BLIND CITIZENS NEWS

August 2000

Published by

Blind Citizens Australia

ABN 90-006-985-226

Edited by

Lynne Davis

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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.

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IN THIS ISSUE

Well, this is certainly proving to be a year of significant events. Not only do we have the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the World Blind Union events taking place in Australia - there has also been a large amount of change in the blindness sector, as you will see in this issue of the News. Phyllis Gration has departed from the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School, and John Cook has announced that he will be retiring from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Vision Australia Foundation at the end of the year. Closer to home, Bill Jolley has resigned as Executive Officer of Blind Citizens Australia, Michael Simpson as the President, and Helen Freris as a Board member. David Blyth has been coopted onto the Board after an absence of many years. In our national office, Aileen McFadzean and Cheryl Gration have both taken maternity leave following the births of their daughters; Grant Webster has replaced Aileen as our National Advocacy Officer; Maryanne Diamond is Acting Executive Officer until the end of November; Helen Freris is filling the position of Victorian Advocacy and Information Officer until the end of November; and Kate Litchen is the new voice on the end of the telephone when you call.

Michael Simpson has been appointed to the position of Director of the Client Services Division of the Royal Blind Society of NSW, an appointment which reflects much credit on both RBS and on Michael. This is an interesting moment in the history of RBS, which now has a CEO, President and Divisional Director, all of whom are blind or vision impaired - all we need now is a bit of gender equity to complete the picture. BCA is doing its bit in this respect, though, with an all-female lineup of Acting Executive Officer, President and Vice-President!

There is quite a lot of information in this issue about the World Blind Union General Assembly and Women's Forum, as this is the last issue of the News before these events take place in Melbourne in November. John Simpson has given us a tantalising glimpse of the program highlights from both events, and June Ashmore conveys some of the atmosphere associated with big international gatherings. There's also information for dog guide users planning to attend the events in Melbourne, and news of an exciting opportunity for young blind women. I hope to meet many readers of the News in Melbourne in November.

And, of course, being from Sydney I can't omit a reference to that other big international gathering taking place later this year! The Olympic planning process rolls on, the torch is already travelling around Australia (with numerous blind and vision impaired Australians participating in the relay), and there's a new series of 'The Games' on ABC TV (sometimes it's hard to tell the series from the real thing). Bruce Maguire has been back in the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, with a complaint against SOCOG for not making its website accessible to blind people. Strangely, SOCOG seems more willing to spend money on lawyers' fees than on providing access to its information for blind people all over the world - sounds like an episode of 'The Games', doesn't it? Anyway, to all of you who are visiting Sydney for the Games, I hope you have a great experience which you will remember for the rest of your lives. I'm an Olympics refugee myself - I'll probably be watching the odd bit of swimming on television from somewhere in northern Italy.

Please note that the closing date for the next issue of the News is later than usual: we plan to publish the last issue for the year in December so that we can include some reports from the WBU events and our Annual General Meeting. And don't forget that the first issue for 2001 will be the special issue on education. I've had a lot of positive comments about the planned issue, and I'm hopeful that together we can make it as interesting and worthwhile as the special issue on employment. So, please don't wait - put your thoughts into writing and send them to me now. I'd be very pleased to receive them.

Thankyou for your information regarding public transport entitlements in Australia [May 2000]. For those of us living on State borders, this matter has often proved to be confusing. Any information regarding entitlements or benefits which may differ from State to State is invaluable.

The Albury/Wodonga Low Vision Clinic recently assisted a client with a Victorian transport pass who had moved to Albury [on the NSW side of the NSW/Victorian border]. He tried to book a train trip to Sydney and was told he would have to pay the full fare because his Victorian pass was not valid for travel in NSW. At no stage was he offered a temporary pass for travel in NSW, as outlined in the May issue of Blind Citizens News. I undertook on his behalf to organise a NSW pass as quickly as possible.

While the information you have provided will prove useful for those of us who work in agencies, one would expect that the staff who issue concession passes would also know the entitlements between states but this does not always seem to be the case.

Debra Hargreave

New South Wales/Victorian border

I would like to suggest that readers of Blind Citizens News might be encouraged to write articles, or letters to the editor, about their particular interests or hobbies. This should foster closer contact and mutual help between members having similar interests. Importantly also, there are instances where the taking up of a hobby has opened up the way to some form of self-employment. By the sharing of personal knowledge and experience, others may be inspired or assisted towards gaining an income. For example, in a recent issue of Blind Citizens News there was a letter from a lady in Tasmania who is active in growing organic vegetables, and from time to time there have been reports of blind people successfully breeding animals, including horses.

Anything that can be done to promote self-employment would be an invaluable service to people having the will and inclination for self-employment, with the measure of independence that goes with it.

John Dingle

New South Wales

If you are amongst the many who get a bit nervous about change then you will probably need a strong cup of chamomile tea and a good lie down by the end of this article. That's because in this issue of Blind Citizens News my article is all about change and things that are new at Blind Citizens Australia. At least, in this case, I'm pleased to say that most of the changes are positive for our organisation and positive for blind and vision impaired people around Australia.

I'll begin by mentioning the inaugural meeting of the National Policy and Development Council (NPDC). The NPDC, which was formed as a result of changes to our constitution last year at the National Convention, has finally come together and has started work in earnest. The NPDC is comprised of sixteen BCA members representing the BCA Board, States which have more than fifty full members, a representative of Class A Organisational Members and a representative of the BCA National Women's Branch. The formation of the Council ushered in a period of change within BCA because for the first time States and Territories have an opportunity to be directly represented at the National level.

I was particularly pleased with the quality of representation from Council members attending the first meeting and I can see that the Council is going to be a real boost to BCA's ability to affect change at a local level. I look forward to the Council reviewing all of BCA's existing policies on pedestrian safety, audible traffic signals, transport, education and employment as well as developing new policy which will further the advocacy work of BCA.

Now to some changes on the Board. The first change to report is that I have resigned as President of BCA and as a Director of the organisation. My resignation, which comes at the end of ten years on the Board and over six and a half years as President, has resulted from my acceptance of a senior management role at Royal Blind Society. I am looking forward to the personal and professional challenge which my new job as Director, Client Services will afford. I am also looking forward to leading a skilled team of over one hundred Client Services staff, within one of Australia's leading blindness agencies, to ensure that services are meeting the needs of blind and vision impaired adults and children.

It is with some regret that I have resigned as President but it certainly doesn't mean that I've resigned altogether from BCA. I have been privileged to lead BCA as President and I thank BCA members for giving me that opportunity. It was a tremendous experience for me and it has certainly given me an opportunity to meet many blind people from all corners of Australia. I've also been proud to be part of an organisation which continues to grow in strength and unity of purpose. At the time I became President there were about 1,400 members. This has now grown to just under 3,000, which demonstrates that BCA is strongly supported by blind people.

