The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Deb Lewis (Statewide Vision Resource Centre).

Inside This Issue

- SVRC Technology Seminars
- Article Review: Fostering Self-Help
- Thinking of Joining SPEVI?
- ZoomText XTRA 7.0 Notes
- Program for Students with Disabilities Funding 2003
- Theatre Companions
- Vision Information Line
- Taxation: Use of Private Cars
- JVIB: June 2002
- Space Videos and DVDs
- Southern Cross Games
- The Tactual Learner with Additional Disabilities
- Guide Dogs Victoria - Upcoming Events
- New Electrical Safety Standards
- Postage for Large Print
- ABLS: Braille Skills Assessment Tool
- Student Performance

SVRC Professional Development 2002

SVRC Technology Seminars - 13th December 2002

You will see from the above list that the SVRC Mini EXPO has been replaced by the SVRC Technology Seminars. You'll also note that the date has changed. There are a couple of reasons for this…

TALG (Technical Aids Liaison Group), the organisation which has run the TALG EXPO in previous years is winding up. One final EXPO, to be held on Friday 18 October from 12.00 noon to 7.00pm, will be sponsored by the TALG group and BCA (Blind Citizens Australia) at VAF (Vision Australia Foundation) in Kooyong. The date precedes the BCA State Convention on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October.

We have changed the date of the SVRC EXPO, so that we don't clash with the Southern Cross Games, to be held during the week of 2-6 December week, and we've changed from technology displays to a seminar format - more like the usual Visiting Teacher PD day, but with a technology flavour.

The SVRC Technology Seminars will be a series of presentations by distributors of products for people with vision impairments and may include: BrailleNote now with web browser capability (Pulse Data Australia), Mimeo which can now convert handwriting from a whiteboard to e-text, Dr Naturally Speaking with a new multi-directional microphone and improved speech capture, and MP3 technology.

As usual, anyone is welcome to attend - we welcome students, parents, aides and personnel from other agencies for a session or the whole day.

If you have suggestions for presenters or technologies you would like included, please contact Deb Lewis 9841 0242

Article Review: Fostering Self-Help at a Distance for Adults with Visual Impairments

The following article review was provided by Leanne Nagel.

The article, 'Fostering Self-Help at a Distance for Adults with Visual Impairments' can be found in the July 2002 edition (Volume 96, Number 7) of the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.

This article outlines the great benefits of participating in self-help groups, especially "improved health and well-being" through "learning to deal with problems and needs, developing coping strategies, combating isolation, and getting to know others." It focuses mainly on adults who are blind or have vision impairments, but could equally be relevant to students who are visited by Visiting Teachers, as VT's are in a position to encourage activities that continue for life.

The article describes the difficulty some adults have in joining groups, such as "negative attitudes toward seeking help or relying on others". It briefly outlines a course that has been designed to overcome these difficulties.

The article reminded me of the importance of VT camps and excursions, and that the internet is a great way for our students to keep in contact, even when there is a great distance between them. Perhaps we could start a VI "chat room"!

Please call if you would like a copy of the article.

Thinking of Joining SPEVI?

The benefits of joining your professional organisation are many and varied:

1. you will receive the very classy Journal of SPEVI annually
2. you will get a discount at the SPEVI activities, including the termly seminars and the biennial conferences
3. you will have the satisfaction of belonging to this professional organisation
4. it looks good on your CV

The cost is a mere $66 (including GST). Please call for a copy of the form.

ZoomText XTRA 7.0: Notes from PD day, June 25th with Trevor Boyd at SVRC

By Lea Nagel

As always, Trevor's presentation was informative and relevant. Trevor explained that ZoomText XTRA 7.0 is a versatile program that works with Windows to enlarge either the whole screen or a selected part of the screen. The settings can easily be changed to suit different enlargement requirements, including having a magnified window or enlarging the whole screen. Level 2 also includes a voice, which can read menus and text.

We started the day with the bottom line: the price. (Available from Quantum Technology.)
Level 1 (screen enlarging software) $844
Level 2 (screen enlarging with voice) $1159
A site licence for level 2 starter pack for five users costs $5512

Before choosing which version to buy, check with Trevor that your software will be compatible. The newer software is designed to run with the latest versions of Windows.

