Here is a list of useful terms used in this book, followed by an explanation of what each term means.
Assistive technology
Equipment and technology students who are blind, deafblind or have low vision use to learn, e.g., screen readers and large-print software. Refer to page 35.
B4 School Check
A nationwide programme offering free health and child development checks to four-year-olds. Refer to page 27.
Braille
Tactile writing system used by people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision. Refer to page 35.
Careers New Zealand
Government agency providing career information and advice. Refer to page 56.
Child Development Services
A range of child disability services provided by the Ministry of Health. Refer to pages 14, 23.
Child Disability Allowance
Funding from the Ministry of Social Development (Work and Income) for caring for children with disabilities at home. Refer to page 22.
Children’s Spectacle Subsidy (glasses subsidy)
A subsidy provided by the Ministry of Health to children 15 years and under (who meet criteria). Funding contributes to assessment, lenses and frames. Refer to page 23.
Clinical assessment
A type of assessment involving observation and clinical tests, resulting in a medical diagnosis. Refer to page 14.
Communication
A key learning area within The Expanded Core Curriculum. Refer to page 37.
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Community Services Card
A Work and Income card for people 18 years old or over (or 16–17 years old in full-time tertiary study) who are on a low to middle income. Gives holders cheaper prescriptions, doctor’s fees, etc. Refer to page 23.
Contact Lens Subsidy
A subsidy provided by the Ministry of Health to children who for medical reasons cannot wear glasses (and who meet criteria). Refer to page 23.
Disability Allowance
Government funding for adults with disabilities from Work and Income. Refer to page 62.
Distance vision
The ability to see detail at a distance. Refer to page 15.
Early childhood education services
The range of services available within the early childhood education sector, e.g., kindergarten, playcentre and kōhanga reo. Refer to page 24.
Education Review Office (ERO)
Government agency responsible for reviewing and assessing schools. Refer to page 26.
Equipment Modification Services (EMS)
Services and funding available to children and young people with a high level of needs (subject to an assessment from an EMS assessor and meeting other criteria). Refer to page 23.
Functional assessment
An assessment that looks at what a child can see and how the child uses their vision. Refer to page 14.
Halberg Allsports
A website with information about Halberg Disability Sport Foundation programmes. Refer to page 44.
High Health Use Card
A Work and Income card offering cardholders cheaper prescription fees. Refer to page 22.
High or Very High Needs
Terms used by the Ministry of Education to describe needs that meet particular criteria for funding. Refer to page 38.
Homai Campus School
The main campus school of BLENNZ, based in Auckland. Refer to page 32.
Housing New Zealand
Government agency responsible for housing policy, funding and services. Refer to page 57.
Immersion courses
BLENNZ programmes (usually lasting a day or more) on a range of topics for children and young people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision and their families and whānau. Refer to pages 32, 42, 45.
Individual Education Plan (IEP)
A written plan, showing how the school and classroom programme will be adapted to suit a child or young person who is blind or has low vision. Refer to page 36.
James Cook High School
A school in Auckland running a satellite class for students with special education needs. Refer to page 31.
Jobseeker Support Payment
Temporary payment from Work and Income for people with disabilities who are looking for work. Refer to page 62.
Kindergarten
A type of early childhood education service. Refer to page 24.
Kōhanga reo
A type of early childhood education service where the main language of instruction is te reo Māori and where children learn about te ao Māori (the Māori world) and tikanga Māori (Māori culture). Refer to page 24.
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Large-print software
Assistive technology commonly used by students with low vision to learn. Refer to page 35.
Little room
A box-like structure that gives children who are blind, deafblind or who have low vision the opportunity to explore objects. Refer to page 19.
Long (white) cane
Assistive technology used for mobility. Used to identify surface changes, curbs and other obstacles. Refer to page 35.
Ministry of Education
Government agency responsible for education policy, funding and services. Refer to page 9.
Ministry of Health
Government agency responsible for health policy, funding and services. Refer to page 10.
Ministry of Social Development
Government agency responsible for a wide range of disability policy, services and funding. Refer to page 62.
Mobility and orientation support
Services to help the mobility and orientation of people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision provided by BLENNZ and the Blind Foundation. Refer to pages 26, 32, 35, 37.
National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA)
New Zealand’s main secondary school qualification. Refer to page 44.
