This issue was edited by Lyn Robinson, Resource Teacher, Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
To download programs for PD activities, visit: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/pd2008.htm
Melbourne has been host to two very exciting conferences this month. The International
Council on English Braille (ICEB) meets once every four years and this year
was held in Melbourne. Delegates from countries which use English Braille attended
the conference and exchanged information about braille projects in their countries.
This was followed by the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print
Disabilities (Round Table) Conference. This is a meeting of organisations involved
in the production of alternative format materials in Australia. One of the roles
of the Round table is to provide member organisations with guidelines and standards
for the production of alternative format materials such as Braille, etext, audio
and large print. Marion Blazé and I attended the conferences and hope
to bring you some interesting snippets in the next few editions of the Bulletin.
2009 will be a very important year for braille as countries commemorate the
birth of Louis Braille. Different countries already have plans in place, here
are just some of their ideas:
• Canada, is hosting a web site called Braille 200 which will be used
to publish activities for the Bicentennial. There will be a writing competition
for people to write about their experiences with braille, a song and DVD about
Louis Braille, activities for sighted school children, braille bookmarks, stickers
and kits for schools.
• The U.S.A. is producing a commemorative coin which will have the braille
letters, brl, (short for braille) on it!
• Australia and New Zealand will have a commemorative stamp.
• The U. K. will hold an organ recital in honor or Louis Braille.
The World Blind Union and the International Committee for the Commemoration
of the Bicentenary of Louis Braille’s Birth are organising an international
conference in France from
4th to 8th January, 2009. The conference will include a tour to Coupvray, the
birthplace of Louis Braille, a historical exhibition entitled “Louis Braille,
his life and his works” and a visit to the tomb of Louis Braille at Pantheon.
If you would like a copy of the conference program please contact the SVRC.
If you have any ideas you would like to share about ways in which we could
celebrate Louis Braille’s birth please let us know at the Statewide Vision
Resource Centre.
A case study by our very own Kerry Fitzmaurice and Lee Clarke appears in the
March 2008 edition of the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. You can
access the article entitled “Training Children in Eccentric Viewing: A
Case Study” at http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pubjvib.asp?DocID=jvib020304
Well done Kerry and Lee.
A blind man who set himself a worldwide challenge to run seven marathons in
seven days has finished his final run. Dave Heeley ran the London Marathon after
spending a week running in Brazil, the Falklands, Los Angeles, Sydney, Dubai
and Tunisia. Mr Heeley, 50, from West Bromwich, has been running with guide
Malcolm Carr to raise money for Guide Dogs UK. The pair are among only four
people to complete the challenge. The others are Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr
Mike Stroud. Mr Heeley and Mr Carr finished the London Marathon in five hours
and 23 minutes.
Fantastic adventure
Mr Heeley was met at the finish line by his wife Debbie, 42, and daughters Dannie,
four, Georgie Lee, six, and Grace, 17. He said: "I'm going to have a rest
now." He added: "To think last week I was in the Falklands, it's just
too incredible for words.
"I am the first blind person to do this. It's been a fantastic adventure
and one I'm going to talk about for a long time." He said he had chosen
his charity so that "other blind people could have the freedom and independence
I've had". Mrs Heeley said: "I'm looking forward to having him home
for a while.
From: BBC News Sunday, 13 April http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7345172.stm
Eric Damery (Freedom Scientific Vice President Software Product Management)
will be visiting Australia to conduct an information tour in mid-May . The purpose
of the tour is to provide an opportunity to:
• Learn about the recent innovations in JAWS, Openbook, MAGic and other
Freedom Scientific products ;
• Discuss plans for future developments ;
• Obtain feedback and ideas for improvement.
Some of the topics to be covered include:
• Constantly changing Microsoft environments : Windows Vista, Windows
Mobile 2006
• Consumer needs : portability, licensing flexibility and scripting ;
The information and discussion session will be of interest to all educators
working with vision impaired students of any age.
Date: Wednesday 14 May 2008 Time: 2:30 – 3:30PM Venue: Statewide Vision
Resource Centre
Similar sentiments were expressed by Nigel Herring , author of Picture Braille who spoke recently at the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) Conference in Melbourne. For those of you not familiar with Picture Braille it is a software package which allows simple outline drawings to be produced on the computer and then embossed in dots using an embosser. Nigel spoke of the potential and drawbacks of producing graphics tactually, likening some people’s rapture in highly complex graphics to the fable of the “Emperor’s New Clothes, everyone expresses their delight but its real value to a braille reader may be of dubious benefit. Nigel commented that simple tactile graphics are fondly received by many young students and has suggested that a tactile graphics lexicon may well be what is needed so that there is some consistency in how pictorial information is presented to braille readers. For a copy of Nigel’s paper, "Consideration for Embosser Produced Tactile Graphics", please contact Lyn at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
Vision Australia along with Blind Sports Victoria are organising a 34 kilometre
Tandem Bike ride from Kooyong to Racers Café at St Kilda and back to
Kooyong on Wednesday 7th May. The cost for the day is $5.00. Riders will buy
there own lunch at Racers. The ride will leave Kooyong at 10.30 A.M. and return
by 2.00 P.M.. Places are limited so if you are interested please ring Di Hayward
on Ph. 9760 0006
The Braille Window Project was a very exciting addition to the windows of Mantra
on Russell during the recent ICEB and Round Table conferences. The windows to
the entrance of the hotel were covered in braille which was produced from the
writings of the many braille writers, some of whom were Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development students.
The following is an extract from an article in The Age about the Braille Window
Project.
“A city window is helping to convey the beauty and value of braille text.
To passers-by, the artwork on the windows of the Mantra Hotel in Russell Street
looks and feels like an intricate pattern of raised shapes. But to people who
can’t see, it’s a window into their experience of Melbourne: the
rattle of trams, the click of high heels or the slap of runners, the smells
of coffee, perfume and diesel, the sun and wind on their skin.”
This rest of this beautifully written article from The Age can accessed at
http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/touching-tales/2008/04/09/1207420476344.html
The braille for the Braille Window Project was embossed by the staff of the Statewide Vision Resource Centre. Maria, our Braille Coordinator, took her grandchildren into the city to explore their wonderful handiwork.
For those of you who love op shopping and want to be creative Vision Australia is running a fun 6 week course visiting Op-shops. Under the guidance of Maret, artist extraordinaire, you will create a one off designer item from your purchases. If you have low vision and feel that this would be of interest why not call Maret on 9864 9260 to find out more or check the flyer attached at the end of the print edition of the bulletin.
If you would like an opportunity to explore the Visiting Teacher Tool Kit with Lyn and Michael on May 15 please come along to the Statewide Vision Resource Centre for a guided tour between 11.45 A.M. and 12.15 P.M.. It is part of the Skill Power Workshop for Visiting Teachers Program and replaces the Enlarging Options which was scheduled for that day.