This issue was edited by Marion Blazé, Education Officer, Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
For annual program and to download PD programs, go to: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/pd2007.htm
When: Friday, September 7, 2007 from 10am to 2.30pm
Where: Statewide Vision Resource Centre, 370-380 Springvale Road, Donvale (in the grounds of Heatherwood School) Parking just North in Doncaster Indoor Sports Centre grounds.
Who: any student with a vision impairment, together with family, teachers or aides.
What to bring: Your lunch (morning tea will be provided), your low vision aids, your word and alphabet knowledge and your smile!!
Cost: Free
RSVP: to Marion or Deb on 9841 0242 by Friday, August 31.
The University of Tasmania is offering a Bachelor of Education (In-Service) degree, full- or part-time, by distance education and offering credit for current work or qualifications. They hope to retrain that ‘dedicated group of people who have shown their aptitude, enthusiasm and suitability for working with special children’ – integration aides. For more information, contact Marketing Officer, Sue Grant on 03 6324 3645.
There is to be a new International journal on Orientation & Mobility. Details about subscriptions can be obtained from dgallimore@guidedogs.com.au.
David Hornsby and Debbie Sukarna are running another great workshop:
When: Saturday 11th August 11
Call 9499 2065 for more details.
The International Council for the Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) is offering a special discount price of $20.00 for membership subscriptions from individuals living in the Pacific region for the period July 2007 – March 2009. This special offer forms part of the recently launched ICEVI Pacific “Education for All Children with Vision Impairments (EFA-VI)” Regional Plan, and all Pacific regional subscriptions from individual members will be used specifically for the EFA-VI Pacific campaign. Go to http://www.icevi.org and http://www.icevipacific.org.au.
The conference papers and abstracts from the 2007 Round Table Conference held in Adelaide during May this year are now available on the Round Table web site - go to: http://www.e-bility.com/roundtable/conf_proceedings07.php
The wonderful Scott braved morning tea time on a Friday to deliver a brand-spanking new MyReader2 and a little, portable PocketViewer, both of which will remain at the SVRC for demonstration and trial. As a result of all this generosity, we are currently working on (in consultation with Scott) a Curriculum document to help all our students start using such equipment efficiently and effectively. We were disappointed that Scott didn’t pick up some knitting needles (!), but thrilled at the equipment he has left with us. We can see this new technology installation being of huge benefit to our students and staff. Thanks, Humanware.
Article by Marilyn Capelin, Online Newsletter, June 2007
Google now has a special search facility for people with vision impairments.
This search engine adds an ‘accessibility’ dimension to the typical
‘relevance’ criteria for search results.
The Google accessible search page can be found at http://labs.google.com/accessible
]The Accessible Search FAQ page defines Google Accessible Search as ‘… designed to identify and prioritize search results that are more easily usable by blind and visually impaired users.’ While this facility has been specifically developed for people who have vision impairments, websites with pages that are structured for optimal accessibility will benefit a range of people and cater to diverse needs. In this way the site incorporates the principles of Universal Design which aims to be as flexible and accommodating as possible to the needs and preferences of a broad range of users. Factors taken into account to determine accessibility currently include ‘a given page's simplicity, how much visual imagery it carries and whether or not its primary purpose is immediately viable with keyboard navigation.’ A few quick searches using both the standard and accessibility search engines revealed a noticeable difference in the number of sites listed.
A parent, who was ringing to apologise that she would not be able to attend the Support Group meeting, told me that this was because her daughter with a vision impairment has been involved in ‘Joining the Chorus’ for some years, and has a performance that day. Her daughter receives several hours of training in dance every Saturday afternoon, and participates in events like the openings of Pacific School Games, State School Spectaculars and Oklahoma! She reports that it’s fabulous and fun and only costs $200 per year, including costumes. Students must attend a Government secondary school to participate, and are auditioned, and as this mother points out, being a Government initiative, they have to include kids with impairments. For more information go to http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/jtc.
On Thursday, July 26th there will be a ‘come and try’ day at Vision Australia’s Essendon Office. The cost is $5. For further information ring 9370 6111.
