The Bulletin

Statewide Vision Resource Centre

Number 14  Friday 31st August 2001

The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Lea Nagel (Visiting Teacher, Eastern Region), Helen Caldow (Visiting Teacher, Eastern Region), and Deb Lewis (Co-ordinator, Statewide Vision Resource Centre).

Inside This Issue

Professional Development 2001

SVRC Parent Support Group Meeting

Saturday 15th of September, (yes the day before the "Space Campers" depart) is the date of the next meeting for Parents of Children who have a Progressive Eye Condition. At this meeting we will be exploring adaptive technology with guest speakers from Quantum Technology and European Eyewear.
Venue: Statewide Vision Resource Centre. 360 Springvale Road Donvale
Time: 2:00
Date: Saturday 15th September.
This introduction will be an opportunity for parents and children to ask questions, try some of the equipment  and enjoy one another’s company. Please encourage all your parents whose children have a progressive condition to take this opportunity to join us. If further details are required contact Annette Godfrey-Magee or Marion Blazé on 9841 0807.

Communicable Diseases in the School Environment

We have now created a kit of the materials that Priscilla Robinson brought to our VT PD day on 13th August 2001. The kit consists of Priscilla’s PowerPoint presentation, her notes and an audiotape of her talk. If you would like to borrow a copy of this kit, please call the SVRC.

Space Internet Sites for Fun and Information!

For the ­ Space Campers and others:

Space Camp 1999 on CD-ROM

Incidentally, I finally put together a PowerPoint presentation of Space Camp 1999, which is available on loan from the SVRC – please call. As we now have the ‘know how’ and the technology, we hope to have Space Camp 2001 on CD-ROM some time this year!!! We’ll let you know!

Urgent: Please return chocolate money!

A BIG thank you to all those who took boxes of chocolates to sell for Space Camp. Please return the money as soon as possible – we take off in September!  There are only 9 boxes left out of 64, so please take just one more! School staff love a little block of chocolate for only $2, just to get them through the day!

Clip Art from the Web

Huge amounts of clip art are available on the web. Follow the directions below to find interesting ways to decorate your work. This is not really VI friendly!

Link Magazine

Link Magazine is a fascinating and colourful Australian magazine produced five times each year by Disability Info. Australia Pty Ltd. It examines issues from disability perspectives, and is available on Audio Tape. A one-year subscription for an individual costs $40.
Contact details: phone (08) 8377 2295; GPO Box 909, Adelaide, 5001; or e-mail linkmag@bigpond.net.au/. Following are reviews of some articles from Link Magazine:

Guide Dog vs Cane

Link Magazine August 2001.
This article is a first hand account of Graeme Innes’ decision to apply for a guide dog. Graeme gives an honest account of the benefits and difficulties of travelling with his guide dog, Jordie. He reports that he is now able to walk for pleasure, and is able to daydream while walking. Graeme is much more independent especially in new environments, however he gets less information about the environment that he is walking through, because he does not need to find and negotiate obstacles himself. In instances where he is uncertain which direction to take, Graeme sometimes lets Jordie decide. Occasionally he can end up more lost than he was before, but philosophises: ‘..a dog which can see, smell and has a good memory will often go closer to the mark than a totally blind person..’ Difficulties can arise when Graeme is with other people, especially when they distract Jordie. Graeme describes the problem of toileting Jordie in unfamiliar environments, such as motels and airports, and of ensuring that Jordie does not eat food that is not for her. Overall, Graeme believes he has made the right decision at the right time in his life.
The article in full is held at the SVRC. Please call if you would like a copy.

Bullying Epidemic Against the People with Visual Impairments

Link Magazine August 2001.
A short article in Link Magazine reports that in South Australia, there is an epidemic of bullying against blind people. An incident occurred where a blind man was led by school children into the middle of a busy road and left there. The Royal Society for the Blind’s South Australia executive director, Andrew Daly is calling for education as the most effective way of stamping out bullying.
The full article is available at SVRC.

