EVision August 2020 - FACEBOOK.COM/PVINZ - Parents of Vision Impaired (NZ)
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
eVision
August 2020
Parents of Vision Impaired New Zealand
Inc supported by Blind Low Vision New
Zealand (formerly The Blind Foundation)
1
Lily in front of the zebras at Hamilton Zoo
PVI.ORG.NZ FACEBOOK.COM/PVINZ
PV IN Z .OR G . NZ
E VI SO N AUGUST 2020
CO NTENTS Board &
Executive Office
4
Executive Office
Update from the Chair Rebekah Graham
Mobile: 022 621 5740
Email: rgraham@pvi.org.nz
Vice Chair & Upper North Island Rep
5 EO Update Stacey Dodd (Wellsford)
Mobile: 021 133 8949
Email: stacey@pvi.org.nz
Treasurer & Anywhere in NZ Rep
6 Conference 2020: Nick Mackay (Twizel)
Mobile: 027 282 9301
16—18 October Email: nickmackay11@gmail.com
Chair & Lower South Island Rep
Judith Hyslop (Dunedin)
8
2
Listening, learning and Mobile: 027 896 5693
Email: judithhyslop@xtra.co.nz
loving the ballet with
audio description Upper North Island Rep
Linda Moore-Carter (Auckland)
Email: lmoorecarter@gmail.com
10 Caring in Lockdown: Central North Island Rep
Nikki Stokes (Tauranga)
Carers Respond Mobile: 0226 93 7653
Email: nikkins.08@gmail.com
Upper South Island Board Rep
12 The Blind Sector During
COVID-19: Overview
Elizabeth Manson (Christchurch)
Mobile: 027 282 1521
Phone: 03 322 1521
Email: tisch.manson@gmail.com
14 Accessible content Tangata Whenua Rep & BANZAT Rep
Justine Edwards (Hamilton)
Mobile: 021 2646 844
Email: justine@pvi.org.nz
EVI SO N AUGUST 2020
Update from the Chair
Recently I attended a management committee
meeting for an organisation I am involved
in here in Dunedin. The well-known saying
“there is no 'I' in team" was shared. After the
meeting, I came away and reflected on this, Isabella and Lily having fun.
thinking how lucky we are to have such a
great and committed team as our PVI board. EO Update
Bringing together people from different
communities around New Zealand, family Kia ora anō, articulated by carers, prior to the pandemic.
circumstances and different ages and stages That said, the response by the blind sector
in the journey of our children’s lives can be Another two months have flown by! was excellent. There are things to work
challenging. However, we all come together Conference planning is now well underway, on for sure, but, overall the way the blind
with one objective: to help make a difference. with speakers confirmed and a venue consumer organisations worked together
4 These last few months have been tough booked. We are in Auckland this year, at the was noted as a model to follow. 5
for everyone and the extra workload and Waipuna Conference Suites Highbrook
responsibilities as a board member have been and the Quest Highbrook. Both of these On a personal note, it was been wonderful
challenging. I am proud to be part of the team are located at 60 Highbrook Drive in to send my kids back to school! It has also
we have and it was wonderful to finally meet East Tamaki, Auckland. Please note the be so very nice to be able to do things such
face to face in July in Wellington. address! It is worth noting that the Waipuna as visit the local zoo, go out for a wine with
Conference Suites Highbrook (where we are) friends, and attend meetings in person.
At our first meeting this year, one of the things is NOT the Waipuna Hotel in Mt Wellington! Our Lily is currently very taken with zebras,
we did was to have a bit of fun with a team Please come to 60 Highbrook Drive, as that so we have visited the zoo several times.
building exercise where each group was given is were the PVI Conference is. Hamilton Zoo is quite large so walking
a bag of lollies in the shape of building bricks around is great for her physical movement,
(from that famous lolly shop). The task was to There has a been a flurry of reports for her vision, develops her language
construct a logo that represented PVI and this released, post-Covid. Some of these are of further, and of course is great fun to boot!
is what was produced after much laughter and relevance to PVI members. Rather than read Here she is, wearing her zebra stripes and
a bit to cheating to see what each other was the entire report, I have summarised key visiting the zebra enclosure.
up too! I think this just shows how we came areas of interest in this eVision release. Of
together for the first time, worked together and particular interest is that the experiences of Take care and all the best for the next few
shared our results together. The lollies didn’t lockdown for those engaging in caring work months as we finalise conference and carry
taste too bad either! were: a) similar across the motu, and b) on with assorted tasks and things.
