Division changes
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Introducing TEA!
The RNZFB has recently revamped its old Blindness Awareness and Prevention division to incorporate Employment Services and Adaptive Technology. The aim of the change is to provide quality services and support to our members through more effective case management, more proactive responses and more flexible responses to member and community requests. With the change in focus comes a change in the name. From now on the BAP division will be called Technology, Employment and Awareness division - or TEA for short. There will be three new service departments reporting directly to Chris Inglis as Divisional Manager. These departments are;
Adaptive Technology Services
Headed by Neil Jarvis. Neil is based in our Wellington office and can be reached on Ph (04) 380-2160 and email: njarvis. Adaptive Technology Services include Adaptive Technology Trainers, Technologists and the Mobile Adaptive Technology Service.
Employment Services
(Used to be Vocational Services.) Headed by Thomas Bryan. Thomas is also based in the Wellington office and can be reached on Ph: (04) 380-2160 and email: tbryan. As many of you will be aware Employment Services have undergone a number of changes over the last few years. The most significant of these was the introduction of a placement service last year. Employment Services aim to provide individualised support to RNZFB members to enable them to gain and retain the job of their choice.
Community Education and Awareness
Headed by Chris Orr the team is based in the Auckland and Christchurch offices. The CEA team provides blindness awareness programmes in the community along with employer awareness activities to increase employment opportunities for members. Other key activities include blindness awareness and environmental design advice. Chris can be reached on Ph: (09) 355-6900 and email: corr.
Implementation of the changes will start this month and should be concluded by the middle of next year. We will keep you informed as the changes progress and intend communicating this to our wider stakeholders starting with our members, community committees and consumer organisations. Please contact us if you would like further information, ph: 0800 24 33 33.