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The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Deb Lewis (Co-ordinator, Statewide Vision Resource Centre).
- Term 3 Professional Development
- Space Camp – Why Would You Send Your
Kids, Donation from Freemasonry Victoria, Planning
Meeting, Sausage Sizzle Report, Fundraising
- Colour Vision
- RPH Project
- Cute Online Game
- (Alleged) Speed Camera Locations
- Technology Reviews
- ‘An AT (or VT) in the NT’ – Report from Marion
- GDV: O&M Trip to Sydney 2003
- Variety Club Christmas Party and Bike Program
- Braille Decoration in the National Capital
- Staff News
Please call or email for your copies of the programs for the Professional development activities this term.
| Term |
Professional
Development Event |
Date |
| 3 |
Workshop: ZoomText (starts 1pm) |
Monday 18 August |
| 3 |
Workshop: Mountbatten Day (Beginners in the morning and ‘Users’ in the afternoon – come for the morning or the afternoon or stay all day) |
Thursday 4 September |
| 4 |
SPEVI Combined Agencies Day |
Monday 6 October |
| 4 |
O&M Workshop - Guide Dogs | Tuesday 28 August |
| 4 |
SVRC EXPO/Technology Seminars |
Tuesday 2 December |
The Professional Development Program is open to Visiting Teachers, students, parents, and teaching and integration staff.
The ever patient Trevor Boyd from Quantum Technology will lead you through the magic and mystery of this popular enlarging and voice output program.
We have quite a number of students who have been funded for a Mountbatten and quite a community of users including integration aides, Visiting Teachers and parents. This workshop is always well-attended and is a great way to get your questions answered, learn stacks and meet other members of the Mountbatten community.
The VT Day program is jam packed with interesting speakers and topics including disability and the Law, Analysis of Services to Students with Vision Impairments, preparing your student for senior secondary school and tertiary study!
So: For information about the Zoomtext or Mountbatten workshops or the Visiting Teacher Professional Development Day, please see Bulletin 13 or contact the SVRC.
Here is unsolicited feedback about Space Camp from Ben, a former Space Camper (1999) from New South Wales in response to a question about his work:
“You asked about my three jobs. Honestly, I can’t believe my luck with the jobs I have, although my social life has pretty much died at the moment. My main job is working as a Radio Room operator for Rupert Murdoch’s News LTD. The Melbourne Herald Sun is one of the papers we publish. Anyway, my job is to listen to 16 police radio scanners, checking for crimes and other incidents that would be newsworthy. I then alert the journalists to the situation and that’s how you all hear about it. You sure get to hear about the nasty side of life here! I also teach computer and JAWS courses to blind students at Hornsby TAFE on Fridays. I really like this job as I was a teacher’s aid for two years in a blind school before starting at News. I’ve just finished marking the kid’s final assignments. I hate that part of the job let me tell you! We do stuff like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as all the JAWS stuff. I also taught a short Internet course. My third job which I’m just about to start, is teaching braille to a boy who’s going blind.
You know, I attribute most of what I’m doing to Space Camp, even though what I’m doing is not even remotely similar to the stuff we did there. I think it’s the confidence thing that Space Camp encourages that helps so many people.
Last week Space Camper 2003, Matthew, was the proud recipient of a most generous donation from Freemasons towards his trip to the USA this year. Visiting Teacher Jeni Blake, who continues to work tirelessly to enable students to participate in experiences such as Space Camp and Challenge Camp, facilitated the meeting of student Matthew with several delightful and caring members of Freemasons. The cheque presentation involved the year 10 and 11 students from Matthew's school and several members of Freemasons including President of the Board of Benevolence Bill Hayes, Secretary of the Freemasons Taskforce Mervyn Cohen, Director of the Freemason’s Taskforce Russell Bradd, Bayside District Coordinator Willis Parton and Charity Coordinator for Bayside District Russell King. Also in attendance were members of Matthew’s family and the Visiting Teacher Service. Matthew gave a fine speech acknowledging the donation.
The donation, together with sausage sizzle money raised by Jeni, with assistance from the Peninsula Freemasons Taskforce, past and present Space Campers and Jeni’s family members, will get Matthew on the plane in September. If you’d like to join Jeni and her sausage sizzle crew some Saturday this term, please call her on 0428 134660.
Below (left to right): Bill Hates Freemasons, Matthew, Visiting Teacher Jeni Blake and Willis Parton form Freemasons at the presentation.
