Being sick or injured shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying and participating in leisure activities. The key is finding those things that create and keep a balance in your life, without taking away from your existing energy stores.
Fortunately over the past ten or so years there has been a noticeable shift in what is available, with options such as "accessable disabled travel" now being a major player in the travel and tourism sector.
Options within the community have also flourished and there are now as many options for those with health needs as those without.
Whether its a day out fishing or a trip overseas, the following services will give you an idea of what is availabe for you to tap into and start planning your next day or week out.
Applications for the Inspiration Voyage are now OPEN
Each year we take 30 youth with physical challenges who are between the ages of 16 – 20yrs on a 5 day development voyage, they come from all over NZ to get onboard our purpose built 45m tall ship Spirit of New Zealand.
The focus of the program is to provide an opportunity to face challenges outside the usual boundaries, to gain confidence and to achieve things that previously may have looked impossible.
Participants have an amazing experience and this is one of our most looked forward to voyages.
Please see the bottom of this page for the Inspirational Voyage application pack which has all information and criteria.
p. +64 9 373 2060 m. +64 21 278 1611
Email - kylies@spiritofadventure.org.nz
Website - www.spiritofadventure.org.nz
Add:
Glide Freedm
Sensory Corner
Disabled Citizens Society
8 Week fishing programmes
8 week netball programmes
To join, phone 09 638 8153 or email - accounts@dscinc.org.nz
Riding for the Disabled
Who is the service for?
those physically challenged with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, paraplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or have visual or hearing impairment
those with intellectual disabilities or multiple disabilities
those with learning disabilities
Benefits of Riding
Balance and coordination, posture and muscle tone
Concentration, self discipline and self-esteem
Perception and spatial awareness
Communication and social skills
Independence and encourages decision making
To join in, phone 04 234 6090 or email - admin@rda.org.nz
Halberg Trust
The Halberg Trust Sport Opportunity Programme is committed to ensuring disabled people can participate in inclusive sport and physical recreation within their community.
The Halberg Trust Activity Fund can fund equipment, activities, lessons and school camps, giving more disabled people, the opportunity to be more active, more often.
To join in, phone 09 579 9931 or find a Sport Opportunity Advisor in your area here.
Reels on Wheels
Reels on wheels is run by a team of like minded volunteers who enjoy fishing and want people in wheel chairs to experience the freedom of fishing. Our fishing trips are free for chair anglers and a buddy, (caregiver) funded through sponsorship and donations from various community trusts, businesses and individuals. We currently operate out of Auckland, but as funding allows we'll expand nation wide.
Reels on Wheels fishing trips are on New Zealand surveyed charter vessels with qualified skippers, working under Maritime New Zealand rules for charter vessels.
The boat we use in Auckland is the Seasprite 11, a 53 ft Marko built in Perth and powered by twin Iveco 500 hp diesels. She is operated by Sean Dickie out of Z pier in westhaven marina. Sean has made some modifcations to accommodate our chair anglers. He has put an opening in the stern to allow wheel on wheel off access, has built a large chair friendly toilet, and installed a canopy with roll away side cutains to protect anglers from the Auckland weather.
Seaspite 11 is available for fishing and diving charters throughout the Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf, and beyond to the Three Kings.
Bookings can be made as follows:
Phone - 0275 969069
Email - seasprite@xtra.co.nz
website - www.aucklandcharterboats.co.nz
The sea Ranger is operated by Jack Sutton from Monganui harbour in Northland, she is a SeaRanger built in Timaru, is 7.5m X 3m, constructed in marine grade ally and is trailered to and from the sea, powered by a 250hp Merc Verado supercharged, and is available for all fishing and diving charters.
Contact Jack Sutton - jackwater@xtra.co.nz
Reels on Wheels contact details:
Email - info@reelsonwheels.co.nz
Phone - 021 763 531
Inclusive Communities Programme - Canterbury
The Inclusive Communities Programme is based within the Recreation & Sports Unit and is funded by the Christchurch City Council and The Canterbury Community Trust.
