Opening Every Door for Everyone

Equipping disabled students to lead boldly, with confidence, clarity, and connection.

Who Are We

Access All Areas (AAA) is a youth-led initiative dedicated to empowering young people with learning, access, or support needs across Aotearoa New Zealand by partnering with schools. Founded by disabled youth, for disabled youth, AAA is grounded in lived experience and driven by a vision of inclusive leadership.

6 disabled students smiling hugging facing the camera with a multicoloured background

Vision Statement

We envision an Aotearoa where disabled youth are confident leaders, deeply connected to their communities, and empowered to shape a more inclusive future.

Disabled students smiling at the camera, one pulling a peace sign, another in a wheelchair with fairy lights above them

Mission Statement

AAA empowers disabled youth to lead with confidence, clarity, and connection by fostering inclusive leadership and strong community ties.

An over the shoulder shot of sign language with sign language usersin the background
3 male students studying
Disabled students smiling and talking
An over the shoulder shot of students sat at desks being taught by a teacher at the front desk

Why This Matters: A Snapshot of Urgent Need

  • Nearly half of disabled students report unmet needs in education
  • 6 in 10 disabled students are bullied — one of the highest rates globally
  • Disabled students are twice as likely to leave school with no qualifications
  • Four times more likely to not be in education, employment, or training
  • Yet 72% of unemployed disabled adults want to work
Black shadow like figures in a circle taking with one student half yellow and half black left out of circle looking at their feet facing away

Consequences of exclusion

Amelia: "I used to believe I wasn’t capable of much, so I stopped dreaming big. No one ever told me my disability didn’t mean I had to lower my expectations."

student sitting lonely on steps with their head slumped on one hand looking sad

Isla: "Whenever I tried to talk about being disabled, it felt like people got awkward or defensive — so I just stopped bringing it up. But not talking about it made me feel invisible, even with my friends."

Female student with their head on their hands that has stopped studying

Kahu: "I kept pushing through like everything was fine because I didn’t want to be seen as the ‘difficult’ one. By the time I admitted I needed help, I was burnt out and barely holding it together."

Male student studying looking stressed
An over the shoulder shot of sign language with sign language usersin the background
3 male students studying
Disabled students smiling and talking
An over the shoulder shot of students sat at desks being taught by a teacher at the front desk

Our Offer

Accessing Futures: Our schools-based workshops

  • Empowering: students to speak about their lived experience with clarity and confidence
  • Learning: from disabled peers through trusted, shared experience
  • Fostering: an empowered vision of the future
  • Supporting: identity development through storytelling and reflection
  • Belonging: to a cohort with shared experience
  • Inspiring: through visible disabled role models
  • Equipping: tools to navigate social, academic, and vocational spaces
Smiling students sat at a table together looking at oneanother and their work

Thriving Futures: Our regular weekly coaching

  • Deepening: learning through weekly reflection
  • Strengthening: self-advocacy with regular practice
  • Expanding: identity confidence in a safe recurring space
  • Embedding: peer connection through consistent cohorts
  • Developing: future pathways with structured goal-setting
  • Reinforcing: role-model visibility through ongoing engagement
  • Building: practical strategies for life beyond school
  • Sustaining: momentum through weekly check-ins
Students smiling sitting with one student in a wheelchair, at the library
An over the shoulder shot of sign language with sign language usersin the background
3 male students studying
Disabled students smiling and talking
An over the shoulder shot of students sat at desks being taught by a teacher at the front desk

Meet Sean Prenter

Kia ora I’m Sean, the founder and program lead and facilitator at Access All Areas (AAA). I started AAA because I know what it’s like to navigate education and leadership as a disabled person, and how isolating and empowering that journey can be.

Wooden figure climbing stairs

I have a background in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (MA), and I’ve been involved in the disability sector for years—both personally and professionally. I co-founded and served as Co-President of the National Disabled Students’ Association, and I’ve served on disability charities and disabled person governance boards. I’ve had the privilege of representing Aotearoa New Zealand at events including the Pacific Disability Forum, Global Disability Summit, APEC, and UN events. At home, I have served on the boards of Your Way | Kia Roha, the Disabled Persons Assembly National Executive Committee, and the Wellington City Council Accessibility Advisory Group, and received the University of Otago Young Alumni Award.

I live with a traumatic brain injury and have experienced the barriers that come with being disabled—barriers in communication, access, and attitudes, as well as the loneliness of being the only disabled person in the room. I have accessed over $30,000 in scholarships, yet I rarely see disabled people accessing these opportunities, and I want that to change. These experiences shape my passion for creating spaces where disabled students feel seen, supported, and set up to thrive. My goal is simple: to give disabled students and educators the tools they need to move through life with clarity, confidence, and connection.

Students seen from a birds eye view sitting in a circle on grass
An over the shoulder shot of sign language with sign language usersin the background
3 male students studying
Disabled students smiling and talking
An over the shoulder shot of students sat at desks being taught by a teacher at the front desk

Articles & Podcasts

Articles

Asian Students Article

Disability Action Plan Launch

Disability & AI

robot hand reaching for human hand

Inclusive Code Article

image of cartoon hands pointing

Podcasts

Baskets of Knowledge Podcast

podcast tile of cartoon hosts

That's So Chronic Podcast

image of podcast tile with medical devices
An over the shoulder shot of sign language with sign language usersin the background
3 male students studying
Disabled students smiling and talking
An over the shoulder shot of students sat at desks being taught by a teacher at the front desk