Three of the four Space Campers 2003 and their support crew – family members and Jeni Blake – met with the chaperones Janie McLeod and Faye Squires at the BP service station in Seymour on Sunday and there was much discussion, paperwork and general decision-making…
Below are five of the six Space Campers for 2003 - (left to right) Nathan, Ben, Lachlan and seated are chaperones Janie and Faye.
From VT correspondent, Jeni Blake:
Speaking for myself, feeling like a bogan dressed in a beanie, raincoat, sunglasses and an apron, we have become a popular entity in Frankston.
Space Campers 2003, Nathan and Matthew have been leading the team cooking over 30kg of sausages the first week, 45 kg the second week and a whopping 60kg last week. They have been supported each week by Space Camper (2002) Kyle who catches the train down to Frankston to be CEO – as he cooked sausages for six weeks last year. Matthew’s parents John and Nola have helped out heaps and Nathan’s father slices an average of 12 kg of onions each week. Special guests have been Linda Sterling, Visiting Teacher (Hearing Impairment), Matthew’s VT-HI and Janie McLeod, Northern Region Visiting Teacher (Vision Impairment) honing their sausage sizzle skills to feed the hoards. Janie McLeod will be chaperoning the four students with Visiting Teacher (Goulburn North Eastern Region), Faye Squires.
Finance manager Nathan says business is booming and is in charge of banking the bucks. Paperwork is boring but all enjoy testing and recording the temperatures of the raw and cooked foods. Unfortunately the last week we have booked for sizzling is 30th August so if you would like your students or self to join our happy little crew we would welcome you at Wells St, Frankston. We were unable to cook for four weeks due to being unable to get insurance and we are very thankful to the Freemasons Taskforce which has helped us out on this occasion.
One Space Camper (2003) has been making a tidy sum collecting horse manure from the paddocks and selling it for $1 per bag. He also has been designing web pages in his spare time raising money to get himself there! Very entrepreneurial!!!
Source: www.iamcal.com/toys/colors/index.php
Intended as a discussion of web design which is inclusive of people with colour blindness, this website has some interesting information including:
There are four kinds of colour vision:
Regular vision is Trichromatic - it uses all three colour pigments (red/green/blue).
People with Anomalous Trichromatic vision use all three colour receptors but
reception of one pigment is misaligned.
Protanomaly: reduced red sensitivity.
Deuteranomaly: reduced green sensitivity.
Tritanomaly: reduced blue sensitivity.
People with Dichromatic vision use only 2 of the 3 visual pigments - red, green
or blue is missing.
Protanopia: unable to receive red.
Deuteranopia: unable to receive green.
Tritanopia: unable to receive blue.
People with Monochromatic vision can only see one colour, so their vision contains
no 'colour'.
Typical Monochromatic: unable to combine colours. Fully grayscale. Also known
as Rod Monochromat.
Atypical Monochromatic: very low colour recognition. Also known as Cone Monochromat.
This site also has some simulations of colour vision impairment – the appearance of colour palates and also the appearance of text on a coloured background for people with the above listed colour vision impairments.
Source: ‘Cortical Mechanisms of Colour Vision’ by Karl R. Gegenfurtner in Nature Reviews Neuroscience 4 (7), (July 2003) pages 563 –572
The perception of colour is a central component of primate vision. Colour facilitates object perception and recognition, and has an important role in scene segmentation and visual memory. Moreover, it provides an aesthetic component to visual experiences that is fundamental to our perception of the world.
Despite the long history of colour vision studies, much has still to be learned about the physiological basis of colour perception.
It even simulates the colours as seem by people with various colour vision problems.
The following request comes from former DE&T VT student Jimmy Cheng:
I’m in the middle of applying for a teenage radio program for visually impaired students on the 3RPH radio station (which is targeted at visually impaired people).
I’ve come up with some good ideas for segments on the program, however I don’t have enough people who are willing to contribute to the program. I’m looking for visually impaired people who are preferably between 18-25 years of age who are in tertiary studies and have a bit of free time? That would be extremely helpful!
What I’m looking for would be people who want to be part of the program; in terms of editing, coming up with ideas, announcing, or anything really!
Can interested people contact Jimmy direct on 0421 075 098 or 9859 2814 or jimmymcheng@hotmail.com
Source: http://www.playtonium.com/games/alphazoo/alphazoo.htm
Wanna play a cute concentration type game on your computer? Go to the web address above and you’ll find Alpha-Zoo. It’s a four by three grid of ‘cards’ which also have sound effects. The idea is to match the letter with a picture beginning with the same letter. The names of the letters are read out and a sound – cheering for correct or buzz for incorrect – gives feedback. The letters are large and contrast is pretty good.