As a result of my resignation there have been some other changes on the Board. I'm pleased to announce that Karen Knight has been elected President and Lynne Davis has been elected Vice President. Karen has been on the Board since 1994 and has been Vice President for four years. She is a strong advocate for blind people and has played a leading role in a number of Queensland blindness organisations. She was President of the Royal Blind Society of Queensland for some years and is also on the management committee of the BCA Brisbane Branch.

Lynne Davis also joined BCA's Board in 1994. She was initially elected to the Board as a representative of Organisational Members and subsequently as a member-elected representative. Lynne has also had a strong background in blindness consumer organisations and advocacy. She was President of the Retinitis Pigmentosa Society of NSW and a delegate to the Australian Retinitis Pigmentosa Association for some years. Lynne has also recently been appointed to the Board of Royal Blind Society in NSW.

These aren't the only changes on the Board however so don't start to relax yet. Helen Freris who has been on the Board of BCA for just a couple of years has resigned to take up a position on the staff of BCA and David Blyth has been coopted onto the Board. More about Helen in a moment but firstly to David. David Blyth was a founding member of BCA in 1975 and has been a strong supporter of the organisation over its 25 years. He was the inaugural President and has helped shape BCA into the organisation it is today. David has a strong reputation both in Australia and internationally and is held in high regard in the blindness sector.

I wish the Board every success for the future and I know that under the leadership of Karen and Lynne our organisation will continue to achieve positive results for blind people. Karen and Lynne have the full support of a very skilled Board and National Office staff and I know that their commitment and energy will carry BCA forward.

As if the changes on the Board weren't enough I now want to turn to some changes within the BCA staff. Firstly I need to report that Bill Jolley, BCA's Executive Officer, has left the organisation to establish a consultancy business. Bill was very well known by BCA members and his strong advocacy on behalf of blind people certainly brought a benefit to BCA. We wish Bill and his family the best for the future.

Maryanne Diamond, who has been working as BCA's Victorian Advocacy and Policy Officer, has been appointed as Acting Executive Officer for a period extending up to the end of the World Blind Union Fifth General Assembly in November. Maryanne has achieved good outcomes in her Victorian role and I know that she will meet the challenges of her acting position.

I mentioned earlier that Helen Freris resigned from the Board because she has taken up a position on the staff of BCA. Helen has been appointed to fill the vacancy left as a result of Maryanne moving into the Executive Officer role. Helen took up the position of Victorian Advocacy and Policy Officer on 19 June and I know she will achieve a great deal in the job. I enjoyed working with her as a member of the Board and whilst I was sorry to see her resign from the Board I was pleased to see her take up a staff position within the organisation.

The final change I want to mention is that Tasmania can now boast a Branch of BCA. A small group of members have been working for a few months to establish a Branch and finally their effort and hard work has paid off. I was privileged to attend a meeting of over 40 BCA members in late June in Hobart which resolved that a Branch should be formed. The meeting was full of energy and keen to see Tasmania put on the BCA map. Dale Reardon was elected as President and he is ably supported by a strong committee and enthusiastic membership. It was a real pleasure for me that I could launch the Branch as my last official duty as BCA President.

There have been a few difficult issues which I've had to deal with as President but they have certainly been outweighed by the many successes enjoyed by our organisation. The successes have only come about by the joint effort of the Board, staff, Branches and general membership and I think it's important at a time of change to reflect on how much we can achieve together. BCA has a unity of purpose and we will always achieve more if we show a solidarity of purpose and support for fellow blind people. The years ahead will present challenges to all of us as blind people and I am comforted knowing that BCA will be there to represent the view of blind and vision impaired Australians.

It is once again time for individuals, Branches and Organisational Members to start thinking about whether there is someone they would like to nominate to receive the BCA David Blyth Award or a BCA Certificate of Appreciation. Traditionally, these awards have been presented at BCA's Annual Convention. However this year, as there will be no Convention, presentations will be made at BCA's Annual General Meeting, which will be held in Melbourne on 19 November.

The BCA David Blyth Award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life for blind people in general. Past recipients of the award include Graeme Innes for his leadership and advocacy, particularly in the area of disability discrimination; Joan Ledermann for her contribution and commitment to Braille; Wal Bolin for his work of behalf of people with retinal dystrophies; Mercy Dickinson for her work in the field of education; Hugh Jeffrey for his contribution to education and music for blind students; and Stephen Jolley for his work in bringing radio for the print handicapped to fruition.

Certificates of Appreciation have been awarded to individuals in recognition of outstanding and long-lasting work of direct benefit to BCA. Often this work has been at a Branch or local level.

Nominees do not have to be members of BCA. Nomination forms, and a list of criteria that applications must address, can be obtained by calling BCA's National Office on 1800-033-660. Please note that these awards are not presented as a matter of course. Nominees must be deserving and their work for BCA or to improve the quality of life for all blind people must be outstanding.

Nominations should be addressed to Karen Knight as Convenor of the Awards Committee, and must be received in the BCA National Office no later than Friday 29 September (please note that the closing date has been extended because the AGM is being held later than usual).

I will begin by introducing myself. I am a blind person, born in Queensland and moved to Melbourne in the early 1960's. I spent the majority of my school years at St Paul's School for the Blind, and for the last four years I was integrated into a regular school. I completed a Bachelor of Science degree and a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology at Monash University.

I was employed in the IT industry for many years until the middle 1990's as a Programmer/Systems Analyst in various Government and semi-Government departments. During this time I had four children and on two separate occasions, with my family, lived in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

I have been a member of Blind Citizens Australia for many years. However, my active involvement began when my son Mitchell, who is vision impaired, commenced school. I found myself involved in issues faced by parents of blind children and began my active work in Blind Citizens Australia. In October, 1998 I took up the position of Victorian Advocacy and Information Officer with BCA, a position funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services. I am currently acting in the position of Executive Officer until the end of November. During this time the Board of BCA will take steps to advertise and fill this position.

Anyone who contacts the National Office by phone will know the voice of Cheryl Gration. Cheryl, while on holiday in Queensland in June, gave birth to a baby girl, Jessica Rose, 15 weeks early. All is well for both Cheryl and Jessica. However, they will stay in Brisbane until the end of August. Cheryl and Jason have become parents for the first time and I congratulate them on behalf of all Board, staff and members.

Welcome to Helen Freris, who commenced work with Blind Citizens Australia on June 19 as the Victorian Advocacy and Information Officer until the end of November. Helen is a young blind woman with experience in advocacy and an excellent understanding of and involvement with blindness agencies in Victoria. She was one of our Leadership 2000 participants at the Melbourne Convention in 1998.

Plans for the World Blind Union 5th General Assembly are proceeding well, with two new staff members currently being recruited. The project team has established an office at the premises of RVIB, 557 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. The CEO's from each of the partner organisations are meeting each month to ensure the project's success. A larger group of individuals who have portfolio responsibilities also meet monthly to report on the status of their particular area. In recent weeks, the Victorian government has provided $100,000 to support the participation of blind and vision impaired Australians. With the support of both Commonwealth and State Governments, agency partners and other sponsorship, the financial situation of this project is very sound.

