Other supports and services
Additional supports and services offered by Accessibility Services and the wider university community.
Regular check-ins
Want to stay connected? Regular check-ins with Accessibility Services are optional and here if you’d find them helpful.
New Zealand Sign Language interpreters
If you require a New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreter, please contact Accessibility Services staff well before the start of the trimester to discuss your requirements.
Body doubling
Accessibility Services hosts twice-weekly body doubling sessions: work alongside fellow students to boost focus, accountability, and task initiation in a supportive setting that helps you stay organised and improve academic performance.
Body Doubling FAQs
No, you don’t need to be registered with Accessibility Services to join our Body Doubling sessions. These sessions are open to all students.
If you believe that participating in these sessions will benefit you, you are more than welcome to attend.
You don't need to sign up beforehand either, and you're welcome to just show up. However, if you would like regular updates and reminders, you can contact us to be added to our Body Doubling mailing list.
When
Body Doubling sessions run throughout teaching period on Tuesdays 10-11AM and Fridays 2-3PM.
Where
- Hamilton: M.1.42 (Level 1 of Te Manawa/Student Centre)
- Online: Microsoft Teams
Neurodiversity Hub
If you identify as neurodivergent, there are several supports and services for you. These will be promoted throughout the year but include things such as:
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Meet up's
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Mentoring
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Workshop series (workload management, test & exam preparation, assistive technologies)
Note: You do not need documentation to access these options.
Limited full-time status (LFTS)
You may be able to apply for limited full-time status from StudyLink if you’re studying less than full-time under certain circumstances. For example:
- You're finishing an approved course.
- You're studying part-time for a significant reason, such as:
- You have a serious medical condition
- For a reason you can't control
- You would struggle with a full-time workload
Limited full-time status means you will be recognised as studying full-time by StudyLink and Work and Income, even if you’re taking less than a full-time course load.
Accessibility Services can support applications for registered students. If you would like your application to be reviewed and signed by Accessibility Services, please contact the team.
Supports and services at UoW
In addition to Accessibility Services, there are a number of other services and supports available to all students at The University of Waikato that may be helpful to you throughout your studies.
Community assistance and resources
Alongside assistance on campus, you may also need support in other everyday settings such as at home or as you go about living your daily life out and about in the community. Sometimes people already have this everyday assistance organised but will need to make sure the necessary adjustments are made to meet the demands of on-campus life and study.
The following is a list of organisations that provide assistance towards your daily living, including your home, educational and vocational pursuits. Accessibility Services staff will be happy to link you to further impairment support groups and government organisations including:
ACC provides financial and other support to encourage people to return to work after acquiring an injury or an impairment through an accident.
If you are an ACC customer, contact your case manager to discuss an educational plan well before you start at the University and find out whether you are eligible for equipment or support. Phone 0800 101 996 or visit ACC's website.
ACHIEVE is a national network established to ensure equal opportunity and access to tertiary education and training for people with an impairment. Its membership includes students with an impairment, family and friends, tertiary education providers and service providers in the community. The University of Waikato is a corporate member of ACHIEVE.
The ACHIEVE newsletter is a good way of keeping in touch with what is happening at a national level.
For more information or to apply for individual membership check out the Achieve website.
Students registered as Blind Low Vision members can apply for financial support for tertiary fees through the Oppenheim Trust. The Oppenheim Trust generally accepts applications from 1 September until early January.
If this is something of interest, please visit the Blind Low Vision website or call us on 0800 24 33 33 for further information.
Disability Support Link provides assessment and service coordination to assist in obtaining home support services for people with disability in the Waikato, King Country, Thames Valley and Coromandel Peninsula.
Services include:
- Household assistance
- Personal care
- Carer support
- Residential care and support
- Referrals to other support services.
For more information freephone 0800 55 33 99 or visit Disability Support Link.
ENZ deliver a range of services for people with an impairment and their families, including contracted services for the Ministry of Health, District Health Boards and Accident Compensation Corporation.
For more information phone 0800 362 253, email enable@enable.co.nz or visit the Enable website.
The Ministry of Health provides funding for a wide range of services and contract providers such as Disability Support Link and Enable New Zealand to support people with disability. Services include:
- Needs Assessment and Services Co-ordination service – NASC
- Equipment and Modification Services (includes housing and vehicle)
- Hearing and Vision Services
- Home and Community Support Services
- Supported Living.
To read about the full range of services and how to access them from your local area, go to Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People's website.
In the Bay of Plenty District Health Board area, people with an impairment can access support services through Support Net. It’s a needs assessment and service coordination service for people with an impairment.
For more information Freephone 0800 262 477, email SupportNetBOP@bopdhb.govt.nz or visit Support Net website.
Total Mobility is a ‘door to door’ national transport scheme involving impairment support agencies, taxi companies and local government. The scheme is designed to increase the mobility of people with disability to allow equitable access to the community.
For information regarding the scheme and your eligibility for Total Mobility vouchers, please contact either your local branch of CCS Disability Action, Waikato Regional Council's Busit or Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Workbridge administers Training Support which can be used to cover study costs related to your impairment such as personal support, transport costs, equipment costs and New Zealand Sign Language interpreters. When other avenues of funding have been exhausted, Workbridge offers an additional maximum of $15,600 for each individual. Anyone with an impairment can submit an application and you don’t have to be registered with Workbridge to access the funds.
Application forms and information are available from the Workbridge website.
For advice and information contact Support Funds Central Processing Unit phone 0508 967 527 or email cpu@workbridge.co.nz.