You can set up ZoomText XTRA so that it will boot up with the computer or come on when you press a shortcut key.

To set up a shortcut key: Point to the icon on your desktop. Right click, then click on Properties. Click in the Shortcut key box and type the keys you want to use. Trevor suggests Ctrl + Alt + Z.

When loading your new ZoomText XTRA 7.0 software, load the key first (this is stored on the accompanying floppy disk) then load from the CD. The key allows 5 copies of the software to be loaded. If you need to remove ZoomText from any computer, load the key back onto the floppy disk, so that you have an extra copy to load onto another computer. Free update downloads are available through the Web, but these won't upgrade you to the next level. On the website, www.aisquared.com, you will find Frequently Asked Questions on the latest version, and Tips & Tricks.

To swap between programs: Alt + Tab. You can minimise ZoomText and use Alt + Tab to re-open it.

In ZoomText level 1, we tried different levels of magnification. Letters appeared crisp and clear at each magnification. At 10x magnification, you're looking at 1 % of the screen, which can mean you lose track of where you are.
To revert to 1 x magnification: Alt + Delete
To reinstate ZoomText: Alt + Insert.

We had a look at the different magnification displays. Options can be found by opening ZoomText's Window menu or clicking on the down arrow beside the word "full" in the ZoomText menu box.

Full means that the whole screen is enlarged. The other magnification windows help to minimise the disorientation that magnification can cause.

The Overlay feature displays an enlarged window that displays the area around your pointer or cursor. The lens window can be resized and repositioned.

The Lens feature gives you a moveable enlarged window that follows your pointer or cursor around the screen.
H split (horizontal split) enlarges half of the screen and displays half at normal size.
V split splits the screen vertically.

To save your preferred settings: Once you have discovered your favourite settings, then use the ZoomText menu to save them. Go to File then Save as: then give the scheme a name. Some settings may be good for the Web, some for Excel, some for Word.

If you save a scheme as the default, ZoomText will come up with your favourite settings when you turn it on.
Key commands are really useful, especially at large magnifications.

To find the Shortcut keys: Click on Help then Contents and at the bottom is the hotkeys list! Here are some examples: Alt (Num lock -) decreases the magnification. Alt (Num lock +) increases the magnification. On my laptop, I press Alt Fn P for minus and Alt Fn ; for plus.

To use the Document Reader: Have a word processor document or an e-mail up on the screen. Put the I beam in the middle of the document, then press Ctrl + Shift + R. Or, in the ZoomText menu box, click on the Doc reader select icon. Click on the text, which will appear in Doc Reader. You will now be unable to edit or add to the text.

Doc Reader wraps text so it doesn't go off the screen. When you click the play/read icon, the text scrolls automatically and highlights the word being read as it goes. You can pause, go to the top, go up a line, and increase or decrease font size. Changes to size, font etc in Doc reader don't affect the rest of your ZoomText settings.
To exit Doc Reader: Just press escape.

Trevor moved on to explain ZoomText Extra Level 2.

ZoomText can speak words as you type them. In a document that is already typed, ZoomText will read out the line that the cursor is on, as you move from line to line by pressing the down or up arrow.
Help: For a spoken explanation of any of the features on the ZoomText menu, click on the ? icon then click on the feature.

To change the speech settings: In the Zoomtext Window, click Options then Speech. You can make the speech faster, slower or choose from different voices. You could even have a different voice for the screen reader and the Doc Reader. To personalise pronunciation, click on Speech, Advanced then Pronunciation.
Serial number is in Help … About
Trevor fixed Lee Clarke's F-Keys. Lea Nagel made her computer say "Smartie" whenever she typed "Trevor".

Everyone enjoyed the morning and went away all informed and cheerful. Many thanks to Smartie for another enlightening experience.

Program for Students with Disabilities Funding 2003

Recently, information regarding 'Application process for the 2003 Program for Students with Disabilities' appeared in Circular 237/2002 which was forwarded to schools.

This circular advises that each school will be provided with two folders containing the: Handbook, Application Form, Program Support Group Guidelines, and the Principal's Checklist. Additional copies of the information included in the folders can be downloaded from SOFWeb.