Blind Citizens Australia continues to be involved in many activities both through the National Office and the Branches and as we move into the next financial year I feel positive and excited about the future of our organisation.

WBU Assembly Organiser

Phone 03 9522 5240

E-mail: wbuga@bca.org.au

Much has already been written and spoken about Australia's hosting of the World Blind Union General Assembly and associated events. However, what many people want to know about most is the conference program.

In fact, the WBU event, which will run from November 16th to 24th, comprises three major conferences, an extensive exhibition of technology and services and many supporting activities.

Below I have provided some detail of the programs for both the Second World Blind Women's Forum and the General Assembly. I encourage you to take a few moments to look over this material and I hope that you will be able to join us in Melbourne for at least part of this great event.

Should you have any queries about the program or other aspects of the WBU Event I invite you to contact our General Assembly office (contact details above).

WORLD BLIND WOMEN'S FORUM

The first of these conferences will be the World Blind Women's Forum, to be held from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 November.

On Thursday morning Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Jocelyn Newman, will open the Forum.

The Keynote Address will be presented by Barbro Carlsson, Secretary General of SHIA, the Swedish organisation of people with disabilities. Barbro is well qualified to speak to the theme "Equality through Empowerment" as she has a physical disability and heads a large and very active disability advocacy organisation.

Later sessions on Thursday will include a panel discussion on gender equality within WBU and a feature presentation on "The Five Master Suppression Techniques" from Tina Lindemain, a gender expert from Sweden. The day will conclude with reports from the Women's Committees from each WBU Region.

Friday morning's program will include a series of shorter presentations focusing on issues of key importance to blind women. Topics to be covered include Facing Abuse; Literacy and Access to Information; Self Advocacy; Girl Children, the Right to Life in Dignity; Adolescents and Young Women, How to Achieve Independence; Gender and Employment; Growing Old and Coping with Gender and Blindness.

Susan Halliday, Australian Human Rights Commissioner with responsibility for Women's and Disability Discrimination issues, will address the forum on Friday afternoon. This session will also include a presentation from Josephine Sinyo, a blind Member of Parliament from Kenya.

Saturday will have more of a business focus. The day will start with meetings of the women's groups from each WBU Region. These will be open to all forum attendees and will provide an opportunity to learn more about activities within our WBU Region. Later sessions will include reports from the Regional meetings and consideration of resolutions, some of which will then be put to the General Assembly.

WBU GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Monday 20th November will mark the start of the WBU's Fifth General Assembly. We expect that more than 800 blind people and their associates will be present in the Melbourne Town Hall when the Governor General officially opens the event. Many thousands more, both throughout Australia and around the world, will be part of this great occasion, through the RPH network and via the Internet.

They will all have the opportunity to hear Sir Ronald Wilson, former President of Australia's Human Rights Commission, present the keynote address "Changing what it means to be blind". Sir Ronald is very well known throughout Australia for his Human Rights advocacy. He is also a former Moderator of the Uniting Church and current President of the Australian Council on Overseas Aid. As such he is very well placed to reflect on the situation of blind people from both the developed and developing world.

Monday morning's program will also include presentations from WBU President Dr Euclid Herie and Secretary General Pedro Zurita on the work of the organisation.

On Monday afternoon delegates and other attendees will be treated to a highlight presentation by Dr Raymond Kurzweil, developer of the technology that now allows us to read printed material directly from a scanner and computer fitted with synthetic speech software. Dr Kurzweil has been an eminent researcher/developer in the US computer industry over many years. He is also a most impressive speaker and is certain to draw wide public attention to the General Assembly and the associated technology exhibition. He will be joined in this feature session, "New Technologies New Opportunities", by Hiroshi Kawamura, who has overseen development of the new Plextor Digital Talking Book machines, and by Tim Noonan who will report on his important research into e-commerce and its availability to blind people.

Most of Tuesday will be devoted to the business of WBU with reports from Regional Presidents, debate of constitutional changes and the formalities for election of the WBU President and other Senior Office Bearers. Later in the day however the Assembly will break into concurrent sessions to hear presentations on the delivery of core blindness services; employment creation; and issues of particular concern to indigenous peoples.

Wednesday will commence with a feature session looking at the WBU's interaction with the United Nations and other key international organisations. This will include three presentations: one from Dr Bengt Lindquist, who now serves as a special Rapporteur to the United Nations following many years as a prominent member of Parliament in Sweden; the second by Dr Fred Schroeder who is Commissioner for Rehabilitation Services within the Clinton Administration in the US; and the third by Ms Anurada Mohit a leading disability advocate and powerful presenter from India.

Wednesday will also include a series of reports from the Chairs of various WBU Standing Committees. These include Activities of Deafblind Persons; Aging and Blindness; Blind Youth; Human Rights; Literacy; Rehabilitation and Employment; Status of Blind Women; and Technology. Two Australians will be among the presenters: John Cook, who chairs the Committee on Aging and Blindness, and Graeme Innes, who has recently taken over chairmanship of the Human Rights Committee.

The day will conclude with concurrent sessions, looking at issues of Economic Empowerment of Blind People; the use of RPH type services for information provision; and ways in which the WBU's development and advocacy strategies can be applied across countries that have varying cultural and economic backgrounds.

Thursday will commence with a presentation by Professor Hugh Taylor, as part of a feature on the onset of blindness. This will also include a presentation by Vu Hong Chin, who is now President of the Vietnam Blind Association and who has worked closely with Bill Jolley and other BCA representatives on the implementation of the BCA Vietnam development program.

The middle session on Thursday will focus on Human Rights issues and will include a presentation by Graeme Innes, in his capacity as Deputy Disability Discrimination Commissioner with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Graeme will be speaking alongside Dr Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind in the US, and Josephine Sinyo from Kenya.

The final session on Thursday will focus on Literacy and Culture and will include presentations by Yang Jia, a lecturer in English Literature from China; Norma Toucedo, Chair of the WBU Literacy Committee, from Uruguay; and Rosemary Kavanagh, Head of Library and Information Services with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

On Friday, attention will turn back to the business of WBU before a formal closing session which will include a presentation from the incoming World President and presentation of the Louis Braille Award and WBU Lifer Memberships.

See you in Melbourne!

How many days to go until the Olympic Games? Every day, we hear the countdown on radio and television. While I have a great interest in the Games and would love to be present to soak up the atmosphere at the end of the marathon, my commitment in time and money this year goes to the World Blind Union (WBU) Women's Forum and perhaps the General Assembly.

I probably do not need to tell you that WBU is made up of organisations of and for the blind. It is an influential body which, through membership of committees of the United Nations, can change what it means to be blind throughout the world by influencing governments and calling upon people to uphold its rules.

