Services Update
Page 16
Blind Awareness and Prevention
BAP has put in an application for funding from the Manukau City Council's social investment fund to hold the 2003 Eye Expo. BAP and Pacific Services would like the Expo to be held in Manukau City and have a Pacific cultural focus. It feels that the Maori and Pacific Islands communities, in particular, within the Manukau City region will benefit greatly from an educational initiative that will focus predominantly on diabetic retinopathy.
Workforce participation study
The Increased Participation of Blind People in the Workforce project has investigated the barriers to blind people participating in employment, tertiary study and voluntary work.
Results show that the most significant barriers are employers' awareness, funding and training for equipment. The biggest reasons for success are the same as for fully sighted people, ie a willing employer and a willing and competent employee.
The telephone research of a random selection of 150 working age Foundation members found that 36 percent of this group were working. Twenty-four percent were unemployed and seeking work and 40 percent were not seeking work. This 24 percent unemployment rate is nearly four times higher than the New Zealand population in general.
Follow on pilot projects aimed at addressing these barriers to participation will begin in 2003. These include job club and peer support programmes, employer awareness programmes and transition from school programmes. Pilots will be run in various parts of New Zealand.
The full report of the - "Increased Participation of Blind People in the Workforce" - project will be available from the Foundation's library early in 2003.
Adaptive Technology training
Stage two of the Wellington Adaptive Technology training programme begins early next year. Classes will focus on Microsoft Office applications with adaptive technology.
If you are:
- actively looking for employment
- need to up-skill to keep your job
- want to study at tertiary level
then we'd like to hear from you.
You also need to have accurate touch typing skills of 10 words per minute and good literacy skills.
Please call Devon Brock, service co-ordinator, on (06) 350 2543.