Links

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind is New Zealand's primary provider of vision-related services to blind, deafblind and vision-impaired people.

Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand Inc.

This is the website of the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand. Its purpose is to provide:

• Information about ABC NZ, issues for blind and vision impaired people, and ABC NZ's advocacy work
• A means for members, supporters and interested parties to communicate with ABC NZ and with each other.
• A single, authoritative source for policy makers, service providers and other interested people to inform themselves about blind and vision impaired people's views on relevant issues.

Parents of Vision Impaired

Our Mission Statement is “As Parents, we strive to achieve the best opportunities for our Blind/Vision Impaired Children”.

Kiwi Families

The essential guide to raising children in New Zealand, covering pre-conception, pregnancy, babies, toddlers to teens, expert parenting advice, help, information, related products & services, as well as support from other NZ parents.  

The National Association of Parents of Vision Impaired USA

"Parents must regard themselves as the long-lasting resource and the only consistent persons who continually have the child's interest at heart throughout their lifetime. This organization now is a means to help them fulfill that function." - Lee Robinson

Parent 2 Parent

Parent 2 Parent is a nationwide support group of parents who have children with special needs. They have much success in matching parents who have children with similar needs.

Specific New Zealand Services

• Deaf/Blind Support in New Zealand
  Deafblind NZ Inc Is the national organisation for people with the dual sensory loss of hearing and sight. It offers information, friendship and support for parents, guardians, spouses and people of all ages who are deafblind.
  Vision: To enhance the quality of life for persons with the unique dual sensory condition of vision and hearing impairment or being deafblind.
  Magazine: See Hear! published four times a year.

  Contact: Max Comer, president
  ph: 07 843 4477
  fax: 07 843 5977
  email: max.jan@xtra.co.nz
  website: www.deafblind.org.nz
  

• Albinism Trust New Zealand

  This site, created by Allen Little, is to support work in New Zealand fostering public understanding about Albinism. While Allen already has a reference library on this site, he is looking for more NZ contacts and recruits. He also lists some useful links.
  

• Retina Association New Zealand

  Is the national organisation of people with retinal degenerative disorders.
  Vision: To promote public awareness of retinal degenerative disorders, to provide information and support, and to foster research leading to treatments and an eventual cure.
  Quarterly newsletter:

  Contact: Janet Palmer, national secretary
  ph: 04 476 7329
  fax: 04 389 5254
  email: retinanz@ihug.co.nz
  website: www.retina.org.nz

  Ngati Kapo O Aotearoa

• Exists to improve the quality of life for kapo Maori and their whanau, to advocate for kapo Maori and their whanau and observe the principals of wanaungatanga, and to provide peer support as an integral part of whanua development, which in turn, provides opportunity for the member to reach their potential.

  Vision: Mana Kapo
  Philosophy: Ahakoa kaahore maatoui te kite - kei te kite! (loosely translated this means - We may be blind but we aren't stupid!)

  Contact: Terri-Kay Onekawa, national administrator
  ph 0800 770 990 or (06) 870 8306
  fax: 06 876 5337
  email: tonekawa@xtra.co.nz
  website: www.kapomaori.com

• SEYFF - Peer Support Network
  Is Support and Education for our Youth, their Families and their Friends. The newest consumer organisation, formed 2003, the group is a support and education network for 17 to 30 year-olds.
  Vision: To build friendships with vision-impaired peers, and help families understand the emotions/feelings experienced by family members.

  Contact: Donna McCaskill, secretary
  ph: 09 279 7340 or 09 355 6917
  email: dmccaskill@rnzfb.org.nz
  website: www.seyff.co.nz

• Prader-Willi Syndrome Association NZ
  
  Prader-Willi Syndrome is primarily an eating disorder caused by a deletion in 15th chromosome. It is accompanied by other characteristics including challenging behaviour. The PWS Assoc is a support group concerned with enhancing the lives of those affected by PWS, supporting families, educating professionals, in the best ways to manage this syndrome.
  http://www.pwsa-nz.co.nz/
  

Disability Issues

• Parent 2 Parent - Formed to provide a network of support for parents of children with disabilities, health impairments or special needs, the comprehensive Parent to Parent website offers local and national contact points, information on services offered and includes an online request form for books and journals described. http://www.parent2parent.org.nz

• Disability Information Service - can give you information on all the agencies that work with people with disabilities and point you in the right direction with any issue you have relating to disability.

  (03) 366 6189
  E-mail dis@info.co.nz

 

• Health and Disability Commissioner

  can give you information on your rights when receiving a health or disability service and also the procedures for complaints.

  0800 11 22 33
  www.hdc.org.nz

 

• Disability Support Services,

  a private company providing help to those with disabilities to become independent in their employment. Funding is available for their services subject to application criteria.
  Kylee Millward – (03) 351 4914

 

• CCS Operation Mobility

  may be able to assist with parking permits for people with disabilities if you fit the criteria.
  Lynne Anthony – (03) 348 8974

 

• The Human Rights Commission

  can advise you on your rights as an employee and citizen
  (03) 379 2015 or
  0800 496 877

 

• Employment Relations Service

  gives independent advice on employment disputes.
  0800 800 863
  www.ers.dol.govt.nz

 

Links to Services Overseas

 SafetyLit

Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

Discusses a wide range of issues relevant to parents and young people.

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (Newcastle, Australia)

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is Australia's major independent special educator, providing a wide range of educational services to children who have significant hearing and/or vision loss, including children who have additional disabilities. The provision of these services is the Institute's primary purpose.

In affiliation with the University of Newcastle, the Institute conducts a centre for research and professional development in the education of children with impaired hearing or vision.