I remember how delighted we all were to hear that David Blyth had become President of WBU in Cairo in 1992. I was delighted, both for David and for us as blind people in Australia, but at that time I knew very little about WBU. I had enough to do in Australia without knowing what WBU was about or being concerned with the experiences of blind people in other countries.

My first trip to Vietnam with Lesley Thiess changed my way of thinking. I went along as the token blind person to help organise and progress a project related to women's literacy. I returned to Australia converted into someone desperately keen to be part of the union of blind persons throughout the world. During that fantastic three weeks I began to learn how lucky I was and also how I had a great deal to learn from the people I met in Vietnam. They have, and I refer particularly to women, a thirst for knowledge, the capacity to turn a small beginning like learning to read and write Braille into a business to support themselves, and an indomitable spirit that overcomes many barriers.

Shortly after my visit to Vietnam, I was appointed as one of two delegates to the East Asia Pacific Regional meeting of WBU in Fiji and I encountered, for the first time, Kicki Nordstrom from Sweden. Kicki was and still is Chairperson of the Women's Committee as well as now being first Vice President of WBU. She is a tiny person with a huge heart and the capacity to raise even the most complicated issues facing women in public forums and to gnaw away at these issues until some resolution has been reached.

From that meeting in Fiji a strong group of women banded together under Kicki's leadership to join other women's groups around the world. That time in Fiji was made all the more memorable because I was accompanied by a wonderful group from Australia including David Blyth, Michael Simpson, Bill Jolley, John Simpson and Diana Braun. Joan Ledermann and her husband Hans were my constant companions and Joan, through her membership of two WBU committees, the Literacy Committee and the Women's Committee, was able to help me to understand and appreciate the workings of WBU. Being part of the General Assembly was like being in Parliament and I was almost overcome by my responsibility in representing Australia. However, with help from the more experienced Australian delegation, I soon became familiar with the formal dealings of the Assembly and was able to take part in the resolutions process and the selection of members of the regional women's committee.

Subsequently, I attended the first Women's Forum and the General Assembly of WBU in Toronto Canada as an Australian delegate. Four hundred women from around the world were at the Forum. We worked through the two days of the Forum on issues related to employment and training, family, our place in the world and in WBU, and heard from regional representatives about what was taking place in other countries. Resolutions from the Forum were taken up by the General Assembly, which met for four days following the Forum.

An important step along the way was to ensure that women are now equally represented in what was once a male dominated organisation. It is obvious that this has happened and that the change was, in part, due to the influence of David Blyth and Kicki Nordstrom, with tremendous support from her government.

Speakers at the Women's Forum and General Assembly in Canada brought home to me the fact that times are changing but not quickly enough. I will remember to the end of my days the story told in a workshop by an Indian woman. She was at the time 40 years old and had never really recovered from being separated from her family at the age of three. She travelled by train with a stranger all the way across Canada and lived until she was fifteen in a home for blind children. She had no contact with her family of mother, father and ten siblings who were told that they would be better off without her. Sounds familiar.

We heard of a program in Africa, funded by Norway, to provide subsistence education to blind people. The trainers took on the task of simply showing people how to raise vegetables and prepare them for eating, and to catch and cook fish. The excitement engendered in Africa by a radio that could be used without power was astounding to people from developed countries like our own. Partnerships between countries who are part of WBU bring benefits to both givers and receivers.

Due to unforseen and complicated circumstances, the East Asia Pacific Women's Committee was in some disarray and I agreed to lead the women's group until their next regional meeting in Korea. During the intervening two years I corresponded with members of the group in each country and despite language and communication difficulties managed to gather some statistics on lifestyle and to produce a newsletter for the region.

It was surprising how many of the questions asked in a survey came back with similar responses, perhaps at differing levels, from all countries. There were difficulties experienced by women in achieving a standard of education that would provide them with remunerative employment. Blind women said that they had found it difficult to establish long term relationships and that they were hampered in moving around through access and mobility problems. When living independently, difficulties were experienced with shopping and cleaning. Library services were few and far between in many countries.

I attended a regional meeting in Seoul, Korea and delivered an opening address related to citizenship. The title was perhaps most apt as blind women in Korea were regarded as 'non beings'. When speaking with an older woman about how she felt when she became blind, aged 65 years, her reply was "I was ashamed". In just over a week, the significant change between the initial and subsequent attitude of Korean women was very obvious. Their part in role playing during sessions became very vocal and I hope that the enthusiasm engendered at that meeting has continued.

I handed over my duties to Angeline Chand from Fiji who is most ably supported by our own Maryanne Diamond. Maryanne is closely involved in developing the program, venue and social events for our meeting in November.

So what have I told you to convince you to attend the Women's Forum and the General Assembly? It is hard to give you the feeling of encompassing togetherness that I experienced in all my meetings with WBU and in my two visits to Vietnam. On my last visit to Vietnam I met my friend Huong Chin. She seized me in an iron grasp, lifted me off the floor and said " Mrs June, I have missed you so much". These simple words cover my feelings of love and friendship and togetherness with women I have met throughout the last few years.

When you are part of the Women's Forum and of the General Assembly you will meet wonderful people who will inspire you with their competence, knowledge and perseverance under difficult circumstances. You will have a chance, through workshops and discussion, to hear from others and to express your point of view. You will have the opportunity to make changes to improve your own life and those of others in the world. You will have the opportunity to have a social night with Melbourne families in their own homes, together with overseas guests. You will hear the South Americans and the Italians sing, have opportunities to down a few ales with the Europeans, to marvel at the mobility of people who have probably never used a cane or at most one that is made of bamboo, and to contribute your voice to those of blind women and men throughout the world.

I am particularly looking forward to meeting old friends from our Region but will miss my dear friend Joan Ledermann who has paved the way for us all.

Are you interested in attending the WBU Women's Forum but can't afford it or don't think you'd fit in? The BCA Women's Special Interest Branch has been awarded funding by the Australian Youth Foundation to run a project just for you.

The Women's Forum offers a unique opportunity for young Australian women to meet with and be inspired by leaders of blind women from around the world. The needs of blind women will be paramount in organising the event. Materials will be available in Braille, audio and large print and the venues and accommodation will be easily accessible for blind people and close to public transport. Proceedings will be conducted in a nonvisual way - ie, women will not need to rely on visual cues to know when it is appropriate to speak or ask questions.

We understand how daunting it could be to attend this event without preparation or support. The 12 successful participants in this project will first get to know each other and some Committee members through phone meetings. Then, on November 15, there will be a one day workshop in Melbourne, with a professional facilitator. The workshop will focus on overcoming the unique barriers that at times prevent blind women from fulfilling their potential in the community. The participants can then attend the three days of the Women's Forum together, and hopefully form enduring friendships and support networks there. These will be fostered by a series of telephone link-ups following the forum.

