Blind Foundation newsMay 2017

Welcome to your Blind Foundation News update for May 2017.

This update includes a recap of Global Accessibility Awareness Day and Dr Lauren Lieberman and Dr Pamela Haibach’s visit to the Blind Foundation. There is also information on Good in the Hood and the Auckland Marathon, as well as upcoming Equipment Display Dates.

If there is anything within this update that you would like to know more about then please get in touch with the Communications team, whose details are at the end of this update.

GAAD Event Recap

  • Thursday 18 May marked Global Accessibility Awareness Day. The purpose of Global Accessibility Awareness Day was to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion for people with different disabilities.
  • This is a day that has been celebrated internationally for the last six years and this year was the first time we held a large event in New Zealand.
  • The Blind Foundation hosted a seminar in Wellington, which saw about 60 people, mainly from Government agencies and the corporate sector, in attendance.
  • A panel of six experts spoke at the event about how increasing accessibility can open up new business opportunities.
  • The day was all about raising awareness for digital accessibility, as well as the Blind Foundation and the Access Matters campaign.

Professors’ visit

  • Two leading scholars in the field of recreation and sports for people who are blind or have low vision,Dr Lauren Lieberman and Dr Pamela Haibach, have wrapped up their tour of New Zealand.
  • Hosted by the Blind Foundation, the professorsfrom The College of Brockport State University of New York led talks around the country sharing their knowledge, research and perspectives on inclusion strategies and movement development.
  • Lieberman and Haibach’swork has special relevance for all those interested in providing increased opportunities, with a focus on sport and recreation, for children, youth and adults who are blind, deafblind or have low vision.
  • Of particular interest was their internationally acclaimed work with Camp Abilities, a very different approach from other camps run for people with vision loss.
  • The professors led seven talks from Dunedinto Auckland over the week they were here with positive feedback from many who attended.

Good in the Hood

  • Z Energy’s Good in the Hood campaign is back and this year the Blind Foundation has been selected by16 individual service stationsas one of their recipient charities.
  • Good in the Hood is Z Energy’s community fundraising programme that gives kiwis the opportunity to vote for local groups doing good in their area. Each time you fill up or make a purchase at a Z service station, you will receive an orange token to place in the voting box of your favourite group.
  • Visit the Blind Foundation website for a full list of Z Energy Stations with a Blind Foundation voting box.

Auckland Marathon

  • Have you ever wanted to run or walk across the Auckland Harbour Bridge?
  • With stunning views throughout the course, the ASB Auckland Marathon is one of the most scenic city marathons in the world and definitely one to tick off the bucket list.
  • We are looking for runners (and walkers) to join Team Guide Dogs at the Auckland Marathon, Sunday 29 October and raise vital funds for the breeding and training of guide dogs.
  • As part of Team Guide Dogs you will receive; a running vest, a personalised training guide, expert fundraising advice, a chance to meet guide dog puppies in training, an invite to join us for refreshments and a massage at the finish line and much more.
  • For more information and to join Team Guide Dogs for this year’s race, please visit the website to complete a quick formand tell us why you want to join the team. If you have any questions please contact or call 0800 120 254.
  • Your support will transform lives, join Team Guide Dogs today!

PS: If this event is not for you, you can still make a huge difference by sharing this message with someone you know who might be interested.

Staff profile

This month we get to know Ian Moody, General Manager ofMarketing.

Ian's job focuses on improving the overall experience of Blind Foundation clients. Ian is working to expand the brand, while helping clients have an outstanding experience.

A typical week for Ian includes meeting with the Leadership team and Sandra, as well as checking in with the Communications team and working with them. It also consists of project work around the Blind Foundation brand and understanding our clients.

Ian has been at the Blind Foundation for two months and says a particular highlight for him so far has been working with his team who have been very welcoming.

What Ian has found he likes most about working at the Blind Foundation so far has been the openness of everyone he has met and the attitude of wanting to do good for the organisation and its clients.

Before coming to the Blind Foundation, Ian was the Chief Marketing Officer at Fidelity Life and Marketing Manager at Westpac before that.

Ian says he has always been a bit of a joker, the craziest thing he has ever done was pretend to be an Air New Zealand pilot at a bar in London so he and his friends could get free drinks, it worked!

Equipment Display days

Area / Venue / Date and time
Taupo / St Pauls Union Church, 172 Tamamutu Street, Taupo. / 2 June 1pm – 3pm.
Auckland / Blind Foundation Fale Kotuku, 20 McVilly Road, Auckland. / 7 June 1pm – 3pm.
Oamaru / Blind Foundation Hall, 6 Steward Street, Oamaru. / 12 June 11am – 1pm.
Geraldine / Geraldine Community Resource Centre, 5A Peel Street, Geraldine. / 13 June 11am – 1pm.
Timaru / Blind Foundation Hall, 63 Grey Road, Timaru. / 14 June 11am – 1pm.

For further information on any of the above, please contact the Communications team at or 0800 24 33 33.