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The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Deb Lewis (Co-ordinator, Statewide Vision Resource Centre).
The following activities are coming up between now and the end of the year:
All welcome!!! No charge!!!
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
Trevor Boyd from Quantum Technology will be demonstrating a range of software that may be useful for students with learning disabilities including:
When: Tuesday 11th October
Time: 1.30-3.30pm
Where: Statewide Vision Resource Centre, 370 Springvale Rd
Donvale
RSVP: 7th October to svrc@svrc.vic.edu.au or (03) 9841 0242
No cost!!! All welcome (as usual)!
See http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/PDLD05.doc for flier
The Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne invites you to a conference titled ‘Transforming Disability: community inclusion, employment and innovative reform’. The Transforming Disability conference aims to bring together people with proposals for changes to disability policies and those whose direct experience enables them to provide informed critical comment on current trends and proposed changes.
When: Wednesday 9th November, 2005
Where: University of Melbourne
Cost: $88 (the price includes GST, as well as morning tea,
afternoon tea and lunch).
Wheelchair access is available and the first three rows of the theatre have audio loop availability. An interpreter will be made available if requested. A very small number of sponsored places are available in cases of extreme personal hardship - please phone Lauren Rosewarne from the Centre for Public Policy on (03) 8344 9482.
For more information about this exciting conference, please visit the dedicated webpage: http://www.public-policy.unimelb.edu.au/events/transforming_disability.html
Lea Nagel took the following notes at a recent Window Eyes workshop with Ramona Mandy from Humanware
At present Window Eyes does not offer access to Excel, Access or PowerPoint, however it is very likely that some future version will!
Cost: A$950-$1,100 with multi-user licenses and software maintenance agreements available
A riotous time was had by all on 2 September with our ‘National Literacy and Numeracy Activity: Try Another Reading Medium’. The Centre was filled with boisterous primary kids with vision impairments who were treated to an all singing and dancing rendition of “Wombat Stew” written my Marcia K. Vaughan.
Ramona Mandy from HumanWare read a spirited rendition of the story and students acted out the story with hand puppets and other artifacts from the story.
This was a ‘simultaneous reading activity’ involving thousands of school students all around Australia! I expect our group was the only one to be read to from the brailled book, though!
Students were also involved with making musical instruments using seeds and gum nuts and singing the song from the story, accompanied by the variously talented Visiting Teacher Lea Nagel on the guitar!!!
There was a plethora of alternative reading media to sample and the kids had a great time with:
One student took great delight in examining his eyes using Flipper and a large TV screen! Michael made a CD of the story read by Ramona (accompanied by students and Lea Nagel on guitar) and also by volunteer reader Richard Rowe. If you’d like a copy of the CD please contact us!
Our day was a huge success and was also generously supported with funding from Eastern Metropolitan Region!
Below: George and Tyrone play a spirited game of Snakes and Ladders
Below: Tyrone compares the picture of the fox with the puppet using myReader
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Below: Ramona reads to the group of students who have puppets of the characters from the story and containers of gumnuts, creepy crawlies, slugs and bugs, feathers etc to add to the billy of stew.
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Below: Tim reads along with Ramona using a magnifier.
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The Manningham Leader published an article celebrating the event on Wednesday 7 September 2005:
“ As part of Literacy and Numeracy Week, schools and libraries around the country read the picture book, Wombat Stew, by Marcia Vaughan, to more than a quarter of a million children.”
The photograph showed Ramona with guide dog Paisley and local student George.
It’s on again!!! Lynne Murdoch and Helen Caldow are busily organizing Driving Camp 2005! They plan to hold it after the exams – let Deb Lewis know if you’d like to be kept in the information loop – dates and forms to follow!
When: Decemberish 2005
Where: Charlton
It’s on again too!!! Please call in for an information kit or call Jeni Blake for information.
When: Saturday 26th November to Sunday 4th December
Where: Swan Hill – Murrabit – Cohuna – Echuca
– Heathcote – Newstead – Woodend – Whittlesea –
Heidelberg
Sounds like FUN!!!
RVIB will be conducting a seminar which is designed for people who are wishing to improve their safety when using public transport. The seminar will include:
Where: 557 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
When: 21 September 2005
Time: 9:00am to 4:30pm
Cost: TBA (Approximately between $10-15) Lunch, morning and
afternoon tea will be provided.
Contact Malcolm Fraser on (03) 9689 0166 or malcolm.fraser@rvib.org.au or your regional O&M instructor.
Be quick to register as places are limited! Preference will be given to those who have not previously attended the program.
RVIB runs a special concert in Ormond Hall every two years to showcase musically gifted students who are blind or vision impaired. Money from the ticket sales goes toward scholarships, which are awarded to assist winners with further music study.
