Kia ora Tatou,
Hello to all of us,
It’s a hot-diggity-do day here in the office for Sarah and I! We are working on four Peer to Peer Support gatherings in the coming week. Plans are now in place for Whakatu / Nelson, Palmerston North, Kāpiti, and Wellington/Lower Hutt. Board member Phil Thorn and I are also meeting with Whaikaha on Thursday, 11 April and it is not too late to let us know what is important to you to say to Paula Tesoriero, Chief Executive. I would need comments please no later than noon, Tuesday 9 April.
It is important to us all in terms of how we advocate for ourselves and what support is in place to advance our wellbeing so I have copied in here the Enabling Good Lives Principles. Collaborating organisations, including My Life My Voice, ourselves, and many others are creating a ground swell of understanding about how we make wellbeing on an individual, whānau, natural supports, and funding basis.
- Self-determination.
- Beginning early.
- Person-centred.
- Ordinary life outcomes.
- Mainstream first.
- Mana enhancing.
- Easy to use.
- Relationship building.
Following is a link to the Enabling Good Lives website which explains the principles and long term direction change proposed.
Principles (Enabling Good Lives)
In the last week and before I have had contact from people in our community who are interested in an Usher Syndrome Support group in Aotearoa NZ as the mighty google is not yet throwing up anything that supports this for us here in this country. I know we can create an avenue for you. I also know that Deafblind Coordinators at Blind Low Vision NZ are keen to support. If this is an area you feel you identify with please contact me at the email address below.
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NV Access Update
Thanks to Kenny Dog for bringing the release of NVDA 2024.1 to our attention via the BlindDiscuss List.
NonVisual Desktop Access Screen reader (NVDA) is a free and open-source, portable screen reader for Microsoft Windows. NV Access encourages all users to upgrade to this version, which will work on computers running Windows 8.1 up to Windows 11 (Windows 7, and Windows 8 are no longer supported).
You can find out more and download NVDA 2024.1 via the following link.
NVDA 2024.1 Released (NV Access)
There are also NVDA training eBooks available via the following shop link.
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Events
Peer to Peer Support
- New Plymouth, Monday 8 April. Please email Christine for details at the address below.
- Palmerston North, launching Wednesday 10 April. Please email me for details
- Kāpiti, Friday 12 April. Please email me for details
- Nelson, Saturday 13 April. Please email me for details
- Wellington/Lower Hutt, Saturday 13 April. Please email me for details.
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Enabling Good Lives Community Hui
- Hawke’s Bay Wednesday 10 April.
- Auckland, Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 April.
SAMS (Standards and Monitoring Services) in conjunction with TAMA (Te Ao Mārama Aotearoa) are facilitating free events with an open invitation to disabled people and their whanau. The hui are aimed at assisting disability community-led leadership, informed by the Enabling Good Lives approach and principles, to ensure disabled people and families have greater choice and control over their lives. Locations and times below.
- Hastings: 10 April 9-11am, Camberley Community Centre.
- Napier: 10 April 1-3pm, Taradale Town Hall.
- Auckand: 16 April 6-8pm, Auckland Deaf Society, 16 Hillsborough Road, Three Kings, Auckland 1042.
- West Auckland: 17 April 6-8pm, Te Manawa – Kokiri Room.
- West Auckland: 18 April 12-2pm, Hub West.
Register your attendance, or if you have any questions or need more information or support, please email the address below.
Link to website information below.
Enabling Good Lives: Approach Community Capacity Development (SAMS)
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Research opportunity – study participants wanted in Auckland for asthma prediction study using digital tech
“Are you keen on managing asthma with the latest tech?”
Amy Chan, a University of Auckland researcher, is collaborating with Collaborative Aotearoa on utilising Digital Solutions for Chronic Care.
The University is developing an asthma attack prediction model using smart watches and are seeking participants who’ve had an asthma attack in the last year, or experienced symptoms for 2+ days. To be considered, participants must be comfortable with using technology (Fitbit) for 6 months. As an appreciation of time, $100 shopping vouchers and $20 MTA vouchers will be provided for clinic visits, and they get to keep the Fitbit after the study!
If you are interested, participants can sign up here!
More information is available in the pdf document linked below.
Digipredict study advertisement (Digipredict)
Or by emailing the study team.
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Other newsletters
Blind Low Vision NZ Sport and Leisure Round-up: April 2024
As a link to Te Papa Atawhai The Department of Conservation’s Outdoor Recreation Aotearoa Survey 2024, which is open until 5:00pm Friday April 12 is included in the round-up, we have also separately copied the link below.
DPA Information Exchange: 27 March 2024
Te Tari Kaumātua Office for Seniors Newsletter: April 2024
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’s issue covers the topic “Technology offers us liberation – and internalised ablelism”
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.
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
Wednesday 17 April, Deafblind International Communication Network Webinar 5
Webinar 5 – A parent perspective on supporting and advocating for her deafblind son. Details were provided in 15 March update.
25 to 31 May, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland – International Council on English Braille 8th General Assembly
Deafblind International Co-Network Coordinator Expression of Interest closes 31 May
Details were provided in 22 March update.
Expression of Interest Form (DOCX 242 KB)
World Federation of the Deafblind Youth Committee
Applications for young individuals with deafblindness (aged 18-35) to join WFDB’s newly established Youth Committee close 2 June. Information was provided in 22 March update, or for more information about the Youth Committee and application guidelines, please visit the website.
Join WFDB’s Youth Committee: Call for Deafblind Representatives (World Federation of the Deafblind)
June 2024 Deafblind Awareness month – Yarn bombing
#DbIYarnBombing2024 – information was provided in 21 January update.
2024 Activity Deafblind International Youth Network (DbIYN)
Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October in Disneyland Paris
Expression of Interest: Please contact simon.allison@sense.org.uk
Thursday 3 October Deafblind UK Online Conference 2024 Theme: “Standing out and fitting in”. The conference is free and all are welcome.
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Ongoing
2024 Audio Described Nationwide Events Booklet
The events list with booklet page numbers was provided in the 23 February update.
The full calendar is available as a word document via the following link.
2024 Events Information (DOCX 60 KB)
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.
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