different to those who were not doing caring
Take care out there, Logos created that represented work. That said, the issues faced were Ngaa mihi
Judith PVI by using lolly bricks. depressingly similar to the issues already Rebekah
PVINZ.O R G.NZ
Parents of Vision Impaired (NZ) Inc
PVI CONFERENCE 2020 PVI CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM
16-18 October 2020
A N D A G M 2020 AT TENDING PARENT - CAREGIVER/S DETAILS. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE
AUCKLAND, 1 6-18 October 2020 Parent 1: (Last name) (First name)
Parent 2: (Last name) (First name)
Address:
Email Address:
16-18 Telephone: Day Evening Mobile
OCTOBER Travel arrangements: Air Depart date Depart Time
Highbrook
Conference
Air return Depart date Depart time
Suites by By Car Car park required? Yes No
Waipuna In order to secure cheaper air fares we need to register and book early. ACCOMMODATION: Highbrook Conference Suites by Waipuna
Friday night accommodation Yes � No Saturday night accommodation Yes No
The accommodation bookings will be made by PVINZ Inc, so please do not call the Hotel.
DAY PROGRAMME Saturday only Yes No
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION COST is $80.00 per parent delegate.
SPECIAL REQUESTS:
Diet:
MOBILITY Issues:
PARENT CONFIRMATION OF MEMBERSHIP:
I confirm my child (Name of Child needed to confirm membership)
Has a serious vision impairment and that I am a registered parent / caregiver of Parents of Vision Impaired NZ Inc
SIGNED:
Please send this form to Parents of Vision Impaired NZ Inc , PO Box 5629, Frankton, Hamilton 3242. or email to rgraham@pvi.org.nz
The PVINZ Conference will be PVINZ WILL PAY FOR MEMBERS: For delegates attending from our partner organisations and professions we have a registration fee of $120.00. Accommodation and travel
held in Auckland: Friday 16 • Return air fares in New Zealand. is at your cost.
October (assemble), Saturday 17 • Accommodation (studio apartment) at the Highbrook Conference
Suites by Waipuna: 60 Highbrook Drive, East Tamaki, Auckland, Friday
October and Sunday 18 October and Saturday night. SUMMARY COST
• Parent delegate reg fee $160 per couple.
Parent registration per couple: $160.00 per couple National Office: 59
VENUE: Highbrook Conference • Parent delegate reg fee single $80.
Suites by Waipuna. • Single with own room a supplement of $50 per per day. Commerce Street, Frankton,
Parent registration share twin: $80.00
Hamilton 3204. PO Box 5629,
60 Highbrook Drive, East The conference will start at 8:45am Saturday and conclude at 1:00pm
Parent single accommdation: $50.00 per night Frankton, Hamilton 3242.
Tamaki, Auckland Sunday.
For PVINZ members wishing to provide their own transport to attend Delegates partner organisation: $120.00 National Executive Officer:
We are limited to 65 parent only the Saturday programme, we will have limited space available. Rebekah Graham
Delegates partner organisation dinner: $60.00
conference delegates, so it will Mobile: 0226215740
be first in first served. For delegates attending from our partner organisations and professions Donation to support another PVI parent attending: Email: rgraham@pvi.org.nz
we have a registration fee of $120.00 per person. If attending the dinner
TOTAL
an additional $60.00 is required. If finances are difficult to arrange this
year, please get in touch with us. NUMBERS ARE LIMITED SO PLEASE REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
1 1 P V I N Z #1 0 4 WWW.PVI.ORG.NZ
Deposit directly to our bank account ASB account # 123100 0115685 00.
EVI SO N AUGUST 2020
The Sleeping Beauty Audio The Sleeping Beauty Audio
Described School Matinees Described Public Performances
Photo credit: Alex Matthews, 2019.
WELLINGTON DUNEDIN
Opera House Regent Theatre
7 November, 1.30pm 15 November 1.30pm
CHRISTCHURCH AUCKLAND
Listening, learning and
Photo credit: Alex Matthews, 2019.
Isaac Theatre Royal Kiri Te Kanawa
WELLINGTON 21 November, 1.30pm Theatre, Aotea Centre
loving the ballet with Opera House 6 December, 3pm
5 November
audio description 10am – 11am Touch Tour
12.30pm Performance
TO BOOK: Contact RNZB Ticketing Team on
04 831 1056 or email: subscribe@rnzb.org.nz.
