Member Services
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Who we are and what we do
Welcome to a new section of Outlook that will keep you informed about the services we offer members. Below is a general description of Foundation services, and in future issues we'll devote space to a more in-depth look at individual services.
Check out the Foundation's website at www.rnzfb.org.nz/ourservices for more details or read the 2005/2006 annual report to find out how we are improving services. It's available in accessible formats on the website or phone 0800 24 33 33 to request a print, audio, braille or large print copy.
Everyday life
Adjusting to sight deterioration or blindness means relearning the skills to manage everyday tasks safely and effectively, such as using automatic teller machines, identifying weeds when gardening, or preparing meals. We can show you or your children tips and techniques. The Foundation also sells equipment such as talking clocks, talking tape measures, talking scales and white canes. Our Counselling services are free to members to help you adjust emotionally and psychologically, to sight loss. We administer a number of trusts that can provide financial support with equipment or paying for education. The Foundation's network of volunteers can also help with transport to health-related appointments, delivering talking book machines and so on.
Finding your way around
Orientation and mobility training helps you walk safely or travel independently according to the goals you have set for yourself or for your children. We support you to gain awareness of your environment, negotiate obstacles, make safe road crossing decisions and confidently use public transport. We also breed, train, match and care for guide dogs.
Participating in the community
We actively support members to seek jobs by providing skills in adaptive technology and making employers more aware of your needs and potential. By belonging to the Foundation you can participate in recreation programmes, from kayak trips down the Wanganui River to indoor bowls, thus reducing the sense of isolation that vision impairment can sometimes cause.
The Library and Telephone Information Service (TIS)
The Library has almost 8000 talking books and just as many braille books. You can access some New Zealand newspapers on TIS, along with updated news about services and events the Foundation is organising. We also translate educational material into braille.
Services for Māori, Pacific peoples and deafblind members
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We acknowledge the specific needs and cultural values of groups of members by offering tailor-made services. These range from blindness awareness to communicator guides for deafblind members.
Adaptive Communications Instructors
Adaptive Communication Instructor Pete McGlinchey's biggest success stories in the last 18 months reflect the diversity of members learning new skills to connect with the world.
"I have a lady in her 80's who took up JAWS [screen reader] only four years ago," he says. "She is now doing correspondence courses in writing and has had articles published in the local newspaper."
Adaptive Communication Instructors, or ACIs, teach members new communication skills using a variety of different tools (braille, CCTVs, magnifiers, etc ) and assess the computer equipment, software and training for members depending on their needs and interests.
Partially sighted and a braille reader himself, Pete finds he can build a good working relationship with his clients.
"I'll assess the way a member can access their computer screen and then plan a programme with them, so that with training they can work to meet their goals."
Based in Christchurch and responsible for members in the top half of the South Island (from Nelson across to the West Coast and down to Ashburton), Pete works almost exclusively with people interested in developing computer skills.
"One member posed quite a different challenge with his literacy difficulties as well as sight loss," Pete says. "Eighteen months ago he was really struggling. Now (and with support from Elmwood and Karoro Resource Centres) he is learning uncontracted braille and computer skills, his reading level is three years higher and his self-esteem has increased."
Pete is currently working with a couple of new products: Talking Typer is a verbal interactive typing programme, which he suspects is a bit addictive. "Even people who've never used a computer before love this programme! It encourages people to continue their studies."
Then there's FreedomBox, a speech voice programme (see page 11 for more details). Pete also has the support of three wonderful volunteers: John Anderson, Pat Corston and Hanny Stufkens. "Between them, they are my braille transcriber, driver and 'eyes'," he says.
For more information on the Foundation's Adaptive Communications Service phone 0800 24 33 33.