On the Ride of Our Lives with Eyes Closed

This is a great success story about two blind people, Emma and Vaughn Bennison, who met on a music camp and who now compose, perform and record music together. They have performed at Lismore Folk and Byron Bay Blues Festivals. They market themselves as mainstream artists, sometimes surprising people who don’t realise they are blind until they arrive ready to perform. To buy their CD, ‘Ride of Our Lives’ for $20, call Emma & Vaughn Bennison 07 3863 0152, or write to PO Box 387, Aspley, Qld, 4034.
The full article is available at SVRC.

PulseData News

PulseData are advertising a new, lower cost alternative to Jaws: Window-Eyes. At $1,200, Window-Eyes does not use macros or a scripting language, making it easier to use. It gives good access to web pages using Microsoft Internet Explorer, and is compatible with BrailleNote & most popular Braille displays. It has a read-to-end feature, user-assignable hot keys, a dictionary, and MUCH more! (Apparently)
Ramona Mandy has joined the team at Pulse Data as the BrailleNote Promotions Officer. Ramona has already been a speaker at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre, demonstrating the range of Pulse Data braille note takers.

Guide Dog Association of Victoria Education Kit

The GDAV Education Kit is designed to promote awareness of Guide Dogs and the experience of living with a vision impairment.
The kit is suitable for students of all ages and consists of a number of Information Cards, Activity sheets and a vision loss simulation card. The Kit is designed to meet CSF2 Standards and includes Teacher’s Notes. Key Learning Areas and Learning Outcomes are identified.
The Information cards provide students with details about such topics as Eye Conditions, Guide Dog training and Vision Impairment and the Brain. The cards are useful for generating discussions and relating to a number of the other learning areas.
The stimulating and challenging Activity sheets provide students with the stimulus to complete a variety of tasks including reading, telling the time and pouring drinks while wearing vision loss simulators and learning about Braille and completing related activities.
Each Vision Loss Simulator Card represents 5 different types of vision loss and when wearing each of the individual simulators, students are able to gain some insight into the functional implications of particular types of vision impairment.
The Education Kits are available free of charge from the Guide Dog Association of Victoria. Please contact Dean Johnson or Rachel Morgan from the GDAV Children’s Mobility Service if you would like a copy of the kit.
Dean Johnson   9854 4506
Rachel Morgan  9854 4469

Orientation and Mobility Booklet for Visiting Teachers

The following was sent by Dean Johnson, GDAV Children’s Mobility Service:
The Guide Dog Association of Victoria Children’s Mobility Service has produced an Orientation and Mobility Booklet for Visiting Teachers. The booklet has been designed to increase the knowledge and understanding of student’s O and M skills and needs, to help promote and encourage student’s independence and environmental exploration in everyday life and to improve communication between the Visiting Teacher, student and O and M Instructor.
The booklet, which will be distributed to Visiting Teachers, contains general information about O and M as well as a detailed O and M glossary and how to refer to the GDAV Children’s Mobility Service.

E-Access Newsletter

E-Access Bulletin is an email newsletter on technology issues for people with visual impairment and blindness. The E-Access Bulletin web site is:
http://www.e-accessibility.com
Sponsored by the Royal National Institute for the Blind
http://www.rnib.org.uk
the National Library for the Blind
http://www.nlbuk.org
and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk
You can subscribe to the E-Access Bulletin by emailing mailto:eab-subs@headstar.com

Harry Potter in Braille

Our Braille transcribers are proud to announce that they have the Braille version of the first two Harry Potter books. Harry Potter is a fantasy series about a young wizard. It appeals to children from around grade four, and is even great fun relaxation reading for adults. Something adventurous happens nearly every paragraph, which grabs young readers’ attention.

