Kia ora tatou,
Hello to all of us,
“Access, accessibility, reasonable accommodation.”
There is often some confusion about what these terms mean so I am hoping to offer a little clarification here.
Access: all people have a right to access services and facilities.
Accessibility: we see every day things that are not accessible to us, e.g. full and safe access to public buildings, swimming pools, social housing, and information about our health, to name but a few. Accessibility is about the permanent change in the environment that allows all people to access and use services and facilities without specific extra efforts. This kind of social change takes time and is critical for healthy societies. .
Reasonable accommodation: this is about an individual’s request for specific accommodation, e.g. requesting a doorway is widened in the work place to accommodate a wheelchair, or requesting an agenda in Braille.
It is a necessary and appropriate modification or adjustment. It can be achieved relatively quickly.
In coming weeks I will pop in a few examples of reasonable accommodation and the Articles of the UNCRPD (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) so you can see how this fits with our rights. Send me your examples too please!
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Help improve accessibility to housing and the built environment
From Access Matters Aotearoa.
Housing and the built environment play a critical role in the independence and participation of people with disabilities and those with access needs.
Kōrero for change – housing and the built environment webinar recording (Access Matters Aotearoa)
Despite being a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Aotearoa New Zealand falls short of compliance. Our patchwork of laws, standards, and regulations is outdated and lacks coherence, with no clear way to enforce accessibility requirements.
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN Human Rights Office OHCHR)
The issue has been acknowledged but not addressed. We believe Aotearoa can do better, and we invite you to take action. Here’s how you can help.
Sign the petition
Access Matters has launched a petition calling the House of Representatives to enact robust legislation for accessible housing and the built environment.We are close to reaching 500 signatures, help us by signing and sharing the petition.
Sign the petition (change.org)
Complete the survey
Massey University’s School of Built Environment has teamed up with Auckland University of Technology’s Faculty of Culture and Society on a groundbreaking research project funded by the Building Research Association of New Zealand. The project is called “Making New Zealand’s Built Environment Inclusive and Accessible for Everyone”.
The researchers are Dr Claire Flemmer and Professor Alison McIntosh. The research aims to improve accessibility in public buildings across Aotearoa New Zealand for people with different types of disabilities.
Complete the survey (Massey University)
The survey will be used to collect information on the experiences of people with disabilities when they visit buildings. The survey results will be used to help government organisations, building designers and owners make buildings more inclusive and accessible.
The online survey should take about 10 minutes and anyone who completes the survey can enter a lottery to win one of twenty gift vouchers worth $100 (redeemable in New Zealand only).
To request a paper version of the survey or to complete the survey via phone, please contact Claire by email atc.l.flemmer@massey.ac.nz or by phone at 06 951 7122.
Your voice matters! Together, we can create real change that benefits the entire community.
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Deafblind International (DbI) expanding youth network leadership team
The DbI Youth Network has turned ten, and they’re very proud of all they accomplished since its formation in 2014.
“Youth network activities are at the heart of our work, bringing together Youth who are Deafblind from around the world. Lifelong friendships have been created between members sharing cultural experiences in international locations. We will again be meeting in early 2025 at Efteling theme park, the Netherlands.”
And they’re looking to increase their leadership team!
The role includes managing memberships, organising activities, partnership working, fundraising and participation in DbI network and Board meetings. If you’d like to know more, and have an information chat about joining the team, you can contact youth network coordinator Simon Allison by emailing simon.allison@sense.org.uk.
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Millers Acre Regional Bus Interchange – Accessibility input
From Nelson City Council, who invite your input to the Millers Acre Regional Bus Interchange.
One of the projects that Nelson City Council has underway is the development of the Millers Acre Regional Bus Interchange. This Project involves moving the existing bus interchange from Bridge Street to Millers Acre. This will help us to cater for the growth of the ebus service, and to provide a location for the regional and tourist transport providers.
The project is currently in the design phase, and we would like to make sure that an accessibility lens is put across this project, as what works for our Accessibility Community works for everyone. Construction is proposed to get underway in
We would like to invite members of the Regional Accessibility Group to attend a meeting at Millers Acre, in the vacant store right next to the carpark. This will be held at 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm on Friday 18 October 2024.
Please let us know if you can make this by emailing engage@ncc.govt.nz, or by calling Rebecca Dawkins (Project Manager) on 03 546 0309.
If you are unable to make it then we will happily share the plans as they develop. Information will also be updated on tyhe website page below.
Millers Acre Bus Interchange (Shape Nelson)
We look forward to hearing from you.
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Wellington Metlink and questions about Total Mobility
Metlink are aware that, when there is more than one Total Mobility car holder in the car, some providers ask for each card so they can swipe each one.
They are also aware of issues in the region where someone taking a Driving Miss Daisy from the Hutt to the city has been charged an additional fee for driving back to the Hutt.
If you have experienced any such issues or have concerns around what you may have been charged, Metlink are keen to hear from you.
If you can provide them with your Total Mobility details or any other information about the trip, they can review the transaction / charges.
Please contact either Chyna, or Kamielle – details below.
Chyna-Rose Wood
Mobile number: 021452458.
Kamielle Tauaneai
Mobile number: 021748470.
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Events
Join a free online event about reading tools and technology!
Vision Australia invites you to join an event showcasing reading tools and technology designed to help blind or low vision people continue the joy of reading.
Wednesday 6 November 2024.
1pm to 2pm.
You can join online, or at their Kooyong, Coorparoo or Parramatta Vision Stores.
