currently cares for as her patients. Our thanks also for providing the attached presentation for all who visit this  website to read.

Rett NZ at NZ Paediatric Conference

Mark Campbell, vice president of Rett NZ, through his association with Cure Kids, has arranged a booth at the 2009 New Zealand Paediatric Conference in Hamilton to enable paediatricians to discover and to be reminded of the symptoms of Rett as we all know how helpful an early diagnosis is. Knowing how to treat the unusual symptoms and how to wait for communication from slow response times makes it much easier for the girls to learn.

We are grateful to Mark and to Kay of Cure Kids for this wonderful opportunity to increase awareness in this important group of specialists who will be making the diagnosis of the girls.

With thanks to Forlongs Furnishings.

Congratulations Mike Sullivan

Rett NZ wishes to congratulate Prof. Michael Sullivan on his well deserved new position as Associate Professor at Otago University.

Sir Howard Morrison

Rett NZ is saddened by Sir Howard Morrison finding peace from his busy and purposeful life. In 2007 with Dame Malvina Major they helped fundraise for our girls. It is a gift we remember with gratitude. Our hearts and prayers are with Lady Morrison and their family and their many friends.

Rett syndrome symptoms

Taken from the awareness publication Rett Syndrome Needs Your Attention, the following two pages show some of the symptoms of Rett syndrome:

Rett syndrome symptoms (pdf file)

A photo of Jacinta wringing her hands, a characteristic symptom of Rett syndrome.