The Accessibility Tick Programme helps New Zealand organisations become more accessible and inclusive of people with disabilities.

Organisations that join the Accessibility Tick Programme are provided the tools and expertise they need:

  • to successfully employ people with disabilities, enriching the diversity of their organisations and accessing the full labour force
  • to deliver their services to all customers.
A lady in a wheelchair talks over a document with colleague

We first help member organisations understand their current accessibility state in the following 9 areas of competency: Commitment, Physical Environments, Employer Support/Workplace Adjustments, Communication and Marketing, Products and Services, Information Communication Technology, Recruitment and Selection, Career Development, and Suppliers/Partners.

Organisations are then supported in developing and implementing an achievable annual plan to improve their overall disability inclusion.

See our Programme page for more information on how it all works.

Accessibility Tick logoThe Accessibility Tick

When they have their own programme in place, they may seek to be awarded the Accessibility Tick. The tick is a public recognition of an organisation’s ongoing commitment to becoming accessible and inclusive of people with disabilities.

Disability employment gap

Recent labour market statistics show New Zealanders with disabilities are 3 times less likely to be employed than their non-disabled peers. The difference between employment rates of disabled and non-disabled people is called the disability employment gap. New Zealand’s disability employment gap is currently 47.8%. We’re changing that!

Inclusive workplaces

An inclusive workplace is not only physically and technologically accessible, but also breaks down social barriers and changes attitudes. For many job seekers with disabilities, discrimination and lack of support stop them from finding and keeping a job.

The benefits of an inclusive workplace extend beyond supporting employees with disabilities. An inclusive workplace:

  • increases productivity
  • enables a larger pool of talented people to apply for, maintain, and advance through employment
  • leads to an expanded customer base.

1 in 4 New Zealanders identify as having a disability. If organisations are not inclusive and accessible, they could be missing out on a quarter of the market.