Information for businesses
Would a blind or partially sighted person come back after doing business with you? We offer professional services and training so you know how to provide great service to blind and partially sighted people.
We can help you:
- Train staff in blindness awareness
- Hire staff who are blind or partially sighted
- Help with sponsorship or staff volunteering
- Create accessible documents
- Create accessible websites
- Create safe and accessible spaces with the environmental design advisory service
For more information, phone 0800 24 33 33 or email general@rnzfb.org.nz
Training staff to interact with blind and partially sighted people
We also offer professional training courses to teach you how to comfortably and successfully interact with blind and partially sighted people.
A typical training programme teaches you to use some simple techniques to assist blind or partially sighted staff, students, clients, customers or residents.
We can teach you:
- How to guide a blind or partially sighted person safely
- Facts about vision impairment and different eye conditions
- How to interact with blind and partially sighted people
- How to create safe environments
Employer awareness training
We can help you broaden your awareness of the benefits of employing a blind or partially sighted member. We can provide employer awareness training to you if you have employed or are considering employing a blind or partially sighted person.
We can also help you make sure your workplace is functional and safe.
Accessible documents
Blind and partially sighted people need to access all types of information that is published in print. This includes anything from manuals to restaurant menus, music scores and novels.
We offer a contracted service to convert written material into accessible formats and advise on the accessibility of print or digital publications.
For more details, please email workflow.coordinator@rnzfb.org.nz
Accessible websites
With 20 per cent of New Zealanders living with a disability, and a significant number of ageing consumers in our population, it is crucial that people can easily access information about your business or organisation through your website.
See our accessible websites page for a few ideas to get your started.
Environmental design advisory service
Good environmental design benefits the community as a whole. It helps people who are blind or partially sighted to be independent and empowers them as they make their way through the world.
For businesses and organisations, being accessible to a wide range of customers can increase sales and provide good public relations.
We can help you maximise accessibility for customers and provide comprehensive and practicle information on building design and construction in accordance with the New Zealand building code and associated standards. Most of these options are easily implimented and are generally inexpensive.
For example, we advise on:
- The use of correct lighting and appropriate levels of contrast in the workplace
- Provide tactile or audible 'cues' for orientation
- Effective use of low vision aids
