Statewide Vision Resource Centre
Number 8 Friday 2nd June 2000
Inside This Issue
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Supporting Vision Impaired Students with Additional Impairments in the Classroom (Program with Bulletin 6 or contact us for your copy) | Friday 2 June |
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Visiting Teacher PD Day (Program with Bulletin 6) | Friday 9 June |
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(Driving Camp – places filling fast!) | Thur-Fri 15-16 June |
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Visiting Teacher PD Day | Friday 11 August |
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SPEVI Evening Discussion and Dinner at RVIB | Thurs 31 August |
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Counselling Skills for Visiting Teachers
– Geoff Bowen
One full day (by request) |
Friday August 25 |
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(Space Camp) | 23-28 September |
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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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Spectronic & Zygo Conference (see Bulletin 5) | Wed-Fri 8-10 November |
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SPEVI Evening Discussion and Christmas Drinks | Monday 13 November |
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Exhibition of Adaptive Equipment and Services at Melbourne Town Hall – VISTA 21C | 19-23 November |
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Visiting Teacher Professional Development Day | Monday 4 December |
Special Provision – Spellchecker
The Board of Studies notified schools in a letter to principals on 20th May 2000, of their decision ‘in relation to the provision of special examination arrangements. The Board has endorsed the use of the spellchecker facility by students completing examinations on word processors under special arrangements… This information will be published as advice to schools in the July edition of the VCE Bulletin. Please direct inquiries for special arrangements to Andrew Murphy (9811 6225) or inquiries only in relation to the Board’s decision, to Peter Adams (9651 4413).’
Staff News
Don Tyrer, Acting Director of Schools, recently emailed the following information (Circular 117/2000) to all EduMail users. It states, in part:
‘The Victorian Government launched a statewide review of future directions for Victoria’s government schools in March 2000 with the release of ‘Your invitation to a conversation about Public Education: The Next Generation’ … The discussion paper has been developed by a working party appointed by the Minister for Education. The membership of this working party is broadly representative of the education community.
The purpose of the discussion paper is to inform and assist those interested in taking part in an open conversation about broad future directions for the government school system in Victoria. It builds on the principles of public education outlined in ‘Your invitation to a conversation about Public Education: The Next Generation’ and includes a number of key questions to help focus the discussions. There are several ways in which individuals, groups and organisations can make contributions to the discussions including:
The document is also available in print from the SVRC. The Timetable for public meetings is attached to the print copy of The Bulletin.
Students in the Media
Attached to the print version of The Bulletin is a copy of an article from the 22 May edition of Women’s Day. The parents of three blind children living in Chiltern, western Victoria make the following comments:
‘I just know Nathaniel had to be a normal kid who’d ride a bike, paddle round at the beach and learn to steer the tractor on the farm. Nathaniel plays tag with his friends and catches the bus to Rutherglen Primary School with the other kids. We don’t shelter our children. We want them to grow up as independently as possible and not be afraid to try things. If our children want to run outside to play, we don’t run out after them in case they fall over… Our children aren’t ill. They just can’t see and there’s no reason why they can’t lead fulfilling lives.’
DEET Visiting Teacher Faye Squires visits Nathaniel and will also work with his sisters when they begin school.
Bardet Beidl Syndrome Website
A website and world-wide support group, set up by Sue McCoy in Australia, is aimed at ‘people and families touched by Bardet Biedl Syndrome’. It can be found at http://home.talkcity.com/OceanBlvd/iamahawkfan/bardetbeidlsyndrome.html – sorry I had the address a bit wrong in Bulletin 7.
Combined VT Conference Report
The following report on the Fifth Annual Visiting Teacher Conference (in Daylesford) was prepared by one of the conference organisers, Ivor Edwards, Visiting Teacher for Hearing Impaired students:
Once again an outstanding success – Visiting Teachers learning and sharing. The focus of the conference was developing a team focus and recognising the nature and value of independent skills when contributing to and supporting the Visiting Teacher program. Principal of Bimberdeen Primary School, Heather Hopcroft’s opening address was invigorating and balancing, asking us to recognise each of our strengths and weaknesses and leading us to understand strengths and weaknesses of colleagues; and guiding us towards a better performance as professionals focused on the achievement of common goals. Her presentation generated lots of discussion and humour that evening and certainly gave us much to ponder. Fiona Bell and Bruna Paoletti introduced us to issues of managing bullying on the schoolyard and workplace and included useful strategies for both preventative and supportive management.
