Statewide Vision Resource Centre
Number 2 Friday 11th February 2000
Inside This Issue
Please note that the cost to Visiting Teachers for the Braille, Low Vision and Additional Impairments days will be $12 (to cover lunch and paper work etc). The cost for other participants
eg class and subject teachers, parents etc will be $25.00. The cost for the VT – PD day next Friday is $15. Thank you.
More copies of Braille Day and Low Vision Day programs are included
with this Bulletin for Visiting Teachers. Please register yourself and
your schools for these programs as soon as you can. Please remember the
evening presentation and dinner with Professor Alan Johnson – Monday 6
March from 5.30pm at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
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Visiting Teacher PD Day | Friday 18 February |
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Braille Day | Monday 6 March |
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SPEVI Evening Discussion and Catered Dinner
– 5.30pm
Statewide Vision Resource Centre |
Monday 6 March |
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Low Vision Day – Supporting Students with Low Vision in the Classroom | Friday 24 March |
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SPEVI Evening Discussion and Dinner | Monday 1 May |
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Mountbatten Users’ Discussion Group | Wednesday 3 May |
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TALG – Technical Aids Liaison Group | Fri-Sat 5-6 May |
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Counselling Skills for Visiting Teachers
– Geoff Bowen
2 or 3 half days during term 2 |
TBA |
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Combined Visiting Teacher Conference – Daylesford | Sun-Mon 14-15 May |
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Round Table Conference | 21 – 23 May |
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Supporting Vision Impaired Students with Additional Impairments in the Classroom | Friday 2 June |
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Visiting Teacher PD Day | Friday 9 June |
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Visiting Teacher PD Day | Friday 11 August |
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SPEVI Evening Discussion and Dinner | Monday 21 August |
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Combined Agencies Networking Day – St Paul’s School | Monday 2 October |
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Mountbatten Users’ Discussion Group | Monday 23 October |
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SPEVI Evening Discussion and Christmas Drinks | Monday 13 November |
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Visiting Teacher Professional Development Day | Monday 4 December |
Forms 2000
Visiting Teachers will find their annual swag of forms for everything they could possibly require and more!!! There are forms for requesting materials in alternative format – braille, large print, audio tape, disk, green-lined paper; Learning Media Assessment (print size); Low Vision Clinic; O&M (from Guide Dogs Association and RVIB); EVAC; Reading Stands and anything else we can think of before this Bulletin goes to print!!! Happy referring!
Student Results and News
We were lucky enough to secure the services of Paul Jennings, author of many popular titles including ‘Quirky Tails’, the ‘Gizmo’ books, ‘Unbearable!’ and other ‘Un-’ titles, as our promised ‘award winning judge’. A prize of $50 goes to the winning writers listed below:
Prep to Year 2: Jesse from Southern Region (VT – Louise Cooper)
Year 3 – 6: Michelle from Loddon Campaspe Mallee Region (VT – Kirsty Jungwirth)
Year 7 – 9: Luke from Southern Region (VT – Rita Farrelly)
Year 10 – 12: No entries received
Paul Jennings found the entries imaginative and colourful and congratulated the students on their work. He also encouraged the students to keep writing. He has provided the winning students with autographed comments on their work!
The students’ work will soon be on display at the Statewide Vision Resource Centre for all to see! All participating students will be sent a certificate of recognition. We thank all the students for their contributions which were of a very high standard.
Paul has again agreed to be the judge of our 2000 competition. Details will be available in term 3.
VCE 2000 – June Written Cat Timetable
Each examination and GAT commences with a 15-minute reading period which is included in the times shown below. The November examination timetable will be published for schools in term 2. The November examination period begins on Friday 27 October and concludes of Friday 17 November. Source: VCE Administrative Handbook 2000, page 18.
Psychology Exam 1: Tuesday 13 June 9.00am-10.45am
Chemistry Exam 1: Tuesday 13 June 11.45am-1.30pm
Accounting Exam 1: Tuesday 13 June 2.45pm-4.30pm
Biology Exam 1: Wednesday 14 June 9.00am-10.45am
Physics Exam 1: Wednesday 14 June 11.45am-1.30pm
GAT: Thursday 15 June 10.00am-1.15pm
Driving Camp – June 15-16
This year, by popular request, we will again be running our driving camp at the Driver Education Centre in Charlton. We have chosen the second last day of term 2. Again, there will be 12 places (maximum) – with places going to the first in (with payment!!!) Forms and additional information will be included with Bulletin 3 – after we obtain permission from the Heatherwood School Council and finalise details. The cost is around $140. Please call Deb Lewis to express interest.
Space Camp 2000
It appears that there will be an intrepid group of Visiting Teachers and students trekking to the USA for the chance of a lifetime again this year – lucky things!!!!!
Inaugural intrepid Space Camp organiser Jeni Blake has again been looking into funding etc etc and would like to conduct an information night for interested Visiting Teachers, parents and students (Department of Education and Catholic Education) this term. Please contact Deb Lewis to express your interest in this meeting and to nominate interested students.
Guide Dog Association: Young People’s Program
The Guide Dog Association will again be conducting programs during the school holidays this year. These programs are free of charge.
Term 1 Break:
10 – 14 April (ages 10-12 years)
10 – 12 April (ages 5-9 years)
This program, designed for primary school children who are enthusiastic about developing independent mobility skills and understanding their environment better, will be conducted at the GDAV Centre in Kew.
Term 2 Break
3 – 7 July (secondary aged students)
This program will be conducted in Halls Gap and the Grampians area in order to provide an opportunity to develop and extend the students’ mobility skills in unfamiliar environments.
Further details are available by contacting Shelley Pannier at GDAV on (03) 9854 4444.
New Vision Camp
The ‘New Vision Camp’ conducted by Christian Services for the Blind at Camp Howqua will again be held in the term 1 break from April 11-14. This popular camp for 9 – 17 year olds includes a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities including water sports, nature activities etc. The cost is $45. Further details will be attached to The Bulletin as they come to hand or you can contact Cveta Bakof on (03) 9259 2100.
RVIB Residential Training Programs
Blind and vision impaired students who are integrated into mainstream schools are invited to attend the following programs (see attached) being offered this year. The focus of these programs is to develop skills and knowledge in a variety of curriculum areas unique to the needs of vision impaired students. It also provides an opportunity for students to interact and network with their peers in a positive environment. The cost is $80. Details are available from Garry Stinchcombe on (03) 9808 6422.
Junior programs: year 4 – 8: March 7 to 10; August 8 to 11
Senior programs: year 7 – 12: April 17 to 20; September 26 to 29
Need Funding?
We have heard on the grapevine that ‘Dick Smith Electronics Powerhouse’, are happy to have folks hold their ‘sausage sizzles’ at the Whitehorse Rd Nunawading store. Potential sizzlers may even put a proposal to the co-ordinator that the store pay for the meat! Phone (03) 9894 0566 and speak to Ron Davey or Jim Elford.
For Sale
Kate Stephens has the following items for sale:
Wanted!
Jeni Blake is looking for seven other people who would like to order a business card.
EASE: ‘The Sound of Music’
Entertainment Access Service Ticket Update, February 2000:
The Sound of Music, featuring Lisa McCune, John Waters and Bert Newton will have Audio Descriptions for the performances at the Princess Theatre on:
Wednesday 14th June 1pm $49.00
Saturday 8th July 2pm $63.75 (incl. GST)
Tuesday 11th July 7.30pm $63.75 (incl. GST)
Call Deb Lewis if you require further information or if you would like to arrange a student group through the SVRC or call EASE on (02) 9699 8497.
Changes to Victorian Road Laws
You will probably be aware that from December 1 last year, there are several changes to road laws including:
JVIB
The following articles appear in the November edition of JVIB:
Several Visiting Teachers gave us some interesting articles towards the end of last year. They are available at the SVRC for your perusal. VTs can also request a copy – please call.
Do you know of a brailler sitting in a cupboard, in your car boot, gathering dust in some draughty corridor??? We are very short of braillers for all our brailling students and their support staff. If you can return a brailler, please do – we would be very grateful and it would mean that more students will have access to necessary equipment!
Update: Round Table Conference 2000
This year the Round Table will be held from May 21 to May 23, probably in Sydney. The program will include the following speakers/topics:
Interesting Websites
Writing About Touch
You can read about what touch and touch reading means to people with serious sight problems. You can also send your contributes and perhaps have your work included in the anthology of writing about touch to be published later in the year. Below is one example from the site. You’ll find them at http://www.nlbuk.org/touching-experience/writing.html/.
Braille Hurrah!
by Elisabeth Standen
I was a reluctant learner of the dotty print aged nine. However, my teacher took no nonsense. "It doesn’t matter whether you want to or not. You’re going to anyway".
Now, I bless that stroppy teacher. Without her strict determination my life would have lost much of it’s richness. I am writing this in the largest bedroom in my terraced house, converted into a study.
The removal man argued that the double bed wouldn’t fit in the next room. "The other one’s much bigger". "But," I pointed out, "you’ve not seen my books!"
The two alcoves either side of the hooded fireplace is filled with shelves of braille books. There are more shelves behind the door. Other volumes of braille, Cookery books, fill a shelf in the bureau in the dining room. The Piano, and it’s stool bulge with music in braille.
I have knitting and crochet patterns, dictionaries, and books on Latin, Welsh, Italian and braille shorthand. I have music books, piano pieces, songs and chorale works, and clarinet tutors. Catalogues from the talking book library, for lazy days. Gardening books and computer tomes sit on the shelves behind the study door.
But the most often visited shelves are between the window and the grate. Here is my fiction collections. A small group of children’s book, read to small relatives and other tiny visitors, who cannot understand why I have no pictures. But like the stories anyway. There are poetry, plays and a sizeable set of novels, most of Jane Austen, some Trollope, and Anthony, jostle Dickens, Elliot, Galloway and many others.
My favourite, is ‘Shirley’ by Charlotte Bronte. I allow myself the treat of rereading these nine volumes once a year. I must have visited Briarfield, Nunnely and Whinbury at least twenty times. Each time I find something I have overlooked before. This novel is funny, sad, profound by turns. It is a microcosm of rural life in nineteenth century Yorkshire. And oh, the meals. Did you know that at that date marmalade was served for tea, along with muffins and slices of ham? … But I will stop here, in case you have not yet sampled the rich life of the villages. They are well worth a visit, and I do not want to spoil the story.
New Office for Quantum in Victoria
You can now find Trevor Boyd at:
3 Chesterville Road, Cheltenham
Tel (03) 9585 3277 Fax (03) 9585 3977
VSSSA Eastern Zone Swimming Championships
The VSSSA Eastern Zone Swimming Championships include 6 events for students with disabilities and will be conducted on Wednesday 22 March. Closing date for applications is Friday 25 February. Forms are available at the SVRC or by contacting the VSSSA on (03) 9690 2630.
Reports: National and International Perspective
Braille Literacy: Getting Back on the Literacy Agenda
The following report is taken from the Minutes of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Braille Authority Meeting held on 29th November 1999:
ACROD is the National Industry Association for Disability Services throughout Australia. Over the last 12 months their Blindness and Vision Impairment Policy Officer, Margaret Verick has prepared a comprehensive report, titled ‘Braille Literacy: Getting Back on the Literacy Agenda’.
This report, which has been forwarded to the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp, highlights the need for a national approach to developing literacy standards for children who are blind or vision impaired.
This is undoubtedly the first step in a very long process, and ACROD is to be congratulated for spear-heading this much needed campaign. For further information or copies of the report, please contact Margaret Verick on Tel: (02) 6282 4333 or email: abfver@ozemail.com.au
Update on the International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
This following edited report was provided by Bruce Maguire:
The International Council on English Braille was formed in 1991, after two international braille conferences held in the 1980’s had demonstrated the benefits to be gained by greater international co-operation on braille-related issues. Currently the member countries of ICEB are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is a serious concern for ICEB that significant English braille using constituencies are not yet represented in the organisation. As a result the Assembly address this question.
The second General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) took place in Baltimore, Maryland from 2-5 November. The event was jointly hosted by The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) at the NFB’s national headquarters.
Twenty-two delegates from seven countries and approximately twenty-five observers and guests took part in the deliberations which were characterised by a spirit of goodwill and co-operation.
The most far-reaching resolution adopted by the Assembly and one from which many of the others derived, affirms the principle of a unified English braille code as a matter of urgency and resolves that a code should be agreed upon and endorsed by ICEB at its third General Assembly in 2003 and recommended for ratification by the national standard setting bodies of member countries. Finalising the details of this code will be the main focus of ICEB activities over the next year or two, and braille readers will have the opportunity to sample the proposed unified code. A key resolution affirms that braille is the primary medium of literacy for blind people, and as such its promotion remains one of ICEB’s highest priorities. In recognition a committee was appointed to promote the use of braille.
A Committee was appointed to co-ordinate and facilitate research into tactile graphics design and production methods, as well as teaching strategies for their interpretation.
For more information on ICEB you can also visit its website at www.iceb.org/.
The LOW VISION Module
The following information appeared in the December edition of QTNewsletter:
This is a really exciting new development from the Royal Blind Society (RBS) in New South Wales. Like many other service providers RBS has a large staff (over 200 people) with a reasonably high turnover. Each new employee has to be trained, and part of this is the need for them to have a working knowledge of vision and vision impairment.