An Excel spreadsheet of alleged locations of speed camera locations has found its way into my inbox. I cannot verify its accuracy or even its original source – but hey if you want a copy, just ask!
Source: Online Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 3, 2003 by Tom Macmahon
There’s an interesting and quite informative little UK web site, owned and developed by a computer user who is vision impaired. At her site, Jackie Cairns offers a range of Technology Reviews which ‘are intended to give a fair and balanced view from a blind user’s perspective’.
Here are some of the current reviews offered by Jackie Cairns:
You can find Jackie Cairns’ Technology Reviews at:
http://www.cairnsplace.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/technology%20reviews.htm
Marion Blazé Advisory Teacher for Vision, Darwin, former Co-ordinator of the SVRC, Visiting Teacher and Education Officer here in Victoria describes her new role in the Northern Territory (June 2003). It’s kind of longish and I thought about printing it as a serial – but hey, here it is:
In the top end, Visiting Teachers for Vision Impaired are called Advisory Teachers for Vision and all three of us (!) work for the Department of Education. This is the only educational service for people with vision impairments so we work in schools and preschools, and make home visits to babies. We also visit across systems (government, catholic and independent). The only other ‘service’ to vision impaired people in NT is Guide Dogs (one O&M trainer).
Preschools up here are part of DEET and located on school grounds. Primary schools include 'transition' (prep) to year 7 and secondary schools start at year 8 (or Year 7 in Alice Springs).
There are only about 60 students with vision impairments in NT. (The population of NT is about 100,000.) The three ATs are all based in Darwin, so ‘face-to-face’ support to students out of Darwin is less frequent. But the ATs work very hard here providing ‘support from a distance’ by ‘phoning, faxing, emailing and generally keeping a high profile in the more remote schools. It has been suggested at times that an AT could be based in Alice Springs, but with movement of the population, the only way to support territory children with vision impairments is from Darwin.
Darwin and Outer Darwin children receive regular visits, depending on their needs. Those in and around Jabiru, Katherine, Tennant Creek or Alice Springs are visited twice per term. To supplement this support when the AT can’t be there, we don’t have school-based Integration aides, but we do have ISAs – ‘Inclusion Support Assistants’. ISA’s are trained to continue the work of the AT on a more regular basis.
Along with the three ATs, there are three alternative materials transcribers. They produce braille and large print, and are also very creative with such things as ‘tactile T-shirts’, books or mobiles for multiply-impaired children. They also have a direct support role with many of the children. When an AT is out of town, a transcriber will visit their students. With their knowledge of braille, alternative format production and technology, they complement the work of the AT nicely. It also gives a special meaning to their production work when they have formed a relationship with the students.
If you are stressed by traffic jams or finding your way around the vastness of Melbourne, then Darwin is the place for you! It’s small, never has traffic jams (well, not what I’d call jams) and the signposting is brilliant. The street directory only contains about 30 maps, but by the second week, I hardly needed it.
On the other hand, we are definitely spoilt in Victoria, with the amount of medical and educational information we receive before we visit students. There is only one privately practicing Ophthalmologist permanently in Darwin and one at a hospital clinic (and neither is a paediatric specialist). Some students have only been to an optometrist (despite our encouragement to see an ophthalmologist). There is no orthoptist in Darwin and certainly no Educational Vision Assessment Clinic. We sometimes operate with no more than a diagnosis (i.e. no acuities). It really tests your functional vision assessment skills!!! One of my students, in a special school had nothing but a statement of a syndrome on her file. I had to try to work out which of several ocular symptoms she was showing functional signs of. Pretty challenging when she had no verbal language ability!
There is a tricky logistic rule up here, that once out of town an AT cannot travel alone. This is for both safety and economic reasons. My two country trips this term were made with another AT, which is great for putting two heads together over a student’s needs. If another AT is not available, then a transcriber can travel with you and look into alternative format and technological needs, or spend time with the ISA to teach them about alternative materials production. We can also team up with other Student Services workers for country trips.
My two country trips this term were to Tennant Creek and Katherine. Tennant Creek is over 1000km south of Darwin so Chris (AT) and I flew there and used a hire car to visit schools and homes. The aeroplane was an adventure in itself. Locally, it’s known as the ‘pencil’ because it’s so small. The in-flight service consisted of a bag of crisps left on your seat and a small can of soft drink which you helped yourself to from an Eski on the tarmac as you boarded the plane. With the capacity for only 20 passengers, the plane was so small we could see the pilot from our seats.
