The Bulletin

Statewide Vision Resource Centre

Number 9  Friday 8th June 2001

The following issue of The Bulletin was prepared by Deb Lewis (Co-ordinator, Statewide Vision Resource Centre) with assistance from Leanne Nagel (Visiting Teacher, Eastern Region).

Inside This Issue

Professional Development 2001

Visiting Teacher – VI PD Day Friday - 22 June
Visiting Teacher – VI PD Day Monday - 13 August
Combined Agencies Day (St Paul’s School) Monday - 8 October
Visiting Teacher – VI PD Day Friday - 7 December

Staff Needed

Please call Deb Lewis on 9841 0242 if you can help out with either of these positions: Please see the 7th June edition of Education Times for information regarding the .6 Education Officer position for the Statewide Vision Resource Centre (listed under Teacher position at Heatherwood School). A copy of the job description is available from Heatherwood School or the SVRC.

VT PD Day – 22 June 2001

See the program attached to Bulletin 7. Please ensure that you RSVP so that we can order your lunch and make enough handouts! Topics planned for the day include:

SPEVI Speaker and Dinner

Dr David Mackey, Associate Professor, University of Tasmania has kindly agreed to speak at our term 2 SPEVI dinner on Monday 25th June. His topic is ‘Syndromes and genetics causing: Where: RVIB (Staffroom), 333 Burwood Hwy, Burwood
When: Monday 25th June (5.30 drinks; 6.00 speaker; 7.00 dinner)
Cost: SPEVI members $8; Others $10 (SPEVI membership forms will be available on the night)
RSVP: By Tuesday 19th June (Deb Lewis 9841 0242 or deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au)

PD: Accessing the Music Curriculum for Students in Primary and Secondary Schools

RVIB will be holding a seminar which will address the following questions: When: Monday 18th  June 2001
Where: RVIB School 333 Burwood Hwy, Burwood
Cost: $40
RSVP: Immediately on 9808 6422

Driving Camp – 18-19 June 2001

Driving Camp will be going ahead as planned. Staff will include Lynne Murdoch, Joanna Sims, Deb Lewis, Jenny Williams and Marlene Burrows. Twelve students will be attending. Jenny and Deb will be leaving the SVRC at 8am on 18th June with eight students and we are hoping to be back at the SVRC on 19th June between 3.30 and 4pm. If you are unclear about your travel arrangements, please call. For further information, please consult your Driving Camp information in Bulletin 5.

Simulation Goggles – Please Return

Do you have simulation goggles out on loan from the SVRC? Please return them as we are going to fix them all up. Many have loose elastic and chipped paint and they need a little TLC. Please deliver or post immediately!

Challenge Camp – Report

The following report was prepared by Leanne Nagel, Visiting Teacher – Eastern Region:
The name of the camp says it all! The fourteen great kids who came to Delhuntie Park, near Moe were all challenged by the activities provided at the camp. (and so were the staff!)
Tree tops was the place to be! We wore harnesses for almost all of the activities, and most of them involved hanging from trees or equipment, way up off the ground. This camp was not for the faint hearted!

Highlights of the Camp were:

Bungee swing! Each of us had a turn harnessed to a bungee rope. The very spunky camp staff, Theo and Seamus pulled us down low, then let go, bouncing us high above the ground.
Flying Fox! A perilous climb way up into a tree, holding on to metal rods protruding from the tree trunk, then a narrow, metal ladder, a platform and another ladder to the top platform. The flying fox cable took us way over a huge lake.
Abseiling! Another harness, climb up two ladders, clip on, hold the rope, then guide yourself down boldly bouncing or carefully inching, with lots of encouragement from the cheerful group.
The Rip!!!!! A camper was harnessed to a rope and the rest of us pulled her way up into the treetops. Everyone called out 1, 2, 3… RIP!!! The person pushed a lever and … Freefall! The biggest swing ever!
Death Before Glory!!!!! Another painstaking and dangerous climb up to a platform where, harnessed to a cable above for safety, we leapt out to a waiting trapeze swing.
The networking between the kids was great – everyone took every opportunity to get to know each other, chatting between activities, during the delicious meals provided by the chef, and in the comfortable, triple-bunked cabins.
Lots of thanks to the staff at Delhuntie Park, accompanying VT’s and especially Deb and Jeni Blake for arranging this fantastic camp.
Click here for the report with pictures!

Space Camp Fundraising

Boxes of Cadbury Chocolate are now available at the Resource Centre. Please take one or more if you are able. Cadbury blocks of chocolate – plain milk chocolate, fruit and nut or honeycomb crisp are available for $2 each. Every little bit helps!

