Weekly update: 14 February 2025
Kia ora tatou,
Hello to all of us,
Well, there’s quite a few things to be interested in this week as you find below. 😊
Firstly, in 2024 Deafblind Association NZ advocated to Andrea Midgen, Chief Executive Blind Low Vision NZ, for a facility to be able to communicate by text regarding queries and service delivery with them. We are very pleased to let you know that is now live. Here is the number.
Please do take this opportunity and our advocacy will be well worth it. Let us know if it works when you give it a try.
There is a webinar about using JAWS with Outlook 11. I’m interested in that as a JAWS user and maybe I will catch you there! Details in the newsletter, below.
It is also with both apologies and enthusiasm I let you know that we have now gone over our free limit for our weekly update and had to wait until this morning (Monday) to attend to this. This is excellent news because we are now sending out to 208 of you and that is a steady increase. Over 400 people are on our database and so receiving information in other preferred formats, mostly large print. If your preference is Braille please do let us know, or if you know someone who is a Braille user who will not be getting this email and identifies with dual sensory impairment support them to Be Seen Be Heard Be Connected. 😊
New SMS service for the deafblind community
From Blind Low Vision NZ.
Starting in 2025, the Blind Low Vision NZ contact centre team will have a new way for their deafblind clients to reach them – by text message! This service is part of their ongoing commitment to improving accessibility and offering more convenient ways for clients to connect with them.
The number to use for text messages is 022 011 7407. For phone calls, please continue to use 0800 24 33 33.
They will also be sending more information soon to the deafblind community.
Disability support funds on RNZ's Nine to Noon
Last week, our newsletter contained an item on the discussion document to support Disability Support Services (DSS) consultation.
The consultation runs from 10 February until 24 March 2025, and is about assessments, allocations and funding in the Disability Support Services system.
You can find introductions / forewords, a summary, background information, fact sheets, alternate formats and more below.
Discussion document to support consultation (Disability Support Services)
Since then, Kathryn Ryan of RNZ's Nine to Noon has interviewed Joanne Dacombe, (immediate past President of the Disabled Persons Assembly) and Jade Farrar, (chair of the National Enabling Good Lives leadership group) about the changes.
Disability support services back in the spotlight, 11 February 2025 (RNZ)
New housing service in Auckland
From the BlindDiscuss mailing list.
Disability Connect are extremely excited to launch a Disability Housing Navigation Service that is the first of its kind, in Auckland. Led and staffed by disabled people and their parents, the free service provides an advisor to support disabled people and their families to research, broker and find a suitable place to live.
If you need help finding a home, email them at admin@disabilityconnect.org.nz with the word "housing" in the subject line, or call 09 636 0351.
World Blind Union unveils a new logo and tagline
From the World Blind Union.
"Starting in 2024, we embarked on an initiative to modernize the WBU brand. This was an inclusive initiative that prioritized feedback from our members and partners. Through the use of focus groups and surveys, we tried to ensure your voices guided this journey. With the invaluable support of the marketing agency, Cinnamon Toast, we’ve reimagined our visual identity to better reflect our mission, values, and vision for the future.
"Today, we are proud to unveil our new tagline: 'Together towards inclusion.'
"This tagline concept positions WBU as an organization of momentum as it works together to advance the rights and inclusion of blind and partially sighted individuals around the globe.
"We are also excited to unveil our newly redesigned logo:
"For those who cannot see the logo, here is a detailed description: The World Blind Union logo. The symbol has bold, curved outer lines resembling the shape of an abstract eye. The outer lines wrap around a circular globe shape at their center. Beside the symbol is the text World Blind Union in a bold, modern font with curved edges that complement the symbol’s shape.
"With its intertwining lines flowing together around a globe, this logo concept — appearing as an abstract eye as a whole — represents connection and collaboration, global movement and inclusion. The primary rich blue colour palette has been selected to convey professionalism and credibility, and to uphold high levels of accessibility. This fresh, modern identity reflects our goal of amplifying the voices of blind and partially sighted individuals worldwide. It embodies our vision of a future that is inclusive, accessible, and empowering for all.
"This rebranding was inspired by the voices of our members and the collective impact of our work. We believe it represents the essence of what the World Blind Union stands for.
"We’d love to hear your thoughts on our new look!
"Share your feedback by replying to this email or join the conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
"Let’s continue working together towards inclusion."
New events
Live webinar: Introduction to the New Outlook with JAWS
6am, 21 February 2025.
If you'd like tips and keyboards commands for using the New Outlook with JAWS, you can join this live online webinar on Zoom.
Find out more, and register, for the webinar
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Sculpture in the Gardens audio described tour
From Audio Described Aotearoa.
Audio describer Nicola Owen will lead this audio described tour of the current exhibition, Sculpture in the Gardens, alongside a member of the gardens team, at Auckland Botanic Garden, in Manurewa. This free tour includes description and background of the artworks and a touch tour of many of the pieces on show to the public. We will book a table in the café for the end of the tour so we can sit as a group to vote for our favourite artworks and buy our own drinks and treats.
The white lady golf cart is available to patrons who may find the 2km route challenging. Please let us know when you book if you think you will need this as spaces are limited.
When: Sunday, 23 February, 9:30am to 11am.
Where: Auckland Botanic Garden, 102 Hill Road, The Gardens, Auckland.
Tickets: free.
To book: please contact Nicola on 021 035 8513 or via email at audiodescribedaotearoa@gmail.com.
