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Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is the united voice of blind and vision-impaired Australians. Our mission is to achieve equity and equality by our empowerment, by promoting positive community attitudes, and by striving for high quality and accessible services which meet our needs.
What’s new at BCA?
Courageous Connections - The BCA Board is on the Road NEW!
The Board of BCA is continuing with their Courageous Connections throughout the country. Please see below for a list of the remaining dates for face to face forums and five teleconference meetings for those who cannot attend an in person meeting.
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) was formed in June 1975 out of a growing dissatisfaction with the paternalistic attitudes of the blindness agencies of the day, and a deep dissatisfaction with the employment and education opportunities available to people who are blind or vision impaired. Members were also concerned about limited access to public transport and the built environment.
Are these issues still important today? Is BCA moving with the times, or do we need to change the way we do things?
The Board of BCA will be holding forums in:
· Melbourne on Friday 25 May at 6.30pm to 8pm
Courageous Connections Melbourne Flyer 25/05/2012
· Melbourne on Saturday 26 May at 12.30pm to 2pm
Courageous Connections Melbourne Flyer 26/05/2012
· Launceston on Friday 25 May at 3pm to 4.30pm
Courageous Connections Launceston Flyer 25/05/2012
· Hobart on Saturday 26 May at 10am to 11.30am
Courageous Connections Hobart Flyer 26/05/2012
· Newcastle on Saturday 2 June at 12.30pm to 2pm
Courageous Connections Newscastle Flyer 2/06/2012
Bookings are essential for catering purposes. For address details and to register, please contact Gordana on (03) 9654 1400 or 1800 033 660 or email
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Federal Budget: Summary of announcements NEW!
Read the summary of announcements which are relevant to people who are blind or vision impaired as analysed by Blind Citizens Australia.
BCA Media Releases
Marion cinema delivers the goods for blind movie-goers
Read our media release welcoming the introduction of audio description at Events Cinema Marion in SA!
Foxtel IQ leaves behind blind consumers
Read our media release regarding the inaccessibility of Foxtel IQ for people who are blind or vision impaired.
It's Our Turn Now - April 2012 NEW!
Want to read the latest about all things audio description? Go no further than the April 2012 edition of our It's Our Turn Now newsletter.
WBUAP ONKYO World Braille Essay Contest 2012
Applications are now open for the 2012 Onkyo Braille Essay Contest. Read the terms and conditions of the contest. Applications close on Monday 30 April 2012. Please send your entry to
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or contact Robyn if you would like to discuss your application further. Note that there are two age group categories and there is a cash prize for the best entries.
Parent News - February 2012 edition
Are you a parent or professional with an interest in vision impairment? Read up on the ins and outs of issues relevant to parents as well as tid-bits of information and upcoming events. This edition is available in a two column format or single column for screen readers. To read past editions, click here!
Consolidation of Anti-Discrimination Law
The Attorney General's department released a discussion paper proposing the consolidation of anti-discrimination law which currently protects age, race, sex and disability. Our submission has focused on how to make the complaints process easier and provided recommendations to increase the powers of the Australian Human Rights Commission to ensure that systemic issues can be addressed and outcomes enforced. Read our submission or full list of recommendations.
View our other recent submissions here.
Melbourne Self-Advocacy Project - improving PT announcements
As part of our Melbourne Self-Advocacy Project (funded by the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit), we are calling for expressions of interest from members who would like to keep a point in time diary of audible announcements on Melbourne's public transport network. Want to get involved? Find out more. Expressions of interest close 29 February 2012.
Update on the Victorian Blind Travel Pass and Myki
Read the new Myki and travel pass Q&A or download an application form.
Blind Citizens Australia 2011 National Convention
Blind Citizens Australia's National Convention which was held in Adelaide on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October 2011 has come and gone. Listen to audio recordings of the National Convention!
Available are our Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2010/2011. You can also have a look at the convention program (program with logos or program without logos) of our very successful Convention.
Establishment of a Queensland Central branch
Do you live in Central Qld? Are you interested in becoming more actively involved with Blind Citizens Australia at a local level?
Telephone meetings have now been scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm. Regional branches offer a local perspective and understanding of resources and services available, peer support, a friendly voice and regular contact with other living with vision loss. For more information and to access the conference code, please contact the Blind Citizens Australia National Office on 1800 033 660.
Media Access Campaign
As a member of the Accessible Cinemas Advisory Group (ACAG), Blind Citizens Australia is continuing our work with the cinema chains to ensure that audio description will make it to our cinemas by the 2014 deadline.
Audio description on TV
In the Media Access Report released by Minister Stephen Conroy in late 2010, it was announced that ABC 1 would host a trial of audio description in the latter half of 2011 which would pave the way for further work to ensure that Australians who are blind or vision impaired can access AD in their home in the very near future. This committment was subject to funding. Unfortunately no funding was allocated to this trial in the 2011 Federal Budget. Blind Citizens Australia will continue to work with the disability sector and the Department to ensure that the trial of audio description on ABC1 remains on the political agenda.
Audio description in cinemas
There are a number of cinemas around Australia which are currently providing audio description. To find out where your nearest cinema is take a peek at our updated list or visit http://www.yourlocalcinema.com.au/find-out-session-times to view session times. If you experience any problems accessing audio description at the cinema, please send an email to
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or contact us on 1800 033 660.
Audio description on DVDs
For a list of up to date DVDs which contain audio description, visit the Media Access Australia Audio Described DVD website No audio description on a DVD? Help increase the availability of audio description by making a complaint to the Australian Visual Software Distributors Association (AVSDA).
All things audio description!
It’s Our Turn Now is our regular newsletter which provides updates on all things that relate to AD. Read Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3 our October 2011 edition, our January 2012 edition or the latest April 2012 edition.
You can also visit www.audiodescription.com.au which is hosted by Media Access Australia, which has lots of information about AD.
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