Weekly update: 28 February 2025
Kia ora tatou,
Hello to all of us,
This coming Monday, 3 March, is Hearing Day so let’s celebrate knowledge and making the most of what we have!
Why is it celebrated on 3 March? Because the number 3 looks like an ear!
From the Hearing Day website. "World Hearing Day is an annual global advocacy event for raising awareness regarding hearing loss and promoting ear and hearing care, and calling for action to address hearing loss and related issues. Each year, this event is celebrated on 3 March, covering a specific theme on which the World Health Organization and its partners carry out activities based on this theme."
Find out more about Hearing Day 2025
This year, the theme is "Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all."
This year, Heading Day will mark the launch by the WHO (World Health Organisation) of two tools:
- a global standard for safe listening in video games and e-sports
- a school module on smart listening, for inclusion into educational programs.
Find out more on the WHO Hearing Day page
Thanks to Deafblind Coordinator Sarah Walters, Blind Low Vision NZ, for putting us in contact with another person who may want to come to Conference. Please remember we are able to talk to you on a one-to-one basis about what support you might need, including financial applications for funding. Keep your interest rolling in! 😊
We have regular meetings with Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People in pursuit of support for the unmet needs of deafblind, in particular around communication needs and how we reach our most marginalised people. We have quarterly meetings with Chief Executive Paula Tesoriero, and she is very aware of our community and how we are so often not recognised. Yesterday, when she was due to meet with us, she was called to speak to the Disability Survey 2023. Here you will find links to both the Disability Survey (see next item) and to the interview and article on RNZ National this morning.
[Interview: Half a million disabled people not supported - new survey (RNZ Nine to Noon)[https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018976847/half-a-million-disabled-people-not-supported-new-survey]
Have a great roll-over into March tomorrow and my commiserations to those of you who have a birthday on 29 February! 😊
2023 Household Disability Survey 2023
From Stats NZ.
Today Stats NZ released the findings from the 2023 Household Disability Survey (HDS). The HDS captures information about the prevalence of disability and the experiences of disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand. The survey is one of the most comprehensive sources of disability data in the country.
Please visit the Stats NZ website to read the HDS findings.
- Disability statistics: 2023 | Stats NZ
- 1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled | Stats NZ
- Disabled people need more care and support | Stats NZ
- Household Disability Survey 2023 – findings, definitions, and design summary | Stats NZ
- 2023 Household Disability Survey infographic | Stats NZ
Household Disability Survey 2023 - Final content (Stats NZ)
Unlock your potential – apply for a WBU scholarship today!
From the World Blind Union (WBU).
Are you, or someone you know, a blind or partially sighted individual with big dreams to further your education or build leadership skills? The World Blind Union is excited to offer five scholarships that can help turn those dreams into reality—especially for individuals from developing countries.
Applying is easy! We’ve made it simple with just one application form, and applications are accepted year-round. Applications are reviewed after April 30th each year.
Send your application to scholarships@wbu.ngo before April 30.
This is an amazing opportunity to invest in your future. If you have any questions or need help with the application, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Find out more about the 3 scholarships and 2 funds
Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life 2025
From Women’s UN Report Network (WUNRN) / Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF).
Nominations are open for the Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life.
A quarter of the world's population is made up of rural women, with 500 million women living below the poverty line in rural areas.
"To-date, 492 Prizes have been awarded in over 130 countries (US$ 1000 per prizewinner – honoring creativity, courage & compassion and help advance the quality of life in rural communities. “Many rural woman suffer form discrimination, systemic racism & structural poverty, despite playing a critical role in food security & nutrition. We must invest in rural women so they can have access to the healtcare, social protection & information services they need.” - WWSF.
Nomination form and guidelines for the 2025 Prize (PDF 905 KB)
List of the 492 winners so far, 1994 - 2024 (PDF 6.7 MB)
Ministry of Health governance opportunities
From Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People.
The Ministry of Health are very busy at the moment with Nominations to various boards and councils. There are two more below and both of these are looking for layperson members. Whilst some governance experience is always helpful, it is not essential for these positions. Therefore, if you are starting out in governance or you have community but not public sector governance experience, these opportunities might be a good next step.
The opportunities are:
- members of the Paramedics Council, closing date 6 March
- members of the Board for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, closing date 10 March.
Details of those vacancies and how to apply are below.
Vacancies on Te Kaunihera Manapou - Paramedic Council
Deputy Chair and Board members of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
Each application will need to be accompanied by your CV, a Cover Letter and also the Declaration of Interest form, which you’ll find on the MOH website, along with the vacancy information.
Please let Pauline Melham (Whaikaha) know if you are applying for one of these positions, at Pauline.Melham001@whaikaha.govt.nz. It’s always helpful to know if people are interested in what is on offer, and to track whether people are successful in getting positions. MOH are also quite keen to know when we have people from our database applying (please tell me if you don't want us to tell them about your application, should you send one in and let us know).
New events
Audio described tour of exhibition at Auckland Art Gallery
From A I Comms.
Auckland Art Gallery are pleased to announce that we are offering an Audio Described Tour of Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey.
This exhibition marks Eliasson's first solo showcase in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through his installations, sculptures and photographs, Eliasson brings to life the invisible aspects of our environment, exploring themes of human perception, experimentation, and environmental consciousness.
