The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Deb Lewis (Statewide Vision Resource Centre).
Inside This Issue
- Profession Development 2001
- Launch of SVRC 'Vision Technology' Website
- Ed Psych Vacancy for SVRC
- "Grade 2" Braille - History
- LME Board
- GDAV News - New Instructor, Xmas Party, Summer Camp
- Vision Impairment Website
- Disability Newspaper
- Driving Day
- Masters in Vision Impairment
- Jigsaw Website
- Respite Care
- Staff News
- Alternative Format Materials Requests for 2002
Professional Development
Monday 10 December - Expo 1pm - 6.30pm
Monday 10 December - SPEVI Christmas Drinks - SVRC 6pm
Launch of SVRC 'Vision Technology' Website
As part of the assessment towards my Master of Special Education (Sensory Impairment), I have produced the latest edition of 'Adaptive Technology and Resources for Students with Vision Impairments' on a brand new Statewide Vision Resource Centre website. Previously produced in booklet form, the website offers regularly updated information and is very easy to navigate around.
The website features:
- product information in sections including computer access - braille,
enlargement, voice etc; cassette recorders and voice recording technologies;
calculators and maths solutions; curriculum access - dictionaries, encyclopaedias,
atlases, newspapers, literacy tools and resources etc; braille embossers,
closed circuit televisions etc
- price, source and general comments
- more detailed introductory notes
- distributors contact details and links to their websites where available
- checklist for selecting appropriate adaptive technology
- images of many products eg Parrot Voice Mate, Flipper CCTV, Mimio,
eBeam, etc
- new sections including computer games for blind people, magnifiers,
improved access for Windows and the Internet, using your computer for Maths,
computer monitor size, electronic texts, second hand computers, environmental
considerations etc
The Vision Technology site also offers a powerful SEARCH ENGINE to enable you to quickly locate the product or topic of interest.
Go to: www.visiontech.svrc.vic.edu.au and please send feedback, suggestions or updates of information to deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au or call (03) 9841 0242 and happy surfing!
Educational Psychologist Vacancy - SVRC
Our wonderful Educational Psychologist, Geoff Bowen, has shuffled off
to greener pastures - as Vice Principal of Bulleen Heights School. We will
miss him and we wish him all the very best in his new role.
This has created a vacancy for a 0.4 Educational Psychologist - which
will be advertised in Education Times, probably under 'Heatherwood School',
by the end of the year.
"Grade 2" (Contracted) Braille - A Bit of History
The following is an excerpt of an article written by Sally Mangold titled "Trends in the Use of Braille Contractions", published in the Braille Monitor, November 2000. It was included in a recent AERNET discussion.
Our present code was never thoroughly researched when it was adopted early in this century (USA). The practice of using Grade II (contracted braille) only was a unilateral decision by Bob Irwin, then president of the American Foundation for the Blind. His main impetus was to provide a braille reading code that would parallel the sight-reading approach used in regular classrooms during the 1930's. The U.S. was just recovering from an economic depression, and he showed that using Grade II could save money because it took less paper. His decision was opposed by the national organization of educators, to no avail.
From 1910 until 1950 there was a commonly used method for teaching braille.
Grade I braille (alphabet only) was taught in the first three years of
school. Grade 1-1/2 (alphabet plus 44 one-cell contractions) was taught
during the next three years. Grade II braille (alphabet plus 189 one-cell
and two-cell contractions) was taught in year seven and used through year
twelve. The most difficult contractions to learn were not introduced until
the seventh year and were taught within an educational system that provided
braille instruction every hour of the school day.
The cognitive demands of young blind children are greater than those
required of their sighted peers if all of the contractions are presented
during the first year of school. The number of abstract symbols is much
higher in braille than in print. The correct application of many contractions
requires discrete spatial interpretation that is difficult for most young
learners.
The majority of blind people educated by the three-levels-of-contractions method were good braille readers. They exhibited proficiency in writing, spelling, and grammar. The vast majority became independent and self-sufficient adults. These were blind students with average and above average academic abilities. They could probably have excelled with any code of braille. Today's population of students is very different, and their learning needs must be addressed when selecting acceptable braille contractions."
APH never produced the same title in both Grade 1 and Grade 2. The decision for when to introduce contractions was determined by the grade level of reading that a student had achieved.
Guide Dog Association Of Victoria - News
New O&M Instructor
Rosslyn Turton has commenced working in the Children's Mobility Service as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor and looks forward to meeting students and Visiting Teachers. There are now three O and M's working in the Children's Mobility team.
Children's Mobility Service Christmas Party
When Tuesday December 18
Who Students, parents, Visiting Teachers and Integration Aides
Where Guide Dogs in Kew - Melways reference 45 B1
Events 12 noon
Opportunity to tour GDAV
BBQ lunch
Kris Kringle
How much ? Free !