The vision of the Inclusive Communities Programme is to increase opportunities for inclusive recreation participation for disabled people.
Based on the principles of inclusion, Inclusive Communities is committed to adopting an approach that supports participation and access for disabled people.
The Inclusive Communities programme includes the following key areas:
administering the KiwiAble Leisure Card – a scheme that is FREE to join which provides discounted recreational opportunities to over 30 facilities for disabled people. Check if you are eligible here
facilitating the KiwiAble Recreation Network- a network of disability community agencies, organisations and individuals that have an interest in recreation, sport and leisure
supporting a Performing Arts Programme - JOLT Dance Company
delivering disability awareness training to Recreation & Sports Centre staff in partnership with other key organisations
providing talks to educational establishments on the history and development of the KiwiAble/Inclusive Communities programme and KiwiAble Leisure Card
developing resources that promote the philosophy of inclusion
offering advice on sport, recreation and leisure options for disabled people
addressing barriers to participation
continuing to develop forward looking services.
Phone - 03 941 8210
Email: kiwiable@ccc.govt.nz
Kiwiable Leisure Card - Canterbury
The KiwiAble Leisure Card is an initiative of Christchurch City Council, Recreation and Sports Unit. It aims to help reduce the cost of participating in recreation, sport and leisure for disabled people.
It is free for people within Christchurch
It only costs $5 for people outside Christchurch
It provides discounts at a large number of recreation and leisure facilities throughout Canterbury.
You are eligible if you:
are on an Invalids Benefit, or
are on a Sickness Benefit, or
are on long-term ACC (52 weeks or more), or
are on NZ Superannuation and a Disability Allowance, or
are under 16 and one of the following:
Receive a Child Disability Allowance
Member of a recognised disability organisation
Have a letter of confirmation from your Doctor or School
How to apply:
Complete the application form and include a recent passport-style photo of the applicant, and
a letter of confirmation of eligibility (e.g. a letter received in the last 12 months from Work and Income stating what benefit you are entitled to)
Send these to:
Inclusive Communities Coordinator
Recreation & Sports Unit
Christchurch City Council
PO Box 73016
Christchurch Mail Centre
Christchurch 8140
A PDF of the application form can be found at the bottom of this page which you can download or print from your home computer.
Wellington City Council's Leisure Card
Wellington City Council's Leisure Card is a free personalised membership scheme that gives discounted entry into a range of recreation services. The card helps people access recreational services when price might otherwise be a barrier.
You can qualify for the card if you are a Wellington city resident and if you meet one or more of the following criteria:
a Community Services Card holder
an invalid or sickness beneficiary
a person living with a permanent disability
a recent migrant (within last six months)
on the green prescription (GRx) scheme
a SuperGold Card holder
a city housing tenant.
The Leisure Card will give you access to the following discounts at Wellington City Council facilities:
50% discount off admission to swimming pools and recreation centres (this discount also applies to your children's admission when you take them)
20% discount off fitness centre memberships
up to 20% discount off swimming pool and recreation centre programmes (eg preschool music and movement classes, learn to swim, springboard diving, water babies, variety sports)
50% discount off admission to spas, saunas and steam rooms at swimming pools
50% discount off the library loan fee for audiovisual items including CDs, DVDs, CD-ROMs and videos (cannot be used with other promotional discounts).
50% discount off library book reservation fees.
The Leisure Card will also give you access to a minimum 20% discount from selected:
museums
theatres
recreation and leisure services
You can apply for a Leisure Card by completing the enrolment form and sending it in. Enrolment forms are available at libraries, pools, and recreation centres.
The enrolment form can also be found at the bottom of this page. You can download it or print it directly from your home computer.
Proof of Eligibility:
Recent migrants - Provide a copy of your residents visa stamp from your passport. People with a student or work visa are not eligible.
People with a disability - Request a referral letter from your GP, practice nurse, occupational therapist or physiotherapist.
