This issue was edited by Marion Blazé, Education Officer, 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
When: Friday 22 June
Where: Crowne Plaza: 1 to 5 Spencer St, Melbourne
Cost: $80
Register by: May 18
Contact: Aurora School on (03) 8878 9878
When: Saturday 21 July
Time: 2pm till stumps
Where: SVRC - 370-380 Springvale Rd Donvale (In the grounds
of Heatherwood School – second driveway on the left after heading north
from the Eastern Freeway)
Guest Speaker: Dr James Elder, Associate Professor, Director
of Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Children’s Hospital
Topic: Dr. Elder, a paediatric and genetic ophthalmologist,
will discuss new research and techniques in the area of low vision
For more information:
Annette Godfrey-Magee or Marion Blazé on 9841 0807
John and Judy Bowen: 9842 5103
Leigh Heaven: 9857 0152 or 9878 4477
Baby Sitters and afternoon tea provided.
Approximately 30 Visiting Teachers (with one teacher from Vision Australia) gathered from near and far to get the good oil at the SVRC. Elly Gay, who is a lawyer with the Department’s Conduct and Ethics Branch, gave a very clear presentation on discrimination law as it applies to support of students with vision impairments. Now that we know and understand the Disability Standards for Education, we are hoping to ensure that our schools and Principals are also aware of these guidelines and their implications for support of our students. Then we were onto looking at the latest technology with the intention of hopefully making some comparisons. Peter Goldie showed us the latest innovations from Mimio, Ramona Mandy demonstrated the wonderful BrailleNote, Lee Kumutat and Trevor Boyd did a very entertaining ‘double act’ on PacMate and ClearNote, and then Michael Kelly and Lyn Robinson wowed us with the SVRC collection of new electronic audio books. Michael also demonstrated just how easy it is to put an audio book (or even a few) on an MP3 player. The final session of the day was our own Annette imploring us to turn our students into tax payers! She has produced a booklet to be used as a checklist by teachers and students to evaluate readiness for work. The booklet, which will be a work in progress, should be copied and used with any students from about Year 7 onwards. We invite your feedback on this resource.
AND, thank you to all for your contributions to Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea. Thanks to the SVRC staff for providing the scrumptious morning tea and donating raffle prizes. Thanks to the VTs for buying raffle tickets and donating gold coins for their cups of tea and coffee. We raised $116 for the Cancer Council.
Twenty plus educators of the vision impaired gathered at Vision Australia, Burwood to hear a guest speaker and then socialise over drinks and nibbles. One of the aims of this meeting was to welcome new-comers to the field. Our newest comer has been at Vision Australia since March this year. Some of the ‘old comers’ started way back in the late 70s! So the cumulative experience in the room would have added up to something like 180 years!!
Our guest speaker was Krista Fisher, who has been blind since birth, is now in her thirties and told us of her struggles to find employment as a young blind person. Krista is currently on a mission talking to community groups about the difficulties disabled people have being considered for work.
We were also updated on the SPEVI calendar for the next few years. The next SPEVI conference will be in Adelaide in January 2009 and the theme will be ‘Challenges and Choices’. We are also very excited that the next ICEVI conference will be in Australia. The 13th World Conference of the International Council for Education of Vision Impaired will be in Sydney, in July 2010. One of the consequences of this will be that there will be no SPEVI conference in 2011 (they usually happen every two years, but it was thought that two conferences within six months might be too much).
We’re planning the next gathering to be at the SVRC after our PD day for Term III on Wednesday, August 8th. So make a plan now to stay on until 4.30ish to meet up with our colleagues from other agencies.
David Hornsby and Debbie Sukarna are offering a full day on developing an effective writing program at the Darebin Arts and Entertainment centre on Saturday, July 21, 2007. For more information call Paula Welham on 9499 2065 or see the flier attached to the print copy of this Bulletin.
Article by Sophie Kerr
Have you experienced the beauty of a snow covered, crisp aired, alpine environment in winter? Here’s a great opportunity for you, whether you answered “yes” or “no” to our question!
Winter is almost upon us, and hopefully that means weather conducive to ample snow falls in the alpine areas. The 2007 ski season officially opens on the Queen’s Birthday weekend, and whether there is an abundance of snow or not, there are good times to be had on Mount Baw Baw.
For those who don’t know who we are, we are the RVIB Ski Club – a not-for-profit organisation that operates and manages a ski lodge on Mount Baw Baw. Both the club and the lodge exists to enable blind and visually impaired persons and their friends and family safe and meaningful access to alpine related activities. The activities on offer include skiing – both cross country and downhill – snowboarding, snow-shoeing and tobogganing. Definitely something for everyone, no matter what your age or ability.
