Access Matters Aotearoa

📅✨ Happy World Braille Day! Each year, people worldwide celebrate this day to raise awareness of the importance of Braille for independence, accessibility, and inclusion. Invented by Louis Braille, this system has transformed the lives of millions, providing a way for blind and low-vision individuals to read, learn, and connect. The UN General Assembly chose January 4th to honor Louis Braille’s birthday—a fitting tribute to his legacy. Did you know? Braille is used by around 6 million people worldwide, in every single language. Learning braille from a young age can help children with vision impairment with literacy, as is a much better way to understand punctuation, grammar and spelling than audio. True accessibility doesn’t stop here; it starts with strong legislation that ensures everyone, regardless of disability, has equal access to information, spaces, and opportunities.  #WorldBrailleDay #AccessMatters #Braille #LouisBraille 

Renee Corlett, Senior Emergency Management Advisor at the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) delivered a powerful presentation at the Kōrero for Change webinar on emergency preparedness. Speaking from both her professional expertise and lived experience as a disabled person, Renee emphasised the critical need for systemic preparedness alongside personal readiness. Here are some highlights from her talk: ✅ Systemic Preparedness: True preparedness means embedding accessibility and inclusivity at every level—local, regional, and national—before disasters strike. ✅ Collaboration in Action: Renee led a six-year-long co-design process to adapt the Person-Centered Emergency Preparedness workbook for Aotearoa New Zealand, a groundbreaking step toward tailored, consistent emergency resources for disabled people. ✅ Real-World Impact: From working with emergency response teams to ensuring accessible communications, Renee is shifting the narrative from awareness to action. ✅ Breaking Barriers: Whether training volunteers or creating accessible signage, Renee’s relentless advocacy ensures disabled voices are at the table, reshaping how emergencies are planned for and managed. Catch the full webinar and see how Renee’s work is paving the way for equitable emergency preparedness for all. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gx_rti_T #EmergencyPreparedness #InclusionMatters #DisabilityAdvocacy #KoreroForChange 

🌏 Dr. Michelle Villeneuve on Disability-Inclusive Emergency Preparedness 🌏 Dr. Michelle Villeneuve, Associate Professor and Deputy Director at the University of Sydney's Impact Centre for Disability Research and Policy, brought powerful insights to Kōrero for Change Webinar on Emergency Preparedness. Speaking from Gadigal land, Dr. Villeneuve shared the journey of creating a roadmap for Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR) in Australia, starting from grassroots efforts to achieving national policy and legislative changes. She emphasised three game-changing lessons: 1️⃣ Shift the narrative from vulnerability to capability.  2️⃣ Empower communities and emergency services with person-centered tools.  3️⃣ Collaborate with humility to ensure inclusion benefits everyone.  Dr. Villeneuve highlighted practical tools like the Person-Centered Emergency Preparedness Framework and the importance of strategic partnerships to leave no one behind. 🎥 Catch the full discussion and learn how you can support inclusive emergency preparedness. https://lnkd.in/gx_rti_T 💡 Donate now to support Access Matters systemic advocacy: https://lnkd.in/gzzB37DB #KōreroForChange #EmergencyPreparedness #InclusionMatters #DisabilityRights#DIDRR 

🚨 Ableism and Emergency Preparedness: A Critical Conversation 🚨 At the last Kōrero for Change, Juliana Carvalho delivered a powerful talk on ableism in emergency preparedness—a bias so ingrained it often goes unnoticed. Ableism assumes everyone can run, climb stairs, or hear warnings. But what happens when evacuation plans prioritise stairs over ramps or cyclone alerts lack captions or New Zealand Sign Language? Lives are put at risk, and these aren’t just hypotheticals—they are real, systemic failures. Juliana shared her firsthand experience during April’s catastrophic floods in Brazil. As a disabled person, she faced unique challenges, in a city devastated by disaster. Her story highlighted the urgent need for inclusive emergency preparedness, which doesn’t just benefit disabled people but strengthens resilience for entire communities. 💡 Missed Juliana’s talk? Watch the recording and learn how we can build a future where no one is left behind. 🌍 📽️ https://lnkd.in/gx_rti_T 💌 Sign up for updates on the campaign for accessibility legislation with enforceable standards and be part of creating a more inclusive Aotearoa. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4foTL2N  