All eligibility proof can be posted or emailed to us at leisurecard@wcc.govt.nz or verified by Council officers at swimming pools, recreation centres, libraries and service centres in Wellington city.
Using the Leisure Card:
Show your Leisure Card at any of the organisations listed in this booklet to get your discount:
For information on the discounts you can receive, contact the organisations directly.
Your Leisure Card is valid for one year. After that, if your circumstances have not changed, you can reapply for an additional year.
Phone - 04 803 8350
Email - leisurecard@wcc.govt.nz
Sport Waikato
Sport Waikato believes that all people have the same right and should be given the same opportunities to participate, enjoy and achieve in their choice of sport or active living pursuit.
People with a disability have traditionally participated in sport and active leisure within a disability environment. But with the education system now integrating children with disabilities, many of these young people now expect the same opportunities in sport.
Sport Waikato’s Sport Opportunity programme links people with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities into community sport and will work with schools and community initiatives to ensure inclusive sport and active living philosophies are adopted.
Wheelchair Basketball
Wednesday nights at Hamilton’s Fraser High School Gym 4.
6:00 - 7:00pm for Skills and Drills for the Development athletes, no experience necessary.
7:00 – 8:30pm for Representative players.
Contact Chloe Wickman on 07 858 5388 or email - chloew@sportsforce.org.nz
Wheelchair Rugby
Monday nights at Fairfield College Gym.
6:00 - 8:00pm
Contact David - davidk@sportwaikato.org.nz
The Inclusion Club
The Inclusion Club is a new and growing international community of like-minded people. People who want to see more people with disabilities getting active and participating in sport. There are thousands of people around the world doing some great and innovative things in this field. Problem is, there are very few, if any, opportunities to share good practice.
On this site, you will find:
Videos:
We develop our own training videos and source others from all over the world. These are all designed to help you provide the best possible opportunities in sport and physical activity for people with disability.
Resources and Tools:
Customised and unique resources and tools, such as the What is Inclusion e-book.
Episodes:
Content pages that are developed specifically for The Inclusion Club. We cover a wide range of topics and derive much of our content from our subscribers.
Models of Good Practice:
We will showcase models of best practice – whether teaching practice, coaching practice or organizational practice. You can see some of these here.
Interviews:
We interview athletes, coaches, teachers, parents, people with disabilities .. people that tell it like it is .. giving you the best possible advice.
Case Studies:
Learn from Case Studies – how other people around the world go about the inclusion of people with disability in sport and physical activity
Adaptive Snow Sports is about adapting equipment and lessons and providing accessible support systems to allow people with a wide range of disabilities to take to the snow and experience the freedom of snow sports.
Snow Sports NZ is the national advocate for adaptive snow sports, supporting programmes at New Zealand's alpine resorts and the further development of adaptive snow sports in New Zealand. Adaptive Snow sports helps to remove participation barriers and encourages people with functional impairments to get involved in snow sports. Support includes assisting on mountain adaptive programmes, promotion, adaptive training for instructors and volunteers, and hosting national fun and competitive events
Mountain Programmes:
Adaptive Snowsports programmes provide support, accessible facilities and professional services to people with disabilities to allow them to ski and board. These vary from mountain to mountain and include qualified adaptive instructors, specialised adaptive equipment, trained on-snow buddies and concessions on lift passes and rental for Adaptive Snowsports members.
Booking is essential to ensure that the adaptive coordinators know you are coming and can ensure equipment and staff are available so that you can enjoy your time on the slopes.
Adaptive Programmes are available at the following mountains:
All commercial ski areas in New Zealand support the work of Adaptive Snowsports, offer discounts to members to improve accessibility to people with functional impairments, and welcome you. Some ski areas that do not have an official adaptive programme do have instructors that have adaptive training. Some ski areas and club fields are more accessible than others. Check with your ski area before heading up, to ensure that their facilities meet your requirements, especially car parking, buildings, equipment, instruction and terrain.