To be eligible to participate in the project, you must be:

1. Under 28 on November 15, 2000.
2. A legally blind woman.
3. Interested in &/or have a previous involvement in BCA or other disability or women's organisations.
4. Available to participate in telephone link-ups
5. Available to travel to Melbourne on Tuesday November 14, 2000 and return home on or after Sunday November 19, 2000.

The project will cover the costs of return air travel for women coming from outside Victoria, five nights accommodation, a one day workshop for all participants prior to the Forum and registration at the WBU Women's Forum. Participants will be required to pay for meals, ground transport in Melbourne, and personal expenses such as dog guide needs. It is also expected that participants will become members of both BCA and the National Women's Branch, if not already members.

If you would like to be part of this exciting project, please send a letter detailing your eligibility and interest to Fiona Woods, National Women's Branch President, at the BCA Office. Applications should be received by August 31. We will then conduct phone interviews with eligible applicants.

Please pass on this information to anyone you think may be interested, whether or not they are currently members of BCA. Fiona would be happy to answer any questions about the project: call her on 02-4739-5101.

Through this project, we are hoping to bring to the Forum young women from each State and Territory. We hope you will be one of them.

The Guide Dog Association of Victoria (GDAV) is currently developing services to assist dog guide users attending the WBU events in November. Sue O'Mealley from GDAV has been working with the WBU Organising Committee, Melbourne City Council and the relevant city hotels to ensure that the needs of people travelling with dogs will be met.

Due to the lack of suitable grass areas in the centre of Melbourne, Sue has negotiated with the Melbourne City Council to have part of the Tivoli car park converted into a fenced and turfed toileting area for dogs. The Tivoli car park is adjacent to the Melbourne Town Hall and will be available to all dog guide users. It is directly opposite the Victoria Hotel and is also only a few minutes walk from both the All Seasons Hotels and the Novotel Hotel. The MCC has donated the area free of charge, and will be providing access to water outlets and conducting a daily waste collection. Water bowls, plastic bags and garbage bins will be available at the toileting area.

The Grand Hyatt, All Seasons Premier and All Seasons Welcome Hotels have indicated that they will convert sections of their car parks into small dog toileting areas if required. The details of how this will be achieved will be decided once bookings have been received. The Mercure Hotel is directly opposite the Treasury Gardens, which is also a useful dog toileting area. Each of the partner organisations is responsible for assistance to WBU participants at a designated hotel, and GDAV staff will be on duty at the Mercure, which may be of particular interest to those accompanied by dogs.

An information package will be available to people attending with dogs. This will have relevant information regarding travel with dog guides in Australia and details of local services that might be required by dog users. GDAV staff will be available during the events to provide orientation, support and advice.

If you would like any further information or would like to make suggestions, please contact Sue O'Mealley by e-mail at sue.o@guidedogs.asn.au or by telephone on 03-9854-4405.

Please note that during the period of the World Blind Women's Forum and WBU General Assembly, from November 13 to 24, the National Office will be staffed on a reduced basis.

It seems that no matter where I look these days, everything is "in crisis". The family is in crisis (my family, your family, everybody's family). Organised religion is in crisis, what with God being dead, and all. The taxation system is in crisis, so we needed the GST to sort it out. And now, Government policy in relation to the GST is in crisis. The environment has been in crisis for years, just as it was in the 6th century when the destruction of the forests for firewood was seen as a crisis of unprecedented magnitude. Just about any academic discipline you can think of is in crisis, especially sociology. In fact, it probably helps to attract funding if you can describe your project as investigating something that is in crisis (research funding is in crisis too, of course).

It should come as no surprise, then, when we hear that Braille, too, is in crisis. I think the first time I read such a description of Braille this year was in a public message by some opponents of the Unified English Braille Code (UEBC) project. Next, I discovered that Braille is in crisis because it is not being taught properly to children. The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind has propelled Braille into an even deeper crisis by failing, apparently, to provide enough of it to clients. And so the list goes on.

But what is it that is "in crisis" in the situations I have just mentioned? Is it Braille? I think not. In the first case, the opponents of the UEBC project are not opposed to a unified Braille code in theory: they just want it to be the one that they propose - one that is oriented towards the needs of specialists such as mathematicians. In the second case, what is "in crisis" is not Braille, but rather the teaching of it, and educational policies and under-resourcing that are leading to increasingly poor standards of Braille literacy in so-called developed countries such as Australia and the USA. In the third example, again, it is not Braille that is in crisis, but rather there is a crisis of confidence in agencies that fail to give blind people personal control over the way in which they study and gain access to information - control that is taken for granted by readers of print, and which has been usurped from blind people for too long in this country.

These issues are all important ones for those of us who strive daily to promote the value - indeed, the necessity - of Braille for blind people, and who use Braille in every aspect of our lives. But in my view, they are not indications that Braille itself is in crisis.

Does it really matter whether we say that Braille is in crisis or not? After all, the words we use don't change the nature of the "real" world, do they? Braille would still be Braille, even if we said it was nothing more than a boiled egg. Well, not quite. The words we use do have a profound effect on the way we perceive things, and on how we structure and give meaning to our experiences. At the simplest level, we can describe the glass as half-full, or we can describe it as half-empty. Same glass, different ways of thinking about it. Beethoven was a man who spent his time writing squiggles on paper; or Beethoven was a composer who wrote sublime music. Einstein was an engineer who had some ideas that influenced others, or Einstein was arguably the greatest scientist of the 20th century, whose ideas have had a profound influence on our understanding of reality. Finally, we can describe Braille as the primary literacy medium for blind people, or we can (following the report "When Even Glasses Don't Help" produced by the Royal Blind Society in 1996) describe it as "a codified system of raised dots used for reading and writing by some people who are blind". Braille itself hasn't changed, but in the first description it is seen as empowering, liberating and dignifying, while in the second description it is - well, hardly anything at all. Which view is going to lead to effective, passionate advocacy? (Hint: it isn't the second one).

My basic point is this: if we continue to refer to Braille as a medium that is "in crisis", then I think we run the risk of succumbing to a certain paralysis of thought and action, and of shifting our focus from the real crises. There are quite a few challenges that face us as Braille users and advocates: in Australia, we have arguably some of the poorest Braille services in the developed world (see the Australian Braille Authority's Braille 2000 paper for an elaboration of this point). International copyright restrictions (real or perceived) stop us in Australia from accessing the Braille files put on the Internet by the Library of Congress. There are problems with quality control and training in some of the traditional Australian Braille-producing agencies, and Braille users do not have policy or management responsibility in Braille-related areas in these agencies. Hardly any teachers teaching Braille to blind children have obtained the Australian Braille Authority's Braille Proficiency Certificate. Nothing is being done to make refreshable Braille technology more widely available to blind people in Australia. I could extend the list. But in almost all cases, the problem is not with Braille, but with those who control its production, or those who teach it, or those who oppose it, or those whose advocacy for it is lukewarm.

