New Zealand Statistical Association Newsletter 63
March 2006
TV One News
Mar 20, 2006
The hidden costs of blindness have been exposed in a ground-breaking
study. It found New Zealand's 11,500 blind people are $6,000 a year
worse off because of their disability.
Blindness is costing those who live without sight a staggering $60
million a year and it reveals the blind spend more on a raft of
activities that sighted people take for granted.
Music has been a saviour for nine-year-old Lizzie Hollingworth. Her
talent for the piano is a wonderful discovery in a world where there's
much blind children can't do.
"It's providing an opportunity in her life to learn something and get
some sense of achievement and know she can be good at something," says
her mother Jennifer Hollingworth.
But achieving in life is even more costly for the blind than experts
have believed up until now, with a wider cost to society estimated at
$27.5 million.
"This isn't the cost of blindness, but these are the non optional costs
that blind people face everyday to participate in society," says Paula
Day, chief executive of the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind.
They're costs blind university lecturer Jonathan Godfrey knows well -
right down to the special software that enables him to teach.
"It goes on and on and on, the costs of blindness start when you get out
of bed in the morning and end when you go to bed at night," says
Godfrey.
The report also reveals a high social cost for families with
relationship failures, difficulties and depression. The blind often pay
more because of their restricted ability to take advantage of sales and
specials.
It also said getting around is also difficult and more costly with an
enormous amount of time wasted waiting for transport, support and help.
The Foundation of the Blind has taken the report to the government in
the hope of a funding boost. The government's current contribution of
$7 million is one third of the money the foundation needs to meet it
operating budget of $21 million.
And for families like the Hollingworth's, government recognition of the
costs and challenges they face daily would be even more music to their
ears.
SSC Service Award to Kenneth McRae
The
Statistical Society of Canada
today announced that Dr. Kenneth McRae has been awarded the SSC Service
Award. This award is given to a member of the Society who has made
substantial contribution to the running or welfare of the Society over a
period of several years.
Dr. McRae is a senior research scientist and regional statistician for
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada in
the Atlantic provinces since 1974. A native of New Zealand, he received
a B.Sc from UBC and a Ph.D. at Oregon State University. He was a
visiting scientist at the Rothamsted Experimental Station, UK in 1984/5
and to Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland in 1994/5. He holds adjunct
professorships at Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Dalhousie and Acadia
Universities in Nova Scotia.
Dr. McRae leads an R&D program in statistics for the Research Branch
developing statistical models for complex research problems. His
research team combines scientific knowledge and research know-how to
speed up the discovery process, to validate results, and to advance
scientific and technical knowledge. His interest in building quality
into research, from start to finish, includes the writing of 150
scientific publications and a similar number of technical reports.
In 2003, Dr. McRae was designated as the first P.Stat. in Canada by the
Statistical Society of Canada, in recognition of his work over several
years in designing and initiating the implementation of the society’s
program of accreditation. Professional development of statisticians is
of special interest. In his own workplace, he established an active role
for statisticians in scientific research, and through workshops
developing on-the-job work skills for collaborators. He represented the
Atlantic Province on the Board of Directors, Statistical Society of
Canada during 1992-4 and 1998-2000. He co-chaired the Professional
Development Committee during 1999 - 2001 and Accreditation Planning
Committee during 2000 - 2003. He has served on the Initial Accreditation
Committee since 2004.
The citation reads
“To Kenneth B. McRae, Ph.D., P.Stat., for longstanding and visionary commitment to the statistical profession in Canada; for effective advocacy of methodological training and mentorship of new practitioners; and for the design and initiation of the process for accreditation of professional statisticians by the Statistical Society of Canada.”
This announcement was made at the University of Western Ontario, site of
this year's Annual Meeting of the Society. The Statistical Society of
Canada, founded in 1977, is dedicated to the promotion of excellence in
statistical research, and the advancement of the statistical profession
in Canada.