Services Update
Page 18
Deafblind database
The Foundation, in partnership with Deafblind NZ Inc, is currently surveying health and education professionals to establish the size of New Zealand's deafblind population. Until now, its size has been an estimate based on overseas data and New Zealand demographics. So far, 9000 questionnaires have been sent to ophthalmologists, audiologists, GPs, schools, rest homes and other allied agencies. This Ministry of Health funded survey is part of research being done to find out likely demand for deafblind services. Questionnaires will be collated and analysed in the next few months, with data available by the end of 2004.
QA focus group meetings
As a way of receiving feedback from members about Foundation services, this year the Quality Assurance division will again hold focus groups in late June and July.
Participants will be randomly selected and invited to attend focus group meetings in the following centres: Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Taupo, Palmerston North, Gisborne and Dunedin. These sessions will have an emphasis on equipment services and telephone information services, and are an opportunity to offer compliments, concerns or suggestions relating to all Foundation services.
Braille for Starters
"Braille for Starters" is underway at the RNZFB Library. This collection contains books and articles likely to appeal to people who have recently learned to read braille. Works are short or of an anthology type. Contemporary and humorous subjects are included, along with abridged editions of some well-known stories. Titles are available in contracted or uncontracted braille. They are single-spaced or double-spaced, and single-sided or double-sided. To borrow from this collection, braille readers simply ring the Foundation's Library: 0800 24 33 33; or if you are in Auckland, 355 6969. You can also email the Library at: library@rnzfb.org.nz.
New look SOS campaign
The Save Our Sight campaign, which the Foundation promotes in partnership with Retina NZ and the NZ Association of Optometrists, hits the streets again in August.
This year's campaign will be much more visible, as we have some new expertise to help us design a campaign to deliver its compelling message to a larger audience.
Even though we will have a new campaign, Save Our Sight will still feature Funky Eye Friday, for primary and intermediate school children to design, create and send in funky frames for eye-glasses to win great prizes.