News
- Moving to a Digital World
- New coins soon to debut
- Members take LA by storm
- Newmarket train station changes
- Helen Keller Day
Page 2
Moving to a Digital World
The Library is busy with the pilot for the internet capable digital talking book player. Mary Schnackenberg, Divisional Manager for Adaptive Support, gave an extremely interesting presentation to staff in late April providing an update on the project. There are a substantial collection of books and magazines in digital format and forty members are being approached to participate in the trial of the player, developed by Christchurch based company HumanWare.
The pilot itself will run from June until September and the results will assist the Foundation to choose the technology to deliver talking books in the future when the current compact cassettes are obsolete.
New coins soon to debut
Out with the old and in with the new - coins that is.
From 31 July 2006 the Reserve Bank will introduce new 50, 20 and 10 cent coins and the 5 cent coin will begin to be phased out. The new coins are smaller, lighter, and designed to be recognisable by touch alone.
From 1 November 2006 the current 50, 20, 10 and 5 cent coins will no longer be accepted at shops and businesses. The Reserve Bank has worked closely with the Foundation and the Association of Blind Citizens NZ (ABC NZ) throughout this process, and both organisations are pleased with the results. More information is available from the insert in this issue of Outlook.
Please note: The coins will be available at some of the Community Committee APM's (page 19), and at the Adaptive Daily Living drop-ins (page 26).
Members take LA by storm
It's not every day our members get to go to LA to interview famous musicians and actors and to meet Oprah Winfrey. But thanks to StarJam, Jonathan Heaps (18) and Ese Aumalesulu (18) did just that.
Page 3
Chosen for their amazing musical talents and dedication to StarJam, they were two of five teenagers with disabilities who spent two weeks in the States.
Interviewees were big names such as Michael Bolton, Julie Andrews and Sean Astin, and they even performed for Arnold Schwarzenegger! "It was an amazing experience. I'm not sure what the best part was - there is so much to choose from. I think I'm still getting my feet on the ground!" says Ese.
Exclusive footage from the interviews and Hollywood escapades will be screened at StarJam's next live show, StarJam Rocks, on 26 August in Auckland. For more information ph: 09 624 4555.
Newmarket train station changes
The Newmarket train station is used by many of our members, both from Auckland and around the country, who access the Foundation's Auckland office.
From Sunday 18 June access to the Newmarket railway station from Broadway will be closed and the overhead footbridge dismantled to allow for the redevelopment of the station. Access to the station will only be from the existing Remuera Road ramp. The Broadway access will not be re-opened for approximately two years. For further information please contact Chris Orr on 09 355 6883.
Helen Keller Day
On June 27 deafblind people around the world will be celebrating Helen Keller Day in memory of the remarkable work she did championing the rights of deafblind individuals.
The Foundation's Deafblind Services offers a variety of services to its deafblind members, one being the opportunity to attend the National Deafblind Residential Programme. It is on from 17-20 August at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Center in Turangi.
For more information or if you would like to attend please contact Gloria Campbell on 09 355 6907.