Te Ara Taupuhipuhi—Disability Inclusion Action Plan will launch on Thursday 28 September. This is a two-year plan that sets out Te Herenga Waka’s commitment to ensuring disabled staff and students are being supported to thrive and achieve their aspirations during their time here.
Te Ara Taupuhipuhi has been created by Disability Services in collaboration with staff and students from across the University, and builds on the success of the first Disability Action Plan from 2017.
Disabled students are one of the most educationally disadvantaged groups in Aotearoa New Zealand, which can mean lower economic, employment, and social outcomes. For this to change, everyone must contribute to addressing disabling environments, and creating fully inclusive tertiary education opportunities that reflect and value diverse students, including those with disabilities.
Brett Challacombe-King is an Adaptive Technology and Digital Adviser in Te Amaru—Disability Services team. “Our history is built on innovation and collaboration, with students, staff, and the disability community. We embrace every opportunity, no matter how small or difficult, to enhance the disability accessibility and inclusion of disabled students’ experience of our university. The strength of our University’s culture of inclusion is a testament to the hard work put in by past and present team members and our partners, and are real steps towards an inclusive future” he says.
The University also understands the importance of attracting a diverse community of staff who can broaden and enhance our perspectives, and the importance of ensuring disabled staff can fully participate and engage in their mahi. The plan includes training managers and providing resources to disabled staff, and gaining insights on the number of staff experiencing a disability and the barriers they’re facing. This will help the University to understand what’s needed to establish funding to meet staff needs.
The full Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the Disability Services contact details are on the University website.
Mā te taupuhipuhi ka whai kaha ai te katoa. Through mutual dependence and support, we will all be strengthened as a group.