Go to: http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/welfare/disabil.htm

Unless otherwise notified that funding will cease at the end of the 2002 school year, resources for all existing students on the Program for Students with Disabilities will be maintained for the 2003 school year. There is no need to resubmit an application for these students. Students transferring between schools, including between primary and secondary schools, will have their individual resources transferred to the new school.

Closing date for applications is Friday 11 October 2002.

For a print copy of Circular 237/2002, please call the SVRC on 9841 0242.

Theatre Companions

The following information appeared in the Autumn 2002 edition of Members' Newsletter from Vision Australia Foundation:

"You will be pleased to know that the 'Theatre Companion' scheme is about to be revamped and we would like to hear from any members requiring assistance to attend theatre or any form of entertainment. Please contact Julia Allen at VAF Kooyong on 9864 9248."

Accounts in Braille

The following information also appeared in the Autumn 2002 edition of Members' Newsletter from Vision Australia Foundation:

Hutchinson Telecommunications has announced that accounts for its "Orange mobile phone customers, who are blind or vision impaired, will now be available in braille."

Contact information: phone133 188 or website: http://www.orange.net.au

Vision Information Line

The following information also appeared in the Autumn 2002 edition of Members' Newsletter from Vision Australia Foundation:

Vision Information Line is an Australia-wide free service for anyone with questions about vision impairment, blindness and any related issues, including services for people with vision impairment, pensions and government concessions, recreation, travel concessions and pensions, eye conditions and safety and eye care.

Contact details:
Phone (03) 9864 9550 (Melbourne and metropolitan area) or 1800 331 000 (country and national callers)
Website: http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/visioninfo

Business Related to Use of Private Cars

The following information relates to travelling expenses due to use of your private car for work purposes.

For most of us, a travel allowance is normally claimed from DE&T or CEO for the kilometres travelled during each work day after subtracting the return distance between home and work from the total kilometres travelled during that day. That is, travel between home and work is considered as a private expense and cannot normally be claimed from work or as a taxation deduction.

There may be some exceptions that apply to Visiting Teachers. You may be able to claim work-related expenses for use of your car between home and work under the following circumstances:

- if you use your car because you have to carry heavy or bulky tools or equipment that you use for work and cannot leave them at work.
- if you have shifting places of employment - you regularly work at more than one site each day before returning home - see Taxation Ruling TR 95/34.

Car expenses that may be claimed include: petrol, oil, tyres, servicing, insurance, registration, cleaning, repairs, cost of finance, depreciation, RACV membership, Melways.

Be sure to check with your taxation consultant before making such a claim.

JVIB: June 2002

The following articles appear in the June edition of JVIB:
- Experiences of Older Adults who Stopped Driving because of their Visual Impairments
- The Effect of Spatial Tasks on Visually Impaired Peoples' Wayfinding Abilities
- A Comparison of Three Nonvisual Methods for Presenting Scientific Graphs
- A Grass-Roots Endeavor to Develop a Permanent University Program for Vision Professionals: the North Carolina Model
- Reading and Spelling Competence of Dutch children with Low vision
- Universal Tailored Access: Automating Setup of Public and Classroom Computers
- A Statewide Vision Resource Centre Study on the Literacy of Students with Visual Impairments
- The Use of Audio Diaries in a Study with Visually Impaired People
- A Prototype of Freely Rewritable Tactile Drawing System for Persons who are Blind.

For Those Interested In Space (eg the Space Campers)

Lyn searched the Blockbuster website for videos or DVDs with a space theme and came up with quite a list - some are the adventure variety and some are more along the lines of a documentary. As I haven't viewed any of them, I cannot recommend any…

Here are some titles available in DVD:

2001: A Space Odyssey
Complete Cosmos: Discovery into Deep Space
Dr Who: Spearhead from Space
IMAX: Destiny in Space
Lost in Space
Muppets from Space
NASA: Anthology of Space Exploration - Volume 1, 2, 3
Race to Space
Space
Space Cowboys

Here are some titles available on Video:

2001: A Space Odyssey
Barney in Outer Space
Lost in Space
Muppets from Space
Race to Space
Space Cowboys
Space: Beyond the Final Frontier
Star Trek (various titles)

Southern Cross Games

Southern Cross Games organiser, Uli Pfisterer spoke to us on the recent VT PD day and explained the process for participating in the Games to be held from 2-6 December.