Last year I was privileged to have the opportunity of defending my right to have Braille. The occasion was a public hearing at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. I fervently believe that I was given divine inspiration during the three-and-a-half-hour cross-examination. I didn't get a dot of Braille as a result, but I came away convinced more than ever before that Braille is, and always will be, the greatest tool for enhancing independence, self-development and dignity that I have at my disposal as a blind person; and I think I managed to persuade a few other people as well. I am also encouraged that there is some commitment to Braille in Australia that goes beyond lip-service: we have been able to participate fully in the UEBC Project because of financial support from the blindness agencies; the Australian Braille Authority is thriving; there is a growing recognition that substantial change is necessary if Braille is to flourish in the years ahead, and there is an awareness that such change will probably require the deployment of considerable financial resources.

There are, then, challenges facing us as Braille users; but there are also unprecedented opportunities. I do not believe that Braille itself is in crisis. If we are to respond effectively to these challenges, and seize the opportunities that are available to us, then we will need to increase our individual advocacy for Braille, secure in the knowledge that while crises come and crises go, Braille is here to stay.

One of the themes of the advocacy role at BCA seems to be battling for access to information. It is a battle ground with many fronts, but I remain optimistic that we are gradually winning the war.

About three years ago BCA helped launch a discrimination action against OASITO, the government agency responsible for selling Telstra shares. The initial response was that providing a prospectus in Braille was too hard, there would be problems with the Corporations Law, and it would cost too much. That action is on the point of being settled with undertakings regarding any further sell-off of Telstra shares.

When an action was lodged in March with regard to the issuing of a prospectus by NRMA, NRMA responded very positively immediately.

In the government sector, we obviously have some way to travel. After the release of the Interim Welfare Report at the end of March, various complaints were made, some BCA members were about to lodge discrimination complaints and another disability group did lodge a complaint with HREOC. A belated effort was made to make the report available in a range of formats, and the complaints were withdrawn.

Unfortunately, the lesson has not been learnt. A member was seeking a copy of the Australian Consumer and Competition Council (ACCC) publication, "Australia's Every Day Shopping Guide With the GST", in a format she could access. Even the ACCC's complaint section firmly advised her that it was available in large print and online, but would not be provided in any other format. I am currently preparing an application to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on this matter.

At the time of writing, a complaint lodged against Standards Australia in relation to a draft standard released for public comment appears within sight of suitable and amicable settlement. So, too, are a series of complaints by one complainant in Victoria seeking phone, water and electricity bills in Braille.

On the experiences described above, one could be forgiven for noticing that it appears to be the government agencies dragging their feet on these issues. After the debacle surrounding the release of the Interim Welfare Report, I wrote to the Minister for Family and Community Services seeking her views as to how such situations might be avoided in the future. On that matter, we have received no response.

Mrs Phyllis Gration, formerly CEO and Director of Training at the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School, left the employment of the organisation on April 11. Deidre McGuire, the President of the Guide Dog Owners' and Friends' Association, which runs the school, has unveiled plans for upgraded student facilities and improved services. The Association has also changed its name and is now known as 'Seeing Eye Dogs Australia'.

Changes outlined by Ms McGuire include:

Analysing ways to better serve the Association's stakeholders;

Upgrading the facilities for students;

Improving services for clients;

Appointing a social worker;

Appointing a field officer to liaise with breeders and puppy boarders; and

Re-drafting the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

I wrote an article discussing electronic travel aids (ETAs) which was published in last November's Blind Citizens News. In that article, I lamented the very limited availability of, and interest in, such aids. Since I wrote that article, one longstanding ETA has joined a list of those which are no longer available. The Mowatt Sensor, despite enjoying relatively strong support, was discontinued. Its disappearance has left a yawning gap in the options available to those blind people who recognise the severe restrictions and pressures placed on them by using a long cane alone.

But wait! Out of a tiny (one man) company in Adelaide comes the Miniguide. It is produced by Greg Phillips of GDP Research.

I became aware of the Miniguide (then without a name) through a message posted to a list to which I subscribe in America. Subsequently, Greg and I exchanged e-mails and phone calls, during which I agreed to road test the aid. I have been using it since September of last year, while it has gone through several evolutions. The current device is similar in concept to the original. However, because Mr Phillips has listened to feedback from both here and overseas, some important details have changed.

Like most electronic mobility aids, the Miniguide uses ultrasound to explore territory being approached by its user. Unlike the Mowatt, it currently reports its findings to the ear(s) of the user. A vibrotactile option is, however, under development.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's begin with a brief description of the aid. The Miniguide is, to my knowledge, by far the smallest ETA ever developed. It measures 55 x 35 x 16mm - by any standard, not real huge. There are two barrel-shaped sensors at the front. The rest of the aid is covered by a cloth bag and a wrist strap is attached to the stern. The on/off switch is just behind a sensor, appearing as a bump in the covering. When used at its simplest, the aid is turned on by pressing this switch and is turned off by pressing it again. This arrangement would suit people who have modest mobility needs. The default setting gives a range of 4 metres. Ranges of two, one or half a metre could be selected instead.

There is a tiny speaker in the aid, which can be used in very quiet places. Normally, though, an earphone (or two if desired) is used. I'm going to labour the discussion of earphones a little, as it is important that people choose something which suits them. The type of earphone(s) used will depend on personal preference. I stress that an earphone in my ear doesn't in any way upset my normal hearing. I generally use a crystal earphone from a dictation machine, as it copes with the noisiest situations to which a person should be subjected. In most circumstances, though, very cheap button earphones serve well.

One thing about the Miniguide which initially concerned me was the lack of a volume control. The earphones supplied with the aid have an in-built volume control. If you want to use different earphones, an external volume control will be necessary. They are available from such places as Tandy and Greg is also working on options.

I mentioned earlier using the aid at its simplest. Although it only has one switch, a host of options and modes is available. Most people won't use most options, but settings can be selected to suit a wide variety of individual needs. And yes, any option can be selected with the single switch. By pressing and holding it, you can cycle through each of the available options, a beep sounding for each one. It is possible to have one, two or three modes loaded at once. If two or three modes are loaded, pressing the switch repeatedly cycles through them.

When pointed at something four metres away, the Miniguide produces a low note. At point blank range, the note is just over 1,000hz. The aid reports the distance of the nearest object with a high degree of accuracy. It also advises of the slightest movement of an object. It will report even very small objects, such as an earphone cord hung in front of it. This zealous detection can make locating doorways and other gaps difficult, so a gap finding mode is provided. In that mode, sensitivity is reduced beyond half a metre and the feature is very useful.

The Miniguide uses a small lithium battery, costing several dollars. I can't tell you how long it lasts, because it hasn't yet gone flat!

