Weekly update: 7 February 2025
Kia ora tatou,
Hello to all of us,
Wow! Thank you so much for your expressions of interest in Conference 2025. You can not imagine how much easier this makes planning and fund raising for this event.
We now have 34 people wanting to come, some of us with dual sensory impairment, some whānau, some volunteers. We are looking at twice that many at least.
Please keep your feedback coming in and let us know you are interested. We are particularly wanting you to come if you have not been before because of barriers such as appropriate NZSL interpreters.
We are very keen for you to be part of being seen, being heard, and especially being connected! 😊
Discussion document to support Disability Support Services consultation
The consultation runs from 10 February until 24 March 2025, and is about assessments, allocations and funding in the Disability Support Services system.
You can find introductions / forewords, a summary, background information, fact sheets, alternate formats and more below.
Discussion document to support consultation (Disability Support Services)
RNZFB AGM draft minutes are out
Draft minutes are available for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November 2024.
They will also be available on the Telephone Information Service Menu 3142.
RZNFB AGM November 2024 minutes (.DOCX 122 KB)
Event reminders
Check our calendar of events for reminders of all the other events coming up, and updated dates for our regional peer-to-peer gatherings.
We've also updated the details for the Innovation in Retina Research symposium on 21 and 22 February, including links and the agenda.
Calendar / events (Deafblind Association NZ)
Other newsletters
A reminder that you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and / or our mailing list DBANZ Discuss, at the links below. Please feel free to let your friends, whānau and colleagues know too.
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Te Tari Kaumātua Office for Seniors: Seniors Newsletter, February 2025
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Disabled Person's Assembly (DPA) Information Exchange: 5 February 2025
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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.
Our weekly updates (Deafblind Association New Zealand)
Ngā mihi mahana,
Warm regards,
Amanda
Feedback requested reminders
National Housing Survey
The Urban Advisory is running a 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.
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?"
Email Tom for details, at tsmith@blindlowvision.org.nz.
Regular / ongoing events
No Labels on Wellington Access Radio
You can listen to the show on Wellington Access Radio on Tuesday just after 1pm, 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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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.
Deafblind Association New Zealand access to TellMe
See TellMe numbers for your area
End of report and this week’s update.
Amanda Stevens
Executive Officer
Taringa Turi Kāpō Rōpū
Deafblind Association New Zealand