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Be an accessible business

With ageing consumers and 20% of New Zealanders living with a disability, issues around people accessing your business are on the rise. However there’s a range of things you can do now to help make sure your business is accessible to all your potential customers and visitors, including those here for Rugby World Cup 2011.

Did you know?

  • 44% of New Zealanders are aged over 45
  • 20% of New Zealanders report having a disability
  • In Australia 25% of the population is 45 or older - that includes 5.3 million "baby boomers" who own 50% of all net household wealth
  • In the United States 70 million people are over 45 and own 77% of all financial assets

Your access customer may be:

  • an older person (the baby boomer)
  • a parent pushing a stroller
  • someone with a hearing or vision impairment
  • a person in a wheelchair.

There's a range of things you can do now to help make sure your business is accessible to all.

Making Whangarei more accessible

A guide to accessible facilities in Whangarei has been produced to help people find their way around the city, listing mobility parking spaces, accessible amenities including toilets, accommodation, conference, retail and dining options and other useful information.

Download a copy of the Access Whangarei Map (PDF 1MB)

Resources available

Check out the new Be.accessible website. It's an online guide to accessibility in Auckland, and features a business toolkit, which includes checklists you can work through to gauge how accessible your business is and help make any necessary improvements:
www.beaccessible.org.nz/business-toolkit

Northland 2011 has produced a checklist for festivals and events to ensure accessibility for people who have permanent and temporary disabilities, including; elderly, people who fatigue easily, and families:
View or download the festival and events accessibility information (PDF 105KB)

Key contacts

There are a number of organisations who can help your business become more accessible.

TIAHO Trust 
Tiaho Trust delivers Disability Empowerment and Advisory Support Services within the Northland region and is based in Whangarei, Northland.

Phone:  09 430 3406 or 0800 430 3406
Email:    info@tiaho.org.nz
Website: www.tiaho.org.nz

Sign Language Service
This service is provided by the Whangarei Deaf Association

Phone: +64 9 4374022
Email: taniamdavidson@gmail.com

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