NICAN Photographic Competition

The theme of this competition is taking photographs of a person with disabilities involved in the community, in adventure and challenge, independent living, improving self image or experimentation.
Photos from any of our recent camps would definitely fit in some of the above categories! Send entries to NICAN, PO Box 407 CURTIN ACT 2605
NICAN are also calling for historical photos of people with disabilities in institutional or segregated settings. Entries close the 14 of September. Entry forms available at SVRC.
For more information, call 1800 806 769, or visit www.nican.com.au/.

Access Tip-The Mouse that Magnifies

If you are looking to renew your computer mouse, E-Access Bulletin reader David Porter writes in with a tip: there is one model with a handy accessibility aid that is actually among the cheapest on the market.
The Classic Mouse Standard from Dexin (http://www.dexin.com.tw/classic-big.htm) has a third, central button, which operates a magnifier. The level of magnification can be set to suit the user and it is useful for reading e-mail addresses.
Placing the cursor at the beginning of text and pressing the centre button creates a small, rectangular window, showing enlarged text a few letters at a time. Holding down the button and scrolling horizontally or vertically, moves the magnifier across the text and enables the user to read even the dots in email addresses. The mouse is available from many retailers for around 10 UK pounds or less.

Meet Your Doom

‘Shades of Doom’, a version of the hugely popular ‘shoot-em-up’ computer game Doom designed for the blind and vision impaired, has launched: http://www.gmagames.com/.

National Parents Support Group

The SVRC received the following email from Michael Siles, interim convener, Parents Support Group:
Hello everyone.
I thought I should share some of our progress here in Victoria in regard to a Parents Support Group that we are starting.
I am an Interim Committee Member of the Proposed Victorian Association for Parents of Children with a Vision Impairment.
It's only an Interim Committee as yet because we will be formally starting the group at a meeting to be held on the 25th of October 2001 at 7.00pm (To be confirmed). At this stage we are hoping to have it at the RVIB in Burwood providing a room is available at this time.
I am very excited about the future outcomes, and have been receiving support, and encouragement from many organisations. I personally have wanted to start a group such as this for some time, but it was at a meeting with Susan La Venture from the "National Association for Parents of the Visually Impaired" (USA) that made some of us at the meeting act. Susan gave us a vision that we could follow and with her encouragement we are following through.
The group of parents in this Interim Committee is only a hand full, but we are going to have a mass mail-out though various organisations to help promote the meeting on the 25th of October and expand the committee structure.
I will contact you in the next 2 weeks with a confirmation of venue and date for our meeting in Melbourne. We are hoping to structure it as an information session about the group’s objectives and promote active discussions. Perhaps you can help us promote the meeting.
We have just completed a draft promotional letter and accompanying questionnaire, this will be approved by our group this week. I will send you a copy of this material soon.
I know some of you are Support Group Leaders, so we would appreciate any comments that would help us at this time.

JVIB August 2001

The following articles appear in the August edition of JVIB:

Reading Stands

Warren Taylor who makes the Reading Stands has a new address and contact numbers.
12 Osterley St Werribee 3030
Ph: 99734 2696 Fax: 9734 1694
Large Reading Stands: $60.00
Small Reading Stands: $55.00

Glaucoma Australia

This organisation has sent the SVRC a range of information including pamphlets in several languages.
RVIB Education Seminar: Mainstream or Special Schools, Flexible Options for Students
Friday 14th of September 8.45-4.00
$70.00 - tea, coffee and lunch included.
Please contact RVIB on 9808 6422 or email: edserv@rvib.org.au/.

RNIB See For Yourself Booklet Series

This is a set of 5 short basic booklets well set out for vision impaired people .

1. Sight Problems?

How low vision services and YOU can help make the most of your sight.

2. Magnifiers

How to get the best magnifiers for you.

3. Lighting

How to use better lighting to make things easier to see.

