An Aotearoa New Zealand that’s accessible for people who are blind, deaf blind or have low vision is good for all Kiwis.
With your support, we can campaign for policies and practices in our communities that foster accessibility and inclusion for individuals who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision.
Together we can improve access to information, buildings and public spaces, transport and ultimately improve lives.
People who are blind, deaf blind or have low vision are fully capable of leading full, rich lives, with jobs, partners, children, hobbies, and thriving social lives. Yet some people think life stops when you lose your vision – or worse, that it should.
One of the biggest barriers people who are blind, deaf blind or have low vision face is other people’s assumptions about what they can and can’t do, and what their lives should and shouldn’t look like.
“You don’t look blind!”
“How can you work with low vision?”
“You can’t have a partner and kids!”
“What do you want to go to the movies for?”
Judgmental attitudes get in the way of job opportunities, and in the way of people living the life they choose. Judgmental attitudes justify not making entertainment and technologies accessible. They make people not want to use incredibly helpful tools like white canes, in case they’d be identified as blind and treated differently. People with low or no vision should be seen for the entirety of their personhood, and not limited to their level of vision. ‘Opening eyes’ to all that a person is, is the first step towards a truly inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.
Everyone deserves to be able to live life the way they choose. We can make Aotearoa New Zealand a place where everyone has access to the same opportunities, and has the chance to flourish.
When you step outside your door, you shouldn’t be expected to enter a footpath filled with unnecessary hazards and obstacles – and yet, that’s the reality for our clients. E-scooters strewn across the pavement, signage placed on the path, and poorly thought-out construction traffic management plans all create safety risks for people who are blind, deaf blind or have low vision.
Confidence in one’s ability to get around is essential. The more difficult it is for people to go to work, go to the shops, or visit their friends, the more socially isolated they become. Let’s clear the path so everyone can get around confidently and safely, and have access to the same opportunities.
Help make the world a better place for blind, deaf blind and low vision people by sharing our message to See the Person. Download our social media tiles for sharing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X, and talk to your work, school or local council about how you can make your environment more accessible to people who are blind, deaf blind or have low vision.
Being blind, deaf blind or having low vision should not prevent someone from accessing essential services. Many websites in critical industries, including government services and healthcare, remain inaccessible. Doctors continue to send their patients information about their eye conditions in small print and other inaccessible formats. Obtaining a valid ID can also be a nightmare or completely impossible for someone with low or no vision, which bars them from basic goods and services in our society, such as setting up a bank account, or getting a home loan.
Let’s make sure everyone has equal access to the things required for living well in Aotearoa New Zealand.