Due to space constraint, this is a very sketchy review of a very important device. I want to finish with two important points. Firstly, when I began using it, I saw it as a replacement for the Mowatt. With practice, however, I find its value much closer to that of the SonicGuide than the Mowatt. Despite its quite simple feedback to the user compared to that of the SonicGuide, its accurate detection of even small objects provides a great deal of confidence. Secondly, while I was impressed with the Miniguide initially, I can't stress too strongly how important practice is. I began using it with thirty years of ETA experience behind me. Despite all that, I am using it now with a degree of confidence and skill I didn't imagine six months ago. The point is, do not expect to pick up an ETA and rush off into peak hour crowds. This tiny aid potentially gives a vast amount of information and it takes time to learn to interpret it.

The Miniguide costs $400 in Australia, including freight, which is a huge achievement in itself. Greg Phillips can be contacted by phone on 08-8235-1872. His e-mail address is gphillip@senet.com.au. His web page is at users.senet.com.au/~gphillip/ultra.htm

The Fifth Australian Deaf/Blind Conference was held in Fremantle , WA, in April. At the conference there were about one hundred and sixty delegates, made up of adults who are deafblind, professionals in the field, some family members and other interested people. As well there were interpreters and volunteers who made the number up to about two hundred, by far the largest conference of its type in Australia.

The help of the volunteers made all the difference to the participation of the delegates who were deafblind. At the cocktail party people were included in conversations through the assistance of volunteers and interpreters. Their assistance made the difference between meeting lots of interesting people and standing alone, isolated in a room full of people. This sensitivity to the needs of others was carried through the whole of the conference. Volunteers were ideally suited to the delegates, finger speller with finger speller, Auslan user with Auslan user, even vegetarian with vegetarian!

One of the amazing facets of the conference was the many, many methods of communication used. Loops and FM systems, Auslan and tactile finger spelling, teleBraille, TTY's and CCTV's were just some of them. This meant full inclusion of everyone in all sessions and activities.

Graham Hicks from SENSE, UK, was the first keynote speaker. Graham, who is deafblind, spoke his address reading from his Braille copy and stopped regularly so that Jackie, his wife, could repeat what he had said for the benefit of those who had difficulty with his intonation. Graham spoke of his own experience of deafblindness, his studies and frustrations with formal education, and his work in promoting awareness of and advocating on issues and needs of people who are deafblind.

Graham is now fighting to make life better for people with deafblindness. We would like to quote from his 'Lobby to Parliament' speech, which he gave to the House of Lords:

"For too long deafblind people have been excluded from society. Many of us remain prisoners in our own homes (for some that has been one or more life terms), yet we have committed no criminal offence. Daily we face systematic discrimination similar to that faced by black people in South Africa under Apartheid. We have been turned away from shops because our communication was deemed too slow. We have often been refused one-to-one support because others didn't think it was necessary for us to get out and about and enjoy life on Earth."

Graham was most impressive. Just to hear how frustrated he had been growing up as a child with deafblindness and how his determination had led him to overcome this was quite an inspiration. He even spoke of one of his latest ventures: adding power points in his house (and they haven't blown up)! He has not allowed society to throw him aside or ignore him.

The second keynote speaker was Dr George Williams from the Children's Hospital, Westmead, Sydney. He spoke of the vocabulary used about disability, about its discriminatory factors, and how even the accepted and politically correct terminology is too often patronising and pejorative. He is a doctor with passion and compassion, whose interest extends beyond the medical. Dr Williams works with children and adolescents who suffer from CHARGE, a multi handicapping rare syndrome. He does not accept the stereotype of CHARGE which states that there is deafblindness and intellectual disability in addition to physical abnormalities in the syndrome and has proved that this is not always correct. His message was generalised to all disabilities, especially deafblindness. Assume nothing. Do not assume that the person has the same communication methods as you do; do not assume that all people are equal; do not assume that because you cannot communicate with someone, that it is that person's lack of ability and not yours.

Workshops and social activities made up the remainder of the conference. Networking with others was one of the most important components. Friendships were made, and for some old friends were found. The conference was wonderful in its inclusion of all. The deafblind delegates from NSW are still talking about it!

At the end of a public meeting, the secretary thrusts some sheets of paper into your hands saying enthusiastically "Your partner can read these to you". Is this a familiar scenario? Do you stand right up to them, touting the anti-discrimination laws? Or do you empathise with a busy volunteer, say "Thanks", and stuff the papers into your bag (where they'll sit until thrown out in a future tidy-up)? How important are these particular papers anyway? Most likely containing transient information, left unread by many sighted participants also. It's the principle which matters. The general populace has little inkling that handing over such papers to a blind person constitutes `discrimination`. As a member of a club, etc, we can make ongoing arrangements for the secretary to supply typed material onto a text file on computer disc. And e-mail the minutes to us in advance.

Nine times out of ten offers of help I receive relate to me being driven somewhere. It appears people think my biggest difficulty as a blind person involves getting from point A to point B. Absolutely not! Trained in use of the long cane, I consider any walk an adventure. Even a quick dash to the corner store is exhilarating, with all the senses `turned up full`. Longer journeys involving cab, bus, train, plane, etc, extend the travel adventure. Sighted folk sometimes simply close their eyes to imagine the perception of the blind, a totally simplistic impression. I spend most of my time at home, where mobility is intimate. If I've a visitor, I'll move around with the cane, since many people are not used to my movements. Otherwise, the cane often hangs on a hook, or leans in a corner, hours at a time, contradicting the Hollywood image of the bumbling stumbling blind person. Stereotyped images foster confusion. Some tasks, by their nature, demand one or two reasonably good eyes. If sighted help is postponed, or given grudgingly, we may retreat into the lonely spaces of our own mind.

Yes, friends offer me `lifts`. "Can I give you a lift?" "I'll pick you up." "Are you right for a lift?", etc. How ironic! I receive taxi vouchers and transport concessions. The aspect of life with which I least need help is getting from A to B. As a blind friend said: "People offer help on their own terms".

I'd like a crisp hundred-dollar bill for every time I've heard somebody say "Blindness would have to be the worst possible disability." I heard a well-known ABC radio broadcaster make that very assertion when interviewing John Hull, a blind professor and the author of 'Touching the Rock'.

There is one expression which irks me so: `The Disabled`. Even members of the caring professions use these four syllables, instead of the correct nine: `persons with a disability`. A ship is `disabled` when, with engines or rudder broken, it drifts helplessly on the seas. But humans who've lost or incurred damage to a sense or function, are not `Disabled`. We're `People with disAbilities`.

Dignity flourishes best when fostered. Amidst today's hustle and bustle, some people offer their time unconditionally. They don't expect an equal exchange every time. Instead, they live by the principle `What comes around, goes around`.

