This issue was edited by Marion Blazé, Education Officer, and Deb Lewis, Co-ordinator, Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
To see the annual program and to download programs for professional development activities, go to: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/pd2007.htm
Lea Nagel, Senior Visiting Teacher, Eastern Metropolitan Region has kindly offered to conduct a couple of extra professional development sessions – just for Visiting Teachers. They will be:
Unfortunately this initiative is happening in the UK, but hopefully we might benefit from its outcomes.
An International Conference on Art, Museums and Visual Impairment
Wednesday 28th & Thursday 29th November 2007 at the V&A, London
The first collaboration between St Dunstan’s, The V&A and Goldsmiths College, In Touch With Art will investigate methods of teaching art to people with visual impairment, explore the experiences of practising artists with visual impairment, and identify how people with visual impairment engage and interact with visual art in gallery and museum environments. The two-day conference will give delegates the opportunity to find out about models of best practice for the interpretation of the visual arts for a visually impaired audience. It will also look at the international perspective on this area, together with psychological processing and cognition through the senses, and draw together the personal, professional, physical and psychological experiences of artists, educators, and visitors with visual impairment. Information will be available shortly at: http://www.st-dunstans.org.uk
David Hornsby and Deb Sukarna are offering this topic at the Darebin Arts Centre, Preston, on May 12. Contact Paula Welham for registration information – 9499 2065 pwelham@bigpond.net.au.
This month’s articles and features include:
The last day of term 1, 2007 was chosen for the inaugural Athletics Carnival Day combining staff and students from Vision Australia, the Department of Education’s Visiting Teacher Service and the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
The weather looked a little threatening early in the morning but organiser Charlie Roberts from Vision Australia pressed on regardless!
Students, family members and staff began arriving at the Bill Sewart Reserve in Burwood from around 8.30am amid blowy conditions and were quickly mingling and looking expectantly excited. Events began punctually at 9.30am with adults and students miraculously arriving at their designated starting points with the assistance of staff and the timely PA announcements!
Then it was GO-GO-GO with events ending and beginning seamlessly! “Track” events first – 70, 100, 200 and 400 metre events – followed by the “field” events – shot put, long jump, cricket ball toss, discus and quoit toss… There were about 45 competitors and even more spectators, not to mention the large cast of helpers shepherding students to events, timing events and presenting medals! The BBQ lunch began just as the first few spots of rain fell!
So thanks to Charlie for organising the day – and we all hope it will be the first of many!
And to see photos of this fabulous day, go to: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/athletics2007.htm
We are inviting our primary students to come along for the day and try out the skills they’ll need for a number of different careers. They might try being a Receptionist, a Scientist, a Dog Handler, a Radio Personality, a Myotherapist, a Musician, a Teacher or a Caterer.
Our wonderful friends from Guide Dogs have also jumped on this band wagon and will come along to present some of the important mobility skills kids need to get and keep jobs.
It’s bound to be lots of fun and we hope it will get our students thinking about why they need to start honing their skills NOW. (See, we’re still on our mission of talking careers for 2007!)
Numbers will be limited, so get the following information in by 2nd May!
Are you planning to come to Space Camp?
Do we know about it yet???
If you plan to come in 2007, we need to know NOW!!! At this stage there are not enough students who have indicated an interest in coming to begin to make plans – therefore there will be no group making the trip this year… LET DEB KNOW ASAP!!!
We have to hand it to Di Hayward, the Recreational Development Worker with Vision Australia. She is always organizing and informing us of great activities to get our students out and about. Events include:
Please contact Di for more information on 8872 7000. (Thanks, Di!!!)
Information provided by Tim Matthews, Manager Talent Search & Development Officer (Vic/Tas) Australian Paralympic Committee
The Australian Paralympic Committee will be conducting sporting tests to help identify future Paralympic athletes. Some of the sports that will be targeted are athletics, cycling, swimming, wheelchair basketball and table tennis.
Where: Broadmeadows Leisure Centre, Cnr Dimboola & Pearcedale
Parade (Mel Ref: 6 G8)
Date: Sunday May 20, 2007
Time: 9:30am until 1:00pm
For further information and for a registration form contact:
Tim Matthews
Phone: 03 9614 6800
Email: tim.matthews@paralympic.org.au
Web: http://www.paralympic.org.au
*Must meet current classification criteria
This information came via Mike Steer and Jill Keeffe. There will be a new publication called ‘Focus on Low Vision’ and a preliminary version is available at CERA’s website http://www.cera.org.au/publications/reports/Focus%20on%20LowVision.pdf.
