About membership

If you have a little one with Down syndrome, first of all, congratulations!

Secondly, we'd love to hear from you. You can apply to become a member of UpsideDowns by clicking the pink button below. Fill out and submit this form and and you'll go on the waitlist. Currently, wait time is between 2 and 5 months. 

Once you are accepted as a member, UpsideDowns will subsidise the cost of your child's speech and language therapy with any NZSTA-registered therapist in New Zealand from birth to age 21. There is no need to re-apply each year. Once you are a member, we are committed to your child’s communication journey until you choose to resign or until they turn 21.

You can choose from one of three subsidy options.

Option 1: 50% of therapy costs to an annual  cap of $2,200

Option 2: 80% of therapy costs to an annual cap of $1,100

Option 3: 100% of therapy costs to an annual cap of $2,200 (for families experiencing significant financial hardship; email info@upsidedowns.co.nz or call 0204 077 2400 for more details)

Unfortunately, due to funding constraints, we have to operate a waitlist, but we're working hard every day to clear this waitlist as often as we can. Applicants become members on a first come, first served basis, so it's a good idea to send in your form as soon as you've decided to get speech language therapy for your child.

Information in your language

How to receive your monthly subsidy

  • It’s easy to receive your funding from UpsideDowns for your speech therapy sessions. Once your membership is approved, and we’ve confirmed that your therapist is NZSTA-registered, simply forward your invoices for sessions attended to invoices@upsidedowns.co.nz

  • Every invoice received in a calendar month (e.g. April) will be reimbursed at your chosen rate (50% or 80%) within the first 5 working days of the next calendar month (e.g. by 7 May).

  • We can only reimburse invoices that are less than 3 months’ old, so it’s best to forward your invoices to us as soon as you receive them, to ensure you’ll be reimbursed at the earliest opportunity.

  • If you qualify for Option 3, we will pay your therapist directly.

  • Following each monthly payment, you’ll receive a remittance advice email which will let you know how much of your annual cap you have remaining for the year.

  • You can find out more information on our FAQs section.

Obligations of being an UpsideDowns member

  • All you need to do to continue your membership, is pay the annual fee of $15 promptly at the end of each financial year (March).

  • This is how we keep track of how many members we have each year, how many we need to budget and fundraise for, and how many we can take off the waitlist.

  • We always strive to reduce the administration burden on our whānau, which we know is significant when you have a child with additional needs. That’s why you don’t need to do anything when you find it’s time to resign. Simply ignore our annual fee emails the next March, and your membership will be resigned automatically when we don’t hear from you.

  • If you change your mind, you can always re-apply again later.

  • We don’t require any fundraising or promotion from our members, but we certainly appreciate any help you’re able to provide. Running a mufti day or bake sale at your school, doing a sponsored run or bike, coming along to our events and promoting them with your friends, donating auction items, and connecting us with potential corporate partners are some of the ways you can support our work and ensure children with Down syndrome all over New Zealand are receiving the speech therapy they need. You can even run your own fundraising event! Simply email info@upsidedowns.co.nz if you’re interested.