National Assessment Service
An assessment service provided by BLENNZ from the Homai Campus School in Auckland. Refer to pages 14, 32.
National Travel Assistance
Support from the Ministry of Health to travel to and from hospital, specialist appointments and early childhood services. Refer to page 23.
Near vision
The ability to see things close up. Refer to page 15.
Needs Assessment and Services Coordination (NASC)
A service provided by the Ministry of Health. Refer to page 10.
Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS)
Ministry of Education funding and services for children and young people with high and very high special education needs. Refer to page 39.
Parent and Child Enrichment (PACE) programme
Blind Foundation programme offering children and young people a suite of age-specific programmes, e.g., the Life Skills programme for young adults to prepare them for independent living. Refer to page 19.
Parents As First Teachers (PAFT) programme
Ministry of Social Development parenting education programme. Refer to page 19.
Providing Access to Health Solutions (PATHS)
Employment support for people on a sickness benefit from Work and Income. Refer to page 56.
Playcentre
A type of early childhood education service. Refer to page 24.
PlunketLine
A free information service for parents with information on the B4 School Check programme. Refer to page 27.
Satellite class
A special class in a school for children with a high level of special education needs. Refer to page 31.
Screen reader
Technology designed for blind students to help them learn. Refer to page 35.
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Section 9 Agreement
Legal agreement parents and caregivers need to send their child to a special school. Refer to page 31.
Sensory efficiency skills
Skills referred to within a key learning area of The Expanded Core Curriculum. Refer to page 37.
Special Assessment Conditions
Special conditions granted to students with disabilities by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Refer to page 44.
Special Education Grant
Funding from the Ministry of Education that goes to all schools for the purpose of supporting students with special education needs. Refer to page 39.
Special Education School Transport Assistance
Funding available from the Ministry of Education for transport assistance while a child is at school. Refer to page 39.
Special school
A day school for children and young people with a high level or complex set of special education needs. Refer to page 31.
STRIPES
A Blind Foundation programme for young people aged 6 to 12 focused on daily living skills, pre-employment skills etc. Refer to page 42.
Study Link
Government agency that helps with student loans and allowances. Refer to page 55.
Supported Living Payment
Payment for disabled people who are permanently and severely restricted in their ability to work from Work and Income. Refer to pages 62, 63.
Symbol (white) cane
Assistive technology used for mobility. Refer to page 35.
Support (white) cane
Assistive technology used for extra support. Refer to page 35.
Supported Employment Agencies
Agencies funded to help people with disabilities find work. Refer to page 86.
Telefriend
Peer support service from the Blind Foundation. Refer to page 45.
Tertiary Education Commission
Government department responsible for tertiary education. Refer to page 55.
The Correspondence School
The school for distance learning in New Zealand. Called Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu—The Correspondence School in full. Refer to page 32.
TRACKS
A Blind Foundation programme for young people aged 13 and older focused on daily living skills, pre-employment skills etc. Refer to page 54.
Training Incentive Allowance
Funding from Work and Income for training. Refer to page 62.
Training Opportunities programmes
Programmes from the Tertiary Education Commission aimed at school leavers with no or low-level qualifications. Refer to page 55.
Transition plan
A written plan and set of strategies developed for times of change or transition. Refer to page 49.
The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC)
The ECC is used as guidance for the Resource Teachers: Vision to help adapt and differentiate teaching and learning within the national curriculum for students who are blind, deafblind or have low vision. Refer to page 37.
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Visual acuity
A measure used to describe the ability of the eye to perceive the size and shape of objects. Refer to page 16.
Visual Resource Centres
BLENNZ centres located throughout New Zealand. Refer to page 32.
Vocational Services Transition Service
Support for students with high and very high needs from the Ministry of Social Development to transition from school. Refer to page 62.
Work and Income
Government agency within the Ministry of Social Development responsible for a wide range of tertiary and social services and funding. Refer to page 62.
Workbridge
Government agency that funds training and employment support for people with disabilities. Refer to pages 55, 56.
Youth Guarantee Scheme
Programme from the Tertiary Education Commission aimed at school leavers with no or low-level qualifications. Refer to page 55.
Youth Training Scheme
A scheme from the Tertiary Education Commission aimed at school leavers with no or low-level qualifications. Refer to page 55.
Youth Transition Scheme
Support from the Ministry of Social Development to help students with disabilities leave school and enter employment or further training. Refer to page 62.