Tennant Creek is an interesting place. It didn’t reassure me to see that so many shops and houses on the main street have security screens on all windows and doors. During our two days there, Chris and I visited five students, four families and two schools. School attendance is a big issue for the indigenous population. Three of the children we visited, were actually not at school, but Chris doesn’t give up easily! Our flight home was delayed and when we found this out, we asked a few locals (teachers) what we could do in Tennant Creek. Many laughed and suggested BiLo or the Pub. We did go to the lookout and the lake and still had hours to kill. We were relieved to get on the plane, which was again delayed while we waited for some kangaroos to get off the runway!
Katherine was a day trip sharing the driving (and note-taking) with Di (the other AT). On that day we visited five students, three schools and the regional office. After such visits we write up something like an Education Officer’s report so that the school personnel can carry on recommendations during the rest of the term. Next term I will again visit the Katherine students, sharing the driving with an AT for Hearing Impaired and an Early Intervention worker.
Working with indigenous children and their families is an education in itself. Such families are often very poor and attendance at school is not a family priority. One big problem for VI children is that it is not within the indigenous culture to wear glasses. I have one aphakic child who has acuities measured at ‘count fingers’ without glasses but can manage 6/18 with, and he still refuses to wear them. Communication is also an issue. I visit an indigenous preschooler who won’t speak to anyone at the preschool but chats happily to his family and friends at home. The culture of sharing within a family or community also poses problems for special funding provided for a child. There is so much to learn!
One term working in NT has certainly proven to be a positive experience. The Department is small enough to get to know a variety of workers (in fact, you have to be careful what you say because lots of people have relationships with lots of other people). I’ve always enjoyed the variety in VT work, but the range of differences (and challenges) is even greater up here. I think longingly of Victoria every time I see an In-service date in my diary. But I’m learning heaps from Chris and Di, the other two ATs, and the schools and students I’m working with.
Yes!!!
It’s on again!!!
The very popular and truly exciting event for senior students – the O&M
Trip to Sydney!!!
When: 1-5 December 2003
Who: students aged 14 to 19 years (approximately 7 positions available) –
students who are highly motivated and are looking to expand their existing hight
level O&M skills
Applications for this program close: Friday 29 August 2003 (ie very soon)
Further details - contact Rachel Morgan on 9854 4469.
But for the record, here is how to apply…
Applications are open to all students with a vision impairment. Students are required to write an essay when applying addressing the following criteria:
The essays will be judged by an independent panel of GDV staff and/or teachers
who will assess both content and presentation.
This essay is to be submitted to:
Rachel Morgan
Guide Dogs Victoria
Private Bag 13
Kew 3101
Applicants must include contact details of one referee (GDV reserves the right to contact unlisted referees).
Applications for this program close 5pm Friday 29 August 2003.
The annual Variety Club Christmas Party for disabled and socially/financially
disadvantaged students, is on again on 11th December 2003. If you have a student
(under 18 years of age) who wishes to attend, please contact Denise Probert:
Fax: 9459 2516
Phone: 9458 3857
by 2nd September to arrange for tickets or discuss arrangements.
If you have a student who desperately would like a bicycle, but has never owned one and is socially/financially disadvantaged, please contact Denise Probert, on the numbers above, regarding the Variety Club Bike Program.
One of our intrepid Visiting Teachers was visiting our national capital in the last school holidays and found herself at the National Museum. The building is adorned with the braille word ‘mate’ and out of reach are giant braille cells spelling the word ‘Australia’ as decoration. As the VT noted, “I wonder if the architects know there are spelling errors in it?? Even if they didn't know braille, how could they think Australia has a double letter in it?”
Below: Daughter of intrepid Visiting Teacher indicates one misspelled word – and for those of you who can’t make out the dots, it says ‘ausstralin’.
Just when I got the spelling of Marion James’ name right – she’s gonna change it! Yes, she’s getting married – in fact, by the time you read this, she will be Marion Draper (wife of Craig Draper)! All the best for an excellent wedding!
Thanks to Denise Probert, Jeni Blake, Janie McLeod, Marion Blazé (still in touch from the Northern Territory), Lyn Robinson and Lea Nagel for their contributions to this edition of The Bulletin. Thanks to Dianne Skillern and Lea Nagel for their thorough proof-reading.
Deb Lewis (who can be emailed at deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au).