Space Camp – end of term 3, 2001

The second meeting for interested parties (ie students, parents and Visiting Teachers) occurred last Friday with 6 students, 6 mums and 5 Visiting Teachers. The report of the meeting appears below.
It appears that Deb, Janie and Marion will be the chaperones this year for the eight students. Marion’s daughter is not all that keen on her mum being away and recently wrote the following note:
What we do to stop mum going to Space Camp:

Full Computer Access via Hand or Head Movement

The Magic Wand Keyboard is a miniature computer keyboard, with a built-in mouse, that allows disabled people with limited or no hand/arm movement to fully access any IBM or Apple Macintosh computer. It is the only computer keyboard, and mouse, that requires no strength.
This mini computer keyboard works with the touch of a wand (hand-held or mouthstick). It requires absolutely no force. Using only the slightest hand or head motion, the keyboard allows people with disabilities easy access to the Internet, e-mail, and all computer programs. And it works instantly! No training or installation necessary.  For further information, go to http://www.magicwandkeyboard.com or http://www.closingthegap.com/cgi-bin/rd/products4.pl

Formation of a National Parent Group

Susan LaVenture is the Executive Director of the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments, Inc. (NAPVI) in the United States of America. NAPVI serves families of children who are visually impaired or blind, including those who have multiple handicaps. In 1979, a group of parents responding to their own needs, founded NAPVI as a self-help organization.  NAPVI is a non-profit organization of, by and for parents committed to providing support to the parents of children who have visual impairments.
To find out more about this dynamic organization you might like to check the website.  www.spedex.com/napvi. Some of the parents may be particularly interested in looking at the self lodged parent profiles.
A leader for 20 years, the organization has grown to help families across United States and other countries and offers a range of assistance for example from a toll-free phone line for support to a quarterly newsletter, AWARENESS, Discounts, Access to parent networks, Publications, Help in developing state and local parent groups and Information.
Susan is travelling to New Zealand to speak at their national parent’s conference during June/July and Quantum Technology asked if she might extend her visit to come to Sydney and Melbourne to talk with groups of parents here.
Susan has accepted their sponsorship and is very excited about meeting Australian parents. We are scheduling a series of discussion opportunities for her to meet and talk with parents.
Herself a parent, Susan will discuss:
1) Her own personal situation so that parents can identify with her,
2) The opportunities for parents to come together and what they are doing in the US
3) What forming an organization will do for them as individuals
4) How other countries have started up like Brazil and Israel
5) Ways to begin organizing a parent group and how they can affiliate with NAPVI

She has been asked to address the need for parents to support literacy development in the home, and for advice for parents assisting their children in developing work related skills.  These issues are not peculiar to Australia and Susan will address them.
Quantum Technology would like to take this opportunity of welcoming parents to the meeting, which will take place at RVIB on Tuesday 10th July at 7.30pm. Further information will be sent to Visiting Teachers and also included in edition 10 of The Bulletin.

New Web Accessibility Standards Released

The following article appeared in the February edition of E-Access:
The second version of the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - the widely-used international standards for ensuring web sites are accessible to people with disabilities including visually impaired people - have been published.
A working draft of version 2.0 of the guidelines was unveiled on 25 January. Once completed, they aim to broaden accessibility standards beyond the basic language of the web, HTML, to scripting languages like Java and other technologies like WAP for mobile devices.
For a point-by-point comparison between version 1.0 and the new working draft, see http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/2001/01/25-mapping.html

Young Blind Citizens

The following information was sent by Sean Tyrrell:
Young Blind Citizens are seeking to expand our membership which is open to anyone from the age of 16. If you have anyone in your area who would be interested in our group please pass this information on.
Young Blind Citizens is the youth branch of Blind Citizens Australia. Our purpose is to represent the needs and ideas of young people who are blind or vision impaired. We want to provide an opportunity for discussion, action and peer support in a relaxed atmosphere that combines formal and social activities. Young Blind Citizens welcomes new members, especially those who have very little contact with the blindness community. It is only by working collectively against issues affecting us that young people who are vision impaired can achieve independence and equal rights.
We are very interested in the issues that affect not only metropolitan but also rural youth who are vision impaired. If we start getting members from rural areas we are open to coming out to these areas to hold meetings and social functions.
All the details about Young Blind Citizens can be found on the web. You can visit our web site at; http://www.ybc.cjb.net/. The site is very informative, and you can find out about all the activities that Young Blind Citizens has been involved in, and what we have planned for the future. The site also provides e-mail contacts for all of the YBC committee members and affiliates.
Young Blind Citizens also has a mailing list.  You can subscribe to the list by sending a blank email to; bca-youth-subscribe@yahoogroups.com/. The mailing list keeps members abreast of all the important issues and functions that are coming up for Young Blind Citizens, as well as being a place for discussion.
Here is some information about what the group is planning for our meetings for the remainder of the year:

Monday  May 21, 2001.

