New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline - Ministry of Health

Part 7: Mäori perspectives
Part 7
Mäori cultural protocols into the assessment
and diagnosis process. Mirroring the process
of pöwhiri, the responses included working in
a kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) format with
whänau, and the provision of karanga, karakia
and mihi to establish whanaungatanga, and
waiata. The involvement of kaumätua and kuia
was also noted, as was te reo Mäori and tikanga
Mäori being made available to whänau during
the assessment and diagnosis process.
Relative to cultural frameworks, emphasis was
placed on professionals working with Mäori
with ASD and their whänau to do so within
a holistic frame of reference. The main issue
raised was for professionals to consider also the
spiritual and emotional aspects of an individual
being diagnosed with ASD along with the
impact on their families.
The organisational cultural issues noted
included providing support to kaupapa Mäori
organisations and other Mäori agencies to
undertake assessment with Mäori. In addition, it
was also suggested that the cultural competency
of non-Mäori clinicians to work effectively with
Mäori and their whänau ought to be examined.
Other responses to this question included the
need for more funding to be directed to the field
of ASD, a transparency of approach and the
elimination of labelling relative to ASD.
6. What would be the most important
features of an effective assessment and
diagnosis service for Mäori children or
adults with ASD?
The direct responses to this question are as
follows:
• whakawhanaungatanga, aroha, tika, pono,
manaaki
• empowering and supporting the whänau
• when a parent receives a diagnosis of ASD,
the funding should be there through a Mäori
parent network so that another Mäori parent
can offer support, information and advice.
The major theme reiterated by participants was
the need for assessment and diagnosis services
to be provided in a supportive environment
where individuals and whänau could access
cultural protocols and practices. Allowing
whänau to take ownership of the process was
noted as a potential feature of empowerment.
Post-diagnosis support
7. For parents and whänau, coming to terms
with the implications of a diagnosis of ASD
can be a very difficult process. What kind
of post-diagnosis support would be most
helpful?
The responses to this question were structured
into four main categories. These include:
• cultural factors
• organisational factors
• information
• emotional support.
Relative to cultural factors, attendees considered
that post-diagnosis support would be best
achieved by including a holistic approach
involving kaumätua and kuia and supporting
a by-Mäori-for-Mäori service. Having total
whänau involvement along with a coordinator,
preferably well versed in Mäori protocol, to
support whänau in the post-diagnosis process
was also considered helpful.
Organisational factors suggested included there
being a need for good intersectoral relationships
across the services to assist Mäori. Interagency
sharing of information from which Mäori could
benefit by having improvements to their care
across a number of sectors was mentioned.
Regarding emotional factors, explicit references
were made to affective responses experienced
by whänau at post-diagnosis including: relief,
anxiety, guilt, inferior feelings, whakamä,
stress, stigmatising attitudes, frustration,
embarrassment and self-blame. Counselling and
education services were noted as being two areas
where more attention could be directed towards
improving emotional support for Mäori with
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New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline