The Bulletin

Statewide Vision Resource Centre

Number 19, Friday 1st December 2000

The following most excellent edition of The Bulletin was produced by Helen Caldow, Visiting Teacher, Eastern Region.

Inside This Issue

Term
 Professional Development 2000
 Date
4
Great Victorian Bike Ride
Sat 25 Nov-Sun 3 Dec
4
Christmas Drinks – Cherry Hill Tavern with SVRC Staff 
Wed 29 November
4
SVRC Mini Expo (details in Bulletin 17)
Monday 4 December
4
Braille Games Night BCA 6pm
Thursday 14 December
4
Last Day of School 2000 – Yahoo!!!
Tuesday 19 December

Visually Impaired Self Help Group Xmas Party

When: Sunday 10th December 2000
Where: 18 Morinda Cres (Cnr Sharne Crt) Doncaster East 3109
Time: 1pm till dark
BYO: meat for BBQ
Phone: 9842 5103
Please come along to the end of year get together!

SVRC Mini EXPO

A reminder that the SVRC will be holding a mini-expo in lieu of TALG on Monday the 4th of December between 9.30 and 3.30. Please invite parents, students and school staff. A variety of displays have been arranged with appropriate staff to discuss issues with. Please see the flyer in the last Bulletin. Please reply by the 27th of November.

Conductive Education Website

There is a small web site covering Conductive Education in South Australia – an intensive rehabilitation service for children and adults. Go to: www.conductive-education.com.au/.

Teacher References and Disks

Resource staff request you return any items no longer needed especially teacher references and information on disks.

Transition from School to School

Recently an AERNET query was received asking if anybody had a transition checklist for preparing a student from primary to secondary school or from sector to sector to sector. A reply arrived the same day from Maree ??? and follows.
1. Team meeting with all current and new stakeholders.
2. Access report and recommendations on new environment.
3. PD for all new staff on the implications for the student (O & M, use of technology etc.)
4. Student orientation to new environment prior to arrival.
5. Public transport orientation prior to arrival.
6. On-going services and meetings to smooth the transition.

Individual Transition Plan - Draft Only

In response to the above request an ITP follows. It is an effort to begin discussion on a suitable checklist. Please let us know what you think.

Special School Kits.

VT’s in the Eastern Region have put together a number of kits of items designed to catch the interest of multi-impaired students. They have added a range of information leaflets in a display book to have on hand visiting specialist school. Topics such as tactile defensiveness, the use of meletonin to aid sleep, Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and age appropriate activities are just some of those easily at hand.
Several articles and a sample of items have been included.

AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR MULTI-IMPAIRED STUDENTS

Basketball - Buy a mini basketball ring with suction cups from a $2 shop. Securely tie bells to the edge and / or the net. Students need to locate the ball visually before reaching for it. Modify the game according to disabilities and the level of vision.
Balloons - Suspend a balloon of an appropriate colour and size from the ceiling or from a tree branch. Students can hit the balloon with a newspaper rolled up and placed inside an old stocking.
Modified Ball Games - Many ball games can be modified. Practice tennis balls with a bell can be suspended and hit. Some students can enjoy bats with balls attached with elastic.
Board Games - Make an individual board game using commands relevant to the student (See example). Use Velcro to attach the counters. Use an extra large dice with high contrast dots.
Dominoes - Use the photocopier to enlarge dominoes. Mount on cardboard and attach velcro so that the game can be used on a felt board and / or a slant board to bring the game up close.
Playing Cards - Purchase 2 packs of large print playing cards. Keep 1 pack for regular games. Place tiny pieces of Velcro on the other set so they can be used on a felt board.

Helen Caldow has copy of a great book now out of print that details lots of card games.
Goldick, Margie, ‘Deal Me In! The Use of Playing Cards in Teaching and Learning’, Jeffrey Norton Publishers Inc., 1973.
Word Searches - Modify and simplify word searches using words relevant to the student eg. names of fellow students, popular musicians etc.
Calendar Activities - Use the Vision Australia foundation calendar, which is on A3 paper with large, bold writing to locate various days eg. “What day is the 15th?”, “ How many Mondays in June? ”

Please send in any other suggestions.

SPECIAL SCHOOL KIT #1

2 x Shakers with foil trim and tinsel in handle
**1 x Light up spinning top with string
1 x Small fishing game (8 “fish”, 2 rods ) in snap lock bag
**Pooh Bear mobile phone
2 x Key Rings (eye catchers if suspended)
1 x Bungee ball
1x Sparkle, bell ball
1 x Novelty pen (yellow duck, purple feathers)
1 x Large Print Playing cards
**1 x Zodiac torch
**1 x “Dog” torch
1 x Soap Surprise
1 x Night Light
2 x Foil whistle & 2 x Foil bows in snap lock bag
Push up, elastic jointed pink bear
Snap lock bag containing:
  2 x AA batteries
  Elastic
  Assorted bells
  Velcro
** = Requires batteries

Help for Multi-Handicapped Students

Jeni Blake has found a company that sells a variety of items designed to help children with a range of disabilities including a perspex slant board, a range of pencil grips and scissors along with computer software and books.
Copies of their catalogue available at SVRC
Co-ordinates Occupational Therapy Services
PO Box 59
West Brunswick
VIC 3055
Phone: 9380 1127 Fax: 9387 4829
www.therapybookshop.com

More Products to Catch the Attention of Multi-impaired Students

The Australian Geographic magazine has their “Big Catalogue” and website www.australiangeographic.com.au with some items you may like to suggest to some of your schools. Examples include torches, spinning tops with sound and light, interesting balls and toys on springs.

Braille Games Night

Australian Braille Authority
Please join us for nibbles, drink and a game of braille scrabble, card games or perhaps braille monopoly. Most braille games also have print, so you do not need to be a braille user to play.
Please come and socialise with other ABA members and others.
When: 14TH December 2000
Time: 6 pm
Where: BCA Meeting Room 87 High Street Prahran
Why: good company, fun and a chance to brush up on your braille skills and besides, Christmas won't be far off by then either.
Who: Please contact Sarah Galbraith ph. 9521 3400 or email on galbrsa@tblrvib.rvib.org.au
Leona Holloway ph. 9521 3400 or email on hollole@tblrvib.rvib.org.au

Accessing ‘The Age’ newspaper on the Web

A good way for some vision impaired students to access a newspaper is by going to www.theage.com.au. The display can be enlarged by using the “View” menu, then increase/decrease font or Ctrl [or Ctrl ] until the appropriate size is found. A print copy is also available which spreads across the whole page rather than in newspaper columns. Alternatively, copy the article into “Word” then edit or change the font or print size. Archives are included on this site.

For Sale

Perkins Brailler and Slimline

These items are for sale either separately or together. Price negotiable.
Please contact Pam Hyden on 02 607 621 32

Telesensory Aladdin Personal Reader ALJA

Patricia Gundish is interested in selling this 2 year old Personal Reader for $2500 ($1000 off retail price) ONO.
Phone 9592 4446.

Blind Runner

Lillian has alerted us to an interesting article from “Who” magazine about a blind runner who competed at the Olympic games against her sighted opponents. This is worth filing away for those times your students (or you) need some inspiration! Copies available at SVRC.

Working Together? – Thoughts on the relationship between professionals and the family.

Summary of an article by Steve Redfern in Eye Contact RNIB Summer 2000
Thanks to Kay McQualter
‘Professionals should get to know the extent of each family they work with and accept it.’
Meeting the family’s needs ‘requires a knowledge of other agencies and professionals working with the family’.
‘The hallmark of practice of these professionals (the ones thought highly of by families) was that they had treated the family with respect and dignity and acknowledged the uniqueness of that family.’ (Carpenter 1997 p16).
The article emphasises the importance of being aware of the demands put on the family by various professionals and how these affect the family in different ways at different times, as well as the importance of professionals working together.
The needs of the family and the child may change over time, particularly if the child has multiple disabilities – ‘the level of functional vision may change and the needs in other areas increase’.
‘Partnership between agencies and professionals’ is just as important as partnership with parents.
This article serves as a reminder that while we, as VT’s, may be emphasising, for example, the importance of the child wearing his/her glasses, the parents may be dealing with multiple other issues such as trying to obtain more respite, obtaining a long overdue new wheelchair, coping with increasing difficulties in relation to caring for a child who has grown and is not as easy to care for as when he/she was little, while at the same time dealing with a multitude of government agencies, doctors, appointments, meetings and changing support services and personnel. While we engage in recommending what would be of benefit and is important for the child re his/her vision needs, we do need to remain aware of the impact of other things the family is dealing with, treat them with respect and acknowledge their viewpoint.
Other articles in this edition include:

Spectronics: The Empowering Students Series 2000

A series of practical demonstration sessions that will give you and your colleagues a chance to see some of our most popular software packages in action. Get ready for 2001!
You are and your colleagues are invited to attend

A Series of Presentations at the following schools

Wednesday 6 December 2000
Concord School 411 Grimshaw St Bundoora Melways: 20 C1
Creating Talking Books and Resources - 101 ideas! Time: 1.00-3.30pm
101 Ideas and Strategies in using Symbol Processing Software. Time: 4.00-6.30 p.m.
Thursday 7 December 2000
Vermont South Special School, Livingstone Rd, Vermont South Melways: 62 G6
101 Ideas for using Boardmaker and Additional Packs! Time: 1.00-3.30pm
101 Ideas and Strategies in using Writing with Symbols 2000. Time: 4.00-6.30 p.m.
Friday 8 December 2000
Sunshine SDS, Ivory Court, Sunshine West Melways: 40 E5
Creating Switch Software and Slide Shows Time: 9.00-11.00 a.m.
Creating Talking Books and Resources - 101 ideas! Time: 11.30-1.30pm
101 Ideas and Strategies in using Writing with Symbols 2000. Time: 2.00-4.00 p.m.
Wednesday 13 December 2000
Kalianna Special School, Nolan St Bendigo
Creating Talking Books and Resources - 101 ideas! Time: 12.30-3.00pm
101 Ideas and Strategies in using Writing with Symbols 2000. Time: 4.00-6.00 p.m.
Thursday 14 December 2000
Traralgon SDS, Hickox St, TRARALGON
101 Ideas for using Boardmaker and Additional Packs! Time: 1.00-3.30pm
101 Ideas and Strategies in using Writing with Symbols 2000. Time: 4.00-6.30 p.m.

Software titles that will be demonstrated in the four sessions include:

Target age group: Students in mainstream (Primary and Secondary) and special settings as well as older clients and adult learners in Day Training Centres
Audience: Speech Pathologists, Teachers and aides, Occupational and other Therapists, parents, carers, adult trainers
Costs: $44.00 for 1 participant (from the same school/setting, $77 for 2, $99 for 3 participants (includes GST)
The Presenter: Gerry Kennedy Dip.T., B.Ed., M. Ent. Innov, is a computer consultant in education. Gerry has had 20 years experience in computing in both mainstream and special schools, with particular expertise in the area of assistive technologyfor people with special needs. He has conducted over three hundred and fifty hundred professional development sessions for primary and secondary schools in how to co-ordinate, resource and effectively use Information Technology in schools over the past 15 years.
For more information and to request session flyers with booking information, demonstrations outlines, costs and school venue details, Fax (03) 9894 4936 or email specmelb@bigpond.net.au/. For session overviews, also check our web site at http://www.soectronicsinoz.com/spectronics as well. We look forward to seeing you there!

‘In the Drivers’ Seat’

Does your legally blind student want the opportunity to drive a car at Sandown Motor Circuit? The annual ‘In the Drivers’ Seat’ event, sponsored by Lions Club will again be held on Sunday March 18, 2001. It sounds like it will be quite a day with a free BBQ all day, free tea and coffee, vintage cars, motor bikes and the Royal Australian Army Band.
But there’s a catch! You have to book in NOW! Places are already limited – times available include 9am to 9.30 am or after 2.00pm.
Call Peter Watts on 9844 3903 and listen to the recorded message. You will be asked to nominate a preferred time and leave your details including: If there are no times available when you call, you may be put on a waiting list and notified at a later date.
You can come for a while or all day – participants can also take a motorbike ride (pillion) from 12 noon.

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Web page editor Lyn Robinson. Last updated December 2000
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