Mon-Fri: 10am-4pm. Ticket prices: children $25,
By Pascale Parenteau from the RNZB
CHRISTCHURCH adults $45. Booking fee $2 per transaction. Seats
8 9
Isaac Theatre Royal situated in the stalls. A free companion ticket is
Every year since 2017 when the Royal a free Touch Tour before the show. Patrons 20 November available if required. Guide dogs are welcome.
New Zealand Ballet brought the first audio- can walk through the set, touch set pieces, 10am–11am Touch Tour
described ballet performances to New feel costumes, handle key props and learn 12.30pm Performance AUDIO DESCRIBED ONLINE
Zealand audiences, PVINZ has been there to more about the production. An RNZB Dance PERFORMANCES
support us by providing sponsorship which Educator is on hand to explain various ballet AUCKLAND During the recent covid-19 lockdown we were
enables vision impaired children and young terms and the shapes and quality of the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre able to provide audio description of some of
people and their carers to attend an audio movements from the ballet. 4 December the ballets which were broadcast free online.
described school matinee performance 10am–11am Touch Tour These reached a wide audience both in NZ and
free of charge. This year’s audio-described 12:30pm Performance overseas. A patron in Colorado, USA wrote:
performances are part of our season of See a clip from Hansel & Gretel 2019
The Sleeping Beauty which will tour the (youtu.be/2Iph3wEtnUc) DURATION OF EVENT: 60 min. "The introductory performance notes were not
country from October until December. Audio- From the moment the performance began Due to the popularity of these events, only helpful but opened up the performance to a
description will be offered in Auckland, to the huge applause in the curtain call, the seats are allocated on a first come, first complete experience. I felt so included, knowing
Wellington and Christchurch at both a public audio describers told us which characters had served basis – book now so you don’t about the film backdrop as a stage context. And,
performance and a school matinee. come on stage, what dance pose they were miss out! of course, the costuming and physicality of the
doing and what props they were holding. This dancers helped me to be right there."
At an audio-described performance patrons is my first time ever to a ballet performance, BOOKING FORM: (bit.ly/2DUOi7G)
wear an earpiece through which they can and thanks to RNZB, it won’t be my last! — Dowlonad link and return to Pascale At the Royal New Zealand Ballet we are always
enjoy a live commentary provided by a Julie Woods, Dunedin, after attending Hansel Parenteau, RNZB Education, Accessibility looking for ways to maximise the accessibility
trained audio describer. They can also attend & Gretel in 2019 & Community Manage, email: pascale@ of our productions so that the joy and wonder of
rnzb.org.nz mobile: 021 678 521 ballet can be shared by all.
PVINZ.O R G.NZ
Respite More support from your GP or medical 17%
Top of the list by a considerable margin is respite, practice
EVI SO N AUGUST 2020 with over half saying this would help maintain their More support in community eg; from local 15%
wellbeing as New Zealand moved out of COVID-19 volunteer
lockdown. Paid leave 10%
More support from community pharmacies 7%
Respondents were asked how long it was since they
Something else 8%
www.carers.net.nz last had a break. One in five (20%) said that within
their bubble the caring role was shared so a break
had not been necessary. Providing breaks ‘within the
bubble’ worked for some families, but for others it did
Caring In Lockdown FINANCIAL PRESSURES AND IMPACT ON
not provide necessary relief from caring. For some, a
Forgotten families during
COVID-19
WORK break was simply being able to get out for walk or to
ring / text a friend. 55%
of carers would value
10%
of carers would like
July 2020
• 76% ofA carers
significanthave spent
wellbeing more
risk for carersmoney
emergingonfrom respite or a break extra paid leave to
from caring after recover from work /
food andthehousehold bills, and
pandemic lockdown is that 25%
almostof
halfcarers
(46%) of
survey respondents said they had not had a break for lockdown care stresses
were worried
more thanabout
eight their
weeks.financial situation
long-term.