✨ Festive Season ✨ As we celebrate the festive season and cherish time with whānau and friends, let’s remember that not everyone can join in. Did you know? Many disabled people face barriers to participating in holiday gatherings due to inaccessible transport or homes that can’t meet their access needs. This can lead to isolation during a time meant for connection and joy. A truly inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand means creating spaces where everyone can be together, without barriers. We need strong accessibility legislation to ensure all our whānau can participate in life’s most meaningful moments. This season, let’s support the call for inclusive laws that make it possible for everyone to share in the joy of togetherness. #SeasonOfInclusion #AccessMatters #AccessibilityForAll 

🤝✨ December 20: International Human Solidarity Day ✨🤝 Today, we celebrate our unity in diversity and stand together in solidarity for a more just and inclusive world. International Human Solidarity Day is: - A day to remind governments to honour their commitments to international agreements. - A day to raise awareness about the power of solidarity. - A day to encourage dialogue on how solidarity can drive Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty eradication. - A call to action for new initiatives to uplift communities in need. Did you know? Solidarity from our non-disabled peers is essential for advancing accessibility and disability rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Together, we can create a society where everyone can thrive, regardless of ability. #HumanSolidarityDay #UnityInDiversity #DisabilityRights #AccessMatters   https://lnkd.in/gSJfT4m   

🚨 Access Denied Diaries: A Fire Drill at University 🔥 "I find stairs difficult, as I walk on crutches. I was at work at the AUT University during a fire drill. I was told by a University lecturer to go to the access way at the top of a nearby stairwell and wait, as the lecturer would inform someone to come and get me. I have every confidence that the lecturer told the Fire Wardens I was there—he knew me well and told me afterward that he had informed someone. But no one came. This happened more than once during consecutive drills.” This is the harsh reality Nikki faced. Stuck in a stairwell, alarms blaring. The scariest part? Not knowing if it was a real fire. 💔 "It made me feel like I wasn’t important enough to be considered. I was terrified that in a real emergency, I’d be left behind." ⚖️ Nikki is calling for change: compulsory checks by Fire Wardens to ensure no disabled person is overlooked during emergencies. #AccessDeniedDiaries #AccessibilityMatters #InclusiveEmergencyPrep

🚨 FREE WEBINAR - Last Call for Registrations! 🚨 Don’t miss your chance to join the Kōrero for Change on Emergency Preparedness webinar! Join us as we dive into the critical conversations around accessible and inclusive emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hear from The Doers, The Deciders, The Creators, and The Thinkers—leaders, experts, and changemakers who are working to break down barriers in the way we prepare for and manage emergencies. 🗓 Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024  ⏰ Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  📍 Where: Zoom 🔗 REGISTER NOW: https://bit.ly/3YVbGI0  Let's make sure no one is left behind! 💪♿

🌍✨ December 10: Human Rights Day ✨🌍 Today, we celebrate Human Rights Day, marking the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—a landmark document that upholds the inherent rights and dignity that every human being deserves, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or any other status. Did you know? An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability—that’s 16% of the world's population, or 1 in 6 of us. Accessibility is a fundamental precondition for fulfilling basic human rights for disabled people, ensuring equal opportunities, dignity, and independence. This Human Rights Day, let’s recognize that accessibility is essential for equality and advocate for robust accessibility legislation to make a more inclusive Aotearoa possible. Learn more about Human Rights Day here: https://lnkd.in/gXJPPJq #HumanRightsDay #EqualityForAll #AccessMatters

Introducing PANEL FOUR| The Thinkers ✨ The Thinkers are here to dive deep into the challenges, opportunities, and insights that will guide Aotearoa New Zealand’s future emergency preparedness and management. The Thinkers use research and expertise to challenge the status quo and push for change. 🗓 Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024  ⏰ Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  📍 Where: Zoom  🔗 REGISTER NOW: https://bit.ly/3YVbGI0 ✨ Panelists Dr Suzanne Phibbs | Health Sociologist and Senior Lecturer at Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Joint Centre for Disaster Research      Dr Graham Leonard | Principal Scientist at GNS Science, Te Pū Ao    Dr Steve Ronoh | Manager of Educational Standards and Performance for New Zealand Red Cross    MODERATOR    Kramer Angelito Hoeflich | Pacific Peoples with Disability Lead, Ministry for Pacific Peoples Kōrero for Change online series is brought to you by Access Matters Aotearoa, with support from Whaikaha - Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People and funding from J R McKenzie Trust. #AccessMatters #KoreroForChange #DisasterResponse #EmergencyPreparedness