Occupational Therapists study many years at university. In the workforce, OT's generally have a heavy workload, just a brief time for each client. We mustn't underestimate practical, everyday occupational help, which requires no diploma. Empathy and down-to-earth commonsense are the essentials. Partners and associates of blind persons may be daunted by the prospect of setting things up for us. Recently I heard a brief news article on the radio. In Sydney, a new business has begun whereby for payment of an hourly fee, a worker goes to the client's place and helps un-muddle the office or other areas of the home. This is a mainstream business, for it's not only the blind who have difficulty arranging their living space. Should a blind person require such a service, by nature of the disability, a potential security hazard exists. Presumably, the only way around this obstacle is to have a sighted companion present when the worker is in the home. But we don't all live in Sydney. Do we already employ a casual cleaner? This person knows our home well. Do they have innate organisational skills? If so, would they be interested in working some extra hours, to develop effective storage/ filing systems? A relatively small work input can vastly improve the quality of our journey along life's pathways.

Winter has been a busy time for all of us, and there is plenty of good news to report. In May, the Committee reviewed the Action Plan for the year, and I am pleased to report some achievements.

Four members of our Committee have recently taken on new roles in BCA. We congratulate Karen, Lynne, Maryanne and Helen. BCA is fortunate in having such committed and inspiring women to lead it. I am sure members of the Branch would wish me to congratulate Michael Simpson on his new appointment and to thank him for his support. Michael acted as the Branch's first Treasurer. I would like to thank Bill Jolley for the encouragement and information he shared with me when I first joined BCA. Michael, Kerrie, Bill and Carmel have worked hard for and inspired blind people all around Australia.

One of our aims has been to involve as many Australian women as possible in the WBU Women's Forum, to be held in Melbourne from 16-18 November, 2000. We have been awarded a grant from the Australian Youth Foundation to pay for 12 young women from around Australia to participate in the Forum. More details about this project can be found elsewhere in this issue. We have also received some funding from the Queensland Government to help women from that State attend the Forum, and we have a donation from the Country Women's Association of Western Australia. We are hoping to secure more funding, but it is sometimes difficult at a national level to know which sources to target. The Committee congratulates the enterprising women of Bundaberg, led by Pat Stillman, who have organised their own sponsorship from local community groups. You might like to think about which local authorities or service organisations you could approach for sponsorship to attend this once in a lifetime event.

Information about the Forum has now been sent to all BCA members. This included details of the accommodation which has been organised. Please bear in mind that there are many other places to stay in Melbourne, some of them relatively cheap - eg, accommodation provided by the Country Women's Association or the Youth Hostels Association. Some women have grouped together to rent a serviced apartment for the time. We know nothing about the suitability of such venues for blind people and cannot take responsibility for any bookings with them, but if you feel the accommodation options offered do not suit your budget, it might be worthwhile making some enquiries yourself.

I have had messages from and spoken to several members as a result of my News articles. If you have any comments or ideas about the branch, please call me on 02-4739-5101.

Tenure: 3 years

Level of Study: PhD

Place of Study: University of Newcastle, NSW

This scholarship is made available by the University of Newcastle as a consequence of a generous bequest in memory of the late Carrie Smith. Applications are called for this scholarship to enable the holder to undertake studies for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Education.

The scholarship will be awarded for a candidate to undertake a full-time program of research into any aspect of the learning and/or teaching of music for students who rely on Braille for the writing and reading of music. By negotiation, the scholarship may be awarded for a closely related and approved area of investigation.

Value: approx. $17,000 p.a.

The conditions of the award will be similar to an Australian Postgraduate Award and the scholarship will be tenable only at the University of Newcastle and its affiliate, Renwick College. Renwick College is administered by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children and is located at North Rocks in Sydney.

Further Information: Prospective applicants for this award should contact Professor Phil Foreman at the University on 02-4921-6292) or Dr Mike Steer at Renwick College on 02-9872-0814 to discuss possible areas of research.

Information regarding scholarship conditions and application procedures may be obtained from: Research Higher Degrees, The Chancellery, Eastern Wing, The University of Newcastle NSW 2308

Phone 02-4921-7261

Fax 02-4921-6908

e-mail research@newcastle.edu.au

Closing date: : please apply as soon as possible, but no later than 1 January 2001. If a suitable applicant has been found before this date, this scholarship will be closed earlier.

The statistics about falls and accidents in the home, especially involving older Australians, are alarming. One in three people over 65 fall at least once each year, and 25% of those who fall suffer a significant injury. Vision impairment increases the risk of a fall.

The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) introduced HomeFront, a falls and accidents prevention program, in 1999 in an effort to reduce the potential health, mobility and psychological problems encountered by veterans and war widows. HomeFront is available to all DVA card holders, who are entitled to a free home assessment to identify potential hazards in and around the home. An occupational therapist or other health professional will look for physical hazards such as poor lighting, slippery or uneven floor coverings, unsafe steps or railings and cluttered walkways. Following the home assessment, the veteran or war widow will receive a report of potential hazards and recommendations to address these hazards. With veteran approval, a range of recommended safety appliances, such as grab rails or non-slip floor treatments, will be arranged and installed, or repairs or modifications undertaken. The Department will provide limited financial assistance to assist in this work.

If you are a card holding veteran or war widow, HomeFront assessment can be arranged by ringing the freecall number of the Veterans' Home Maintenance Helpline on 1800-801-945.

The closing date for articles for the next issue of Blind Citizens News is Friday, October 6, 2000. Articles should be sent to Lynne Davis at the Blind Citizens Australia Office, in large print or in electronic form (disk or e-mail attachment). If you would like to discuss your ideas for a possible article please call Lynne on 02-9438-5675, send her a message via the Office, or e-mail her at jbasti@ozemail.com.au.

For the latest information from Blind Citizens Australia tune in to Horizons on your RPH station, on a Community Station near you, or over the Internet. Horizons is broadcast regularly on RPH stations. It is also becoming available on Community Stations, but you may need to contact your local station to ask it to receive Horizons over the Community Radio Satellite.

Canberra

1RPH 1125 kHz

11.15 am Tuesday; repeated 8.00 pm Tuesday and 9.35 am Saturday

Sydney

2RPH 1224 kHz

3.00 pm Wednesday; repeated 8.15 pm Saturday

Shepparton

3SPH 100.1 FM

8.30 pm Wednesday

repeated 6.30 pm Sunday

Melbourne

3RPH 1179 kHz

8.30 pm Wednesday; repeated 6.30 pm Sunday

Brisbane

4RPH 1296 kHz

6.05 pm Monday; repeated 7.00 am Friday

Adelaide

5RPH 1197 kHz

9.15 pm Wednesday, repeated 6.00 pm Friday

Perth

6RPH 990 kHz

10.30 am Friday; repeated 9.45 pm Saturday

Hobart

7RPH 864 kHz

12.30pm Friday

Mildura 3MPH 107.5 MHz

8.30 pm Wednesday, repeated 6.30 pm Sunday

Albury

2APH 101.7 Mhz

8.30 pm Wednesday

repeated 6.30pm Sunday