The tour is on Saturday 8 March, from 10:30am to 12pm and has an exhibition ticket price of $24.50. Led by the Gallery's Tourism Coordinator Moraig Humphries and audio described by Nicola Owen of Audio Described Aotearoa, this tour will last 90 minutes and is limited to 13 people.
If attending with a sighted companion, please book tickets for them also. Please note only one sighted companion per purchase. We will have two volunteer companions assisting us on the day, Christine and Yoshiko courtesy of Blind Low Vision NZ. Please let us know if you would like to request for one of them to walk with you but do not book their ticket as they are already catered for.
- When: Saturday, 8 March.
- Where: Auckland Art Gallery, corner Kitchener Street and Wellesley Street East Auckland CBD Ticket price is $24.50 each with discount for Gold card or Community Services card holders.
- Book online, or email Ellie Lim at ellie.lim@aucklandartgallery.com.
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March Webinar from The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.: Real time AI assistance with smart glasses and live video
From the BlindDiscuss mailing list / The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Date: 13 March 2025.
Time: 12pm NZDT.
Join The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. and tech YouTuber Carrie from Carrie on Accessibility for an interactive webinar on the latest advancements in AI voice and vision technology. We’ll explore and demonstrate ChatGPT’s Advanced VoiceMode with real-time image descriptions, walk through live video features with Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, and take a deep dive into Google Gemini 2.0’s multi-modal voice and vision capabilities. Learn how AI-powered tools can provide real-time descriptions using your smartphone camera, helping with reading text, identifying objects, and describing scenes. We’ll compare and contrast these three services and discuss their strengths and limitations. Don’t miss this informative and engaging session.
Register for the webinar (Zoom)
Note: if you can't join the live webinar, you will be able to access the recording.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar. Please reach out to questions@lhblind.org if you have any questions or need assistance with registration.
Check out previous webinars from The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. (YouTube)
Find out more about The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Check out Carrie on Accessibility's YouTube channel
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Auckland audio described ANZAC dawn service
From A I Comms.
Audio description of the ANZAC Dawn Service for blind, Deafblind and low vision attendees.
Date: Friday, 25 April 2025.
Time: 4:45am to 7am.
Place: Auckland Domain.
Booking is essential and must be received by 4pm on Tuesday 22 April 2025. To book, please contact Audio Described Aotearoa by email at scheduling@audiodescribedaotearoa.co.nz, or text or call Nicola on mobile 021 0358 513.
Please provide the following information when you book:
- name, address, email address, mobile phone number
- how many headsets you need
- whether you need us to provide you with a sighted guide.
If you're keen to be a volunteer guide then please contact Nicola as above.
Details
Gather outside Birthcare, 20 Titoki Street, Parnell, Auckland 1052 at 4:45am.
We will walk to Auckland Museum Underground car park at 5:00am and a staff member will walk with us to an assigned spot near the cenotaph area at 5:15am.
Please note, this reserved area will be opened to the public at 5:15am if space allows.
Event reminders
Te Matatini, happening now!
A reminder that tomorrow (Saturday 1 March) is the finals of Te Matatini, and there's live audio description and translation available through Haka Transpate on the Te Matatini app. TNVZ and Whakaata Moari are also , and tehre is a dedicated accessible space for dedicated space for whānau hauā / tāngata whaikaha / Turi Māori / disability community at the event itself. From Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People: "The Te Mata-Waiora marquee will be set up for people to have a break to recharge and get updates, refreshments, and support. Experienced and local kaitiaki will be on hand to provide information in NZSL, help you find your way around the event, or assist with care. Audio descriptions will be available for the finals via Haka Translate on the Te Matatini app."
Find out more about the event, and space, and watch an NZSL video (Facebook)
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Other event 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
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 ask whether we're becoming less disabled, plus the new doco series Sight Unseen and Aotearoa's first access coordinator.
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
See our 21 February 2025 update for open nominations and available roles.
21 February 2025 weekly update
Survey about online safety for young disabled people
All is for All would like to invite you, you whānau, and support workers (if applicable) to participate in a survey about your experiences navigating online and social media spaces and to learn about the types of training and learning opportunities you would like to see delivered to support young disabled people and their support networks with learning about online and social media safety.
Find out more in our 21 February 2025 weekly update
The survey is short and should only take 10 minutes to complete. We value your input and perspective, and your participation in the survey would be greatly appreciated.
Online safety and social media survey (All is for All)
If you have any questions or feedback about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Natalie Robinson by emailing natalie@allisforall.com.
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Submission opportunity to influence more content in audio description and captioning
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has released a discussion document on "modernising regulation and content funding arrangements for New Zealanders". Part of this includes increasing captioning and audio description.
More information, and the full paper (Ministry of Culture and Heritage)
Blind Citizens NZ will be making a submission. Any thoughts you care to share will be very much appreciated.
Find out more in our 21 February 2025 weekly update
Submissions close 11:59pm on 23 March 2025.
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Research about the education and employment of deafblind people in low / middle-resource countries
Deafblind International’s Global Research Initiative coincides with a research project on the education and employment of individuals living with deafblindness around the world.
The Université de Montréal are currently looking for persons living with early-onset deafblindness (while being a child or youth) to participate in interviews about their experience growing up deafblind. The goal of the project is to tell the stories of persons living with deafblindness, and to learn from the experiences, so we can do better.
Find out more in our 21 February 2025 weekly update
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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