No Exceptions Action Plans (NEAP)

A No Exceptions Action Plan (NEAP) is a strategy for developing sustainable inclusion within a school, organisation, club or facility which will encourage and maintain the participation of people with a disability (PWD) in physical activities or sports.
A NEAP is regularly reviewed and responsive to change.

Benefits

• Elimination of barriers inhibiting participation in physical activities/sport by people with a disability
• An increase in participation numbers
• More trained teachers, coaches and volunteers
• Access to a new level of participation and competition
• An awareness of the social responsibility to ensure all the community can access the organisations services and programmes

Background

In New Zealand there are policies and strategies in place to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in physical activity.  The 2 key governing directives for the inclusion of people with disability in physical activity are:

• The New Zealand Disability Strategy
• SPARC's ‘no exception’ strategy

Procedure

1.    A self review process is carried out by the school,organisation/club/facility to identify gaps in service and programme delivery which may be barriers to the inclusion of people with disabilities or inhibit full accessibility.  These barriers may be physical access, resources, information and/or communication.
2.    A NEAP is developed to overcome these identified barriers to ensure the specific needs of the school,organisation/club/facility are met.
3.    The NEAP will be regularly monitored and evaluated with clear actions, timelines and roles of responsibility.

A No Exceptions Action Plan will ensure:

• Programmes and facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities.
• Staff and coaches are educated in the inclusion of PWD.
• Organisation planning accepts and promotes the inclusion of PWD and meets the needs of PWD.
• PWD have a pathway for development from 'have a go' to beginner and competition levels.     
• Resources are available to adapt and modify activities and programmes.
• Members of the organisation and the community work collaboratively together to provide activities for the whole community.
• Implementation of the plan is monitored and evaluation takes place to determine success or otherwise.

An Action Plan will be based on the following key elements:

• PLANNING – organisation vision and mission statements and planning accepts and promotes the inclusion of people with a disability and meets their needs. Programmes and facilities are physically accessible to people with a disability.
• COLLABORATION – members of the school,organisation/facility and community work collaboratively together to provide activities for the whole community
• EDUCATION – Staff, coaches and other volunteers are educated in the inclusion of people with disabilities.
• COMMUNICATION – promotional material reflects a welcoming attitude.
• IMPLEMENTATION – Implementation of the plan is monitored and evaluation takes place to determine success or otherwise. People with disabilities have a pathway for development from 'have a go' to beginner and competition levels. Resources are available to adapt and modify activities and programmes
• EVALUATION – NEAP will be an active document and be regularly reviewed and success determined or other wise.