The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Denise Probert (Visiting Teacher, Northern Metropolitan Region) and Deb Lewis (Statewide Vision Resource Centre).

Inside This Issue

- Professional Development
- Space Camp Reunion
- Mountbatten Day Report
- SVRC in the News
- Purchasing Laptops
- Texts on CD-ROM
- Technology for Independent Living
- Home Made Xmas Idea
- Snippets from Link Magazine, SPEVI News and OnLine Newsletter
- Guide Dogs Programs and Xmas Party
- The Story of Louis Braille
- Resilience
- VT Jobs, CATS and Supervision, Excursions, VT Association
- Funding Submissions
- Wanted to Buy, Sell and Please Return
- Student and Community News
- LVC - First Appointments
- Support Skills for 2003 - Pick Your Subjects!

SVRC Professional Development 2002

Professional Development 2002

SVRC Toolkit - Friday 7 February (morning)
SVRC New Visiting Teacher PD Day - Thursday 20 February
SVRC Visiting Teacher PD Day - Friday 21 February
SVRC Educational Support for Brailling Students - Tuesday 11 March
SVRC Educational Support for Students with Low Vision - Monday 24 March
SVRC Educational Support for Vision Impaired Students with Additional Impairments - Wednesday 7 May
SVRC Visiting Teacher PD Day - Tuesday 10 June
SVRC Visiting Teacher PD Day - Friday 1 August
SPEVI Combined Agencies day - Monday 6 October
SVRC EXPO - Tuesday 2 December

We also plan to host a wide variety of hands-on half-day workshops including:
- Dr Naturally Speaking
- GT-Calc
- JAWS
- Mountbatten - beginners in the morning and users in the afternoon
- Orientation and Mobility for Visiting Teachers, integration aides and parents
- ZoomText

Do you have a suggestion for another workshop activity? Please call Deb Lewis on 9841 0242.

Please Note
SVRC activities are open to: VTs, integration staff (teachers and aides), class and subject teachers, therapists, parents, students and interested members of school communities.

Costs (including GST and a light lunch) for the activities are as follows:
Full day: Visiting Teachers - $20.00; All others - $30.00
Half day: Visiting Teachers - $13.50; All others - $17.50
Half day workshops are generally free (lunch may be pre-ordered for $5.00)

Space Camp Reunion

by Lea Nagel

The Space Camp reunion at Sofia's Pizza Restaurant was a great success. Sherry Cunningham invited all students who have ever attended Space Camp from RVIB and the Department of Education & Training, as well as Visiting Teachers and family members. Sherry, Hilary, Jeni, Deb and Lea represented the chaperones. From a possible twenty-nine students, twenty-one Space Campers arrived, which was a terrific turnout. Some travelled by train independently from the country, some met in the city and came to Camberwell on the train, and others brought their parents. (Any Orientation and Mobility instructors reading this probably ought to pat themselves on the backs: the kids' independent travel skills were excellent!)

The kids all seemed really pleased to see each other, and had lots to talk about, huddling in big groups, with the experiences of the world in common. Some shared their photo albums, bringing back memories of their big adventure.

The parents were able to compare notes about their experiences as well. Some missed their children, and others enjoyed the tranquillity at home. Some of the parents were very impressed with the newfound confidence and independence that their children had found in themselves during the trip.

Our restaurant reunion was really enjoyable and a good time to reflect again on the benefits of such a fantastic adventure, made possible by the hard work and organisation of many people in the United States of America and staff in Melbourne, Australia.

Photo below: RVIB student Sam and DE&T student Kat quickly became good friends at Space Camp - they loved catching up with each other at the reunion.

Mountbatten Brailler Training Day - 25th November

Visiting teachers and integration aides from Melbourne & Bendigo braved severe thunderstorms to attend beginner & advanced MB sessions at the SVRC with Trevor Boyd of Quantum Technology! We learnt the differences between the various models & software upgrades of the Mountbatten; & how to convert the braille editing program Monty into enlarged format for Print/Braille users. Many trial products including JAWS & Magic were available from Trevor on CD-ROM. Don't forget December 9th @ SVRC for more products & displays at the Technology Seminars.

Odette floated the exciting idea of having a children's Mountbatten Day @ SVRC next year where all our young MB users can get together to improve their literacy & encourage each other to improve their technical skills!

