Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ

1. Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ

2. Vision Every BLENNZ Learner is well prepared to achieve in life

3. 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

4. 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

5. BLENNZemploys …… • 114.2 Specialist Teachers (FTE) • Made up of: • 85 Full time • 43 Part time • 50.3 Non teaching staff • Made up of: • 29 Full time • 41 Part time

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

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

10. National Board of Trustees BLENNZ Services

11. Administration Services Homai Campus Visual Resource Centres Homai Early Childhood Centre

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

13. Homai Campus School • Classes of students with complex needs • Classes of students using braille or large print

14. 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.

15. For students between the ages of 17 and 21 years • Transitioning from secondary to tertiary study, employment and independent living Kickstart Transition Programme

16. 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.

17. 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

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

19. Visual Resource Centres

20. 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 TeWhāriki 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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. OPPORTUNITY

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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

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

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

29. Strategic Planning Consultation 3 year Strategic Plan Annual Plan Project planning Personal professional goals

30. 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 TeWhārikiand the New Zealand Curriculum Ministry of Education Resourcing Notice 2014

31. 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