Please help me buy a Braille Note, and you'll be giving me the world at my fingertips

Hello.

My name is Olivia Godfrey and I've been totally blind since I was 18 months old. For almost as long as I can remember, I've used Braille. Over the last 10 or so years, I've been using a very specialised computer called a Braille Note, which is a portable Note taker with a braille screen and a Braille keyboard. If you want more information on Braille Notes, you can visit http://store.humanware.com/nz/braillenote-apex-bt-18-braille-notetaker.html?___store=nz_en

Using my Braille Note, I can read and edit documents, create my own documents, read books, access the internet, check my email, and so much more. Over the years, I've used my Braille Note in just about every conceivable situation. It was an invaluable tool in giving me access to reading materials while I was doing my double degrees at Otago University (I completed a LlB(Hons) and a BA majoring in history in 2005). When I worked as a lawyer, I used it to read contracts, legislation, other legal documents, and to do legal research and write opinions. While I was pregnant with my third child, I started a Masters degree in Bioethics and Health Law and, when I can continue with that, I will be at the stage of writing my Masters dissertation. Again, I used my Braille Note to do readings, write essays, and deal with research materials.

My Braille Note is a hugely important tool in my leisure, volunteer, and parenting activities as well. When I'm not wrangling three children, I sing in a local choir, play competitive Scrabble, and I volunteer my time to coedit the New Zealand Scrabble magazine. In choir, I use my Braille Note to read Braille music, for Scrabble, I use it to keep score and write out lists of words to learn, and I simply couldn't edit a magazine article thoroughly without it. In the past, I've sat on Boards for charitable organisations, (such as the Mamaternity Trust, which provided free pregnancy and breastfeeding assistance to women in Palmerston North and Feilding), and I used my Braille Note to take meeting notes and read policy documents. As a mum, the Braille Note has proven to be invaluable in that I can use it to access books and poetry that I can read to my children, and to copy down spelling lists so that I can help my six-year-old son with his spelling just like any other parent. I also use it for my own leisure reading, appointment notes, recording recipes, and personal writing. Simply put, I use my Braille Note in every aspect of my life.

At the end of 2015, my husband and I separated, and I had to leave the marital home along with my three young children. We had only been in our new house for three months when I accidentally spilled a glass of water over my Braille Note and damaged it quite thoroughly. I’ve been told that the cost to repair my Braille Note is just under $4000, while the cost to buy a completely new one will be just under $6,700. Fortunately, my Braille Note was still covered by the contents insurance policy that covered my marital home. However, under this policy, I can only get the repair costs funded because the Braille Note was five years and two months old at the time the accident occurred. Had it been under five years, the entire replacement cost would have been covered.

Even though I’m due to finish my Masters degree in the next 12 months, am involved in volunteer work, and local community groups and activities, because I’m not currently in paid employment, I’m unable to access any government funding to replace my Braille Note. I feel that spending close to $4,000 to repair the Braille Note would not be a wise use of the insurance funds at this time since the Braille Note will likely need to be replaced within the next 12 to 18 months anyway. However, I simply don't have the extra $3,000 to cover the replacement cost myself, so I’m hoping that you can help me. I am, of course, trying to save up my own money to help fund the purchase of a new Braille Note but this is very difficult since I have three children to support on an extremely slim budget. A new Braille Note will set me up with the essential technology that I need for at least the next five or more years, so I would be extremely grateful for any help I can get from you in meeting this goal.

Thank you so much for your interest and, regardless of whether you end up contributing to my cause or not, I truly appreciate the time you’ve given to me in reading this far through my story.

Regards

Olivia