Because of the nature and philosophy of the Club, we are able to offer extremely competitive rates of accommodation to visually impaired people and their friends/family. For first time users of our lodge who are visually impaired, we offer accommodation at discounted rates, and we’d be happy to discuss this with you to work out an offer for you.
Our lodge has ample amenities and is central and within easy walking distance to all services and facilities on the mountain. The lodge is a three storey A frame building, which sleeps a total of 20 people (two of which are on trundle beds), with shared bathroom, living and kitchen facilities. We have a drying room, ski room and even a balcony – perfect for breakfast outdoors on those beautiful alpine mornings. Our lodge is warm and comfortable and can be the superb holiday retreat for families.
We at the RVIB Ski Club have been busy preparing the lodge for the winter season to ensure all our patrons are warm and comfortable as they venture up the mountain. We have installed a new oven/cooktop as our old one retired after many years of faithful service. We have been preparing for the installation of a new sprinkler system, which is due to be installed at the end of the winter season. All other routine maintenance has been completed and the lodge is ready to go.
We are holding our Annual Triva Night on Saturday 16th June at 7pm at Vision Australia (454 Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong). This is a fantastic night full of fun, frivolity and guaranteed laughs with some fabulous prizes to be won – including special accommodation offers, resort discounts, and loads of chocolate! Funds raised go towards improvements to the lodge. The cost is $10 per head, BYO drinks and nibbles. This is a great opportunity to come along, meet some club members, and have a great time with friends and family. Put together a table if you like – or join one of ours!! To register your interest, please email sophissimo@bigpond.com.
Another upcoming event with the Ski Club is our Annual Meeting – to be held on June 19th at Vision Australia (454 Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong). Everyone is most welcome to join us for pizza beforehand, followed by our annual meeting agenda. If you are interested in learning more about the club and what we are about, this is a great opportunity.
For more information about the RVIB Ski Club and ski lodge, visit http://www.rvibski.com.au or follow the link to http://www.svrc.vic.edu.au/BawBaw.htm. There are contact details on our website if you’d like to email us. We also issue regular newsletters to update members and friends on what is happening both within the club and on the mountain. If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please email sophissimo@bigpond.com. Newsletters are generally issued via email, however print copies are available via post on request.
When: September 12, 2007, 10.30am to 2pm
Where: Cricket Pavilion, 454 Glenferrie Rd, Kooyong
What: Tandem Bike Riding Come and Try Day
Cost: $7 which includes a sausage sizzle
RSVP: 9th September
For further information: call Di Hayward on (03)
8872 7000
When: June 24 - 9.30am to 1.00pm
Where: Mentone Grammar School, 63 Venice St Mentone
What: The Australian Paralympic Copmmittee 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
For further information and to register contact: Tim
Matthews (03) 9614 6800 or tim.matthews@paralympic.org.au
Annette encourages us to check out the American Foundation for the Blind’s website called CareerConnect. On this website, specifically designed for people with vision impairments, you can get help writing your CV, creating a calendar of appointments, preparing for job interviews and even get in touch with someone with a vision impairment who is already in a career in which you are interested.
Go to http://www.afb.org and click on CareerConnect® (under ‘QuickLinks’). There are over 1,000 ‘mentors’ who are blind or VI, and students can contact them by email. Although they live and work in America, it will still be useful for our students to make contact and find out about working or studying in their field, with a vision impairment.
Freedom Scientific and Quantum Technology is again running the JAWS Scholarship Program for Australian people with vision impairments who are planning on pursuing further studies in 2008 or who are currently enrolled in tertiary studies. The prize is a copy of JAWS for Windows Professional valued at approximately $2000.
In 500 words or less, tell us why you need a Freedom Scholarship and how it will assist you in your tertiary studies
For an application form please call Quantum Technology office on 02 8844 9888 or e-mail to info@quantumtechnology.com.au.
The Australian Braille Authority of NSW invite participation in their annual competition. The invitation is for all braille users and there are exciting prizes to be won.
Get your entry package by 18 July 2007 by contacting Nicola Stowe on (02) 9872 0282 or nicola.stowe@ridbc.org.au
Sharon, Angela and Dean from the CMS ran a group program in Yarrawonga for 4 students who live in North Eastern Victoria on May 17 and 18. We stayed at a motel in the main street not far from the main shopping precinct and despite the heavy downpours of rain we managed to get out and about to complete a variety of O&M activities. The students explored many of the shops in the main street including the newsagent, florist and antique shop. The students had a number of tasks to complete while visiting the shops and they used tape recorders to make notes about their findings. The shopkeepers were very interested in what we were doing and went out of their way to help the students complete their tasks.
Senior program in Halls Gap, July 2- 6. We will let everyone know how the program went.
