This issue was edited by Marion Blazé, Education Officer, Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
For the complete list of 2006 activities and where available downloadable programs, go to: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/pd2006.htm
All activities offered by the SVRC are open to class and 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
We already have confirmation of the following organization (in no particular order!) being at our Expo: Quantum Technologies, Equipment Solutions (Vision Australia), Humanware, VisTech (Vision Australia), Blind Sports Victoria, Blind Citizens Australia, Micro Marvellous, Guide Dogs Victoria, Vision Australia Library, Bolinda Audio Books and IBS Audio Visuals (Mimio). It looks like being a very busy week!
In 2007 staff of the Statewide Vision Resource Centre aim to concentrate on ‘the Expanded Core Curriculum’ for students with vision impairments.
The Expanded Core Curriculum reflects the theory that students with vision impairments are attending to two curriculum components during their schooling.
The first (the CORE CURRICULUM) parallels the regular curriculum – in Victoria accommodated through the eight ‘key learning areas’. The second (the EXPANDED CORE CURRICULUM) addresses the unique and specialised needs of learners with vision impairments and is the scaffolding upon which access to the core curriculum is based.
The ‘expanded core curriculum’ encompasses the following:
Professional development activities for 2007 will address the Expanded Core Curriculum. To see the calendar of activities for the remainder of 2006 and for 2007 and to download programs, please go to: http://www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au/pd2007.htm or see the list of activities for 2007 attached to the print copy of this Bulletin.
Frances Gentle would like to invite you to comment on her “blog”, which forms part of the ICEVI (International Council on Education of the Vision Impaired) Pacific Region website. Frances writes, ‘I had never expected to become a “blogger” in the course of my natural life. I think the challenge for me will be to write things that are of interest to others and inspire comments. Therefore, I invite you to have a look at my latest “Blog offerings”, and send a comment.’
See: http://www.icevipacific.org.au/blog.php
Dear JVIB Reader: The October 2006 issue of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) is live online! You may access the issue by logging in to your subscription at http://www.afb.org/jvib/jvib0010toc.asp. This month, JVIB begins a dialogue with you, its readers, as it explores the impact of ‘No Child Left Behind’ - a law that has had a profound impact on all schools, teachers, and students, not least, children with visual impairments. The Special Focus on Education includes a Comment by Frances Mary D'Andrea that describes the positive goals of the law, while also raising substantive concerns about its impact; and a Speaker's Corner by Kay Ferrell and Sharon Sacks that asks: Should teachers of visually impaired students be considered "highly qualified" teachers or "providers of related services"?
Also featured are Issue Briefs written by fellows of the National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment, with an introduction by Jane Erin and Mark Richert. The purpose of the Issue Briefs is to emphasize key points concerning the education of visually impaired students and to present information in a concise format that is appropriate for presentation to people in policy-making positions (such as state and district agency administrators or legislators and their staff members).
Readers are encouraged to respond to the Special Focus on Education by visiting the JVIB message board, http://www.afb.org/jvib_message_board.asp, to engage in an online discussion. Also included in this month's issue are two articles that explore the use of dual learning media with school-aged children, and examine delays in the development of gross motor skills of congenitally blind children.
Articles:
Source: Australian BrailleNote Update, Spring and Summer 2006
There are now a small number of both human read and computer generated titles available from Gutenberg in MP3 format. The Sherlock Holmes series is particularly good. Go to: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:The_Audio_Books_Project
A British website has free downloadable ICT resources, including a magnification program called ‘iZoom’. Go to http://assist-it.org.uk
Thanks to Frances Gentle (via Mike Steer) for this advice.
Source: Australian BrailleNote Update, Spring and Summer 2006
The Concise Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus is now available for the BrailleNote. Features include:
The Dictionary and Thesaurus will work whilst in the Internet Browser, the
Book Reader or Word Processor.
For further information, go to:
http://www.humanware.com/Products/Notetakers/ConciseOxfordForKeySoft.asp
To order or make enquiries call (02) 9686 2600 or email au.sales@humanware.com.
Trevor Boyd has a retired client who wishes to sell his Clearview. It’s a Clearview Star with 17” CRT monitor and is about 3 years old and in excellent working order. It is (worth $3500 new) and is selling for about $1000. If interested, contact Trevor on 9545 4100.
All applications for this funding will be made online from the beginning of 2007. School Principals have been informed of these procedures.
Comprehensive step-by-step guides on submitting an application, processing pupil movements and recording the details of Program Support Group meetings are available at the Student Wellbeing PSDMS website: www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/wellbeing/disabil/psdmsinfo.htm
This website provides schools with a range of support materials and can be accessed via the Home Page on PSDMS.
For applications received by mail before 5 February 2007, schools will be notified of the outcomes prior to 28 February 2007 (Census Day).
Outcomes of applications lodged by mail between 5 February and 28 February 2007 will be sent to schools before the end of Term 1, 2007.
Processing pupil movements via PSDMS has now replaced the previous method of sending Pupil Movement Notices to Regional Offices. This allows more accurate and immediate tracking of pupil movements between schools. For more information see Quick Reference Guide – Processing Pupil Movements.
If you began this process while PSDMS was offline, please log on to the system to confirm the enrolment(s).
Where a student is exiting the Victorian government school system, schools are required to follow the steps outlined in the Pupil Movement Quick Reference Guide.
For any assistance using the PSDMS please contact the DE&T Service Desk:
Phone: 1800 641 943
Fax: 1800 672 148
Website: http://servicedesk.education.vic.gov.au/infraprod/infraEnterprise.dll?form=lite
For further information please contact your regional officer:
Barwon South Western taylor.andrew.m@edumail.vic.gov.au
5272 8300
Grampians carrington.laura.l@edumail.vic.gov.au
5337 8444
Loddon Mallee brown.carol.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
5440 3111
Hume fletcher.wendy.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
5761 2100
Gippsland stuart.nicola.s@edumail.vic.gov.au
/ fearnley.ann.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
5127 0400
Eastern Metropolitan mckeown.marilyn.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
9881 0200
Western Metropolitan baker.judith.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
9291 6500
Southern Metropolitan flight.joanne.e@edumail.vic.gov.au
9794 3555
Northern Metropolitan jones.alison.g@edumail.vic.gov.au
9488 9488
A large print invitation is attached to print copies of this Bulletin. The event is on Wednesday, November 29. 2006. Find out more at www.visionaustralia.org.au
Please make sure you return all resources to the SVRC before the end of the year. This includes all braille and large print books, audio tapes and CDs, but also all equipment like braillers, cassette players, reading stands, low vision aids, etc. Equipment from the SVRC is in short supply and is for SHORT TERM LOAN ONLY (i.e. three months max!). If students find they needs this type of equipment, they or schools need to purchase them. The Resource Centre has a critical shortage of braillers at the moment, so if you know of any in schools which should be returned, now is the time. After all, we will all need to be learning new braille stuff with the new UEB!
Chandler Secondary College in Keysborough is looking for an Integration Aide. Go to the Department of Education and Training employment website for more information. (This news via Jeni Blake.)
Thanks to Deb Lewis, Lyn Robinson, Lillian Adler, Frances Gentle, Lea Nagel, Trevor Boyd, Jeni Blake and Faye Squires for contributing to this edition of The Bulletin. Thanks also to my fabulous proof-readers, stuffers and mailers.
Marion Blazé (who can be emailed at marionblaze@svrc.vic.edu.au).