Equipment
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Hazard Alert
The Foundation's Blindness Awareness and Prevention (BAP) division is investigating some of the outdoor hazards faced by blind and sight-impaired people that are not covered by the building standards code 412.
Project Development Co-ordinator Zee Burnett says these range from overhanging trees to road works and sandwich boards.
She would like people who have encountered an outdoor hazard to contact BAP with a description of what it was, whether they took any action over it and generally how they negotiated around it.
"The more information we get from people, the better our approach can be in resolving some of these issues," she says.
She says hazards also include the lack of consistency for pedestrian signals, which vary around NZ. Many only have the sound emanating from one side of the crossing, which can pose problems for those who have both sight and hearing loss.
Roadworks which intrude onto the footpath can be dangerous especially if barriers around holes are not correctly in place.
General obstacles such as sandwich boards, café chairs and tables and wheelie bins left on the footpath are all potential problems for blind and sight-impaired people.
Zee can be contacted on 09 355 6931 or email zburnett
Equipment updates and usage tips
Talking Watches - We are currently sourcing new Talking Watches that will suit slimmer wrists. Quality is a very important issue and we have been looking at many samples to ensure that we make the best choice. We will let you know when there is new stock available.
Also, all the watches we purchase have the same wrist strap to help minimise the cost to you. If you do not like the strap that comes with your watch it is very easy to replace it through your local chemist shop, jeweller or other supplier. There are many options and prices available. Replacement batteries can also be obtained through local retailers.
Long Ring Timers - Many people get confused when setting the long ring timers. To ensure that the bell does ring for a significant amount of time when you are setting it for only a few minutes, make sure that you turn the knob all the way past 30 first and then back to the desired number of minutes. You will hear the big difference that this makes in the ring time!
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Equipment Display Dates for June to September 2002
For confirmation, venues and times please contact your nearest Locality Office; listen to Equipment Displays on TIS, or ring Equipment Services on 0800 243 333 Option 4.
June
4 Whakatane
5 Auckland
5 Christchurch
7 Thames
13 Morrinsville
18 Gisborne
19 Auckland
20 Wanganui
26 Napier
26 Lower Hutt
26 Dunedin
July
1 Whangamata
3 Auckland
3 Palmerston North
3 Christchurch
5 Ngongotaha
11 Te Awamutu
16 Gisborne
17 Auckland
23 Invercargill
24 Hastings
25 Wellington
August
2 Rotorua
5 Tauranga
5 Alexandra
6 Fielding
7 Auckland
7 Hamilton
7 Christchurch
7 Central Otago
15 Wanganui
19 Oamaru
20 Gisborne
21 Auckland
26 Upper Hutt
26 Dunedin
28 Whangarei
28 Napier
28 Mana (Wellington)
September
2 Whitianga
4 Auckland
4 Palmerston North
4 Christchurch
6 Turangi
10 Westport
12 Cambridge
17 Gisborne
18 Auckland
24 Waipukurau
24 Invercargill
26 New Plymouth