SVRC in the News

An article appeared on page 32 of the 15 November 2002 edition of the Herald Sun describing production of the VCE examinations in braille by the Statewide Vision Resource Centre. It notes that eighteen subjects were brailled this year for students studying units 3/4 subjects (year 12) and that each paper is proof read between three and five times. Examinations with diagrams have written descriptions provided by examiners. This year there were 76,000 VCE students, eight of whom required brailled papers. A copy of the article is attached to the print edition of The Bulletin.

Care When Purchasing New Laptops for Kids

Trevor Boyd from Quantum Technology reports some interesting changes to new laptops, which could present advantages or disadvantages for students with vision impairments. He notes that some laptops come with video output and a DVD player - the advantage of this is that the student can plug their computer into their large screen television at home and watch the latest DVD.

However, some laptops are now coming WITHOUT a serial port. This may well be a disadvantage for those wishing to attach peripherals such as the Mountbatten, external mouse etc.

When recommending or purchasing a laptop for kids - really think about what the student may wish to do with it - and then ask lots of questions! Don't assume that the laptop will just come with all the things that might be useful…

Texts on CD-ROM

Thanks to folks who brought in requests for books on CD-ROM. Certainly, several publishers make available their texts on CD-ROM and these are available for purchase - often cheaper than the purchase price of the print version. Unfortunately, on the whole, locating CD-ROMs on publisher's websites is a slow and complex process - you might achieve success quicker by phoning.

A+ Publishing do not provide their texts on CD-ROM but will supply them on request as a pdf file for students with vision impairments. Requests must be made via an alternative format agency such as the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.

Addison Wesley Longman / Pearson Education Australia produce some titles in CD-ROM format which can be purchased. They will supply CD-ROM versions on request as a pdf file for students with vision impairments. Requests must be made via an alternative format agency such as the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.

Heinemann / Rigby sell CD-ROMs of some of their newer titles separately, or as a 'student pack' consisting of the print book with the CD-ROM.

Go to: www.hi.com.au and then to 'bookstore' then 'search'. Make sure you have checked the box that says 'electronic products' and then type your title in the box and hit Enter. A Maths text may sell for around $40 for the CD-ROM or $50 for the print book with the CD-ROM (student pack). There is also a range of early readers such as the Story Box series, and these cost around $40-$50 per title.

John Wiley / Jacaranda Press sell several of their titles with a CD-ROM, but the CD-ROM is not available separately. They will, however, supply CD-ROM versions on request as a pdf file for students with vision impairments. Requests must be made via an alternative format agency such as the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.

Go to: www.jaconline.com.au and then to 'catalogue' and enter the subject and year level information in the dialogue boxes to check on availability.

Macmillan Publishers Australia have found that CD-ROMs are not widely used, and now produce CD-ROMs of text books at the request of particular schools. They will also supply them on request as a pdf file for students with vision impairments. Requests must be made via an alternative format agency such as the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.

Technology for Independent Living

Sometimes we need some technology or a piece of furniture to solve a problem for our students but we cannot find the "right" product in any catalogues. TADVIC is a volunteer organization which takes on the challenge of product design. The only cost is re-imbursement for travel & materials.

They publish a biannual magazine (available @ SVRC), with case studies of successful solutions, such as customized computer work stations and wheelchair modifications. Their metro contact number is (03) 9853 8655.

Home Made Christmas Idea

Source: SPEVI NEWS October 2001

Make your own Wikki Stix! Using an old double boiler or an old tin can sitting in a pot of water, melt equal amounts of paraffin wax with toilet sealant (available at hardware stores). To make coloured sticks, melt crayon shavings into the wax mixture. The melted wax has to be kept quite warm as you work with it, as it will harden as it cools. When the mixture is melted, cut lengths of string and dip them into the mixture. Lay them to dry on wax paper. When they have cooled, you can bend them into shapes and reuse them just like the commercially made Wikki Stix.

For busy people, Wikki Stix can also be purchased at:

- Windmill 591 Whitehorse Rd Mont Albert Tel 9830 4336
- VisEquip 201 High St Prahran 3181 Tel (03) 9520 5588

Snippets from the October 2002 Issue of Link Magazine

The Siblings of Children with Special Needs

Siblings (Wakefield Press, 2002) by Kate Strohm, is reviewed by A. Skinner. This book contains relevant case-studies & useful strategies. Siblings can sometimes feel ignored but they have special needs of their own to be valued, to have their own support networks, to feel competent and able to influence events, to have their feelings acknowledged and to be seen as a support person.