Hosted by the Association for the Blind of WA. The CMS team is submitting a number of abstracts for presentation at the conference. This is an opportunity for the team to communicate with other O&M instructors from around Australia about the work the CMS does and this is especially important as there are no other services in Australia providing an O&M service like the CMS.
While the majority of CMS students reside in the Melbourne metropolitan area
the team is also kept busy with O&M programs throughout the state. CMS staff
visit students and their families in a number of areas including Mildura, Swan
Hill, Echuca, Bendigo and Gippsland. Visits to these areas are made throughout
the year and on a regular basis.
Angela Reynolds, an O&M at GDV who now resides in North Eastern Victoria,
is able to provide a frequent service to students living in the Hume Region
and she is supported by other CMS Instructors who visit the region albeit on
a less frequent basis.
For further information about the Children’s Mobility Service please contact –
Dean Johnson 9854 4506
Rachel Morgan 9854 4469
Sharon Taylor 9854 4496
Lil Deverell 9854 4542
Alicia Madden 9854 4493
Janelle O’Loughlin 9854 4520
Erin Galloway 9854 4521
For further infomation about The Young Adults Program at Guide Dogs Victoria please contact –
Darlene McIntosh 9854 4470
JR Barresi 9854 4450
Rose Long 9854 4415
The orthoptists at Vision Australia provide a home and school visit service to help students get the most out of their reduced vision. The orthoptists demonstrate magnifiers and lighting equipment to assist with reading as well as providing advice on positioning, seating, glare reduction etc. The orthoptists can also help with training to use the best part of the student’s vision.
There is no cost and no minimum vision criterion.
Anyone can refer to this service but we do appreciate a letter from your eye doctor or optometrist outlining your eye condition.
Call 1300 8474 66 for your nearest Vision Australia centre and the intake worker
can then take the client’s details and they will be contacted by the orthoptists.
We prefer to have recent letters from ophthalmologists for new clients. The
client’s family can also contact us themselves.
You can also contact specific offices directly to talk to the orthoptist. Here
is a list of Vision Australia branches and the orthoptists that work at them.
The orthoptist will probably see the client both at school and at home.
Ballarat
1300 Howitt St, Wendouree Vic. 3355
PO Box 169, Wendouree Vic. 3355
Phone: 03 5337 4555, Fax: 03 5338 2795
Orthoptist: Trudy East
Boronia
1/252 Dorset Rd, Boronia Vic. 3155
Phone: 03 9761 0011, Fax: 03 9761 2455
Orthoptist: Ros Wellington
Essendon
Cnr Lawson and Albion St, Essendon Vic. 3040
PO Box 77, Essendon Vic. 3040
Phone: 03 9370 6111, Fax: 03 9326 0915
Orthoptist: Anita Egan
Geelong
79 High Street, Belmont Vic. 3216
Phone: 03 5249 2700, Fax: 03 5249 2799
Orthoptist: Julie Fitzpatrick
Heidelberg
104 Mount St, Heidelberg Vic. 3084
PO Box 594, Heidelberg Vic. 3084
Phone: 03 9457 6611, Fax: 03 9457 7826
Orthoptist: Dianna Awad
Kooyong
454 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong Vic. 3144
Phone: 03 9864 9222, Fax: 03 9864 9210
orthoptist: Khoa Nguyen
Oakleigh
69-71 Atherton Rd, Oakleigh Vic. 3166
Phone: 03 9569 7255, Fax: 03 9569 7565
Orthoptist: Natalia Dawson
Seaford
38 Harnett St, Seaford Vic. 3198
Phone: 03 8770 6800, Fax 03 8770 6855
Orthoptists: Nick Jones and Jane Brownfield
St Kilda Road (Footscray Team)
557 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne Vic. 3004
Phone: 03 9522 5222, Fax: 03 9510 4735
Orthoptist: Anastasia Sakellariou
Warragul
2A Mouritz St, Warragul Vic. 3820
Phone: 03 5623 0100, Fax: 03 5623 0130
Orthoptist: Helen McKinley
Warrnambool
229 Moore St, Warrnambool Vic. 3280
PO Box 187, Warrnambool Vic. 3290
Phone: 03 5560 2300, Fax: 03 5560 2399
Orthoptist: Nicole Moore
Lea’s student Abbey received a CD containing cartloads of her favourite books - “Baby Sitters” - that she can read via her BrailleNote. She writes:
Thanks very much for the books I really like them. Leanne saved them in a folder
called library because there are so many.
My favourite place is my warm bed when I'm reading.
From Abbey
Thanks to Deb Lewis, Dean Johnson, Lea Nagel, Sophie Kerr, Paula Welham, Di Hayward, Nicola Stowe, Tim Matthews, Renee Williamson and Nick Jones 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).