The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Deb Lewis (Co-ordinator, Statewide Vision Resource Centre).
For a list of dates for 2006 activities, go to issue 15 of The Bulletin which can be found here: http://www.svrc.vic.edu.au/15%2705.html#2006
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
The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc is getting organised for its next conference which will be held on Saturday 20 May to Tuesday 23 May 2006 in Brisbane. If you’d like to present something that addresses the theme, ‘Realizing the Vision for Accessible Information: The Way Forward’, please email your abstract as a Microsoft Word attachment to the 2006 Round Table Conference Planning Committee’s, Sue Oriander: susan.oriander@visionaustralia.org.au by Friday, 27 January 2006.
SVRC ‘Circus Skills for Kids’ – places limited
(see below)
Contact Dianne Skillern on 9841 0242 ASAP – forms available via email
or fax!
Monday 12 December 10am to 2pm
Vision Australia Survivor Camp (16 years+)
Contact Jane Ellis (02) 9334 3282 / 1300134 560 (toll free) or email: jellis@rbs.org.au
Thursday 12th to Thursday 19th January 2006
We still have some places available for ‘Circus Skills for Kids’ – and it should be a rollicking time!!!
When: Monday 12 December 2005
Time: 10am to 2pm
Cost: $25
Need more information: have a look at a report from the 2002 Circus Skills Day which you can find: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/circus2002.htm and which includes words and pictures!
Need even more information, the forms and program, or want to book in: contact Dianne Skillern on 9841 0242.Guide Dogs Victoria organised a new event - Social and Community Awareness Training – that was held at the SVRC recently … and what a great day it was!!! We had 15 participants from all around who wanted to learn how to be safer in their world…
Enter … personal safety instructor Tricia Clarke – a seriously fit looking martial arts BLACK BELT!
Tricia has many, many great ideas for not getting caught in compromising situations – simple ideas such as:
Tricia ran a very interactive session with kids firing questions from all directions. THEN she had them up learning some techniques in case students ever found themselves being grabbed in an unwanted manner!
It was a great session and one which we would like to run again some time in the future – so watch our ‘Upcoming Events’ list and book yourself in for an interesting, informative but still great fun session!
In conjunction with staff from the Children’s Mobility Service of Guide Dogs Victoria, the SVRC has been running another new and exciting program this week – Skill Power.
We invited nine young folk to come and receive some intensive training in touch typing, using their laptop with JAWS, braille, orientation and mobility, and meals preparation and eating. Students ranged in age from year 3 to year 9 but they quickly formed into a close-knit group!
And our favourite key command for the week: UNDO!!! (CTRL Z)
Jeni Blake’s latest fundraising effort for the camps and activities program is ‘To Market To Market”. Attached to the print edition of The Bulletin is an order form for this fantastic little publication which offers you a comprehensive directory listing over 200 markets across Victoria.
Information includes:
Cost: $10 (& $2 postage and handling)
If you don’t receive a print copy of The Bulletin but would like to be part of this fundraiser please contact us and we’ll post out a copy.
The Australian Government, Australian Sports Commission, Disability Education Program has compiled a couple of interesting fliers which were sent to us by Hazel Hockley, Blind Sports Victoria. They are:
These fliers are included for those receiving a print edition of The Bulletin or contact us if you’d like an emailed copy of the fliers as pdf files.
Related information can also be found at the Australian Sports Commission’s website: http://www.ausport.gov.au/index.asp
The winners of the 2006 Quantum Technology/ Freedom Scientific Scholarship were announced recently. This initiative assists students with vision impairments to achieve their dream of participating in full-time TAFE or University studies in 2006.
Now in its second year, the Quantum Technology/Freedom Scientific Scholarship Program aims to assist blind and vision impaired students making the transition between either Secondary and Tertiary or TAFE and further Tertiary Studies. A total of eight scholarships were awarded for 2006 and entries were received right across Australia.
The Scholarship is in the form of JAWS for Windows Screen Reading software. JAWS (which stands for Job Access with Speech) is a highly sophisticated program, and is valued at AUD$1,700 per licence. Each scholarship will make the transition to tertiary education a little easier for our eight worthy winners.
The 2006 scholarship winners are:
For further information visit:
http://www.quantumtechnology.com.au
http://www.jotadot.com.au
http://www.mountbattenbrailler.com.au
UK-based software developer has created a number of the talking computer programmes which may be of interest. The programmes are all talking, use large fonts wherever possible and do not use the mouse. They are also self-voiced, do not require a screen reader or speech engine and run entirely from CD without any installation.
The four games include:
The games retail for £20 each (US $35 each). You can buy all 4 games on separate CDs for £60 (US $105) or all 4 games on one CD for £50 (US $90).
Further details can be found at http://www.azabat.co.uk
Natasha from Kew High School has received some early results for the SAT examinations that she recently sat, in an effort to realise her dream to study at university in the USA:
During the VCE examination period which included a seven + hour English exam, Natasha found time to do the SAT subject tests as well. Watch this space for those results and more!
Natasha is now looking forward to the challenge of preparing for study in the USA.
The NT Education Department is looking for an Education Advisor
for Vision based in Darwin and outlined on the website below. Applications are
due by Friday 2nd Dec.
http://notes.nt.gov.au/dcis/RMS.nsf/(LookupWebVacancy)/F0FAF9FEE7F61AF4E92570B9000A1F68?Opendocument
Deborah Nicholson is an integration aide who has braille skills and 10 years experience supporting brailling students. Deborah lives in the Knoxfield area is available for work in 2006 – either casual, part time or fill time. Please phone (03) 9753 3121 if you’d like to make contact with her
Lea Nagel’s student, Abbey produced her first piece of writing using her newly-learned keyboarding skills, and while discovering JAWS commands for navigating around a document and editing her work. In one session, she produced a wonderful piece of writing about the Sleepover at school. Her concentration and dedication to the multi-faceted task blew Lea away! Whoof! Abbey generously gave Lea permission to submit her piece of work to Deb at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre for publication in “The Bulletin”. Abbey has now authored a piece of writing that has been published on the Web!
What a day’s work for a great kid in year 2.
A big thank you to Deborah Young from Lalor North Secondary College for arranging with the Art teacher, Gary, for their students to make some tactual books for us.
The year 10 students, with input from Alana (VI student) have done a wonderful job. Their time, effort and creativity is greatly appreciated.
The books will be available to borrow from the Resource Centre in a few weeks time.
Thanks to Tammy Axelson, Chris Dinning, Jill Keeffe, Lea Nagel, Mike Steer for contributing to this edition of The Bulletin. Thanks also to the excellent proof-reader, stuffing and mailing that goes on behind the scenes.
Deb Lewis (who can be emailed at deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au).