About Tautoko

Our name Tautoko means support.
Our symbol is the Kauri tree which represents the model to which we work.
Our approaches are based on the Social Model of disability:

"Disability is not something that individuals have. What individuals have are impairments.......Disability is the process which happens when one group of people create barriers by designing a world only for their way of living".
New Zealand Disability Strategy
We believe that the challenges posed by individuals are symptomatic of the requirement for better understanding of the needs of disabled people and better supports and strategies to meet these needs. Our organisation has therefore been constructed to operate both at an individual level and at a service and community level.

Charitable Trust:

Tautoko Services is registered with the Charities Commission (CC26019) and is governed by a Board of Trustees-for information on our status please refer to Tautoko Services at http://www.charities.govt.nz

Clinical Advisory Board

Tautoko Services has a Clinical Advisory Board of four Registered Clinical Psychologists who have extensive experience in working with people with intellectual disabilities and people on the Autism Spectrum.

We Provide a Specialist Behaviour Support Service For:

Children or adults with an intellectual disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder, whose behaviour challenges.

(to access MoH funded behaviour support you must meet NASC criteria for disability support services)

Tautoko Services has a team of Behaviour Specialists some of whom work part time. We therefore have the capacity to provide a private service for people who may not meet criteria for our MoH funded service. Behaviour Specialist Support Fee for Service.pdf

Behaviour Specialist Service

Tautoko Services has a multi disciplinary team of Behaviour Specialists.
You will have a behaviour specialist who will work with you and your support network to:Assess your needs and circumstances and develop a personalised behavioural support plan with you to bring about changes. Support you to use the plan. Talk with you and others to find out how the plan is working. Agree to finish when the plan is working well.

Positive behaviour support is a set of research-based strategies used to increase quality of life and decrease problem behaviour by teaching new skills and making changes in a person's environment.

To see how we use Positive Behaviour Support go to: Positive Behaviour Support pdf