Braille Week: Make a blind bit of difference

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 660, 29 October 1996, Page 7

Braille Week: Make a blind bit of difference

The slogan for Braille Week for 1996 is 'Make a blind bit of difference'. This year the Royal New Zealand Founda tion for the Blind is celebrating 35 years of Braille Week and is launching the week on 29 October with the celebrity auction and announcement of the winners of the Inaugural Achievers A wards. The evening is sponsored by New Zealand Post and hosted by Gary McCormick at the Sheraton Hotel in Auckland. The achievers awards acknowledge excellence in five areas of endeavour: academia, business/enterprise, the performing arts, literature and the visual arts and sport. Each winner will receive a beautiful glass sculpture designed by Emma Camden. The Talking Book Narrators' award winner will also be announced at this event. Judges for the awards include television presenter Judith Dobson, managing director of Carnegie Sports International Grant Fox and chief executive officer of CLEAR Communications Andrew Makin. A parting gift from Princess Diana of an elegant silver trinket box will be one of the items up for auction as part of the celebrity auction. Other items include a "golfing getaway" with golfing star Michael Campbell and a walk on part in "Hercules", the American series filmed in New

Zealand. Sight loss can happen to anyone and every year 1400 New Zealanders have to meet the challenge of learning new skills in order to cope with vision impairment. For those New Zealanders and the 1 1,500 foundation members who have already gone through the experience, Braille Week is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago. It costs approximately $18 million to provide the services the foundation' s 11,500 members need. Just under half of the funding comes from government and other sources. However, there is a shortfall of $9 million which has to be raised from voluntary donations. The funds raised by Braille Week provide a significant proportion of that amount and, as in past years, the Foundation is aiming to raise $ 1 million from the street appeal which will take place from 29 October to 4 November. Donations can also be made at Post Shops and BNZ branches nationwide. The money raised by Braille Week goes towards providing information through the Foundation' s Library Services and training to enable people to remain independent in their homes. It also gives them access to computer technology to meet their communication needs, vocational training so they can maintain employment and equipment that allows them to do everyday tasks like tell the time or make a cup of tea.