Inclusive Objectives
We in the Inclusive Taekwon-Do Federation of New Zealand Charitable Trust have some goals and pledge:
- To provide and promote the health benefits of Taekwon-Do for everyone in the community regardless of status.
- To help to close the gap in society who have social, intellectual, physical or financial needs, or a disability.
- To improve everyone in our community in their fitness, flexibility, confidence, self-esteem, self defence and well-being.
- To encourage a more positive life and to help those in the community see they can reach their full potential regardless of physical and/or intellectual disability.
- To empower children who wouldn’t usually be able to take part in Taekwon-Do due to socio-economic backgrounds and hardships.
- To help those with mental health challenges to enable them to learn how to build confidence within themselves.
What is a disability?
There are quite a few ideas and causes of a disability. Some could have complications at birth which loss of limbs is possible, others might later develop and show signs of the Autism Spectrum, commonly known as ASD, as young as 3 years old.
Other causes could be hereditary or by accident in life. For example, you might be working at a coal mine one day and an explosion breaks out. You could be unfortunately in the line of close proximity and get hit in the head. From there, you could end up in a wheel chair the rest of your life with serious brain injuries.
Everyone needs to remember a disability can be big or small, some can be seen and some are invisible. Inclusive Taekwon-Do is important as everyone needs to better support and embrace the future of those with disabilities.
As the years go by, more and more individuals with all kinds of needs are seeking to be included in activities such as Taekwon-Do. Many are turned away when they’re wishing to join a club. This in itself is very sad. Lets change this for the future!