Research, policy development, advocacy and the establishment of standards underpin the Association's service delivery and its role in actively encouraging government and non-government bodies to provide quality services and improved facilities to meet the needs of people who are blind and vision impaired. For more than 85 years, the Association for the Blind has been providing a wide range of services to Western Australians who are blind or vision impaired. As the principal provider of services, we have an obligation to ensure that we can provide our consumers with quality and relevant services now and into the future. To assist us to provide services, now and into the future, an Annual Service Access Fee was introduced on 1 February 2001. This compulsory fee is payable before services are provided.
Consumers receive an invoice each year, on the anniversary of the first payment.
For example, if the first payment is made on 20 January 2001, an invoice will be sent on the same date the following year. Gold Card holders are exempt from the fee. DVA White Card holders are also exempt from the fee if their war-caused disability relates to vision impairment. If a consumer cannot afford to pay, they may apply for exemption from the Fee on the grounds of financial hardship. When a consumer pays the Annual Service Access Fee, all services offered by the Association will be available to them at no extra charge for one year from the date of payment.