Education: Participation in Work Experience Programs.
Moderator: Sean Tyrell.
Australian tertiary institutions are increasingly travelling down the American path of building work experience into a course of study. A person with a vision impairment requires some degree of workplace modification to participate in such programs. There is no funding available at present to support these modifications, which effectively means that students with a vision impairment are excluded from participation. This meeting will discuss this problem in more depth and will consider what response the branch should take.

Monday June 18, 2001.

Popular imaginings of Blindness.
Moderator: Sean Tyrell.
This meeting will focus on case studies of how blindness is represented in film, television, literature, and the print and electronic media. It will also discuss the effect popular representation has on individuals who are blind or vision impaired. The meeting will also announce that nominations are now open for the 2001 elections.

Monday July 2, 2001.

Close of nominations for elections.
Notice of AGM to be provided to all branch members.

Monday July 16, 2001.

Second Annual General Meeting.
All positions will be declared vacant and nominees will be invited to speak to the branch and explain why they should be elected to office. The branch will then elect its OBs for the next twelve months.  The Branch will also receive reports from the President and Treasurer, and will discuss how the branch has fared in its first year of existence.

Monday August 20, 2001.

Employment: Disclosure of a vision impairment and understanding your rights.
Moderator: Robyn McKenzie, RVIB Employment Services. This meeting will be structured around a presentation about how best to disclose your vision impairment to a prospective employer, and will also cover what rights protection is afforded under State and Federal anti-discrimination legislation.
Branch members will be invited to describe their own experiences.

Saturday September 15, 2001.

The experience of rural youth with a vision impairment.
Moderator: Mark Muscat.
The branch will travel to Geelong and will discuss the effectiveness of services provided to young people with a vision impairment who live outside the metropolitan area.

Monday October 15, 2001.

Reforming Blind Citizens Australia.
Moderator: Sean Tyrell.
The branch will discuss a paper advocating reforms to the structure and philosophy underpinning the operation of our parent organization prepared by the former President.

Monday November 19, 2001.

Blindness & Sexuality.
Moderator: Jordie Howell.
This meeting will examine issues of sexuality as they relate to young people who are blind or vision impaired. Attention will be paid to gaps in service provision and to questions of sexual difference.

Friday December 14, 2001.

Christmas party.
For more information about the group contact YBC President SeanTyrell on 9347 0225 or by e-mail to; s.tyrell@ugrad.unimelb.edu.au/.

JVIB – May 2001

The following articles appear in the May edition of JVIB:

RVIB Education Services Review – May 2001

The following information was sent by Maree Littlepage (Manager, Education Services RVIB):
RVIB is currently undertaking a number of reviews within various areas of service. David Blyth has been employed to conduct the review of Education Services emanating from the Burwood site, and this includes RVIB School, Early Education Program, Support Skills Program, Residential Training Programs, and Multi-disciplinary Assessments.
RVIB is providing the opportunity for students and families to remain informed about the review, and to provide feedback to RVIB about their involvement with the services. They have been invited to attend a number of optional forums.
If any people require further information, or have any queries, please ask them to contact one of the following persons.
Parent representatives on the Education Services Review Committee; RVIB staff: Garry Stinchcombe, or Maree Littlepage (W) 9808 6422

Grampians Adventure Camp 9-13 July 2001

Conducted by the Guide Dog Association Of Victoria
Dean Jones, Orientation and Mobility Instructor from Guide Dogs Australia, Victoria writes:
In July 2001, the Guide Dog Association Of Victoria will be running a program for secondary school students with a vision impairment. The program has been designed to offer a range of Orientation and Mobility challenges and opportunities in addition to a variety of recreational activities.

Program Content

We will be staying at the Halls Gap Tourist Park which is located in the Halls Gap township. Halls Gap township and the surrounding Gariwerd National Park provide wonderful opportunities for developing and expanding the student’s independent travel skills as well as a range of recreational pursuits.
Challenges for the camp will include orientation to the Halls Gap township, accessing local shops and interpreting environmental clues to facilitate independent and safe travel. Participation in recreational activities such as bushwalking is also a major component of the camp.
Referrals close on June 29th 2001.
For further information please contact Dean Johnson on (03) 9854 4506.