4. At Home

How to make changes at home to see things more easily

5. Seeing a future

Behaviour Intervention Support Team (BIST) Articles

Using Attention and Approval to Increase Behaviour
Basic Principles along with a list of  “101 Ways to Say Well Done.”
Conflict Resolution
Discusses stages of conflict, ways to deal with conflict and principles in dealing with conflict.
Star Charts – Instructions for Use
This article discusses a simple way of collecting descriptions of behaviours in 4 sections: Settings, Triggers, Actions and Results.
Procedures for Increasing Behaviour
This article discusses and gives examples of different strategies for developing more acceptable behaviour.

Arts Access

Check out their website: www.artsaccess.com.au for the latest in audio-described productions.

ViewPlus Technologies

This company has released what it claims to be the only true Windows embosser. It provides access to complex information such as maths, graphs, charts and diagrams.
Also available is a new Accessible Graphing Calculator with a free 30 day download which you can find at webmaster@viewplustech.com/.

Special Entry Scheme- Targeted Access Program – Melbourne Uni.

The TAP program is designed to assist students gain a place at University despite ongoing difficulties which may have hampered their academic performance.
Tel: (03) 8344 8543 Freecall: 1800 801 662
Queries: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/query/australian/
Web: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/

Braille Games

A range of braille games fore identifying letters, contractions or words is available at the following web site.
www.tsbvi.edu/education/brlf-games.htm

Exam Preparation: Systems and Technology

When: Saturday 8 Spetember
Where: Statewide Resource Centre 150 Palmerston Street Carlton
Contact: 9349 1538

VCE: Students with Vision Impairments

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority recently sent us the following information:
In addition to the special arrangements which have been approved by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, students with a vision impairment are also able to take the following equipment into examinations if required; Lyn Robinson is currently working on supervisors for students’ examinations for the November CAT period. As usual, we have heaps of students doing plenty of examinations. Hopefully you will be able to assist with supervision as required.
I understand that VCAA will be sending the November CAT period Special Arrangements to schools in the next few weeks.

Sensory Stimulation National Conference

Conference Focus: ‘Enhancing Communication and Participation’
Where: ‘The Manningham’ in Bulleen
What: Sensory stimulation, challenging behaviour, complex communication needs, supporting people with severe and multiple disabilities
When: September 6 & 7
Who: Carers and professionals
Cost: $215
Contact: Mandy Williams 9580 2333

2002 National Conference – Round Table

The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities will be holding their next conference in Adelaide from 13 to 16 April 2002. The conference theme is ‘Information Access, What does it mean?’.
The deadline for papers is Wednesday 3rd October. Please contact Kathy Riessen on
(08) 8298 5055 or email kriessen@townsendsp.sa.edu.au/.

D&I Conference

The Eastern Metropolitan Region Disability and Impairment Conference will again be held at the Melbourne Exhibition and convention Centre. As usual, the conference will include a wide range of interesting topics from ADHD and autism to VCE and challenging behaviours.
When: 3&4 September
Contact: Jan Hazell on 9881 0200.

How to Choose a Book to Read – Five Finger Method

This method can apply to sighted, low vision and brailling students:

Adaptive Technology and Equipment for Students with Vision Impairments – the CD-ROM

This complete package, introduced by Meredith Walsh (Visiting Teacher, Northern Region), has now been produced professionally on CD-ROM for $30. Copies ordered at the recent SVRC Professional Development Day will be left at the SVRC. This is an excellent way of preparing high calibre information packages for teachers – and a means of reporting.
For your copy, email meredithw@bigpond.com/ or collect one at the SVRC. An invoice is sent with the CD-ROM.

Staff news

SVRC staff are coming and going left, right and centre!

A Baby Girl for Yvette

Yvette (and Phil) have had their baby – a 8lb 9oz little girl who has been named Pearl Indigo. Apparently the baby has a head of thick black hair – both mother and baby are doing well (we didn’t get a report on the father!).
Anything to Add to The Bulletin?
Please email to deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au or fax on 9841 0878 - and you’ll find yourself in print!

If you have something you would like included in The Bulletin, contact:

Deb Lewis (who can be emailed at deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au)

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Web editor Lyn Robinson. Last updated July 2001
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