Basically, many students who have DE&T Visiting Teachers are already involved with the RVIB team - but there may be more students who are interested in participating. If there is enough interest, it is possible for DE&T Visiting Teachers to form a team of students, but Uli needs registration information before the end of August.

So here's what to do:

1. see if your student is interested in participating
2. make sure they are not already involved with the RVIB team
3. phone Deb Lewis to express interest and obtain the necessary forms

If your students do not wish to participate in the swimming, athletics or goal ball events, there are still plenty of social events for them to join which will enable them to meet other students from interstate and the Pacific Islands. There will be a BBQ, a bush dance, a trip to Luna Park and other activities in addition to coming to the event venues in the Burwood area to cheer on the competitors.

Looks like heaps of fun!

Please call 9841 0242 if you would like a copy of the program or further information.

The Tactual Learner With Additional Disabilities

The following list was compiled by Yvette Higgins and can be found on the SVRC website: http://www.svrc.vic.edu.au/tactualMIVI.html

Ideas for developing a student's sense of touch & reducing tactile defensive behaviours:

- Ensure the activities are age appropriate.
- Activities can, and often, involve the use of more than one sense. Some students may require an auditory motivation to use their tactual sense.
- Overall, the activities should be enjoyable and fun!!!!!

Junior age group:

- tactual mobile - ensure it is within student's reach
- tactual treasure box - fill with items related to student's educational program eg classroom theme items, favourite toys
- tactual diary - use object symbols where possible eg a pair of bathers to indicate swimming, a bunch of keys to indicate going on the bus and a spring to indicate the trampoline
- develop tactual symbols for classroom activities eg different songs and whole class games
- fill an old handbag with tactile objects eg 'lucky dip' type activity, the handbag could be filled with lentils and an object the student has to find amongst the lentils
- tactual necklace to be worn by student and/or class teacher/care giver
- textured snake - attach to a wall, keep in a corner. The snake could include sections: knitted/buttons/sheep skin/plastic/sand paper/scotch brite/herbs/perfumed tissue/crunchy paper. This idea could also be used to introduce and develop a student's trailing skills (for orientation and mobility purposes).
- textured curtains
- games eg find a toy hidden amongst a tray of 'scrabble' pieces or in the old handbag
- find the object hidden in the sandpit
- find the soap in the basin full of water
- construct a 'feely' corner of the room
- threading activities - include sorting, grading and matching of different textures
- 'feely bags' - "can you feel what is in the bag?" Make an opening in the bag so as the student can self correct, where possible. Include items which are; hot/cold, rough/smooth, heavy/light, soft/hard
- guess the hidden item in the sock
- 'feely' medals for students to wear
- 'feely bingo' games eg present student with a board of four different textures, the student is required to match textured cards to their boards
- tactile dice - throw the dice and find the matching texture on a tray
- 'feely dominoes' eg different textures or a set including the finer discrimination of different buttons
- cooking activities involving use of hand(s) to mix eg kneading dough, mixing dry ingredients and rolling meatballs
- art activity ideas; fingerpainting with shaving cream/warm finger paint, working with clay and playdough, making textured pictures/murals, working in the garden - planting 'smelly' plants with various textures, make mud pies etc
- tactual scanning activities eg a tactual version of "What is missing?" (Kim's Game). Place items on a tray, in a box or use the old handbag again.
- simple jigsaw puzzles

Guide Dogs Victoria: Children's Mobility Service: Upcoming Events and Dates

Primary School Camp

September 23 - 26 2002
Venue - Guide Dogs Campus
Cost - free
The theme for this camp will be "Measurement" and we have a number of exciting and challenging activities planned.

Orientation and Mobility Morning at the SVRC

10 September 2002
Venue - SVRC and Doncaster Shoppingtown
This is an information and practical session to learn more about Orientation and Mobility and The Children's Mobility Service at Guide Dogs. The practical session will be at Doncaster Shoppingtown as it provides an excellent venue for learning about and experiencing a number of Orientation and Mobility techniques and challenges.