Let us know how many headsets you need and if you are coming with your own guide or need us to arrange a volunteer.
Meet at the Visitor centre by 9:15am.
Please remember to wear shoes you can walk in, and a hat, and bring sunscreen and a water bottle.
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Wellington Audio Described Three Feet Under
From A I Comms.
What would you do if you came home to find your flatmate standing over a corpse?
Libby and Jax have been best friends forever. Ride or die, cradle to grave - no matter what, they will support each other... Which is how they found themselves outside, late at night, burying a body in their backyard.
Sammy - Libby's cousin and Jax's ex - has met an untimely end. As Libby breaks down, Jax furiously tries to cover up what happened. The pair bicker, freak out, and generally create a mess of hiding evidence, pushing their bonds of friendship to the limits.
Three Feet Under is a new New Zealand comedy about friendship, mistakes, loyalty... and burying a body in your backyard. This show is on during the Wellington Fringe Festival.
When: Friday, 28 February. 6pm, touch tour; 6:30pm, audio described performance.
Where: Te Auaha - Tapere Iti, 65 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington.
Cost: tickets range from $15 to $25.
To book: call the Fringe Festival ticketing line on 04 212 4725 or book online at aicomms.nz/0223.
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2025 audio described and other accessible events
"Times have changed for the better. Older lifelong blind people remember their childhood museum visits being no more than tours of locked glass cases with some friends or families patiently reading some of the posters associated with the objects locked behind the glass. Today we can now say that opera, ballet, modern dance, pantomimes, magic shows, art galleries and museums are no longer just for sighted people. There's a whole world of new discovery asking to be explored, made possible through audio description from trained describers and theatre, museum and art gallery staff."
Audio Described Aotearoa and Accessible Information and Communications Ltd (A I Comms) have released their compilation of audio described and other accessible events for 2025. The booklet also features explanations of audio description and other other accessible event offerings.
With 45 events nationwide, in both the South and North Islands, there's lots to check out in the booklet below.
Audio Described Aotearoa and A I Comms: 2025 Audio Described and Other Accessible Events, 4 Feb 2025 (.DOCX 123 KB)
Event reminders
Retina Research symposium
From Paul Glover President of Retina NZ (and Usher Syndrome Ambassador).
On 21 and 22 February, Retina NZ is running its symposium, "Advances in Retina Research Australasia". It's aimed at eye professionals, researchers, members, blind low vision, other professionals, and interested public.
The event is in person in Auckland, and there will also be live streams and recordings available.
You can find out more, including the venue, agenda, audience and how to register, on our calendar (events) page.
Calendar / events (Deafblind Association NZ)
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Other reminders
Check out our calendar of events for reminders of all the other events coming up, and updated dates for our regional peer-to-peer gatherings.
Calendar / events (Deafblind Association NZ)
Other newsletters
Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) Information Exchange: 12 February 2025
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The D*List
The D*List website is an online culture magazine that creates space for disabled people to tell their own stories through features, columns and news reporting. This week, they're back, plus people can win free stickers, they discuss the DSS consultation, and lots more.
Link to weekly update below.
The D*List Delivered (Substack)
Following is a link to have a browse of The D*List website or sign up to receive their weekly newsletter.
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Be Seen be Heard be Connected weekly update, and mailing list
You can find our weekly Seen Be Heard Be Connected updates (ie our newsletter) on our website, at the following link.
Our weekly updates (Deafblind Association New Zealand)
You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter, and / or our mailing list DBANZ Discuss, at the links below. Please feel free to spread the word 😊
Ngā mihi mahana,
Warm regards,
Amanda
Feedback requested reminders
National Housing Survey
The Urban Advisory is running a longitudinal study so there is no foreseeable closing date. The survey asks how people make their housing choices and what they want to see happen with housing in the future, with the intention of helping New Zealand better respond to housing needs and demand.
Completed surveys are eligible for entry into a quarterly prize draw to win a $200 Prezzy Card. It is an online survey through Qualtrics and is expected to take less than 30 minutes to complete.
New Zealand's Housing Survey (The Urban Advisory)
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Public library use and accessibility
Blind Low Vision NZ Client Training and Engagement Senior Advisor Tom Smith asks: “Is there anybody willing to be interviewed about their use of public library services and accessibility?"
Email Tom for details, at tsmith@blindlowvision.org.nz.
Regular / ongoing events
No Labels on Wellington Access Radio
You can listen to the show on Wellington Access Radio on Tuesday just after 1pm, or the following Tuesday at the same time.
If you miss the scheduled show, you can check it out later online at the link below.
No Labels (Wellington Access Radio)
Or you can subscribe to the show via your preferred podcast player to check out this episode or previous episodes of the show.
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Blind Spot, Radio Southland
Monthly show hosted by Carolyn Weston.
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Entertainment with Able
Able is a not-for-profit organisation working towards a more inclusive Aotearoa, believing everyone should be able to access news, entertainment and culture. Funded by NZ On Air, they’re Aotearoa’s leading provider of media access services, including captioning services, subtitling and audio description.
Listings are available at the following browser links:
A link to Able's website to subscribe to the weekly newsletter with listings and picks of the week follows.
Deafblind Association New Zealand access to TellMe
See TellMe numbers for your area
End of report and this week’s update.
Amanda Stevens
Executive Officer
Taringa Turi Kāpō Rōpū
Deafblind Association New Zealand