Accessibility website

www.accessibility.com.au is a joint initiative of the federal government & the Accessibility Foundation. It conforms to international guidelines for ease of access & contains government legislation, a discussion database & links to other disability websites.

Downloadable publications mentioned in SPEVI NEWS

May 2002 issue:

Quotes the SEE/HEAR journal of Winter 2002 where DB-LINK is mentioned as a useful website from which publications on the deaf-blind can be downloaded.

Go to: www.tr.wosc.osshe.edu/DBLINK/products.htm

September 2002 issue: WordWeb - free English thesaurus & dictionary

Reviewed by T. McMahon. This dictionary & thesaurus file sounds very useful to the partially sighted and people who use computers with speech software. It is a 5MB file that you can use alone or link to your Microsoft Word program. Available from: www.wordweb.info/free

Adaptive Technology Services of Queensland OnLine Newsletter

Many of you may have previously used hardcopies of the newsletters & disks of shareware provided by this Queensland Department of Education service @ SVRC. Great products include the Biggy & Fat cursors now downloaded onto the VT Toolkit. Well this newsletter, which has been published since 1984, has literally gone to an online format this year & is now available to all! You can subscribe to it yourself by emailing the Low Incidence Unit (LIU@qed.qld.gov.au) and putting "Subscribe to OnLine Newsletter" in the subject heading.

Issue No. 5

Reprints an article where J. Judd-Wall describes how he uses the Picture Exchange Communication System with Intellikeys in Texas. P.E.C.S. is used to develop students' social behaviours, particularly helping students with autism to problem solve and switch between activities.

Guide Dogs Victoria Programs 2003

City Limits (January 6 - 10)

The City Limits program will offer Orientation and Mobility sessions in and around the Melbourne Central Business District.
The focus will be on:

- Gaining a broad understanding of what it is like to travel in a busy city area
- Familiarization to the major features of the Melbourne CBD layout
- Encouraging independent and safe future travel in the Melbourne CBD
- Using major landmarks to aid independent and safe travel
- Map-reading activities and challenges
- Understanding and using the public transport system
- Self-advocacy skills
- Money-handling skills

Participants will also have the opportunity to develop and extend their Daily Living Skills by working with our Occupational Therapist. The recreational activities will be varied and enjoyable and they may include visiting major shopping and restaurant precincts, sporting venues, parks and other recreation venues in and around Melbourne CBD. We would also like students to plan and participate in activities that will be challenging and beyond their typical experiences. This is an opportunity to share learning experiences and challenges with other students with a vision impairment.

Stepping Out Program (January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27)

The Children's Mobility Service is offering students who have completed their secondary schooling the opportunity to participate in a new program based at the Guide Dog Campus in Kew. The program will be held each Thursday for a period over five consecutive weeks on January 30, February 6, 13, 20 and 27. Each day will commence at 9.30am and finish at 3.00pm.

The program will include:

- Orientation and Mobility skills for young adults
- Accessing employment services and workplace modifications
- Independent living skills for young adults
- Exploring and accessing further education opportunities
- Learning about the role of a Disability Liaison Officer at a tertiary institution

Please contact Dean via email on dean.j@guidedogs.asn.au or on 9854 4506 to register for the program or to find out more information.

VCE Weekend (March 21, 22, 23)

Guide Dogs Victoria will host VCE Weekend for students in years 10-12 on Friday March 21, Saturday March 22 and Sunday March 23. The program is based at the Guide Dog Campus in Kew.

As usual, there is no charge for the program but students may need to bring a little spending money in case there is an outing.
Discussion sessions will include:

- Making VCE special arrangements work for you
- Working effectively with your exam supervisor
- Special arrangements available to you
- Educational issues for students with a vision impairment
- Exam techniques

Junior Program (April 14 - 17)

A four day, three night program focussing on a particular Orientation and Mobility skill area and related recreation activities and challenges. The program is based at the Guide Dogs Centre in Kew.

Senior Program (July 7 - 11)

A five day, four night program based in a rural region. The venue for 2003 program is yet to be decided but previous programs have been based in Bright and Halls Gap. The program offers students a range of Orientation and Mobility challenges and recreation opportunities in a new environment.

Junior Program (September 22 - 25)

A four day, three night program focussing on a particular Orientation and Mobility skill area and related recreation activities and challenges. The program is based at the Guide Dogs Victoria Centre in Kew

Big Night Out Programs

These group programs are run throughout the year and are suitable for senior students wishing to experience travel in the Melbourne CBD after hours. All programs have an Orientation and Mobility component and are designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn about travelling safely and confidently at night.