The Low Vision Module was developed specifically to enable new employees to study independently, using a self paced, computer based training module. It is being used very effectively within RBS and they have now realised that it has far wider applications, and are making it available commercially. Proceeds from the sales of the Low Vision Module will go towards the development of additional training modules to meet other client needs.
The Low Vision Module is an invaluable tool for everyone who lives with, works alongside or assists people who are blind or vision impaired. The Low Vision Module presents information in an easy to understand multi-media format and is suitable for beginners or those who want to refresh or expand their knowledge.
The LV Module contains an interactive CD-ROM as well as a detailed reader and workbook (questions and answers). By using the LV Module you will gain in-depth information about:
PD Offered by Other Organisations
A review of Sandra Feldman’s book, Children of the Shipwreck Coast appeared in the 29 January 2000 edition of the Herald Sun. It included the comment: ‘It is a stunning work, recently published in braille, aimed at seven to 10 year-olds. It is a gripping adventure tale set in historic Port Fairy and starring Australian children and a heroic dog named Nell.’ We have it on good authority that this is the first mention of a braille book being included in a review in the Herald Sun, ever! The book is available for loan or for purchase ($20) from the Statewide Vision Resource Centre.
VT Contact Details
Attached are the contact details for the Visiting Teachers for your dialling and mailing pleasure!
And finally…
Hope to see you on the 18th for the VT PD day!!! Please note that Jan Vinall-Richardson will be unable to attend on this day for the final session. Instead, Lyn Robinson will present information she has gleaned from the Board of Studies Handbook and Bulletins and discuss responses by schools around the state to the revised VCE, the new SATs (School-assessed Tasks or ‘outcomes’ as some schools are calling them!)
Regards from Deb Lewis
RVIB - EDUCATION SERVICES
INVITATION FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND RESIDENTIAL TRAINING
PROGRAMS FOR 2000
Dear Students, families and teachers,
During 2000 RVIB will be conducting four Residential Training Programs for blind and vision impaired students who are integrated into mainstream schools. The focus of these programs is to develop skills and knowledge in a variety of curriculum areas unique to the needs of vision impaired students. It also provides an opportunity for students to interact and network with their peers in a positive environment.
Eligibility: Priority will be given to those students unable to attend the RVIB Support Skills Program during the school terms. 8 places per program will be available. By request, there may be the possibility of some day placements for students with specific needs.
Junior Programs Grade 4 - Year 8 March 7 - 10
Aug. 8 - 11
Senior Programs Year 7 - Year 12 April 17 - 20
Sept. 26 - 29
Cost: The cost per program is $80.00 and is due with the completed documents two weeks prior to the commencement of the program.
Expressions of interest:
Please fill in the attached form and return to Michelle Piggott taking note of the closing dates (see reverse side). Once we have received this form, families will be advised of acceptance into the programs. Information and documents will then be forwarded to the parents and the child's Visiting Teacher, and should be returned to us by the closing dates.
Further Information:
Feel free to contact Garry Stinchcombe, Special Courses Teacher or Michelle Piggott, Co-ordinator, Education Support Services on 9808 6422.
RESIDENTIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS - 2000
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I would like to express interest for my child to attend the following program/s. (Please tick).
Junior 2 August 8 - 11 ź
Senior 1 April 17 - 20 ź
Senior 2 September 26 - 29 ź
Student: .......................................................................D.O.B.: ................... Year Level ..............
Name of Parent/s or Guardian: ...................................................................................................
Tel.No: (Home) ........................................................ (Work) ...................................................
Address: ......................................................................................................................................
Signature: .................................................................. Date: .............................................
Student's School: ........................................................................................................................
Student's Visiting Teacher:..........................................................Tel.
No: ................................
Please return form to Michelle Piggott, c/o the above address by the
closing dates on the information flyer.
RVIB - EDUCATION SERVICES
333 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125 Tel. (03) 9808 6422 Fax (03) 9808
2194
RESIDENTIAL TRAINING PROGRAMS - 2000
| PROGRAMS | DATES OF PROGRAMS | CLOSING DATE FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST | CLOSING DATE FOR COMPLETED DOCUMENTS AND PAYMENT |
| Junior 1
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March 7 - 10 | Friday 4 February | Friday 18 February |
| Senior 1
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April 17 - 20 | Friday 10 March | Friday 24 March |
| Junior 2 | August 8 - 11 | Friday 30 June
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Friday 14 July |
| Senior 2 | September 26 - 29 | Friday 18 August
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Friday 1 September |