Accessibility and Inclusion Plan

Our Accessibility and Inclusion Plan, formerly the Disability Action Plan (DAP), sets out how we support disabled students. See what we’ve achieved and what you can expect.

Every student at Waikato should be able to learn, belong and succeed. They should be able to do this in ways that reflect who they are and where they come from.

The Accessibility and Inclusion Plan replaces our Disability Action Plan (DAP) 2023–2025. The DAP informed and shaped work that continues today.

The plan aligns to Waikato He Wai Māu | The Waikato Way, our Academic Excellence and Student Success Plan.

Pānui mai | Read plan

What you can expect

Whether you're a current student, a prospective student or whānau, here’s what you can expect from us:

  • A clear pathway to support. Accessibility Services supports nearly 1,000 students each year. Our team will work with you to put the right adjustments in place.
  • A Reasonable Adjustment Plan. We apply it consistently across all your papers and learning environments.
  • Accessible spaces. We’re mapping and improving our Hamilton and Tauranga campuses.
  • Staff who can support you. We invest in inclusive teaching, so you don’t have to navigate accessibility on your own.
  • A university that listens. We use student feedback and service data to keep improving.

Current priorities

  1. Making our campuses easier to navigate

    We’re working with BarrierFree to map accessibility across our campuses. We’re also upgrading accessible bathrooms as part of the Campus Masterplan 2017–2037.

    Learn more about BarrierFree

  2. Consistent, personalised student support

    We’ve digitised Reasonable Adjustment Plans and share them securely with paper convenors each semester. Next, we’ll focus on further integration and staff training.

  3. Technology to support learning

    Our assistive technology catalogue is now in the library system. It lists hardware such as C-pens, electronic magnifiers and remote microphones. We’re also prioritising investment in AI note-taking technology.

  4. Inclusive practice and engagement

    We continue to build staff capability in inclusive teaching and Universal Design for Learning.

Previous plan

Council endorsed the Disability Action Plan (DAP) 2023–2025 in December 2022 after consulting staff and students. It set five objectives to make the University more inclusive for disabled students. The Accessibility and Inclusion Plan builds on this.

Disability Action Plan objectives

  1. Be an inclusive, safe and welcoming University.
  2. Create barrier-free access to our campuses.
  3. Be an inclusive teaching and learning environment.
  4. Increase learner engagement in University life.
  5. Progress work on policies that impact disabled learners.

Staff and students consultation reports

Consultation reports that formed the Disability Action Plan 2023-2025.