Dates for the Big Night Out Programs will be advertised in the Children's Mobility Service Newsletter and Statewide Vision Resource Centre Newsletter throughout the year.

Sydney Program

The aim of this exciting and challenging program is to provide six students with an experience travelling in the unfamiliar and dynamic environment of central Sydney. The program would suit students who are working towards advanced O&M goals.
Dates for the program will be confirmed early in 2003.

Regional Programs

Following the successful Regional Programs held in North Eastern Victoria in September 2002, they will again be offered in 2003.

Dates and venues for these programs will be advertised in the Children's Mobility Service Newsletter and Statewide Vision Resource Centre Newsletter throughout the year.

Please contact Dean via email on dean.j@guidedogs.asn.au or on 9854 4506 to find out more information.

Guide Dogs XMAS Party & Kris Kringle

The annual Guide Dogs Victoria Christmas event is for students, aides, parents & teachers on December 17th. Don't forget to RSVP to Dean on 9854 4506.

The Story of Louis Braille by Jan McPherson (available in braille @ SVRC)

Did you know that Louis Braille invented braille when he was 15 & still at boarding school, basing it on a tactile secret code that French soldiers used to communicate with at night. He was banned from writing braille by the school principal, but like students today, he and his friends kept on writing & passing their notes in secret. When eventually appointed principal of his old school Louis had the power to teach his new system of writing to all the students and have the school's tactile library expanded from its 12 books. Thus started the world-wide revolution in communication for the blind.

The Festive Season

The guest editor (Denise) was shocked to spot her first Xmas decorated house of the season when driving in Doncaster on Cup Day (November 5th). Thought house decorating was supposed to start at least after the sacred Spring Racing Carnival?

Resilience

Below are the next in a series around the subject of resilience and was provided by Sandra Groves, Psychologist, Statewide Vision Resource Centre.

Resilience - Protective Factors that Enhance Resilience

Resilience is "the ability to bungy jump through the pitfalls of life. Even when hardship and adversity arise, it is as if the person has an elasticised rope around them that helps them to rebound when things get low, and to maintain their shape as a person." Andrew Fuller (1998).

1. A sense of belonging at school
2. A relationship with at least one competent, caring adult.
3. Positive social behaviours and problem-solving skills.
4. A sense of spiritual and communal belonging.
5. Strong family relationships and minimal family stress.
6. Peer connectedness.

Developmental Tasks of Adolescence

1. Achieving newer and more mature relations with both sexes.
2. Achieving a masculine or feminine role.
3. Accepting one's physique and using the body effectively.
4. Achieving emotional independence of parents and other adults.
5. Achieving some assurance of economic independence.
6. Selecting and preparing for an occupation.
7. Preparing for marriage and family life.
8. Developing intellectual skills and concepts necessary for civic competence.
9. Desiring and achieving socially responsible behaviour.
10. Acquiring a set of values and an ethical system as a guide to behaviour.

Source: Havighurst (1953) in P. Slee (1993) Child, Adolescent And Family Development

Victorian VT Jobs

Congratulations to all the visiting teachers who yet again survived to keep their jobs in what has become the tiring annual application process in D.E. & T.

VCE Test CATS

Thanks to all the visiting teachers and SVRC staff who supervised Year 12 students undertaking exams under special conditions. Thanks to all their visiting teachers & SVRC staff for the hard work you have done to support these students during the year.

Special Conditions for Exams - a Survey

St Edmunds School & Renwick College in NSW conducted a survey recently into the types of conditions requested for exams for vision impaired students. They will be making recommendations from the collated responses. For further information contact: vision@stedmunds.nsw.edu.au

Excursions

The excursion season is in full swing. Outings are planned to a Bowling alley in the Eastern region, to Smorgy's restaurant for the Northern & Western regions and to a Bowling alley for the Northern region.

North and Western Visiting Teacher Association (a three stream organization)

Are holding their break-up dinner & Kris Kringle @ a restaurant (yet to be finalised) in the Northern suburbs December 4th. Contact Sandra Pizi 9416 8915 for details.

Funding Submissions

Around the last week in December school principals should receive their copy of the school's global budget funding. This lengthy document will tell the school which students have been funded under the Disabilities and Impairments program, and at what level. Also there is usually the attachment application form for partially sighted students on the Visiting Teacher Service for the Vision Impaired to apply for communication equipment (closing approximately the first Friday in February).