If you attend in person, there will be the opportunity to have a live demonstration of the tools plus chat with Vision Store staff.
Find out more, and register (Vision Australia)
Watch previous Vision Australia “exploring technology” webinars (Youtube)
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Other newsletters
The D*List
The D*List website is an online culture magazine that creates space for disabled people to tell their own stories through features, columns and news reporting. This week, Eda Tang writes about things she’s learning in a neurodivergent relationship, anxd the newsletter covers romance scams and readers’ favourite mobility aids.
Link to weekly update below.
The D*List Delivered (Substack)
Following is a link to have a browse of The D*List website or sign up to receive their weekly newsletter.
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Be Seen be Heard be Connected Weekly Update
Please note, access to our weekly be Seen Be Heard Be Connected emails is also available on our website via our events page, at the following link.
News and events (Deafblind Association New Zealand)
Ngā mihi mahana,
Warm regards,
Amanda
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Event reminders
Peer-to-peer gatherings
- Whakatū / Nelson: Tuesday 8 October.
- Taranaki / New Plymouth: to be confirmed.
- Kirikiriroa / Hamilton: mid-October.
- Te Papa-i-Oea / Palmerston North: Wednesday 6 November.
- Kāpiti: Friday 8 November.
- Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington region: mid-October.
- Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland: we now have a venue – please let us know if you are interested.
Please contact us if you are interested in attending any of these events by replying to this email or calling Amanda on 0800 450 650.
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2024 Audio Described Nationwide Events Booklet
Events list with booklet page numbers (23 February update)
Full calendar of audio described nationwide events (DOCX 60 KB)
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Audio Described Centauria Taranaki Garden Festival
An audio described garden tour for people with low vision. Our professional audio describers will be there to guide you through our wonderful festival gardens. The bus tour, supported by Weir Tours, is a half-day outing, with a morning tea stop on the way.
When: Tuesday 5 November 2024, 9:00am.
More details about audio described garden festival, and how to book, in our 13 September 2024 update
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Alternate formats Registration of Interest for Public Apology Crown response to the Abuse in Care Inquiry
On 12 November, the Prime Minister will deliver a public apology in Parliament to survivors of abuse in care. You can register your interest to attend the event in Parliament, or events in Auckland Wellington or Christchurch.
Accommodation, travel and food costs will be covered.
Find out more in our 20 September 2024 update
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Invitation – Hui on Planning for Emergencies
Auckland Council’s Disability Advisory Panel invites you to attend their upcoming disability community hui all about planning for emergencies.
13 November 2024.
Find out more in our 4 October 2024 update
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Blind Health Expo 2024
Friday 6 December 2024 (virtual).
10 am to 4 pm Eastern Time.
Join us for the 3rd annual Blind Health Expo! The Blind Health Expo is the world’s largest virtual expo of healthcare information, products, and services for individuals, organizations, and companies in the health, blindness, and disability communities.
Free to attend and / or exhibit.
More information about the Blind Health Expo 2024
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DbI Asian Regional Conference Pokhara Nepal
1st to 3rd March 2025.
Deafblind International Notice of Asian Conference 2025
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Pac Rim 2025: disability-related conference opportunity
The conference is hosted in Hawaii and it’s their 40th year anniversary.
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Save the Date – WBU General Assembly & World Blindness Summit 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil
Date: 2-5 September 2025, with committee meetings and special forums on 1 September.
Find out more in our 20 September 2024 update
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Feedback requested reminders
National Housing Survey
The Urban Advisory longitudinal study so there is no foreseeable closing date. The survey asks how people make their housing choices and what they want to see happen with housing in the future, with the intention of helping New Zealand better respond to housing needs and demand.
Completed surveys are eligible for entry into a quarterly prize draw to win a $200 Prezzy Card. It is an online survey through Qualtrics and is expected to take less than 30 minutes to complete.
Details in our 24 May 2024 update
The website link below includes Frequently Asked Questions, an info pack and a contact email address.
New Zealand’s Housing Survey (The Urban Advisory)
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Public library use and accessibility
Blind Low Vision NZ Client Training and Engagement Senior Advisor Tom Smith asks: “Is there anybody willing to be interviewed about their use of public library services and accessibility?”
See our 14 June 2024 update for details, or email Tom.
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Ongoing events
No Labels on Wellington Access Radio
You can listen to this edition of the show on Wellington Access Radio on Tuesday just after 1:00pm, or the following Tuesday at the same time.
If you miss the scheduled show, you can check it out later online at the link below.
No Labels (Wellington Access Radio)
Or you can subscribe to the show via your preferred podcast player to check out this episode or previous episodes of the show.
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Living Blindfully
Weekly show hosted by Jonathan Mosen
Living Blindfully audio episodes (Living Blindfully)
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Blind Spot, Radio Southland
Monthly show hosted by Carolyn Weston
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Entertainment with Able
Able is a not-for-profit organisation working towards a more inclusive Aotearoa, believing everyone should be able to access news, entertainment and culture. Funded by NZ On Air, they’re Aotearoa’s leading provider of media access services, including captioning services, subtitling and audio description.
Listings are available at the following browser links.
A link to Able’s website to subscribe to the weekly newsletter with listings and picks of the week follows.
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Deafblind Association New Zealand access to TellMe
See TellMe numbers for your area
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End of report and this week’s update.
Amanda Stevens
Executive Officer
Taringa Turi Kāpō Rōpū
Deafblind Association New Zealand