09 430 3406
administrator@tiaho.org.nzDid you know that 24 percent of New Zealanders are considered to have a disability?
That potentially represents one quarter of your customer base – are your service staff equipped with the right customer service skills to ensure a positive customer/client/patient experience for everyone?
Wānanga Tūhono – Disability Responsiveness Training
Connecting organisations with the lived experiences of tāngata whaikaha to build understanding, confidence, and inclusive practice.
Wānanga Tūhono is Tiaho Trust’s disability responsiveness training programme, designed to help organisations build the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to create inclusive and welcoming environments for tāngata whaikaha (disabled people).
Delivered by facilitators with lived experience of disability, these interactive workshops encourage participants to explore disability through a social model lens, challenge assumptions, and gain practical tools that can be applied immediately within workplaces, services and communities.
Wānanga Tūhono – Disability Responsiveness Training – PDF Flier
What does Wānanga Tūhono mean?
The name Wānanga Tūhono reflects the purpose and values of the programme.
Wānanga means learning together through discussion, reflection, sharing experiences and building understanding.
Tūhono means to connect, link and build relationships.
Together, Wānanga Tūhono creates opportunities for people to connect with the experiences of tāngata whaikaha and develop more inclusive ways of thinking, working and engaging with their communities.
Why disability responsiveness matters
Approximately one in four New Zealanders identify as disabled.
Disability is a natural part of human diversity, yet many barriers continue to exist within workplaces, services, public spaces and communities. Often these barriers are not intentional but result from a lack of understanding, confidence or experience.
Disability responsiveness is about recognising barriers, listening to disabled people, and making practical changes that support meaningful participation and inclusion.
Workshop Topics
Workshops can be tailored to meet the needs of your organisation and may include:
- Understanding disability and the Social Model of Disability
- Disability rights and inclusion
- Appropriate language and communication
- Unconscious bias and assumptions
- Accessibility and removing barriers
- Creating inclusive workplaces and services
- Customer service and community engagement
- Real-life experiences of disabled people
- Practical strategies for responding confidently and respectfully
Who Should Attend?
Wānanga Tūhono is suitable for:
- Government agencies
• Local authorities
• Health and disability providers
• Education providers
• Community organisations
• Businesses and employers
• Customer-facing teams
• Boards and governance groups
• Anyone wanting to improve disability confidence and inclusion
Meet Our Facilitators
Wally Noble
(Facilitator profile and photo coming soon.)
Pam MacNeil
(Facilitator profile and photo coming soon.)
Paul Scantlebury
(Facilitator profile and photo coming soon.)
All facilitators bring lived experience of disability and share practical insights that help participants understand how to create more welcoming and inclusive environments.
Workshop Delivery
- Approximately 2–2.5 hours
- Interactive and discussion-based
- Delivered in person or online
- Suitable for small or large groups
- Tailored to organisational needs
Book a Workshop
To discuss Wānanga Tūhono Disability Responsiveness Training for your organisation, contact Tiaho Trust today.
Together we can build communities, workplaces and services where everyone feels welcomed, valued and included.