Shopping Independently with Blindness and Low Vision
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Formerly Blind Foundation Autumn Outlook 2020 Shopping independently with blindness and low vision: Finding shops • Inside the shop • The accessible future Feedback on our services Blind Low Vision NZ is committed to providing high quality services. To provide feedback on our services, please contact Denise Kitto, Manager National Services, at [email protected] Or C/- Private Bag 99941, Newmarket, Auckland 1149. Please get in touch if your vision needs change on 0800 24 33 33. Cover photo: Jackson Paraha facebook.com/BlindLowVisonNZ blindlowvision.org.nz ISSN 2703-4216 The inside word Message from the Chair and Chief Executive • Covid-19 • Introducing our regional service model • Eye health 2 Aotearoa develops seven-point plan Feature 13 Shopping independently with blindness or low vision. People 18 Celebrating 130 Years Everyday living Accessible religious content to practice your faith • 24 Sharing tips on personal grooming with vision loss Community Life without limits around the country • Message from parents of Vision Impaired NZ (PVINZ) • Consumer 29 organisation contact details Autumn 2020 • Outlook 1 The Inside Word Hello to All Welcome to the 2020 Autumn edition of Outlook, our flagship publication aiming to keep you up to date with what’s going on at Blind Low Vision NZ and to share helpful information and stories featuring some of the great people in our community. Covid-19 Update Covid-19 Level Alert We want you to have the support Recovery Plan you need to get through the What it means for you: Covid-19 crisis. If your vision has worsened or you don’t have access Level 2 - Reduce: to the essentials such as food or The disease is contained, but the medicine, please get in contact and risk of community transmission we will help in any way we can – remains. 0800 24 33 33, • Essential services designation [email protected] now applied across the You may have been contacted by organisation. Operational a member of our team to check in decisions to be based on on your health and wellbeing and Alert Levels by a town, city, make sure you have access to the and territorial local authority, essentials. We want no one left regional or national level. behind during the Covid-19 crisis • Service delivery to a client will and we have joined with blind, low require approval. vision and deafblind organisations • All offices re-open to employees to make sure we are doing only, with limited numbers using everything we can to support you. social distancing and shifts. (This It has been an honour to be classed will vary depending on locations as an essential service and at Alert and buildings). Level 2 we can look at resuming face-to-face client visits. 2 Outlook • Autumn 2020 • Physical distance and infection Level 1 - Prepare: control guidelines followed The disease is contained in including PPE. New Zealand. • Contact tracing measures • All offices re-open to employees, established and implemented. members, volunteer groups and the public. • Individual client service appointments may occur in the • Meeting appropriate public office or offsite. health requirements, and health • All offices are closed to and safety requirements. members/clients, volunteer • No restrictions on gatherings. groups or the public. For the full recovery plan go to blindlowvision.org.nz Autumn 2020 • Outlook 3 The Inside Word Support in your local area waiting time, we have moved into Since starting at Blind Low Vision a regionalised structure. The idea NZ in August 2019, it has been full is that a supportive and local team speed ahead for Chief Executive structure will be better equipped John Mulka and the team. We are to respond to the specific needs pleased to share that we have for you and your area. Although made great progress in embedding we only officially moved to this a new approach to providing the model in March 2020, promisingly, service you are looking for. our data is already showing improvements in bringing you In the last issue of Outlook we service faster. shared information about our approach to service being person- We have a fantastic team directed, putting the people we supported by regional and area are here to serve firmly in the managers – a mix of new and director’s seat. Since then, in old faces from the organisation. order to better manage increased Find out more about them and demand for services and reduce our services areas on page 8. 130 years strong and looking ahead This year marks 130 years since we first formed as Jubilee Institute for the Blind New Zealand. Over this time our purpose has remained grounded in supporting people who are blind or have low vision, but the way we go about it is always evolving. The latest change to our name – now Blind Low Vision NZ – inclusively acknowledges the many people we are here for who identify as having low vision. The way we provide service is another striking example of how 4 Outlook • Autumn 2020 Autumn 2020 • Outlook 5 things have changed. Once, we only Strategic plan had one location – in Auckland. 2020-2024 Now we have offices in 18 locations We would like to thank everyone around New Zealand, and counting. who fed into the recent consultation Promisingly, our plans to further process for developing our next monetise our Parnell site to support long-term strategic plan. It’s service delivery are developing well. important we focus our efforts Out of this, clients will benefit from around what matters most to you, the brand new facilities developed our clients and family. as part of the retirement village joint venture. Early indications suggest you want us to be focused on advocating Plans to open an office later this for accessiblity, employment and year in West Auckland fit in with the technology. By the time you read long lens we are casting over how this our strategic plan will have we are ensure we are best placed to been finalised. You can find more serve clients in their communities. on blindlowvision.org.nz 6 Outlook • Autumn 2020 Meanwhile, we remain committed We wouldn’t be where we are and active in driving for systemic without the support of generous change with accessibility and eye New Zealanders who give their time health care in New Zealand. and money to making a difference for people who are blind or have On page 10 you can read more low vision. about our progress with Eye Health Aotearoa and the seven-point plan Nga Mihi, for action. You can also find out the latest on the Access Alliance’s campaign to introduce accessibility legislation in New Zealand. We are pleased with the progress, but we also cannot rest on our laurels to see it through to completion. Lastly, we would like to acknowledge and thank the many people who John has met over the past six months who have helped John Mulka him become acquainted with the Blind Low Vision NZ Chief Executive community. Having travelled the length of the country, it has been an insightful exercise to understand how Blind Low Vision NZ can best meet the needs of our clients and work together with the consumer groups in the wider community. Speaking of great people, a special congratulations goes to Pip McCann who received a Queen’s Service Medal in the New Year Honours list this year. Pip has dedicated many Rick Hoskin years of service to raising puppies Royal New Zealand Foundation of and funds in support of our guide the Blind (RNZFB) Board Chair dogs service, first in Auckland and then in Queenstown. Autumn 2020 • Outlook 7 The Inside Word Introducing our regional service model In March 2020, we officially moved to a new model for delivering service. The idea of the new regional approach is that a supportive and local team structure will be better equipped to respond to the specific needs for you and your area. Alongside this, our Primary Service expected of them to make sound, Providers (PSPs) based in all areas client centric decisions.” are your local point of contact responsible for arranging the services that can best meet your Dan Shepherd: Area Manager personal goals for living with Auckland and blindness or low vision. Northland We are pleased to introduce you to our leadership team representing “As a part of the blind and low your local area. vision community myself, I am continually seeking ways to make Northern region a difference. This role allows me to be part of a Liz Ansell: team that shares that commitment Regional Manager and to deliver better quality service and support to clients.” “The new model builds accountability and empowers local leadership to know what is 8 Outlook • Autumn 2020 serve. I am now in a position where Sefulu Calvert: I can lead and support a team of Area Manager highly motivated and committed Waikato and professionals so that the people we Bay of Plenty help continue to achieve their goals.” “I aim to be principle centered as it Chloe Billington: applies equally to everyone; myself, Area Manager my team and the clients I serve. Nelson, Wellington Principles will never fail you.” and Kapiti Central and In previous roles I’ve had Southern region the opportunity to meet representatives from Blind Low Vision NZ and have been amazed Bryce Tietjens: by your breadth of services. Regional Manager I am humbled and excited by the opportunity to join the team.” “Since joining I have found the Carolyn Stiles: passion around Blind Low Vision Area Manager NZ - its people, volunteers and Christchurch, partners – to be just amazing. I Dunedin, have been blessed to have met Invercargill and many incredible people.” Timaru Israel Coello: “It’s all about our clients.