ASSOCIATION OF BLIND CITIZENS OF NEW ZEALAND INC

MEDIA RELEASE

Taxi Industry Champions Braille Signs In Taxis

1 October 2008

The Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand (Association) applauds the efforts of the NZ Transport Agency (previously Land Transport New Zealand) and the taxi industry for its recognition of the rights of New Zealand’s blind, vision impaired and deafblind population.

Clive Lansink, National President of the Association said “over the past three years we have worked in partnership with Land Transport New Zealand to bring about this new law which champions and recognises our rights as blind citizens to have equal access to information.”

A frequent user of taxis, C Lansink went on to say “it is reassuring to get into a taxi and to be able to independently verify that it is from my preferred company. In fact it is quite liberating to be able to read this important information which until now has only been available to the sighted population.”

This new law, which comes into effect today, recognises the rights of New Zealand’s blind population to access pertinent information inside taxis. Each taxi must now display a sign in Braille which gives the name of the taxi company, the taxi’s unique fleet number and the taxi company’s contact number for complaints.

Commencing Friday 3 October in Dunedin the Association’s annual conference entitled “Literacy for All – From Braille to Email” emphasises the importance of Braille as the primary literacy tool for blind people.

Founded in 1945, the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand is this country’s main blindness consumer advocacy organisation. The Association’s philosophy is "blind people speaking for ourselves". Its role is to advocate on behalf of its members to Government, providers of blindness and disability-specific services (including the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind) and providers of services where blind people have particular requirements that should be taken into account.

ENDS