In a step towards improving better customer service for people living with disabilities, several Council services, including our Waimakariri Libraries, have gained Hāpai accreditation.
The access card programme, which New Zealand was the second country to adopt, enables disabled people to provide evidence of the barriers they face and receive a customer experience that meets their needs. Each Hāpai access card can display up to nine icons representing potential barriers, such as difficulty with visual or audio information, urgent toilet access requirements, or mobility issues.
Kaiapoi’s Ruataniwha Civic Centre and Library, Oxford Service Centre and Library and Rangiora’s Trevor Inch Memorial Library have all joined the Hāpai Access Card scheme.
District Libraries Manager Luke Sole said becoming Hāpai accredited was a ‘no brainer’.
“We want Waimakariri Libraries to be an inclusive and accessible space for all members of our community. Joining the Hāpai Access Card Scheme meant a small change to how we deliver our services but a big impact on the experience of those with disabilities in our spaces.”
The Oxford Library and Service Centre is the first provider in its area to achieve Hāpai accreditation. The Trevor Inch Memorial Library and Ruataniwha Civic Centre are the second providers in their area to receive accreditation, following Coffee Culture.
District Libraries Manager Luke Sole (right) with Community Development Facilitator Martin Pugh in front of Trevor Inch Memorial Library where the Hāpai sticker is displayed.
Achieving accreditation is no small feat. Library and Service Centre teams reviewed their customer service practices and facilities against each accessibility barrier represented on Hāpai Access Cards. This process identified improvement areas to make visiting these facilities with a disability easier.
For example, at Rangiora’s Trevor Inch Memorial Library, two heavy doors had to be opened to access the public toilets. For someone with the ‘Urgent Toilet Access Required’ barrier, this presented a challenge. As a result, one of the doors was removed to improve accessibility.
Councillor Shona Powell, Chair of the Waimakariri Access Group, said the accreditation reflects what can be achieved when people with lived experience help shape Council services.
"Our Access Group has worked closely with Council to identify barriers and find practical ways to make facilities more accessible, and we congratulate the staff for the work they have put into achieving accreditation. These improvements might seem small, but for someone living with a disability they can make a real difference because they know they are welcome and can more easily access services independently.
"It's wonderful to see our libraries and service centres taking this important step towards being more inclusive for everyone."
Our Waimakariri Libraries and Service Centres strive to be accessible and inclusive spaces for all. Achieving Hāpai accreditation is just the beginning, follow-up compliance visits and further staff training will ensure that accessibility becomes second nature and continues to develop over time.
Waimakariri residents who have disabilities can visit the Hāpai website to view pages for each location, which provide detailed information about the facilities and how staff can support access based on the needs identified on patron’s Hāpai Access Cards.
Visit the Waimakariri Libraries website for information on hours and locations.
Height adjustable desks in our libraries allow easier access for those in wheelchairs.