To assist those making submissions, several quotes will be available from the SVRC - one for a basic laptop and one suitable for students requiring assistive technology such as JAWS etc.

Wanted to Buy

Helen Hunter is also looking for anyone who is willing to sell a good second-hand Perkins Brailler. Please call the SVRC if this is you.

Wanted to Sell

I have heard of several people making purchases of braille related equipment such as braillers via the Ebay website. I believe that some items have a listed price and others are auctioned over a period of time. Purchasers pay the delivery price. Go to: www.ebay.com

Pleeeeez Return

Some time ago, someone borrowed our lovely photo board with pictures of Space Camp - we would REALLY like it returned. The same goes for our lovely video about PE and Recreation produced in Western Australia. Pleeeeez can you look for them and return ASAP.

A Reminder for Book Orders 2003

Please get your students purchasing the texts on their school booklists very soon if they will need to be reproduced in braille, large print or in electronic/tape format, so we can start producing them for you! Orders for green lined paper need to be in ASAP as well.

Please Return Resources from 2002

It's that time again! Please return your senior students' resources ASAP, so that we can recycle them for next year's VCE students to begin to study their set texts over the summer holidays.

Empty your car boot, scour the schools' bookshelves, & ask the students to search their lockers and … their untidy bedrooms! (To find all those books, tapes, games, low vision aids etc. that were borrowed during the year). We are in the process of transferring our catalogue of resources onto a new borrowing system. This will run on new software developed by Kevin Blazé that will soon be able to do amazing things to present informative reports about you and your students' history of borrowings. So please help us to make this as accurate as possible by returning items and updating the data in your records.

Student News

Chad from Colac, whose whole community has rallied around him in his quest to buy a new BrailleNote, has made it! Supporters of his cause included his high school and the local primary school as well as local business, service organisations and private donors. Congratulations to Chad and to Visiting Teacher Lynne Murdoch for their efforts in fund raising!

Nic from Bendigo (also Space Camper - 1999 and 2000) has been studying Astronomy, Physics and Maths at Monash University this year. His marks for first semester were 3 High Distinctions and a Distinction. He expects his semester 2 marks to be similar. Excellent!

Bry from Glen Waverley (also Space Camper 2001) was awarded the Mulgrave Country Club Scholarship for 2002 of $500 in recognition of her enthusiasm and leadership. A well-deserved award!

Kyle from Edithvale looks great in the local paper - the Mordialloc-Chelsea Leader on 11 November 2002. It was Kyle's first trip overseas and he commented, "A lot of people who work at NASA have sight impairments so it was interesting to hear about their experiences." Kyle also said that the trip was a "dream come true" and encouraged other visually impaired students to apply. "It was an experience of a lifetime and I would love to do it again," he said. "Not only did I have a lot of fun but it was also educational."

VT Needed

Beveridge PS, located on the Hume Hwy between Craigieburn, Wallen and Kilmore, has a young student who requires the support of a Visiting Teacher. Contact Sandra McIntyre on 9745 2264.

Community News

The following information appeared in the 19th November 2002 edition of MX News under the heading 'Boring but Important': "Blind massage therapists in Seoul demand a crackdown on illegal masseurs. South Korea gives massage licences only to the blind as part of its welfare policy."

Low Vision Clinic - First Appointments

Just a reminder that a recent ophthalmological review is required for students attending the Low Vision Clinic for their first appointment.

Guest Editors Note

Guest editing is recommended for creating the opportunity to read the variety of interesting professional literature that comes into the SVRC daily!

And from Deb

Thanks a k-zillion to Denise for her most excellent editorial contribution to this edition of The Bulletin. Denise is a regular contributor of items to The Bulletin, which as the editor of over 200 editions, is much appreciated!

Wish Us Luck

By the time you receive this edition of The Bulletin, Jeni Blake, Deb Lewis and two intrepid kids will be riding towards home on the Great Victorian Bike Ride. The ride will take us almost from the South Australian border through Casterton, Hamilton, Halls Gap, Stawell, Maryborough, Daylesford, Hanging Rock and Sunbury. For city or country students, VTs or families who want to drop in and say 'gidday', please call and leave a message on Jeni's mobile which will be checked daily (0428 134 660).

Don't they say, 'What doesn't kill us makes us stronger'?

Support Skills Subjects

Is your student enrolling in the RVIB Support Skills Program for 2003? If so, you will be receiving a subject list next week. Please complete and return ASAP.

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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