Orientation and Mobility in North Eastern Victoria

2 one-day programs in the North East
September 12 and 13 2002
Venue:
September 12 in Wodonga
September 13 in Wangarattta
Cost - free
The day will focus on learning more about the scope and benefits of O and M training for children. There will be practical and fun sessions. Participants are welcome to attend one or both days.

Sydney Trip

December 9 - 13 2002
Cost - free
The closing date for applications for the Sydney trip is August 30 2002.

Children's Mobility Service Christmas Party

December 17 2002
Venue - Guide Dogs Campus
Students, parents, VT's and Integration Staff are all welcome to attend this end of year get together.
Cost - free

City Limits Camp for Secondary School Students

January 6 - 10 2003
Venue - Guide Dogs Campus
Cost - free
For further information and application details for all events please contact Dean Johnson at The Children's Mobility Service.
Phone: 9854 4506 or email dean.j@guidedogs.asn.au

Report: Big Night Out on August 8th

The following report was provided by Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Dean Johnson:

Last Thursday evening the Children's Mobility service organised another of the Night Out programs. This time both young men and women participated and we met at Flinders Street station under the clocks. Many students managed to make their own way to the meeting point, which was very pleasing; we had a couple of students who travelled independently on the train from Sunbury and were met at Flinders Street by the O and M Instructors.

The aim of the Night Out programs was to provide students with the opportunity to experience travel around the Melbourne CBD at night.

The group broke up into 2 smaller groups of 7 students each and each group was required to complete a series of Rally questions that led to the final destination of the evening which was the dinner venue in Lonsdale Street. The rally required students to catch trams, visit an underground station on the city circle line and make a number of observations about how travel at night is different to travel during daylight hours. Dinner with the group was a lot of fun as we enjoyed the culinary delights of Greek food. At the end of the evening the O and M Instructors took all the students home.

We look forward to further Nights Out in the future as part of the Children's Mobility Service Orientation and Mobility program.

Thanks to all participants and staff for making the program successful and a lot of fun.

New Electrical Safety Standards in DE&T Schools

The new safety standards which apply to DE&T schools have implications for equipment used in schools by students and staff. For example, all electrical equipment must be checked and tagged in compliance with the new standards - that is all electrical equipment is to be tested prior to initial use as well as after servicing and repairs and periodically from then on (every five years for items not subject to constant flexing, 1 year for movable objects such as laptops).

For a print copy of Circular 69/2002 Electrical Safety Standard: AS/NZS 3760:2001, please call 9841 0242.

Assessment of Braille Literacy Skills

On our recent professional development day, Lyn handed out some handy checklists from the Assessment of Braille Literacy Skills (ABLS) by A.J. Koenig and C. Farrenkopf.

The ABLS is not a program for teaching braille, but it is:
- a braille literacy assessment tool
- a summary of different skills that may be met at various times
- a way to track student progress toward attaining braille literacy skills

If you would like copies of the Emergent Literacy Skills checklist and record form or an order form so that you can purchase the ABLS, please call.

Large Print: Postage Costs

As you are probably aware, it is possible to post braille and audio materials to people with vision impairments free of charge or at concessional rates of postage. This concession does not apply to large print.

In the past, the SVRC has carried the cost for postage for large print - but unfortunately, this is no longer possible. From the beginning of 2003, Visiting Teachers will have to nominate the source of payment for postage, or arrange for large print materials to be collected by themselves, school personnel or parents. We apologise for any inconvenience that this causes.

For more information about Postal Concessions for people with vision impairments, see the Concessions page on the SVRC website: http://www.svrc.vic.edu.au/Concessions.html

Student Performance

Marion and I spent a most enjoyable couple of hours recently attending the opening night of the Avila College Senior Production, 'Hecuba' by Euripides. Billed as "a frightening tale of bloodshed, murder and revenge", this production did not disappoint. All the students performed very well and VT student, Bryony (also Space Camper 2001) was fantastic as The Ghost of Polydorus, son of Hecuba.