Guides and toolkits
This section lists some resources designed to help you implement the New Zealand Disability Strategy.
Including a Disability Perspective - A toolkit for policy makers
Any decision by government may have an impact upon disabled people and their families. This online resource helps policy makers incorporate a disability perspective in government policy – in such things as drafting laws and regulations, developing policies, strategies and initiatives, and making changes to or developing new services – so we can contribute to making New Zealand an enabling, inclusive society.
Effective Communication with Deaf People - A guide to using New Zealand Sign Language interpreters
In this guide, you will find advice on how to achieve effective communication with deaf people, through your contact with service users, work colleagues, or generally as citizens. Working with sign language interpreters is usually critical to making effective communication happen. Written English is not a suitable substitute for many deaf people.
Make your communications more accessible - quick tips for writers, communicators, designers and production houses
This resource provides practical advice on how to make your information and communications reach a wide audience, and be accessible to disabled people.
A guide to making ‘easy-read’ information
Easy-read information is information that is easy to read and understand. It is different from plain English or plain language, which is writing that is clear and jargon free. Easy-read is useful for people with intellectual disability as well as older people and people with English as a second language.
Key points on running an accessible meeting
Planning to make sure your meeting is accessible begins at the earliest stage of organisation – and not as an add on a couple of days before it happens. This includes such things as finding a suitable venue, creating the agenda, and designing communication materials and publicity. The goal is to make the most of people’s time and ensure everyone is able to participate as much as possible, and people’s diverse needs are accommodated. This list provides some basic steps you can consider. You may find that inclusive measures you put in place to ensure the participation of disabled people will also benefit the rest of the participants, for example plain English communication.
Common website accessibility barriers and solutions
Read about four general problems experienced by disabled testers when accessing websites: Limits to website; Limits to finding information; Limits to making contact; and Inconsistent feedback mechanisms across government websites may prevent users making contact, or make it hard for people to find out how to make contact.
Accessible signs for vision impaired people
The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind has produced a guide for making signs accessible for blind people. The guidelines provide advice and technical specifications to make sure that clear print and braille signage is accessible. They are based on the New Zealand Standard NZS4121:2001: Design for access and mobility: buildings and associated facilities, but they provide more specific and detailed advice on signage design.
New Zealand Standard 4121:2001 - Design for access and mobility: Buildings and associated facilities
This Standard gives requirements for making buildings and facilities accessible to and useable by people with physical disabilities. Provides a means of compliance with the New Zealand Building Code and the Building Act 2004. It can be purchased from Standards New Zealand.
Barrier Free Trust
Find out about what makes an accessible built environment, access training opportunities and connect with experts.
Kia Rangatu (Moving Forward)
Kia Rangatu is a training package designed for disability service providers that fosters staff understanding of the New Zealand Disability Strategy. Kia Rangatu is an essential training resource for organisations and an asset to their staff training programmes. It was developed by the Auckland Disability Providers Network and the University of Auckland to equip provider staff with knowledge that challenges attitudes towards disability, the barriers disabled people face, and leads towards an inclusive society for all.
Inclusive Communities: What New Zealand local authorities and district health boards need to know about the rights of disabled people
DPA's publication "Inclusive Communities" sets out the general principles governing partnership with us and describes specific action areas for removing barriers that prevent us being included in society. The framework for this 2010 iteration of Inclusive Communities is based upon the Disability Convention, government strategy and reports, including the New Zealand Disability Strategy, and the collective expertise and experience of disabled people. It sets out expectations of people standing for public office within district health boards, regional, district and city councils, who will partner with disabled people, families and friends to achieve the best solutions for disabled people and wider communities.
Be. Accessible Business Toolkit
The Be. Welcome Assessment team have created a toolkit for businesses and organisations. It contains a wealth of information including quick tips, checklists, links to useful services and how to book a Be. Welcome Assessment.
Employers' Disability Network
The Employers' Disability Network is a group of employers dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities get the same opportunities in life as the rest of us and, in particular, have access to jobs and work. It provides resources, concepts and ideas to explore and implement strategies in making workplaces an equal opportunity environment.
DIScover: serving customers with disabilities
DIScover is an Upper Hutt City Council-produced document developed to encourage social change. It provides staff working in customer service roles guidance on how to provide excellent service to people with disabilities. DIScover is supported by an accompanying training document that was piloted with Council facilities’ staff in October 2011. The resources aim to increase disability awareness, educate staff and in turn enable disabled people to participate more fully in their communities.