From Charlie Roberts, Vision Australia School Phys-Ed Teacher
In the spirit of healthy competition, you are invited to participate in the inter department Swish competitions. If you receive a Visiting Teacher service from Vision Australia, Department of Education, or Catholic Education; we welcome you to enter. Students will be paired with a partner from the same visiting teacher service. Medallions will be provided to the premier and runner up teams in each session. Medallions have been kindly provided by the VicSwish Club.
Where: The Vision Australia School, 333 Burwood Hwy, Burwood,
3125
When: either
Fri 14th September:
Fri 21st September:
(Name)……………………………………………, who receives a (please circle) CEO/ DoE/ VA Visiting Teacher, will be participating in the (age group)………………………………. Swish tournament.
Entry information to be returned by Friday, 24th August, 2007.
People with vision impairments are invited to enter the “Fifth World Blind Union - Asia Pacific Braille Essay Contest”.
Essays must be written only in English and should be between 750 and 1,000 words. There are three topics and the participant can choose to write on any one of them:
(a) How Do I Make the Best Use of Braille and Audio Devices to Enrich My Daily Life? It will be much appreciated if real incidents or interesting experiences are used.
(b) What Must a Person with Visual Impairment Do to Become a Successful Musician?
(c) My Concept of World Peace From the Viewpoint of a Person with Visual Impairment.
Email your essay to Kevin Murfitt, Australian Delegate World Blind Union and
Chair WBU-AP Pacific Oceania with your full name, age, gender, email or fax
contacts, and an electronic photo.
As the WBUAP Onkyo Selection Meeting is fixed for 4 August, all entries must
reach Kevin by email before 23 July.
Contact Kevin Murfitt via mobile 0427425424 or email kevin.murfitt@deakin.edu.au.
There are a number of challenges faced by children with a vision impairment when it comes to participating in physical education. One challenge is learning how to swim in a setting that has experienced and empathetic coaches, a supportive environment, and where the pool facilities are designed for ease of mobility.
Blind Sports Victoria are very keen to start swimming lessons for children who have a vision impairment. If we have enough expression of interest, then they are willing to commit to a class on Saturday mornings.
If you are interested, or know of any parents or carers who might be interested, then please contact Debbie Deshayes by e-mail dmdeshayes@tadaust.org.au or phone on 9372 4727 with your name, your child's name and age, and a contact phone. All details remain confidential and are for the sole purpose of gauging interest in the swimming classes.
We are very keen to get this started, so please RSVP to this by Wednesday 18 July (or ASAP). Additional funding will be applied for to assist with the costs of running these lessons, and any suggestions of who to approach will be welcomed.
The 2007 AIMs tests for Years 3, 5 and 7 will be administered on July 31 and August 1 this term (Year 9s have already done theirs). If you have a brailling student doing these tests, now is the time to make sure they know the signs for such things as italics and block capitals The print papers often have words or phrases emphasised in bold, so in the Braille paper, this is in italics. It is often important to the question to know that these words or phrases have been emphasised. For single words the italics sign (dots 4 and 6) appears directly before and adjoining the word which is italicised (or bolded). For blocks of text, two italics signs appear at the beginning of the phrase and one before the final word which has been italicised (or bolded). Also, two capital signs before a word mean that every letter in the word is in capital letters. If you are not clear on this, contact staff at the SVRC for clarification before you check it out with your student. We have some old papers, or we can run some off, if VTs or students want to have a look or do a practice run.
Dr Mike Steer of Renwick Centre, RIDBC and The University of Newcastle has written an article on ‘Inclusive Education’. He says, “Inclusive education frequently crops up as topic for discussion and debate in school staff rooms and team meetings all across Australia. It’s important, therefore, that teachers of students with vision impairments should have a perspective on an issue that has sometimes raged as a battleground.”
Contact the SVRC if you want a full copy of the article.
Did you know that there is a website for young people who need help? At http://www.reachout.com.au young people can get advice on when they might need a counsellor, resolving conflicts, depression, illness, eating disorders, drugs and alcohol issues, relationships, etc. There are fact sheets and links to other supports, and forums run on various topics between Mondays and Thursdays, 2 to 10pm.
Lillian Adler (VT Eastern) has just read a book called “Mozart and the Whale” by Jerry and Mary Newport who have both been diagnosed with Asperser’s Syndrome. The book describes their troubled past, the development of their relationship and their journey in building a happy life together. Lillian says it’s worth a read!