If you want to participate in the Kris Kringle bring along a gift suitable
for either sex to the value of $5.
RSVP to Gwen on 9854 4477 or email at gwen.c@guidedogs.asn.au/,
or for more details contact Dean on 9854 4506.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Dean, Rachel and Rosslyn
GDAV City Limits Camp January 7 - 11, 2002 for Secondary School Students
The camp is nearly filled so if wish to reserve a place you should do so as soon as possible. We have organised a number of interesting and fun activities and challenges and look forward to having a great week.
Great Vision Impairment Website
Lyn has found another great website, this time about vision impairment - EyeMDLink includes information on the anatomy of the eye; visual conditions including macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract; and eye procedures including cataract surgery, refractive surgery. Go to www.eyemdlink.com/.
The Disability Grapevine Newspaper
The following Press Release was sent by Paul Cannaday, Executive Editor of The Disability Grapevine Newspaper:
The Disability Grapevine Newspaper is the only free and daily disability
on-line newspaper - and now includes a new website.
The Disability Grapevine Newspaper's mailing list will send you news
articles via your e-mail. The news includes news from all the major Disability
Organizations, other newspapers, and from are readers. To the news send
to you via your e-mail go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabilityGrapeVine/.
The Disability Grapevine Newspaper's new website has world news, message
boards, an advice columnist, poems, story for children, games, a poll,
leaders of the disability movement, famous people with disabilities, websites
that linked to The Disability Grapevine Newspaper, Classified Advertisements,
quote of the month, Disability Crimes, weather, historical fact, employment,
sports, cartoons and Editorials. If wish to view the website, go to: http://www.disabilitygrapevine.com/.
"In the Driver's Seat - 2002"
The members of the Warrandyte Lions Club Inc in conjunction with the
VACC and the RACV Driving School are inviting people to their annual "In
the Driver's Seat" event.
When: Sunday 24th March, 2002
Where: Sandown Motor Circuit
Who: Legally blind people who are 16 years +
Contact: Peter Watts (03) 9844 3903 - leave a message with your name,
address and post code, telephone number and time you would prefer for your
drive. Speak clearly and spell names etc.
Book in early to secure your place.
Masters in Vision Impairment in 2002
Considering updating your qualifications? Think Master of Special Education (Sensory Disability) at Renwick College, University of Newcastle. Meredith Walsh completed her course this year and several others are midway through the course and very much enjoying it!
Subject choices for 2002 include:
Semester 1 - Sensory Systems, Perception & Child Development
(Distance Package)
Semester 1 - Orientation and Mobility for Students with Vision
Impairments (Week residential school April 15 to 19)
Semester 2 - Teaching Literacy to Vision Impaired and Blind
Students (Distance Package and one weekend residential school)
Semester 2 - Elective or practicum
The information booklet is available at the Statewide Vision Resource
Centre or contact Renwick:
Tel (02) 9872 0303
Fax (02) 9873 1614
Email renwickenq@ridbc.org.au
Jigsaw Website
Looking for a fun internet activity? How about computer Jigsaw Puzzles! Good for mouse control, visual discrimination and visual memory. And when the pieces go into the right place, there is a satisfying little sound effect! Go to www.jigzone.com/.
School Holiday Respite Care for Children with Disabilities
Manningham Aged and Disability Support Services is conducting another school holiday respite program for children with disabilities. Activities include Melbourne Zoo, Ballarat Wildlife and Reptile Park, Plaster Fun House, Coal Creek Heritage Village etc etc. Contact (03) 9841 5044.
Student Results
Please call through with your student's VCE results and other interesting snippets!
Staff News
- Helen Stójanovic recently completed The Literary Braille Course
by Correspondence. Congratulations Helen!
- The Women's Circus performance, Secrets, ends on Saturday. The article
from the local paper, Progress Leader, is attached to the print edition
of The Bulletin.
Student News
Helen Caldow's student, Matthew, recently fulfilled his wish to drive a car, thanks to the kindness of Graeme Patterson - one of our Driving Camp instructors from Charlton. Matthew's obituary is attached to the print edition of The Bulletin.
Student Work
Below is Jake's 'good writing' (VT Kay McQualter). He retells part of the story 'Where the Wild Things Are' and the picture below is his illustration from the story. Great job, Jake!
Have You Ordered Your Alternative Format Materials for 2002
Orders are dribbling in for large print, braille and audio tape for next year. For the sake of the sanity of our production staff, please don't leave your requests till the last minute!!!
Attached (for VTs) are forms to place your request - please fill in one form per request.
Happy Christmas to All
This will probably be the last issue of The Bulletin for the year - so please have happy and safe holidays - and thanks for a great year!
If you have something you would like included in The Bulletin, contact:
Deb Lewis (who can be emailed at deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au).