Opening eyes, opening doors: Ātea workshops now available

One in four New Zealanders live with a disability, yet many people lack the awareness to create truly inclusive environments. That’s about to change.

Blueprint for Learning is thrilled to announce that Ātea Disability 101 online workshops will be available from July.

The journey to Blueprint

Originally developed by disability experts for Te Pou, Ātea found a new home with Blueprint for Learning after funding for the training from Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People ended.

“We were pleased to become the new home of Ātea and welcome the experienced Ātea facilitators to the Blueprint whānau. Now, we’re excited to deliver the first Blueprint for Learning Ātea workshops” said Patrice Dennis, Blueprint for Learning Manager.

“Since Ātea came to us, we have worked hard to ensure the workshop meets the requirements all our training must follow as an NZQA-accredited training provider. We are now ready to begin delivering this valuable training to communities and workplaces across Aotearoa.”

What makes Ātea valuable

Ātea is a unique workshop designed to shift beliefs about disability and reduce barriers to inclusion. It increases participants’ awareness and understanding of disability and the barriers disabled people face daily.

More than just awareness training, Ātea offers a powerful lens through the social model of disability, helping participants to see beyond individual limitations to recognize how our environments and attitudes create the real barriers.

High demand, proven impact

“The workshop challenges participants to use their newfound knowledge to remove barriers and provide better services and experiences for disabled people,” said Patrice.

“It is often hugely eye-opening for people, who haven’t had the opportunity to fully consider the experiences of disabled people.”

“We are receiving a lot of interest in the workshop, so we know there is a huge demand for this type of training.”

Workshop options to suit your needs

Ātea is available as an open workshop with individual places available for purchase. The workshop is delivered online over two sessions, with up to 20 participants from a variety of organisations.

The first open Ātea workshop is on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 July.

Ātea is also available as a private workshop for organisations in any sector that want to develop an understanding of and increase the inclusion of disabled people in their workplace and community.

Find out more about the Ātea workshop