At the time of writing this report, no systemic plan
across health and disability was in place specifically
• 29% oftocarers spend more on technology toof
38% 39%
address carers’ need for respite after their weeks
intensive caring during the COVID-19 lockdown.
stay connected during the pandemic.
would value clearer
Caring in
of carers say they
We believe ensuring that such planning happens is
need increased government advice
an important lesson of COVID-19 to inform future
• Many carers already faced difficult financial financial support for carers
emergencies – whilst now looking at carers’ respite
situations duewithto their caring responsibilities;
Lockdown:
options urgency to help them recover from the
stresses they have experienced through the pandemic.
caring can result in a sharp reduction in
Mahi Aroha, the NZ Carers’ Strategy, 2019.
6
income due
Synergiato
7
earning
, Respite 10%
in New Zealand: less
We must on 2019.
do better, average
Carers Respond
Caring In Lockdown WORRIES AND FEARS
than non-caring New Zealanders, along with 14
the extra costs of caring.
• Alongside the usual stresses of ensuring the
What now for carers? person they care for is well looked after, the
Seven weeks in lockdown had a significant them. Some of the reported findings may
10 Covid-19 outbreak added extra pressures. 11
effect on family members caring for sound very familiar to PVI members:
With many carers under a significant amount What would help you post-lockdown? %
Most prominent of these is carers’ need
disabled family members. Carers NZ and of pressure and worried about the future, the Respite / break from caring 55%
reinstatement of care and support services at the to maintain their own health to be able to
the NZ Carers Alliance carried out an online IMPACT OF CARE WORK More clear/ specific government advice for 39%
earliest opportunity must be a priority. It is also now carers continue caring.
survey, with 676 carers from around New more urgent that progress be made to address the Increased financial support 38%
Zealand responding. Many questions were • 64% of carers provided more
issues andcare during of key actions outlined in
implemention More help with contingency planning in 37%
Mahi Aroha , the Carers’ Strategy Action Plan for • Two-thirds of carers worried about what
accompanied by comments, which gave Covid-19. Of those providing more care, 51%
6
case you aren’t able to provide care
2019-2023. would happen to those they support should
rich insights about the issues facing carers did so as a result of services being reduced, A rise in benefits 29%
More advice and information and benefit 24% they become ill themselves or not be able to
through Covid-19. paused, or stopped. Carers were asked what would help their wellbeing
entitlement continue caring for other reasons.
post-lockdown. The responses are not surprising
Someone to talk to 24%
and mirror issues raised before COVID-19. Much of
The full report can be accessed here: carers. • 50% of all carers provided more help with More information and support from your 22%
what we have learned through the survey is not new • Over a third of carers reported feeling
net.nz/information/covid-19-survey-report- emotional support, motivation or keeping an
and cannot be attributed to the COVID outbreak. DHB
overwhelmed and worried about burning out.
caring-lockdown/ eye on the person they The
carepandemic
for during
has the
exacerbated or intensified the PPE for workers and / or for family carers 22%
pandemic. challenges that have already been well documented and those they support
for carers. More frequent testing of people with 20% Carers were asked what would help their
Many of those who completed the survey
symptoms wellbeing post-lockdown. The responses
were providing very high levels of care, or • Many carers spoke of the exhaustion of
Respite More support from your GP or medical 17% mirror issues raised prior to Covid-19, with the
juggling care in complex circumstances. Not providing constant care,Top
including mental
of the list by a considerable margin is respite, practice
pandemic exacerbating and intensifying the
only have many provided more care than wellbeing support for the person theysaying
with over half carethis
for.would help maintain their More support in community eg; from local 15%
wellbeing as New Zealand moved out of COVID-19 volunteer challenges faced.
before, they are suffering financially and Comments from carers show that the halt or
lockdown. Paid leave 10%
are worried about the future. For many, their closure of regular services added to their stress
More support from community pharmacies 7% • 46% of carers had not had a break for more
concerns and anxieties existed pre-Covid-19 levels, removing usual opportunities
Respondents were for respite
asked how long it was since they
Something else 8%
last had a break. One in five (20%) said that within than eight weeks at the time they completed
and the pandemic has simplify amplified from caring and impacting their own wellbeing.
their bubble the caring role was shared so a break the survey - they are tired!
