Ātea Disability 101

Each Ātea workshop is run by two facilitators with experience of disability who are active in the disability community.

Their combined expertise and experience mean each workshop is based on an in-depth understanding of disability and the daily challenges experienced by disabled people in communities and workplaces. They have real knowledge of what strategies work to reduce barriers and increase inclusion of disabled people, and (just as importantly) what doesn’t.

We understand that everyone learns differently, so we make sure our workshops have something for everyone. Our facilitators use best-practice adult learning techniques including activities, videos and teaching tools to create an engaging, interactive workshop. You’ll also receive a workbook with Ātea notes and additional reading.

• Enable participants to reflect on their understanding of disability (including language, stereotypes, and respectful engagement) in a safe environment.
• Present disability from a human rights and social model context – focussing on barriers to inclusion.
• Provide information on various cultural understandings of disability and tāngata whaikaha.
• Provide participants with the opportunity to consider their role in creating a non-disabling society.
• Develop strategies to be more inclusive of disabled people.

Ātea is offered as an open workshop with individual places available for purchase.  This gives you all the benefits of the workshop with the bonus of networking opportunities and the chance to learn from people in other organisations.

Open workshops will be available online over several sessions for up to 20 participants.

There will be a cost to attend open workshops.

Register your interest to be contacted when open workshops are available.

Ātea will be available as a private workshop for organisations in any sector that want to grow the understanding and inclusion of disabled people in their workplace and community.

Many of your employees are likely to experience disability or have disabled colleagues, clients, friends or whānau.

Ātea is an investment in your people, growing the knowledge and tools to build a more inclusive society with better outcomes for everyone.

• Workshops can be run online over two separate 3-hour sessions.
• You’ll get an impact report with data insights captured during participant evaluations, to help you better understand the needs of your workforce and support future wellbeing initiatives.

Find out more about options for your private workshop

The name Ātea can be understood as a place, space, or time. In this context, Ātea is the space and place to exist with freedom for wairua, hinengaro, tinana and whānau to be expressed shared and explored. It is a place where participants can bring their authentic selves, hosts bring their knowledge and skills and for us to collectively engage, explore and depart with a greater understanding of how we can change the physical, psychological, and spiritual space, around us, for all people.