The afternoon was then available to participants for networking activities – many headed off for a brisk walk around the streets of Daylesford; some took in the offerings of the famous Convent Gallery and others relaxed with a spa or massage.
Tuesday’s program was a winner with speakers, Kim Bennell and Cate Lombard from the Jean Hailes Clinic strengthening not our understanding of personal management and well-being but our pelvic floor muscles as well. Emphasis was on the role that healthy eating and moderate exercise plays in helping us to deal with the issues of stress and personal management both in the home and the workplace. The afternoon session on VCE raised many issues and clearly there is a lot of work we have to do on behalf of our students in implementing the structures for Special Arrangements under the new VCE. There is definitely a need to explore the issues and present these to the Board of Studies with a common voice.
On behalf of the organising committee, thank you for your responses and useful feedback to the questionnaire. Most participants want the Combined Visiting Teacher Conference to continue annually and again be conducted at a country location. We will follow up those who expressed an interest in joining the planning committee.
SPEVI Discussion Group Report
The following report was prepared by Chris Thirkell, Carronbank teacher and SPEVI counsellor:
The SPEVI Councillors and Friends of SPEVI offered a slightly different kind of professional development activity on Thursday 11th May. We decided to present a case study of a fictitious seven-year old student with CHARGE Association.
Identifying characteristics of CHARGE Association include:
Brown, D. (1997).CHARGE Association. Talking Sense: Journal of the National
DeafBlind and Rubella Association. 43 (2), 18-20.
Howe, M., Last, R., Williams, G. (1998). The CHARGE Association - A
Handbook for Parents, Educators and Health Professionals. Sydney: Howe,
Last, Williams.
The panel of professionals comprised:
Rob Last - Early Intervention, RVIB Northern Region
Helen Caldow - DEET VT-VI
Dianne Ritche - Teacher, Carronbank School for DeafBlind
Nicola Goss - Physiotherapist, RVIB
Nicola Misso - Orientation and Mobility Instructor, RVIB
Alison McCauley - Teacher, Marlborough Primary School
Leanne van der Nagel - Teacher, St. Paul’s School for the Blind
The members of the panel presented information on a variety of aspects related to the education of the student, including:
Braille literacy: National Survey of Braille Teachers and Support Staff
Frances Gentle, from St Edmund’s School in NSW, has conducted a survey to determine the skills and qualifications of staff supporting brailling students around Australia. ‘Braille Literacy: Report of an Australian National Survey of Braille Teachers and Support Staff’, can be found at www.stedmunds.nsw.edu.au/.
Photography Display
An exhibit featuring stunning black-and-white photos of CNIB clients, highlighting the importance of braille to people who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind, will travel to Melbourne for the World Blind Union General Assembly. The 5th General Assembly of the WBU will be held in Melbourne from November 20-24 at the Melbourne Town Hall.
Large Print Reading Speeds
From: Anne Corn (AERNET: Saturday, April 01, 2000)
(It’s always a bonus to read what leaders in the field are thinking!)
I am very, very glad to see the topic of large print reading speeds
coming up on the list (AERNET). Karen Wilcox wrote to the list about the
research we are doing with Project PAVE (Providing Access to the Visual
Environment). We have been looking at reading speeds for children and youth
while using large print and then several months after using individually
prescribed optical devices. The children receive instruction in the use
of their devices, which is provided in their own schools. Research in this
area goes back to studies by Sykes (1971) and others who compared large
print and standard print on several variables, eg speed, comprehension.
I thought they missed the use of standard print after instruction in the
use of optical devices and when not only near vision devices are provided
but also distance devices. Also, in many of the studies it was not stated
whether the large print used was individually selected for the student.
While I realise one can affect the size of the image by bringing one’s
eye closer to the page, there are differences in how eye versus head movements
are then used in reading. Kim Sykes’ study indicated there were no overall
differences in speed and comprehension with standard print and he recommended
using it.
In 1989 Dr. Gail Ryser and I did a large group study of students who used large print and those who used optical devices with standard print. The problem with this study was that we used teacher report and there were limitations in that different measurement techniques were used. However, we did find differences in reading level, reading speed, distance from the page, fatigue, and so forth with the students using optical devices doing better as a group. (Statistics were performed to be sure one of the groups didn’t have children who were older, had better or worse vision, etc.) This type of study also has limitations and does not speak to individual children’s needs. This study, Access to Print was published in JVIB. The advantage of this type of study is that it gathers information on a lot of children who are being taught in their natural environments.
