Kia ora koutou, haere mai!

Whether this is your first trimester or you’re returning after a summer break, welcome to our disabled community at Te Herenga Waka. We’re glad you’re joining us.

The start of Trimester 1 is an exciting time on campus, and we’re keen to help you get ready for what’s ahead.

Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter:

• Te Amaru—Disability Services' new students' welcome
• How to connect with disability support
• How to get help with inclusive technology
• Information about disability inclusion arrangements
• Assessment and exam support
• Access suites at our campuses
• Useful links for support
• A student column by Briana Lewis
• Support with the Wellbeing Kete
• Sign of the month

Ngā mihi,
Te Amaru—Disability Services

Te Amaru—Disability Services' new students' welcome

Interested in finding out more about our services?

Come along to our welcome for new students:

• 10 am – 11.30 am
• Monday 16 February
• The Bubble (SU216), Kelburn campus
• or online via Zoom

You’ll meet our friendly staff, connect with other disabled students and the Disabled Students’ Association, and enjoy free snacks and giveaways. It’s a great way to start your year feeling connected. If you have any specific disability needs for this event please email disability@vuw.ac.nz. 

To help plan your orientation week, explore the full orientation programme and build your own timetable online.

Connect with your Support Navigator or Disability and Inclusion Adviser 

Now is a great time to connect with your Support Navigator or Disability and Inclusion Adviser if you haven’t met them yet.  It’s also a good time to reconnect if you need any adjustments to your support for this year. We want you to feel prepared.

We offer in-person or remote appointments, depending on what works best for you. Everyone needs to be respiratory symptom-free when visiting our services. To make an appointment contact us: 

• phone 04 463 6070
• email disability@vuw.ac.nz
• visit our webpage
• or come to our office, Ground floor Robert Stout Building. Just left of the Hunter Building main reception.

Te Amaru—Disability Services Advice and Support Staff

Some students also meet with a Disability and Inclusion Adviser, generally to get some more specific disability or inclusion advice or support.  Disability and Inclusion Advisers are allied health professionals with experience of working in disability.

Get support with inclusive technology

Disability Inclusion Arrangements

If you're a returning student and asked for your Disability Inclusion Arrangements to be sent automatically this trimester, these will soon be shared with your course coordinators. You will receive a copy too. If you don't see a copy of your arrangements in your inbox by 18 February, please email disabilityadviser@vuw.ac.nz to request for these to be sent.

Support For Assessments and Exams

Lots of support and resources are available to help you prepare for tests, exams, and assignments—including how to stay calm and confident during your assessment.

If you think you need additional disability specific support, we can discuss your needs. 

New students: Book in with a Support Navigator to talk through what support could be useful for you this trimester.

Returning students: If you renewed your arrangements with a Support Navigator over Summer, you’ll receive an email by the end of week two from our Accessible Assessment Coordinator with your confirmed plan for this trimester.

To make or change accessible assessment arrangements during the trimester:

• It’s best to do this in the first 2 weeks of the trimester.
• The latest possible deadline is 2 weeks before your assessment.

For the exam period:

• The best time to organise exam arrangements is by the end of Week 10.
• The latest possible deadline is at the end of Week 10.

Access suites at the campus libraries

The University’s libraries offer a range of services and resources to support you, including access suites. Access suites are quiet places for disabled students to rest and study. They include ergonomic furniture, equipment, technology, and amenities that are not found in general University study spaces. When you register with Te Amaru—Disability Services, you’re automatically granted entry to our access suites using your student ID card.

You can find the access suites in our campus libraries:

• Kelburn (RB103)—past the Hub on level 1, before Louis’ Takeaway Café, you’ll find the access suite just inside the library gates.
• Pipitea (RHGO5)—the access suite is located behind the library office.
• Te Aro (VS118)—A temporary space has been made available in the Te Aro campus Library for disabled students registered with Disability Services who are studying on that campus. You can book this room via the link on our key services webpage.

Useful links for support

If you need support with your studies or wellbeing, these links are a great place to start:

• Tītoko—Student Success Advisers – Your first stop for course planning, enrolment help, and navigating your academic schedule.
• Te Taiako—Student Learning – Explore academic skills resources, including 1:1 advice, study groups, and workshops.
• Manawa Ora—Student Wellbeing – Join student‑led wellbeing activities and connect with peer support.
• Kahukura—Rainbow Support – Discover support and connect with community for queer and takatāpui students.

Disabled Students' Association (DSA)

Student Column—Small steps, big wins

By Briana Lewis

Since being diagnosed with ADHD, breaking a large task into smaller tasks spread over multiple days has changed my life. Normally, I like to keep my apartment spotless, but last year, I neglected cleaning my apartment for several weeks in favour of studying for my final exams. After my exams, I was completely overwhelmed when I saw how much I needed to clean.

I wasn’t sure where to start—so, I started small. To motivate myself, I said, “this will take three minutes, so I might as well do it.” I put the takeaway containers in the trash, then cleaned out my fridge.

The next day, I kept my shoes on when I got home from work and vacuumed the scattered cat litter, then deep cleaned my cat’s litter box and cat room. After, I said to myself, “I already have the vacuum cleaner, and it’s not really much more effort to vacuum the rest of the apartment, so why not?”

Once my apartment was vacuumed, I looked around and saw the trash bags from the previous day and said, “Well, I already have my shoes on, so I might as well take that downstairs to the dumpsters.” And so, I did.

Between chores, I made it a game to put away one thing that was misplaced every time I entered a new room—by the time I’d finished my chores, my apartment looked very tidy.

My piece of practical advice is to not reprimand yourself for not being able to do everything all at once. Remind yourself to set one or two manageable expectations for what you can do in that moment and keep those promises to yourself. That mindset has helped me to be kinder to myself when I can’t complete everything all at once, become more motivated to complete tasks that are notoriously difficult for people with ADHD, and to love myself more because I’m keeping the promises I make to myself.

Today, all I need to do is put my dirty clothes in the laundry and clean my bathroom. I’ll probably do more chores than that, but if I don’t, that’s okay too—there’s always tomorrow.

Do you have a helpful study tip, a way to look after your wellbeing, or a story that might lift someone’s spirits? We want to hear from you!

Send us a short submission for our student column with your practical advice or positive perspective. It could be about:

• how you manage your disability needs
• what helps you stay connected
• something that made your day better.

Submissions should be:

• uplifting, encouraging, and/or empowering
• focused on study, wellbeing, and/or campus life
• submitted as a Word document
• 250 words or less.

We’ll feature selected tips in our newsletter to support and inspire others.

📧 Send your tips to: disability@vuw.ac.nz
🗓️ You can submit anytime!
📝 Please note: submissions may be edited for clarity or length.

Wellbeing Kete Module—Developing strong, supportive friendships

The Wellbeing Kete brings together practical wellbeing skills to support you during your studies and beyond. Starting the trimester is a great time to focus on connection. The Developing strong, supportive friendships module supports you to build confidence in your relationships—whether you’re meeting new people or strengthening existing connections.

Check out the Wellbeing Kete and follow Student Equity and Wellbeing on Instagram or Facebook for Wellbeing Kete quick tips.

Sign of the month

Stay connected

Check out our website for useful information www.wgtn.ac.nz/disability

Follow us on Instagram @vuwequitywellbeing

Connect with us on Facebook

Questions? Email disability@vuw.ac.nz