Applications for performances are now open. If you wish to perform at the Ormond
Hall Concert, and be eligible for a scholarship, please complete and return
the form (contact Sue Coull for a copy) by Tuesday 20th September to:
Sue Coull, RVIB, 333 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125
Successful applicants are expected to attend a rehearsal at Ormond Hall on Thursday 29th September, between 9am and 1pm.
Further enquiries: tel: (03) 9808 6422 or email: sue.coull@rvib.org.au
The concert will be held on Friday 4th November, 2005
Source: Disability Standards for Education 2005, Phillip Ruddock, 17th March 2005
The Disability Standards for Education have recently been formulated by the Commonwealth Attorney-General under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
This Act seeks to eliminate, as far as possible, discrimination against people with disabilities. The standards set out in the Disability Standards for Education 2005 specify how education and training are to be made accessible to students with disabilities. They cover the following areas:
If you would like a copy of this document, please email svrc@svrc.vic.edu.au with your request.
Source: Victorian Essential Learning Standards website http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/VELSpowerpoint.html
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards describe what is considered essential for students to achieve from Years Prep to 10 in Victorian schools. They provide a whole school curriculum planning framework that sets out learning standards for schools to use to plan their teaching and learning programs, including assessment and reporting of student achievement and progress.
The Essential Learning Standards are based on the best practice in Victorian schools, national and international research and widespread consultation with school communities, educators, professional associations and community groups.
The Standards will provide the means for all Victorian schools to use the best curriculum thinking to better prepare students for success at school and beyond.
To succeed beyond the compulsory years of schooling, all students need to develop the capacities to:
The Victorian Essential Learning Standards describe three core, interrelated strands which comprises a number of components called domains. The domains describe the knowledge, skills and behaviours considered essential in the education and development of students to prepare them for further education, work and life. They also include the standards by which student achievement and progress is measured. Within each domain, the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours are organised into dimensions.
To view a PowerPoint presentation and supporting documentation designed to support schools in introducing the Victorian Essential Learning Standards go to: http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/VELSpowerpoint.html
Source: DE&T Circular 293/2005
In May 2005, the Minister for Education Services, Jacinta Allan MP, accepted recommendations from the Ministerial Working Group on the Program for Students with Disabilities and Language Disorder Program.
The Ministerial Working Group recommended that from 2006, schools should be provided with additional resources to support students on an individual basis with Severe Language Disorder and Critical Educational Needs (funding level 3 and above). The Language Disorder Program Handbook 2006 has been developed in response to this recommendation and provides details of the eligibility criteria and application process for individual funding for students with Severe Language Disorder and Critical Educational Needs (funding level 3 and above).
In addition, the Language Disorder Program Handbook 2006 provides details of the Language Support Program which provides a program funding allocation to every Victorian Government school. The Handbook also provides details on how schools can identify students with language disorders and how schools can use the Language Support Program to assist these students. Schools will be advised of their Language Support Program funding in conjunction with their 2006 indicative Student Resource Package.
A systematic approach has been used to design and develop programs and strategies to support students with special needs through targeted programs that strengthen the capacity of staff in schools, families and regions to improve student outcomes. The criteria used for consideration for additional resources for a student with a Severe Language Disorder and Critical Educational Needs have been developed by the Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute in consultation with a range of experts in the field.
Each school will be provided with one copy of the Language Disorder Program Handbook 2006 shortly. The handbook is now available to download at: http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/wellbeing/disabil/index.htm
Source: Round Table News, September 2005
The Round Table web site has been expanded to include a new ‘members only’ section. This section is being developed to provide members with timely access to Round Table documents in electronic format, as well as archived copies of information and resources of interest to members. Access is restricted to current financial members via a login screen at the top of the home page.
The page currently contains minutes of Round Table meetings and downloadable electronic copies of the Guidelines for Conveying Visual Information in text, Duxbury (dxb) and Adobe Acrobat (pdf) formats.
It is anticipated that this section of the web site is to be further developed and it will contain project information, The Round Table Constitution and other Round Table Guidelines as they are updated and converted to electronic copies. Member organisations will receive their user name and password soon.
Information provided by Gillian Cochrane, The University of Melbourne’s Ophthalmology Department
Be part of groundbreaking, cutting edge research!
Earlier this year we told you about this exciting new study and invited many of you to help out and many of you did – 103 people to be exact! That’s right, 103 people throughout Victoria took part in the focus groups, which were run from October 2004 until March 2005. All of the information and experience that was offered during the focus groups was recorded and looked at to find out what are the most important issues and concerns for students who have low vision, their families and teachers.
