The following short issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Marion Blazé and Lea Nagel, because poor Deb’s been off sick.
The following activities are coming up between now and the end of the year:
For the complete list of activities for 2005 including downloadable programs go to: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/pd.htm
All activities are open to subject teachers, integration teachers and aides, careers teachers, therapists, parents VTs, students etc. Please remember to register: tel (03) 9841 0242, fax (03) 9841 0878 or email svrc@svrc.vic.edu.au
Space Camp 2005 happens in September, so it really is creeping up fast. Any students or VTs who are interested PLEASE contact Jeni Blake on 0428 134 660 ASAP. It looks like Helen Young and Marion Blazé will be chaperones. If you’re holding back because of lack of funding, at least inquire – we might have good news for you.
Article by Leanne Nagel
Braille Games Day last Friday was Stacks of Fun!!
We started the day getting to know each other while icing biscuits and adding mini M&Ms to make braille dots. The kids had great fun writing their initials or words in braille on the biscuits then eating the left-over M&Ms.
We left the icing to set and launched into a boisterous game of Bottle Bowling! Everyone lined up for a turn, and there was loud cheering whenever anyone got a strike! Once we’d satisfied our need for Ball Speed, we headed off in to groups to play the wide selection of board games. Braille Uno, Snakes and Ladders, Braille Scrabble and Connect 4 were all very entertaining, as were the games made by SVRC staff: Toni’s Shrek Snakes and Ladders and Anne’s Addition Bingo, which was a big hit! It was really great to see the children helping each other as some explained how to play games they already knew to those who hadn’t played before. The older kids helped the younger ones with taking turns and reading out questions. While playing, kids were able to exchange ideas on many topics including secondary schooling, braille and talking watches, and the layout of braille on the Uno cards. (“I could do this to my cards!”)
The adults were able to step back and let the games run themselves. Parents, Visiting Teachers and helpers took the opportunity to share ideas on equipment and school support, some at the SVRC and some out at a coffee shop.
After we recharged our batteries at the somewhat subdued lunch, we returned to the popular games and tied ourselves in knots in a big game of tactual twister, with different textured spots on a tarpaulin.
“Left hand on the Rubbery!”
“Hey, Dad could make one of these!”
The kids said that they really loved receiving their own braille invitations in the mail. SVRC staff enjoyed the opportunity to see children test-drive some of the games they had made, and discuss their interests so they could plan to develop more books and games. One of the best outcomes of the day was the exchange of phone numbers, email addresses and invitations between families to catch up with each other again.
I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to all of the participants in the day: Toni for the lovely invitations and design and adaptation of games, Anne for her games, Marion, Maria and the SVRC staff for planning and set up and participation on the day, VTs for their participation and encouragement, families for supporting the day by bringing the children, and especially the Great Crew - the Kids, who made Braille Games Day FUN!!
When: September 2, 2005
Where: SVRC - 237-380 Springvale Rd Donvale
Do you have students who would like the opportunity to try braille, e-text, CCTV or audio reading in a fun, supportive environment? Then bring them along to this session. Half the fun will be in joining in with other children in the various literacy and numeracy activities.
Eastern Region is offering a small amount of funding for Literacy and Numeracy week and we have applied for some. We want to invite any primary-aged student with a vision impairment to a day full of literacy and numeracy activities. We’ll start by joining in the National Simultaneous Storytime, where libraries and schools around Australia will all be reading Wombat Stew – only we will have Ramona Mandy to read a braille version with toys and puppets to make it interactive. We’ll even have the new myReader set up for reading activities.
Please start talking to students and families about coming along to this fun (and educationally beneficial) day.
The details for the program have now been finalised. The CMS team looks forward to reading the essays that accompany the applications. Applications are due by Friday August 26.
This program has “Get to Work” as its theme and the CMS team is busy planning lots interesting activities that may include visits and experiences in different and unusual workplaces. Completed applications are due by Friday August 26.
The flyers for both the above programs are attached to the CMS newsletter. If you require further information about any of the programs or any other aspect of the Children’s Mobility Service please contact Rachel Morgan on 9854 4469.
The day will include the following:
For further information and to register please contact Janet Murray at Guide Dogs on (03) 9854 4467.
(Article from page 58, Herald Sun, Tuesday, July 26, 2005)
Showing the way: vision-impaired student Natasha - July VCE
Achiever
Studying: English, Literature, Psychology, French, Specialist
Mathematics, completed Mathematical Methods in Year 11
Some people think that vision-impaired people have restricted, limited lives. As a vision-impaired person, I want to prove them wrong.
I've taken on a range of activities that help the vision-impaired to be as independent as possible, and I encourage students like me to get involved too.
I have won places at camps that develop the skills, leadership and self-reliance
of blind students. First there was the NASA Space Camp; we did the same training
as astronauts. Then I went to a camp in Canada that taught new skills and how
to prepare for work. Through this project, my team set up a website to provide
information on accessible hotels and airlines.
I am involved with Blind Citizens Australia and the Guide Dogs Association,
and often speak at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre, which supports vision-impaired
students.
One of the main things I want to promote is how integration aides can work with blind VCE students to help them to learn independently.
At my school, even though studying is more time-consuming for me, I still find time for activities I love, such as debating and singing in the choir. Next year I want to study in the US to learn more about how Americans support vision impaired people.
The VCE Achiever Award, managed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, recognises community service undertaken by VCE students during an already hectic year of studies. The overall prize is a notepad computer courtesy of IBM Australia Ltd. Nine finalists are chosen throughout the year and the overall winner is announced in December.
Thanks to our fabulous proof-readers, stuffers and mailers.
Deb Lewis (who can be emailed at deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au when she's not sick!).