This information page is provided for blind
and vision impaired members (both within Taranaki and New
Zealand wide),
to advise them about a variety of
options that may be useful to them.
Discovery NZ now has audio described content on Channel 3. (This is great news, as it is another channel providing audio described content for visually impaired/blind people in New Zealand). The ground work seems to have been done so the shows that have it will air with audio description on them. There will be more content coming for you to watch. To know which shows/movies are audio described at present, sign yourself up to get a weekly email from Able at http://www.able.co.nz
There is also some information on how to enable it on your TV etcetera if it can do it.
The following series is hosted
by Access Media NZ and the series is about blind people from
the Taranaki area and beyond. You can listen to the series
from the following webpage at https://www.accessradio.org/ProgrammePage.aspx?PID=43abe378-0e7a-4c56-9dd7-9187373e4b91
The podcasts were recorded at Access Radio
Taranaki.
Access Radio Taranaki 104.4 FM
Have you noticed that on the Blind Low Vision NZ website there is no longer a page with equipment on it? There is now a link to the Trade Me listings by Blind Low Vision NZ which has equipment that both Blind Low Vision NZ members and the public can buy 24 hours a day.
For a direct link to the TradeMe listings by Blind Low Vision NZ, please go to the following web page at https://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=7689276
If you as a Blind Low Vision NZ member do not find what you are looking for there, then you need to ring the 0800 243333 phone number and get put through to equipment services. You can also ask them to send you through the equipment price list which is in a PDF format to your email address. It can then be opened with a PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader and browsed through. You can also ask them for it in another format.
When you browse through the equipment price list, there is a product code which you can use when you ring them back up to order your piece of equipment. They will need this number so that they can get the correct product for you. Equipment will have a specific code assigned to each item.
You can pay via internet banking or via credit card over the phone or if you visit any of our offices you can pay there. If you decide to pay by internet banking please put in the following information. You can use the member name and EQS (for equipment services) as a reference. The account number is 02 0192 00 28330 00
Please note if you get the equipment price list, there are usually 2 prices for the same item. One price is a member's price and the other price is for the general public who are not blind members. If you are buying on behalf of a blind member, please state their name and address so that you can get the equipment at the members price when you ring BLVNZ up to place an order.
Subtitles
for the hearing impaired and audio description for the
vision impaired at some movie cinemas in NZ
Are you aware at certain
cinemas in New Zealand you can watch movies with either
subtitles for the hearing impaired or audio description for
the blind? To find out more, please go to the following page
at https://www.eventcinemas.co.nz/Promotions/ClosedCaptions
Please check with your local movie cinema to see if these
features are available in your area.
There are 55 locations that you
can go to, and there are 600 computers with NVDA on them.
To see what software is on each computer (and also the
locations of the libraries) please go to
https://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Pages/computer-use.aspx
As librarians come and go, they may or may not be aware of the
NVDA screen reader on a computer. They are also willing to
help log you in to the network and, if needed, to start your
copy of NVDA for your session.
To see which other networks have a copy of the NVDA screen
reader on them, and to find out how to start NVDA, please go
to http://www.accessibilitycentral.net/nz%20libraries%20with%20nvda.html
Are you aware of the new access card for the
vision impaired?
It is being marketed as “Proof of identity that
gives you freedom” and replaces the 18+ card.
The new Kiwi Access Card has been designed with
the blind, vision impaired, deafblind and disabled
communities in New Zealand in mind. Kiwi Access Card has
been designed to give you the freedom you need. It has been
created to give you better and easier access to goods and
services, and is readily accepted throughout New Zealand.
Are you aware that the NVDA screen reader has
been installed on 390 public terminals at 19 libraries in
the Christchurch city area? As this has just been done at
the end of 2018, some librarians may not be aware of its
installation. If you need help signing in etcetera, they
will be glad to help.
Are you aware, that even if you
are not entitled to ACC assistance, that you may still be able
to access a range of eyesight related equipment through
the New Zealand ministry of health? For more information
please visit the following link http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/disability-services/types-disability-support/hearing-and-vision-services/equipment-people-who-are-blind-or-have-reduced-vision
Please
note:
NVDA will work on an x86/x64 device, or a laptop tablet with
touch input but will not run on a Windows tablet running the
Windows RT operating system which is also found on Windows
phones.
Not
all touch enabled devices have accessibility built into them
(for example a screen reader or magnification etcetera).
If you find it hard to use a
touch screen device, you may also use a bluetooth keyboard.
Have you ever wondered which
programmes are being audio described on channels 1, 2, or
Duke (or an hour later on channel 1 + 1 or channel 2 + 1)?
Able.co.nz provide information on the shows that are audio
described (in a 2 day listing) giving such information as
the title, channel it appears on, and the duration of the
programme.
You can also sign up to
receive this information via email. To sign up to receive
this audio description information please click on the
following link http://mail.pitch.net.nz/h/r/EEC4300E5FEC192D
You will need to enter your name and email address and click
on submit.
Once you have signed up, you
will receive regular weekly updates via email.
Health Passport
Have you got your health
passport yet? A health passport is available for those people
who need to visit a hospital, or other provider of health and
disability services. It allows you to alert others as to how
to communicate with and support you. For more information
please visit the following link http://www.hdc.org.nz/about-us/disability/health-passport
or phone 0800 11 22 33.
BLENNZ stands for Blind and Low vision Education Network NZ. It is an education provider around Aotearoa New Zealand which caters for children and young people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision. It encompasses a national network of educational and social resources and its vision is "Equity through access: Opening doors so all may learn". To find out more about Blennz please visit the following link http://blennzonline.edublogs.org/
TALVA stands for Taranaki Atig
(and) Low Vision Assistance. This group is here to
assist those who are blind or vision impaired, as well as those
who are not yet legally blind but who have steadily
deteriorating vision. Topics may cover anything eyesight related
from using a certain piece of adaptive technology, through to
other general eyesight related topics such as where to get a
talking watch or clock from, or how to adapt something in your
daily life. Hopefully somebody on this list may be able to help
you!
To subscribe to the TALVA email group, please
send an email to:
talva-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.in
To post a message to the TALVA email group,
(once the administrator has authorised your membership) please
send an email to:
talva@yahoogroups.co.in