A 30-question quality of life questionnaire for students who have low vision has been developed from all of your information. This questionnaire is now being used in four other states in Australia and is shortly to be sent to New Zealand. The results from these trials will mean that the questions in the questionnaire can be checked to make sure that they really are useful. The next (validated) version of the questionnaire will be used during Term 4 throughout Victoria and also in Malawi!
So the call for help continues!! If you and your family are invited by your
visiting teacher to join the study, it would be fantastic if you would be happy
to take part. Share your knowledge and experience by taking part and know that
it will help many others! If you are interested please contact: Gillian Cochrane
at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, The University of Melbourne’s
Ophthalmology Department by email or phone.
Email: g.cochrane@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Tel: (03) 9929 8392 / 0409 165 545
Please note: This research project has Department of Education & Training approval.
Applications for the Quantum Technology/Freedom Scientific Scholarship Program are closing on Friday 30th September 2005!
The program is open to students with vision impairments who are starting full-time TAFE or University studies in 2006. If you know a student getting ready to go onto further studies, tell them it’s time to start writing! There are eight scholarships of a copy of JAWS Professional up for grabs. Applications are to be made in writing and in 500 words stating why the applicant needs a scholarship and how it will assist in their Tertiary/TAFE studies.
Send applications to: info@quantumtechnology.com.au or via post to Scholarship Program, Quantum Technology PO Box 390, Rydalmere NSW 2116 Australia.
Applicants must have a vision impairment and be an Australian or New Zealand citizen.
Original manuscripts and news items are sought for the third issue of the Journal of the South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment. The journal presents essays, quantitative and qualitative research articles and analyses, conceptual papers, comprehensive reviews, case studies, policy analyses and innovative practice descriptions and evaluations on a wide variety of issues and topics related to the education of children, youth and adults in the South Pacific region who are blind or have vision impairments. It is intended that the journal will be a vehicle for informing other researchers, educational administrators, Commonwealth and State personnel and service providers, as well as specialist and generic teachers, parents and others in our communities about research, issues, policies and their implications for practice in the South Pacific Region (Australia, New Zealand, parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands).
All submissions will undergo blind peer review. Manuscripts in print and on disk should be received no later than 30 September 2005.
Send to:
Dr Mike Steer, Renwick College, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
Private Bag 29, Parramatta NSW 2124
For a copy of the Notes for Contributors, email: mike.steer@ridbc.org.au
There are now two Melbourne suppliers of Mimio:
IBS Audio Visual
11 Florence St Burwood 3125
Tel (03) 9888 8987
Fax (03) 9808 6645
http://www.ibsav.com.au
Contact: Peter Goldie
Australian Presentation Systems
Suite 3 Victoria Square
857 Doncaster Rd East Doncaster
Tel (03) 9836 4700
http://www.auspres.com.au
Lea Nagel has been at it again – producing sharable resources for our community! She has made a two page summary of:
Enlarge to A3 size if you’d like correctly sized braille. If you'd like a copy in print or via email (braille font required) please email your request.
Anyone can play!!! We are looking for the best and worst examples of braille in the community … and the entries are even coming in from outside Victoria! Our most recent entries:
What have you found? Please bring in the object for our display (and we get to keep it) OR a photo and description.
The competition will close on Friday 30th September and winners (best example and worst example) will be announced early in term four.
Meredith Walsh’s student Cassie entered a poetry competition. Her poem has been published in an anthology of poetry called Poets of OZ. Cassie writes:
“I love writing anything from stories, plays, letters and poems, so when a teacher at my school told me about a poetry writing competition I couldn’t wait to start writing my poem.
A few weeks after I sent in my poem, I received a letter in the mail asking if I wanted to have my poem published in a book along with other poems that other children had written.
About two weeks ago, the book arrived in the mail. It was so exciting. The book has about six hundred pages and my poem is almost right in the middle. This is the poem I wrote.
POUNCE AND MISS
Waiting silently out of the light,
Eyes shining through the night,
Crouched down low near the ground,
She is quiet and not making a sound,
Totally focused on the mouse,
Wait until it’s away from the house,
Almost ready to pounce and get,
Now she is ready now she is set,
She jumps and tries to get its tail,
You should have heard the cat’s sad wail,
The mouse had got away and had gone,
Gone was the body and it’s tail so long,
She awoke in her bed from her pleasant dream,
The horrible howl had been the baby’s scream.”
Congratulations Cassie!
You may all be pleased to know that our generic email address: svrc@svrc.vic.edu.au is working again – not sure when it went off the air but it is fixed now – so please feel free to use it to your heart’s content!
Thanks to Trevor Boyd, Dean Johnson, Lyn Robinson, Mike Steer and Joanne Webber for contributing to this edition of The Bulletin. Thanks also to proof-readers, stuffers and posters.
Deb Lewis (who can be emailed at deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au).