Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Table Tennis NZ recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi as Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document and is committed to upholding the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the principles of Partnership, Protection and Participation.
Policy 3: Disability Inclusion
Table Tennis NZ and affiliated table tennis organisations aim to provide a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable environment for everyone involved in its activities. People are expected to show respect and courtesy in their interaction with others.Table Tennis NZ aims to ensure disabled people are supported to participate and have full access to table tennis experiences.
Table Tennis NZ will make itself accessible to, and include disabled people in our organisation, in both playing/participation and non-playing roles, as far as possible.
Table Tennis NZ aims to ensure disabled people are supported to participate and have full access as part of the play, active recreation and sport community.
Purpose
This policy aims to:
- support the full and active participation of disabled people in table tennis
- provide for the social inclusion of disabled people through table tennis
This policy should be read together with Table Tennis NZ’s Preventing Discrimination Policy.
Application
This policy applies to anyone involved with Table Tennis NZ and its affiliated organisations. This includes as a participant, employee, contractor or volunteer, player, official (referee or umpire), Board or committee member or office holders, administrator, coach, supervisor, manager, member, caregiver, parent, whānau or supporter.
What we will do
To support our aim to make Table Tennis NZ as inclusive as possible, we will make no assumptions about what people are able to do. We will:
- talk to, listen to and follow the lead of disabled people about ways our organisation and table tennis can be made safe and accessible to them.
- focus on what disabled people can do, rather than what they cannot.
- treat all disabled people as individuals and consider their circumstances as they explain them.
- adjust our ways of doing things, including coaching, equipment, rules or environment, as far as possible.
- make modifications to our premises for accessibility (e.g. putting in a ramp, wheelchair lift or handrail), as far as possible.
- be up front if modifications, adjustments or other accommodations are not reasonably possible.
- communicate and share information in accessible ways and formats.
- ensure people of all abilities are recognised for their contributions and achievements.
- have strong policies to ensure disabled people can participate in our activities without being subject to discrimination, bullying and harassment
What we ask
If you are a disabled person, or you are the parent/guardian/whānau of a disabled person:
- let us know what we can do to make sure you or your family member/whānau feel included and your needs met, including any modifications, adjustments, or other accommodations. This can be by:
- meeting with our organisation representative directly to discuss, who will fill out the attached Change Request form.
- by filling out the attached Change Request Form and providing it to the organisation representative
- understand Table Tennis NZ or the affiliated organisation will do its best to accommodate your or your family member/whānau’s needs.
- always raise any concerns you or your family member/whānau are experiencing or ideas to make Table Tennis NZ, or its affiliated table tennis organisations, more inclusive and welcoming places.
Making a formal complaint
Individuals who wish to make a formal complaint, or where there is an alleged breach of this policy should follow the complaints procedure outlined in the Complaints, Disputes and Appeals Policy.
Individuals may also choose to make a complaint about discrimination to the Human Rights Commissioner. Employees may also raise a personal grievance in accordance with the Employment Relations Act 2000.
Version: February 2025