In 2021 we have had a few highlights. One of these was the NAS visit in March after two planned visits that were cancelled due to Covid. The team were… Read more
15-18 yrs
City adventure for 2 cane users
Over this new disrupted time we continued to be supported by the National team at BLENNZ. Our DOM programme continued with Kay Daly who zoomed with us, mentored us and… Read more
Healthier Home Learning – Linewize webinar series for families
Linewize are holding a series of free webinars for families about home learning. This is an opportunity for parents and whanau to get support around navigating the online learning environment…. Read more
LEGO® Braille Bricks
BLENNZ is excited to be an official partner of the LEGO Foundation and the LEGO® Braille Bricks toolkit. The LEGO® Braille Bricks concept is a play-based methodology that teaches braille… Read more
Celebrations with exam results
There have been lots of celebrations at BLENNZ Hamilton. Sue Cooke, Lisa Halsall, Debbie Barker and Alannah Orr have successfully passed the braille transcribers exam with distinctions or high distinctions…. Read more
Being prepared for change
Our work load changed in the year of Covid -19 and our delivery evolved. Remote learning provision became a priority. Making connections via Zoom and messaging become the order of the day. Appropriate devices and parental help… Read more
Transition to post school-life
Transition from secondary school to post-school life has been a focus for some of our ākonga in Otago this year. As part of our transition programme for a learner with additional needs we worked with the secondary school… Read more
Ākonga developing swim safety and confidence skills
This year the BLENNZ Tūranganui a Kiwa/Gisborne and Napier teams collaborated with our Blind Low Vision NZ colleague, Erin Leonard to organise a very successful Curriculum Day at the Wairoa Community Centre Pool which focused on our ākonga developing Swim Safety and confidence skills. Five AUSTSwim instructors (two provisional) led by Denice Gasson were in the… Read more
BLENNZ Napier students learning new skills
Kahn is learning to use the iPad Pro 12.9” to enable him to access the curriculum. He particularly enjoys the independence gained through being able to capture information and produce… Read more
Building sports and recreation opportunities outside of school
A need to offer a wider range of local sporting opportunities during the weekend for South Auckland youths with visual impairments, led to the founding of the Matariki South Youth Sports Program. The free program, created by Casey… Read more