Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ

Every BLENNZ Learner is well prepared to achieve in life Vision

BLENNZ The Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ) (BLENNZ) is established under Section 98 of the Education Act 1964 as a special school. BLENNZ has a core day school as well as residential service and an early intervention service, and provides a range of national services including regional teaching and specialist services, the national specialist assessment service and professional learning and development Ministry of Education Resourcing Notice 2016

NZ population of learners who are blind,deafblind and low vision 2015 1542 total population 18% from birth to 5 years 98% educated in local communities 51% in regular settings 12% in special units 14% in special schools

114.2 Specialist Teachers (FTE) BLENNZ employs …… 114.2 Specialist Teachers (FTE) Made up of: 85 Full time 43 Part time 50.3 Non teaching staff 29 Full time 41 Part time

History Pre 1960’s Auckland - Education provided at Jubilee School in Parnell Christchurch - Waltham Sight Saving Class 1960’s Christchurch – First Resource Centre established at Elmwood Normal School (1964) Auckland - Homai College for the Blind, opened 1965 1999 Homai became a state school Vision Education Agency established 2005 BLENNZ established Both Elmwood and Homai were resourced by Ministry of Education but Homai governed by RNZFB

PRE 2005 Sensory and Visual Resource Centres: Hamilton Tauranga Gisborne Napier Taranaki Palmerston North Wellington Nelson Christchurch Otago Southland Homai National School for the Blind & Vision Impaired Auckland VRC While all services were funded by the Ministry of Education the governance structures were very different. RNZFB (aka Blind Foundation) governed Auckland services All visual and sensory centres as they developed were under the governance of the schools they were based at with some having management committees which had an advisory / support role. All services were stand alone and in the 1980’s a teachers association was established to attempt to develop some sharing of information and break down isolation across the regional centres. The biggest gap was between the Auckland based services and the other centres.

January 2005 BLENNZ established To provide all learners who are blind or low vision with: a range of educational options, all supporting inclusion in the learners community access to these options throughout their education, according to individual need. To establish one coordinated organisation to provide innovation through pooling of resources a united workforce with a shared vision consistent, cohesive learner focussed services. To provide all learners who are blind or low vision nationally with: A range of educational options All support inclusive in their own communities Access throughout their education according to individual need.

National Board of Trustees National Hub at Homai Campus + 13 Visual Resource Centres and 5 outposts

National Board of Trustees BLENNZ Services

Administration Services Homai Campus Visual Resource Centres Homai Early Childhood Centre  

School and Residential Services Homai Campus School & Satellite Class Kickstart Transition Programme Residential Services  

Homai Campus School Classes of students with complex needs Classes of students using braille or large print Individual programmes include a mix of homeroom and mainstream classes. Mainstream classes provide opportunities for peer support and social skill development. Students are supported in accessing course materials through the use of specialist technology or through the production of braille. Teaching and learning programmes focus on the New Zealand Curriculum and the key competencies.

James Cook Satellite Class The students in the satellite class work in mainstream classes, satellite group learning activities and intensive one to one instruction programme designed to meet individual goals arising from the IEP process.

Kickstart Transition Programme For students between the ages of 17 and 21 years Transitioning from secondary to tertiary study, employment and independent living   The Kickstart transition programme provides an opportunity for young adults who are blind and low vision to live in a supported flatting situation as they make the transition to tertiary education, the workplace and living independently.

School IEP Immersion Students can spend up to a week with their teacher, teacher aide or parent in the campus school. Strategies observed and learned can then be taken back to their mainstream school.

Residential Services Routine - Structure Adaptive Daily Living Skills Sport and Recreation Community Activities Art and Craft Homework period with Tutor support Special Formats Library Leisure time

Assessment and Teaching Services Visual Resource Centres Homai Early Childhood Centre DOM/Specialist Service Immersion Programmes National Assessment Services

Visual Resource Centres

BLENNZ key services include: functional vision assessment for eligible students early intervention services, including some centre-based programmes to help young children acquire essential skills in relation to their blindness or low vision, and to  support to families/whānau assessment and teaching programmes in the Expanded Core Curriculum, in support of access to and participation in Te Whāriki and the New Zealand Curriculum facilitation and consultation in schools professional development for teachers and support staff support for parents/caregivers facilitation of the provision of assistive technology, and production and provision of resources including accessible format materials for general teaching purposes. Ministry of Education Resourcing Notice 2012

National Assessment Service Educational assessments of up to 5 days with full range of specialists Regional and campus based Functional vision and other one-off assessments Provides recommendations to support educational progammes

Homai Early Childhood Centre Provides: Programmes for children on the Auckland Visual Resource Centre roll Placement for children attending a national assessment Professional support to BLENNZ families, staff and other agencies

OPPORTUNITY The opportunity to take advantage of the large population of learners nationally to meet individual needs by drawing together students with like needs for Immersion Courses.

Immersion Courses Early Childhood Braille Literacy Maths Skills Life Skills Visual Efficiency Social Skills Career and Future Planning Planning for Tertiary Technology Orientation & Mobility Performing Arts All courses integrate, life, social and O&M skills. BLENNZ draws others into planning and provision depending on learner need.

2016 Immersion Courses JAWS Group Career and Future Planning – Students 11 or 12 JAWS Group 2 Planning for Tertiary Performing Arts Staff Workshop – Exploring the Toolbox of Learners with low vision Kickstart Experience Braille Learners Group 2 JAWS Braille Learners 5-7 Years Braille Learners 9 – 12 Years Contingency The opportunity to: Design and construct a new state-of-the art learning environment for children and young people who are blind, deafblind and low vision. Learning Environment Function and form have come together to support and strengthen the work of the camus as a professional hub for the national network.

OPPORTUNITY With the geographically far flung staff and parent community, the opportunity to harness the online environment to: Share practice Establish a repository for BLENNZ teaching and learning Provide information and new mechanisms for support and networking for parents

BLENNZ Development http://blennzcurriculumdevelopment.ning.com/

BLENNZ Website http://blennzonline.edublogs.org/

Personal professional goals Strategic Planning Consultation 3 year Strategic Plan Annual Plan Project planning Personal professional goals The opportunity to have clear and decisive strategic planning processes nationally. BLENNZ teachers are vision Is marching in the same direction with the outcome of consistent and high quality teaching practice right throughout the country. The opportunity to develop consistent processes of both strategic and operational self-review which will allow for evaluation of systems and practice. This in turn will enable evaluation of learner achievement.

BLENNZ Curriculum Key services include: assessment and teaching programmes in the Expanded Core Curriculum e.g. braille, in support of access to and participation in Te Whāriki and the New Zealand Curriculum Ministry of Education Resourcing Notice 2014

The Expanded Core Curriculum Covers the following aspects of teaching and learning for learners who are blind, deafblind and low vision: communication modes sensory efficiency physical abilities orientation and mobility social skills life skills assistive technology career and future planning