Sarah Verran
As a mother of two children based in the Waikato, my life changed forever when five years ago, my 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a life changing traumatic brain injury and consequently a high needs and complex lifelong disability.
During a lengthy, emotional and often overwhelming battle to access the services and support that my daughter and our whānau would need to allow her to be cared for with dignity and included in the community, I quickly realised there were some challenges around accessing support, fragmentation between services and ultimately the end purpose which is to deliver better outcomes for not only my situation, but many others in the community.
Accessing over 30 services at any given time around the support of our daughter has been, and continues to be, incredibly intense. I have first-hand knowledge and experience of the complexities of managing and juggling many different relationships in order to deliver the best possible outcome for a fulfilling life.
A ‘light bulb’ moment and shift in perspective meant that I moved from a successful career in Marketing and Organisational Management to a role within the social sector around Information Technology. Working in the mental health, addictions and disability space and my own personal situation meant that I have established strong knowledge of service delivery, contracts, funding and not-for-profit organisations.
As a CCS Disability Action and Waikato LAC member, I have been able to be active in my advocacy and support for the organisation. Aligning my skill set of communication, activation and belief opened up an opportunity to be nominated for the regionally elected role for the National Board.
I’m not afraid to get fully involved and ask the hard questions. With my high energy and incredibly resilient personality, I have found strength in becoming the advocate for not only my daughter, but other whānau. This enables me to speak out about our experience to challenge thinking, offer some objectivity and empathy, with the end objective to facilitate change.
I have active governance and advocacy experience with trustee roles on the Life Unlimited national board, Parent to Parent national board, as a consumer advisor on the Health Care Home collaborative, strengthening equity, co-design and Māori engagement. I am also the recipient of the Institute of Directors Emerging Director – Disability.
I am able to bring a fresh, intuitive perspective on how the end user accesses supports and how service development and support services like CCS Disability Action can be developed to meet the needs of a culturally diverse Aotearoa.
“One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” –Maya Angelou.
Ngā mihi nui,
Sarah
