Latest news
An inspiration for Blind Week
The special theme for this year's Blind Week is all about celebrating the Foundation's 120 year anniversary and asking the public to help us provide members with the support they need in the future.
One of the faces of the campaign is Waipu personality and blind community worker, George Phiske, an 88-year-old member and inspiration to us all.
George has led a colourful life – born with no sight in one eye and very poor vision in the other, he's had to go about life a little bit differently.
Back when he was a teenager, he asked the local store owner if he could do some work in the shop: "He knew I was blind and didn't think I could do it. But I said to him, 'I can definitely do it'. So he gave me a chance. Sure, it took me a bit longer, but we got there in the end".
Later, George married a lovely woman named Margery and they adopted three children. They moved up to Waipu where he worked on the farm, milking cows and working the land. He even ran tours through the Waipu caves.
George and Margery were a great team because "Margery let me be who I was. She didn't rush to help me all the time, she just let me do it my way and I treasure her for that," George says.
He recalls one particular day when Margery was ill and he was cutting down gorse on their property. Margery was sitting in the lounge and communicating with him by walkie talkie, directing him to where the next gorse bush was.
As his sight deteriorated, George got his first guide dog, Barnie. He's now onto his third guide dog, Georgie. "His real name is George, but when I told the locals about it, they said, no you don't – one in the district is too much!" George says.
Over his life, George has volunteered for Blind Week, right from the beginning. He has organised the street collection for
Waipu and its surrounding districts, and often goes around the streets with his guide dog to say thank you on behalf of the Foundation and its members.
Photograph: George at home in his workshop
He has also volunteered for other causes and was recognised with a High Achiever award at the 2010 New Zealander of the Year Awards.
"Blindness hasn't stopped me – the assistance I've had from the Foundation, my parents and family and friends (and I've got lots of those) has been absolutely fantastic. Life's been very kind to me."
Blind Week runs from Tuesday 26 October to Monday 1 November and the Foundation is holding a street appeal.
If you would like to be a volunteer collector for Blind Week, please phone 0800 120 BLIND (0800 120 254) or register at www.blindweek.org.nz
New adult service model update
The new way of delivering adult rehabilitation services is now happening in the South Island and will be rolling out across the North Island in October this year.
This means the majority of services will be provided in groups or individually from centres around the country, and on those few occasions where needs assessment indicates, services will be provided in clients' homes. The groups will focus on helping members acquire essential blindness skills as well as offering the opportunity to make new friends and contacts.
To help ensure services are occurring as planned and communication is maintained over the period of active service, each new member will be given the name of a key contact at the Foundation. Over time we plan to allocate a key contact to all members who actively receive services.
Regular updates on the service delivery will be available on our website and TIS.
Aspiring Leaders' Forum
The Aspiring Leaders' Forum saw two Foundation members rub shoulders with the nation's Members of Parliament and other leaders, while debating the ideas and philosophies of leadership.
The forum was held in Wellington in July and was based on faith and values, with the aim of bridging the growing divide between our nation's young people and its leaders.
The Foundation sponsored member Ezekiel Robson to attend, with Hamilton City Council sponsoring another member, Renee Junger.
Ezekiel found the forum inspirational: "The speakers' stories helped put my vision impairment in the context of a broader range of aspirations and challenges we all share."
Developments in cataract research
Photograph: Dr Julie Lim in the lab.
Julie Lim, a molecular biologist at the University of Auckland's Department of optometry and Vision Science, is conducting research on age-related nuclear cataracts.
According to the World Health Organisation, age-related cataracts are responsible for 48 percent of world blindness. This represents about 18 million people.
A cataract is an eye condition which causes clouding of the nucleus or centre of the lens. Currently a cataract can be removed by surgery, but with an aging population, more people may seek surgery. Dr Lim says this will put extra pressure on our hospital systems and potentially increase waiting times for surgery.
"Our research is focused on finding medical therapies to prevent or delay cataracts without the need for surgical intervention. We know that people get a nuclear cataract because as we age, the levels of antioxidants in our nucleus significantly reduce." The research is investigating ways to elevate levels of antioxidants specifically in the lens nucleus, therefore protecting it from cataracts.
Dr Lim has been working in the field of cataract research for six years under her mentor, Professor Paul Donaldson. Recently, she received the 2010 Zonta Science Award which recognises her work on cataract research and her contribution to the wider science community.
"It sounds corny, but I want to do research which might help people in the future."
RNZFB joins the DAISY field
The Foundation is now a full member of the DAISY Consortium, an international not-for-profit association that develops and promotes DAISY (digital accessible information system) standards.
The consortium was formed to lead the worldwide transition from analogue to digital talking books and has representatives from all over the world.
Neil Jarvis, Executive Director Access, Innovation and Enterprise, says the Foundation was previously on the Board as a representative for the Australia New Zealand Accessible Information Group, along with Vision Australia. Both parties have now decided to become full members.
"This means we continue to have a connection to the body which is responsible for the digital technology that our own library will be based on. Opportunities will also arise by having contact with similar organisations," he says.
DAISY software for digital talking books promises to revolutionise the reading experience for people who have print disabilities.
Photograph: The new RNZFB digital player, which plays DAISY software on CD.
Census caters for blind community
The Foundation is working with Statistics New Zealand to ensure the 2011 Census is accessible for our members.
What you need to know
In the two weeks leading up to 8 March 2011, the Foundation will mail out braille and audio versions of the census questions and guide notes to members.
At the same time, Statistics New Zealand collectors will visit every household in New Zealand to deliver internet access codes and forms. They will ask about the number of people in your household in order to provide the right number of individual forms plus a dwelling form.
When census collectors come to your door, make sure you clearly identify yourself as a blind or partially sighted person so the collector can offer assistance. Collectors know that some Foundation members will receive braille forms separately but they still need to provide forms for everyone in the household.
Everyone in the household must fill in an individual form, which includes questions about age, ethnic group, qualifications and occupation. The dwelling form asks questions about the place you live in – just one person in the household needs to fill in this form. You can choose to fill in the forms online or on paper. Caregivers, family or friends can help complete forms where needed.
Key facts
The census is the official count of how many people and dwellings there are in New Zealand. The next census will be held on Tuesday 8 March 2011. Information from the census helps determine how government funding is spent in the community.
For more information, visit www.census.govt.nz or phone your local TIS line.
Go to previous section.
Go to next section.