Features
- What's New from Deafblind Services? New Staff and New Programmes, that's what!
- Focus on Employment
- Vocation Service
- First music camp for Peer Support
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What's New from Deafblind Services? New Staff and New Programmes, that's what!
Deafblind Services now have five staff members, with a new National Trainer to be hired this year. We welcome Specialist Support Trainers Brenda Glazer and Kelly Manolas, who have recently joined the Deafblind Services team and will be working primarily in the Auckland area.
Deafblind Services Co-ordinators are Gloria Campbell - north half of the North Island, Martyn Davis - south half of the North Island, and Richelle Frantz - South Island. Martyn and Richelle both joined Deafblind Services in 2001 and Gloria has been with the Foundation for over eleven years!
The first National Deafblind Educational Programme was held at the Mt Hutt Retreat in March. Twenty-one people with a combined sight and hearing loss attended, ranging in age from three to over 60! The educational camp was so well received, members are requesting it become an annual event.
Helen Keller Communication Day will again be celebrated on 27 June throughout New Zealand. Mark your diary now!
The Annual Tramp is planned for November 2002. For the first time in November 2001, deafblind trampers joined this educational adult programme on the Queen Charlotte Track. The location of the 2002 tramp is still to be confirmed, but if you are deafblind and interested in joining the group contact Michelle Wilson, RNZFB Sports and Recreation Instructor on (03) 375 4313, or mwilson.
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Focus on Employment
By Paul Barclay
Laura Eitjes, (29), is employed as court officer with the Department for Courts in Tauranga. After initially being recruited for seven months as telephonist to fill a maternity leave vacancy, Laura is still employed more than seven years later. Her ability to get on with the job and quickly learn what is required has meant that many and varied duties have been added to her initial role.
This is a full-time position which now encompasses five main duties. These include telephonist, manager - tenancy tribunal, court clerk, co-ordinating stationery requisitions and monitoring the radio telephones for the court's security officers.
Vocation Service
There is an exciting project occurring within the RNZFB's Vocation Service.
The "Increased Participation of Blind People in the Workforce" project is being funded by the Ministry of Social Development.
It is investigating the barriers faced by sight-impaired and blind people looking for employment or wanting to participate in community or voluntary work or undertaking tertiary study.
The Foundation's recent Focus Groups held in various centres around the country with Foundation members and allied agencies, will also help determine some of the barriers, and how they have been overcome.
Follow on projects will look at strategies to reduce these barriers. Research is also being undertaken to determine the actual level of unemployment among working-age Foundation members and their associated levels of income, and qualifications.
The Ministry of Social Development has approved funding for two Job Club pilots. These will be held in Wellington and Auckland over the next few months. They will involve eight people on Invalids Benefits who will meet for four days a week over a three-week period to look at CV preparation, interview skills, job-hunting techniques, etc.
If you require information on any of these subjects please contact Paul Barclay on (03) 375 4319 or email: pbarclay
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First music camp for Peer Support
The Foundation's Peer Support Programme is to run its first music camp at the end of June for blind or sight-impaired students who play an instrument.
The instructor for the Wellington-based camp from June 30 to July 3 will be a sight-impaired drummer now tutoring and freelancing for a variety of bands.
Troy Ramsay, Peer Support Co-ordinator says the students will produce a CD at the end of their time together.
Other recently organised peer support programmes include the outdoor leadership programme in Turangi with 45 youths from around the North Island who participated in activities from mud-sliding to golf. There was a canoeing and cultural experience down the Whanganui River with Tauakira Waka Tours, and a sea kayaking trip in the Abel Tasman National Park.
Ski programmes will be run at North and South Island ski fields between August and September 2002.
Peer support programmes aim to help students establish long term friendships with other blind and sight-impaired people their own age, and to develop self confidence in their ability to achieve.