In the December 1999 issue of Visual Impairment Research, my colleagues Robert Wall, Jennifer Bell and I analysed the reading of 56 children in one year of Project PAVE. Briefly, we found that the use of optical devices began to close the gap between reading speeds of students with typical sight and those with low vision. Unfortunately, this journal has not been mailed as yet. It is the journal of the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation.
We are presently analysing 5 years of data and hope to look at such variables as the age at which a child begins to use optical devices, visual acuities, expectations for visual functioning, and so forth. I hope by the end of the summer to have information available. When we do a graph using a scatter plot, one can see how many children using large print are reading at speeds that just aren’t very functional. I am especially interested in the use of optical devices but don’t think they alone make the difference in reading rates. I think children just have more to read, and they can access information at both near and distance. I also think that with the optical devices they realise they will read what everyone else can read. Many of the students cannot sustain large print if it not of a sufficient size or individualised for them. Stamina also becomes an issue. I believe we have the anecdotal support for not using large print as a sole or primary reading media - I think we need the empirical evidence. I do believe there is a time and place for large print and do use large print myself for specific tasks.
Another study that is almost completed is one I’m doing with Alan Koenig of Texas Technical University. We are doing a Delphi study (using a panel of experts to form consensus). We are completing the last round in which the panel has agreed to the areas in which a teacher of students with visual impairments should have a direct role in providing literacy instruction (or a consultation role) to children with low vision. This study, I also hope will be completed by the end of the summer.
Microsoft Education Site
According to their promotional material, ‘Microsoft is committed to enhancing the teaching and learning process within educational institutions around Australia. This new site is a one-stop-shop for teachers and administrators, interested in learning about Microsoft’s education news, programs, promotions, licensing deals and case studies.’ The site includes:
Look Up Those Tricky Braille Contractions
The ‘Braille By Remote’ website which I have mentioned in earlier editions of The Bulletin continues to excite me with its wealth of interesting braille-related information. Another link takes you to the ‘Problem Words’ section where you can surf alphabetically for your word. You’ll find all this and more at http://brl.org/.
To give you an example of what you’ll find, the beginning of the letter ‘e’ includes the following:
Trevor Boyd from Quantum recently forwarded the following article from Newswire, Washington, May 18. He also notes that VIP-L is sponsored by Blind Citizens Australia and administered by Sydney-based Tim Noonan:
A Harris Poll online survey released at the U.S. Capitol today confirms that people with disabilities trail other Americans in their participation in the lives of their communities – but finds the internet is playing an increasingly important role in reducing this gap. The survey was conducted by Harris for the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) and sponsored by Aetna U.S. Healthcare.
"Online opportunities are expanding the horizons of people with disabilities," Harris Poll Chairman Humphrey Taylor told the hundreds of disability advocates, leaders of national organizations, and more than 20 members of Congress attending the event. "The Internet appears to be a powerful counterweight to social isolation." Forty-eight percent of people with disabilities say the Internet has significantly improved their quality of life, compared to 27 percent of those without disabilities. Computer users with disabilities reported spending nearly twice as many hours online and using e-mail as others did.
Microscope Images on Your Computer
One of the products that allows microscope images to be displayed on your computer screen is QX3Ô Computer Microscope. It is advertised as a toy and we have not seen it in operation but it may be worth a look at www.intelplay.com/play/index.htm/.
Space Camp 2000
RVIB Visiting Teacher, Sherry Cunningham, will be taking DEET student Nic, from Bendigo, when she sets off for Space Camp this year. She and an integration aide will be travelling with five students and are at present trying to organise to spend time at one of the Schools for the Blind in the USA along the way. We wish them all a very exciting and interesting time (and wish we were going too)!
TABMAP Meetings
TABMAP, a group looking at the use and production of tactual maps in Victoria, meets on the second Thursday of each month at 5.30pm at Blind Citizens Australia, 87 High Street Prahran. Convenor, Mike Durinck can be contacted on the following email address: durinck@ozemail.com.au/.
Voice-Commanded Mathematical Software - MathTalk
Computer software that can convert voice commands into mathematical expressions has recently been developed in the USA. The software can recognise virtually all mathematical symbols and equations. One of the iterations of the MathTalk software, is a version that can be used by vision impaired students. This version can translate the mathematical formulas into braille, which can then be output using an embosser. It also will echo or read aloud any mathematical expression entered by voice. I imagine that the braille would be in the Nemith braille maths code and not so useful for our students, however somewhere down the track…
Read more about the research-and see a photo of a student using the software – at the Southern Methodist University News and Information website: www.smu.edu/~newsinfo/releases/99235.html/.
