Services Update
- Xtra Xtra, read all about it
- New AT classroom for Wellington
- Free post agreement remains
- Braille Breakthrough
- Focus group feedback on services invited
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Xtra Xtra, read all about it
The Internet has become a useful medium for Blindness Awareness and Prevention (BAP) to get their message across to the general public. Building further on the Xtra eye health quiz developed last year, BAP has been working on an eye safety quiz and competition for safety glasses, kindly donated by Protector Safety Limited.
The quiz will be up on Xtra's website, so make sure you check out your Safety Eye Q at www.xtra.co.nz.
New AT classroom for Wellington
In April the opening of a new adaptive training classroom was celebrated with a gala ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event was attended by acting Foundation CEO Paula Daye, Chair Jonathan Mosen and numerous members of the community.
The classroom is providing training to members in Microsoft applic-ations with adaptive technology. Courses run four half-days for 10 weeks. To join, contact Thomas Bryan on 04 380 2140.
Free post agreement remains
The free postage agreement, known as Articles for the Blind, has again been secured. The Ministry of Social Development signed a contract with New Zealand Post earlier this year in which the Ministry pays NZ Post to carry braille and talking books to and from Foundation members. NZ Post has agreed to standards about delivery delays.
Braille Breakthrough
For the first time, braille users were able to cast their votes in a truly secret ballot in the recent elections for the Foundation's board of directors. Cards were designed with the candidate's name in large print (for the returning officer) and in braille for members. By reading the names embossed in braille, members picked out the candidate that they wished to vote for and placed these candidates' cards in the return envelope.
Focus group feedback on services invited
As a way of receiving feedback from members about Foundation services, the Quality Assurance division will hold focus groups again this year, in late June and July. Participants will be randomly selected and invited to attend focus groups in the following centres: Invercargill, Dunedin, Ashburton, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Auckland and Whangarei.
These sessions are an opportunity to offer compliments, concerns or suggestions relating to Foundation services for members.