Vision Australia is now inviting expressions of interest for enrolment in their school in Burwood for the 2008 school year. The school has both Primary and Special School registration and there are vacancies for 5 to 18 year olds. It is important that families make contact as soon as possible so that staffing etc can be arranged for next year. Contact Garry Stinchcombe, Acting Head of School on 03 9808 6422 or garry.stinchcombe@visoinaustrtalia.org for more information.
Around 822,000 Australians have a severe or profound disability – that is, they need daily assistance with one or more of three core activity areas (self-care, mobility and communication), according to the first release of data from the 2006 Census. Around 372,400 of these people are aged less than 65 years.
The 2006 Census of Population and Housing was the first to include questions on disability. The National Disability Service had advocated the inclusion of disability questions for some years and was represented on an Australian Bureau of Statistics group which advised on the development and testing of disability questions.
Although the ABS conducts a survey of Ageing Disability and Carers every five or six years, this does not provide the local area data valuable for service planning that the Census will provide. The first release of data on disability by local area is now available free of charge from the ABS website http://www.abs.gov.au. The ABS will provide further information and analysis based on the 2006 Census over coming months.
The Census data shows that a higher proportion of Tasmanians (5%) and South
Australians (4.8%) had a need for assistance than the national average (4.1%).
For the first time the Census also asked a question on ‘unpaid assistance
to a person with a disability’. It measured the population over the age
of 15 years that, in the two weeks prior to the Census, provided unpaid assistance
to a person with a disability, long-term illness or problems related to old
age. Around 1.6 million Australians over the age of 15 provided unpaid care
on this basis. 62% were women.
In other findings, 18% of Australians 15 years and over had done voluntary work in the year before the Census. Of those, 57% were female and 43% were male. The ACT had the highest proportion of people doing voluntary work and Western Australia had the lowest.
The National Braille Press has announced a substantial prize for innovation in tactile literacy, including innovations related to braille, but not necessarily only braille. Called the “Touch of Genius” prize and mentioned in the recent book of that title on Louis Braille’s life, the prize has broad criteria for eligibility and international participation is encouraged. Time is short, so if you are interested or know of a colleague who might be interested in applying, please see the link to the application and detailed information on NBP’s main page at http://www.nbp.org
From Bill Brown at http://www.MusicForTheBlind.com
and http://www.MusicVI.com
For all of his music-education career Bill Brown has been teaching students
to play songs by ear. In the early 1990’s he started recording his by
ear lessons on tape so that his students could take the lessons home and learn
more songs at a faster pace. He noticed that this style of learning was of a
particular advantage to his visually impaired students.
As these Guitar by Ear and Piano by Ear song lessons became available through
mail-order, he added two beginner courses to his line up of by ear offerings
- Intro to the Guitar for the Visually Impaired, and Intro to the Piano for
the Visually Impaired. Through the use of these Intro to courses a beginning
student could learn the basics needed to enter Bill Brown’s by ear world,
even if this student was visually impaired.
The number of Intro to courses has reached a dozen and the by ear song lesson
list keeps growing from it’s current 500+ mark. Almost all of Mr. Brown’s
offerings are available through the National Library Service as well. On this
site, which is solely dedicated to the needs of those with visual impairments,
you will find all of the Intro to courses as well as the titles from the ever-growing
by ear libraries. Come and enter into a world where you ... learn by ear, &
play by ear!
Source: National Braille Press http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/HALLOWS.html
You can order your copy of Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows in braille right now for US$34.99.
It's official! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's magical Harry Potter series, will be released on July 21, 2007. Through a special, exclusive arrangement with the book's publisher, Scholastic Press, National Braille Press is pleased to announce that the braille edition of the book will again be ready on the same day as the print edition.
The complete set can be purchased for US$75.
Morning tea and lunch times at SVRC have become knitters’ club meetings. Most of the staff have been busy knitting jumpers and hats for babies in Africa affected by AIDS. Now we are making beanies or squares for rugs for the homeless. If you want to join in the drive, patterns are available on request, and our own Di is running remedial knitting classes!
Thanks to Denise Probert, Deb Lewis, Charlie Roberts, Jordie Howell, Lillian Adler, Leigh Heaven, Garry Stinchcombe, Sue Grant, Mike Steer, Tricia d’Apice, Bill Brown, Di Hayward and Tammy Axelsen 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).