Mathplot
Jeni Blake sent us information about a PC program which can generate graphs from an equation. The promotional material says, in part:
‘Plotting 2-D or 3-D graphs can now be as simple as typing an equation and pointing and clicking (36 mathematical functions available). Plots in degrees or radians. Graphs can be copied to the windows clipboard or saved in BMP, WMF or JPG format or saved to allow modification later.’ Calculus options such as slope (1st and 2nd derivatives), area under curves, area between curves etc etc can be shown. Graphs including bar, line, area, pie, XY, cartesian and scatter can be completed.
The school site license can be purchased for $275 (includes license for staff home computers) or student copy for $25.
Contact Robert Rook on 5331 7127 or website www.mathplot.com.au/.
School Holiday Program for Children with Disabilities
According to the flier:
‘Manningham Aged and Disability Support Services will be conducting another program at Bulleen Heights Special School and Heatherwood School during the June/July 2000 School holidays. The program will provide respite for families and carers while offering a supervised environment for children with disabilities to explore new activities, meet new friends and access the community in a holiday atmosphere. Applications are due 29 May 2000.’ Activities include bowling, ‘Disney on Ice’, films etc. The cost is $20 per day. Forms and further information are available at the SVRC.
Contact Nancy Raniere from Manningham Aged and Disability Support Services on 0407 745086 or 9841 5044.
Student Running Success
My name is Kyle and I am in grade 6. I go to Edithvale Primary School. I came from Western Australia last year.
For the first time I represented my school in cross country.
We had to run 2400m to get in the cross country team and I came 6th the amazing thing was I didn’t get a injury afterwards. Perry was a year six student last year and he ran with me in cross country. He ran in front of me so I knew were I was going and so I didn’t get tripped up. He wore an orange shirt so I could see him.
I finished 20th out of 60 people or more.
The cross country took place at Seaford North Primary School. The start of the race was really pushy but than it all eased out more and that is when I started over taking people. The race was good fun to run. But the hard bit was to make your legs stay alive for the whole 3000m for the district.
Sydney Paralympic Games Live on the Internet
New York based company, We Media Inc, will provide coverage of the Sydney Games from the Opening Ceremony (18 October) to the Closing Ceremony (29 October). Coverage will include live streaming video, real-time audio and extensive coverage of the Games events. You’ll find it all at www.wemedia.com/.
Showcasing Initiatives in Special Education
This conference will be conducted in the All Seasons Ambassador Hotel Conference Centre and Barwon Valley School on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th August and includes many interesting workshops:
SVRC: Free Shredding Service
Do you need any shredding done? We have a keen work experience student who will gladly shred anything you bring in. Please make use of this offer till further notice!
And Finally
You know those funny things that arrive on your email from your friends? A couple of recent thoughts tickled my fancy.
How to keep a healthy level of insanity:
Regards from Deb Lewis
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YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROGRAM
10 – 14 April
Hosted by the Guide Dog Association of Victoria
The Children’s Mobility Service at the Guide Dog Association would like to thank everyone who referred a child to the April Camp. We feel that each child would have been bursting with stories by the time they returned home, as for many of the children the activities were a first time experience. Between mobility sessions in the mornings, touching a snake at the zoo, not falling overboard while sailing and knocking those pins down at ten pin bowling, there was a tired bunch of children and Instructors at the end of the week. Some new friendships have evolved as a result of the week and we would like to think there are some red hot cane skills happening out there too. Once again thank you for your support.
The number of children we can accept for each camp is limited; so we apologise to those children who missed out, but encourage VT’s and families to consider the July, September and January school holiday camps. Details for September and January will be available shortly.
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Grampians Adventure Camp
3 - 7 July 2000
Secondary School Aged Students
Hosted By the Guide Dog Association of Victoria
The Guide Dog Association of Victoria is inviting Secondary Students with a vision impairment to attend the Grampians Adventure Camp.
The camp will be based at the Halls Gap Caravan Park situated in the heart of the Grampians. The Halls Gap township offers an opportunity to develop and extend the students mobility skills in unfamiliar environments.
The mornings will be structured one to one learning focusing on mobility and daily living skills, with the afternoons and evenings focusing on a wide range of recreational activities with an outdoor, indigenous Australian focus. This program will involve quite a bit of hiking, so boots, rain gear and a warm sleeping bag are essential.
This program, inclusive of accommodation and meals, is free of charge. Referrals close on the 16th June 2000. Further information and referral packages can be obtained through Shelley Pannier, Children’s Mobility Services, 9854 4439.