Learn with Us Ako i Tō Mātou Taha
At People First NZ we run courses for people with learning disability. Our fundamental courses are about rights and speaking up - self advocacy. We are also developing courses about everyday life skills.
The courses are designed by and for people with learning disability and are available face-to-face and online. We have facilitators that are experienced in delivering training to people with learning disability. Each course has a People First NZ member as an assistant facilitator.
The courses we run

Participants thinking about their goals in a Speaking Up course in South Taranaki.
Speaking Up
The Speaking Up course is designed for people with learning disability to learn about:
- human rights
- speaking up
- where in their local community they can get support and advice.
In this 6-session course participants have a chance to meet with people from their community and hear about what they do. Each session is about 2.5 hours.
Money Smarts Made Easy
This 4-session course has been developed by People First NZ together with Massey University Fin-Ed Centre.
On the course people with learning disability learn about:
- where their money comes from
- where their money goes
- how to keep their money safe.
Keeping Safe Feeling Safe
This is a 10-session course about bullying, abuse and neglect that was formed after a 3-year pilot project in Auckland.
It teaches adults with learning disability:
- what abuse is
- how to keep themselves safe
- where to go for help.
Free online life skills courses

Our Life Skills app is an online space designed as either a companion to our Learn with Us courses or to be used on its own.
Currently there are four life skill topics – speaking up, friendship, your rights and consent – with more topics planned.
A team of members formed a working group advising on the website at all steps of the process - from design to testing - and took lead roles in the videos.
- Visit the Life Skills website: www.learnwithus.org.nz
Interested in running a course?
If you would like more information about having a course in your area, contact:
Patrick Doherty
Learn with Us Co-ordinator
[email protected]

Facilitator Assistant, Hinewai Vercoe, with Speaking Up participants (holding their certificates). The course was run by Thames Supported Lifestyle Trust.