Here is a summary of what the publication will offer:
Focus on Low Vision is a comprehensive overview of the topic of low vision. It examines the causes, implications and issues that relate to this increasingly prevalent condition. Its key message is that low vision is usable vision and that much can be done to ensure that people with low vision enjoy the best quality of life possible. Written in clear concise language and colourfully illustrated, Focus on Low Vision is not only designed for use by clinicians and health care workers but also by people with low vision and the general public. It’s a must read for anyone interested in or working in the area of low vision.
The Australian Braille Literacy Action Group is holding a ‘gathering’ to promote the use of Braille by young people. “Spill the Beans” will be an opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of socialising and interaction with other young people who are in a similar situation. Included will be practical demonstrations of Braille and how it can be useful in a variety of situations. It is happening on Saturday, May 26 from 3.15 to 5.15 at the Vision Australia Training Room, 454 Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong. RSVP by Monday, May 14 to Dorothy Hamilton on 9885 3836 or contact Dorothy on Dorothy@hotkey.net.au.
The latest issue of Online Newsletter (March 2007) has a couple of terrific software reviews by Marilyn Capelin, Statewide Education Adviser – Assistive Technology, Disability Services Support Unit
Software:
Internet resources:
Contact us if you’d like a copy or subscribe to OnLine Newsletter yourself! Using your web browser go to http://education.qld.gov.au/listserv/subscribe.html and select “Adaptive Technology Services OnLine Newsletter” from the first drop down menu. After you fill in your name and email details, press the button labeled “Subscribe to the list”. You should receive a response from the OnLine team within a day. If you have any problems subscribing, or have any questions about the OnLine Newsletter please contact us by emailing DisabilityServicesSupportUnit@qed.qld.gov.au.
From Ramona Mandy
Many people use the BrailleNote or VoiceNote, HumanWare’s information management device, in their school, work or at home. Many others have an interest to keep up to date with developments with this equipment as they support an end user or just want to stay informed about what’s out there for vision impaired people. Anyone who has an interest in learning about developments in the BrailleNote family of products is welcome to subscribe to a monthly email newsletter called: Australian BrailleNote Update. This newsletter gives you updates on software releases, stories from users, tips for using your BrailleNote or VoiceNote and notices from HumanWare that pertain to this equipment.
If you’d like to receive the Australian BrailleNote Update, please email Ramona at: Ramona.mandy@humanware.com. Please provide your name, email address, a contact phone number and your role, such as VT, parent, user etc.
If you’d like more information, please contact Ramona on the above email
address or by phone:
(03) 9686 2601.
“I Do Like It!” is a braille reading program developed by Tricia d’Apice for beginning braille readers. It uses short sentences made up of word signs and structured in a way so that students can gain confidence and speed in reading braille.
It’s an excellent resource and can be purchased from Tricia d’Apice – contact her via email: triciadapice@gmail.com
Source: Online Newsletter, March 2007
To apply bullets using the keyboard, there are two methods that can be used. The first uses inbuilt shortcuts:
Alternatively you can assign a keyboard shortcut using the process below. This allows the choice of key assignment, using only two keystrokes and the same shortcut will turn the bullets on and off, just like using the toolbar icon for bullets.
Use the Customise Keyboard tools to assign other keyboard shortcuts. A list of all keyboard shortcuts already assigned can be obtained from Microsoft Word Help.
Information provided by Ben Hardwick, Lawyer, Slater & Gordon
SENSIS (Directory Service number 1234) is a subsidiary of Telstra. The 1234 number is replacing the Telstra 12456 directory assistance number, but this time with costs attached: 40c to call the number, then 4c a second! By law, Telstra must provide a FREE directory assistance number because they are still majority owned by the government.
And the number for the free service is: ……. 1223
This handy hint comes from Odette (CEO VT, Eastern). She suggests that we always carry disinfectant wipes. Especially when visiting special schools or sick kids, you can wipe over keyboards and other equipment and wipe your hands when you’re finished (the bathroom isn’t always handy). Odette says she never gets colds (we’ll see??).
Thanks to Odette Budge, Tricia D’Apice, Mike Steer, Dr Jill Keeffe, Di Hayward, Dorothy Hamilton, Jordie Howell, Paula Welham, for contributing to this edition of The Bulletin. Thanks also to our fabulous proof-readers, stuffers and mailers.
Marion Blazé (who can be emailed at marionblaze@svrc.vic.edu.au).
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