No U-Turn Sign

Do you ever approach the Statewide Vision Resource Centre from the north, necessitating a U-Turn at Eastway Avenue. Recently, a ‘No U-Turn’ sign (which you may not have noticed) was erected at this intersection. You can still enter the Donvale Sports Complex from the north, park there and walk through the double gates to the SVRC. I am investigating the necessity for the sign with the local council and road authority.

Student Writing

Sam from year 5 in Corryong recently wrote this poem:

The messy house

There was a young girl called Tina
Who’s sister was even meaner.
Her brother was a lot cleaner
Than little young Tina
Her sister picked her nose
And her brother liked having a dose.
So one day Tina said to her Mummie
“This family is very crummy.
And I have a sore tummy.”
Right there and then in came a big fat hen
And the clock started to strike ten.
In came her brother Benie
And called the hen Henie-penie.

Lost and Found

The last two professional development days have netted us a couple of items that may be yours: Please call or come and collect them!

And Finally

Send your news, gossip and articles to Deb Lewis (deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au) for publication in The Bulletin and online (http://www.svrc.vic.edu.au).

******************

Report of Space Camp Meeting – Friday 1st June 2001

Who was there:

Visiting Teachers – Kay McQualter (who has helped heaps with the paperwork) Lee Clarke, Marion Blazé, Janie McLeod, Deb Lewis

Students and their parents – Glen (and Rosemary), Tim (and Bernadette), Bernadette (and Margaret), Bryony (and Sue), Michael (and Alan), Peggy (and her mum).

Other interested students – Kate Barrett, Jake Phillips (who couldn’t make it to the meeting)

This brings our group to 8 students and depending on funding, 3 or 4 Visiting Teachers (Chaperones).

What we talked about

1. Costs
The cheapest flight/accommodation I have managed to negotiate so far is $3100 and we need to add to this the cost of Space Camp (US$740) and food/contingency money. We also have not secured all the money needed for 3-4 chaperones, but we are continuing to work hard.
2. Funding ideas
Lee Clarke and her friends are organising a fundraising dinner – if you know anyone we should include on our invitation list, please contact me.
Keep the letters to your local service organizations and businesses flowing – even if you have enough money for yourselves, we still have chaperones to pay for…
Bryony shared a letter that she wrote and is happy for me to send copies to those who are interested to see it. She included a scanned picture of herself in the corner of the letter. If you would like me to email you the digital picture that I took at the meeting on Friday, please call or email.
3. Bookings
I am in touch with 4 travel agents at present in order to get the best prices for our group.
4. Insurance
For those of you who have not read and completed your insurance forms, please do so immediately! Please note the information about pre-existing illnesses and if you think this applies to you, please call me.
We will be travelling as ‘duos’ – ie two people on each policy.
Depending on how many days we are travelling for (ie 16 days or more than 16 days), the cost of the insurance may change – 16 days will be $141.50 each, more than 16 days will be $178 each.
5. Activities
We are still thinking about activities eg Knoxberry Farm, Universal Studios, Mexico, Disneyland and Califormia Adventure. I will get a costing for these activities.
6. Forms
Each student has a folder of forms to complete. Some will need to be taken to your doctor for completion. All forms need to be in by 14th June (except the insurance form which needs to be handed in immediately).
7. Raffles
We (as part of Heatherwood School) have now been declared a “community or charitable organization”, and as such can conduct raffles where the total retail value of prizes does not exceed $5000.
Boxes of fundraising chocolates were taken by some students – please return the money at your earliest convenience – and thanks!
8. Logo
Ideas for t-shirt logos were discussed – they included star-shaped spectacles or rockets with stars. These ideas will be taken to a graphic designer and hopefully we can see the results at the next meeting.
9. Pins and badges
Previous students swapped pins and badges – consider buying some in the next few months.

We will have our final meeting in late July and will talk in more detail about what to bring, phone cards, the Space Camp timetable etc. Have your questions ready and we’ll try to answer them!

If you have questions and you can’t wait till then, please contact me on 9841 0242 or deblewis@svrc.vic.edu.au/.

ps A lovely lady from Albury called the other day. She read about our project in LiveWire (Quantum Technology’s newsletter). She is sending a donation because she would have liked to go to Space Camp as a child – she wants to offer support to our group!

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Web page editor Lyn Robinson. Last updated June 2001.
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