Albert Town’s Donald Thompson has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to people with intellectual disabilities in the Queen’s Birthday Honours announced today (Monday June 3).

Donald has spent more than 35 years advocating to improve the lives of New Zealanders with intellectual disabilities.

“I’m absolutely thrilled and humbled to get it,” he told the Wanaka App. “It was a surprise - it came out of the blue.”

Donald is a life member of IHC, which advocates for the rights, inclusion and welfare of all people with intellectual disabilities, and he served at every voluntary level of the organisation.

Donald’s involvement with IHC began about 36 years ago when his daughter, who has special needs, was about two-years-old.

“We found we needed some support with family life. We used all the services IHC provided.”

The family used the services, and certainly gave back to the organisation. Donald was North Otago Branch president for 12 years and national president from 2005 to 2015. He also led a governance review of the organisation, which included streamlining the IHC board, after which he transitioned into the role of board chair from 2015 to 2017.

Donald has been a director of IHC subsidiaries, IDEA Services and Accessible properties, and a trustee of the Donald Beasley Institute, which promotes research and education in the field of intellectual disability. He has made numerous submissions to parliament on behalf of IHC members, and in 2008 committed to taking legal action against the Ministry of Education over its failure to ensure inclusive education for all children.

He has also attended numerous international conferences promoting New Zealand’s rights record and achievements for people with intellectual disabilities.

Previously an Oamaru farmer with family business interests in Wanaka, Donald and his wife Gaye moved here in 2002. He describes himself now as semi-retired, and is still involved with IHC.

PHOTO: Wanaka App