had not been necessary. Providing breaks ‘within the
bubble’ worked for some families, but for others it did
not provide necessary relief from caring. For some, a
break was simply being able to get out for walk or to
ring / text a friend. 55%
of carers would value
10%
of carers would like
PVINZ.O R G.NZ
EVI SO N AUGUST 2020
The Blind
Sector During
Covid-19:
Overview New Zealand Blind Consumer Organisations
Kāpō Māori Aotearoa NZ and Blind Low organisations (including PVI) would work Multiple communication methods extended the reach of organisations beyond
12 13
Vision NZ (on behalf of the New Zealand collaboratively during the lockdown. This were used to reach and communicate the blind sector boundary. Based upon the
blind consumer organisations, including document was subsequently uploaded with members, families, whānau information provided across the blind sector,
PVI) prepared a comprehensive report to the PVI website. This explicit statement and supporters: landline and mobile the collective outreach was just over 56,000
for the Minister for Disability Issues, the of collaboration and support set the blind phone calls, video calls, emails, people, organisations, hāpu and iwi across
Hon Carmel Sepuloni. Key points are sector apart and was positively remarked on texting, alternative formats hard copy Aotearoa and internationally.
summarised here for PVI readers. Overall, by other groups within the sector. communications, TIS (Telephone
I (Rebekah) felt very privileged and proud Information Service), website, Facebook, This is an extraordinary effort! I was very
to be part of a sector that took such a Secondly, weekly meetings were facilitated YouTube and Twitter. proud to be associated with PVI and to
collective response to our respective by the chief executive of BLVNZ. These be part of the wider New Zealand blind
members wellbeing. meetings discussed outreach activities A particularly unique and valuable attribute consumer organisations and Blind Low Vision
undertaken, shared information, and of the blind sector during this time was NZ efforts.
With the announcement of the country going provided peer support. Hearing from other the encouragement by blind consumer
to alert level 4, the chief executive of BLVNZ groups each week was very encouraging, organisations for their members to engage
(John Mulka) initiated a meeting of all the and a great reminder of He waka eke noa – across the groups and receive support from
blind consumer organisations. The key we are all in this together. more than one organisation. At the close
priority for all present was the safety and of lockdown it was estimated that over
wellbeing of their members. Outreach activities ranged from wellbeing 14,000 blind, low vision, vision impaired
checks, connecting members to local and deafblind persons were contacted in
The first action initiated by the collective community supports, Covid-19 information some form. As well, around 900 whānau
was a statement (in Te Reo Māori updates, producing Covid-19 alternate members and supporters were contacted.
and English) that all blind consumer formats and gathering members’ stories. The use of social media at this time
PVINZ.O R G.NZ
EVI SO N AUGUST 2020
Accessible THE BENEFITS OF ACCESSIBLE
WEBSITES INCLUDE:
Content • people can access information and services
• people can better participate in society
• accessible websites are easier to use
• they not only help people with disabilities
One of the things highlighted during the but also help older people and people from
lockdown was the importance of being different cultures
able to access the internet. This is not just • agencies can reach a significantly larger
broadband access and digital devices, portion of New Zealanders
but the need for websites to be accessible • accessible sites are easier for search
for blind, low vision, vision impaired and engines to crawl
deafblind (BLV) persons. • cost-savings can be made by building an
accessible website from the beginning rather
Web accessibility is about inclusion than fixing issues after development.
— making sure everyone, including
14
disabled people and those using assistive THINGS TO CONSIDER:
technologies, can access online information
and services. Online content must be • using plain English so content is clear and
accessible to provide equal access and easy to understand
equal opportunity to disabled people. It’s • writing content specifically for the web
a human right (see Article 9 of the UN's instead of publishing documents designed for
CRPD). print
• including alt text with images
Did you know that New Zealand has a web • providing long descriptions for tables,
accessibility standard? And that this is graphs and diagrams when alt text isn’t long
based on the International Standard for web enough to describe the complexity
accessibility, the Web Content Accessibility • providing captions and transcripts for video
Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1? All public service • marking up content with the correct HTML
and non-public service agencies must elements, for example headings, lists and
meet the NZ Government Web Accessibility tables
Standard 1.1. • providing enough colour contrast between
text and background
You can find out more here, on this • making sure webpages can be used with
accessible NZ site: digital.govt.nz/ only a keyboard
standards-and-guidance/design-and-ux/ • making sure keyboard focus is easily
accessibility/ visible.
PARENTS OF VISION IM PA IR E D N E W Z E A LA N D IN C
SUPPORT ED BY BLIN D LOW V ISION N E W Z E A LA N D
(FORMERLY THE BLIND FOUNDATION)
PVI.ORG. NZ FAC E BOOK .COM / PV IN Z @PV I_N Z
You can also read
