Blind Citizens Australia
Contact Details
PO Box 24
SUNSHINE VICTORIA 3020
13 Barrett Street
KENSINGTON VICTORIA 3031
Telephone 03 9372 6400
Toll Free 1800 033 660
Facsimile 03 9372 6466
TTY 03 9376 9275
bca@bca.org.au
www.bca.org.au
Published by
Blind Citizens Australia
ABN 90-006-985-226
Edited by
Nadia Mattiazzo
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.
COPYRIGHT: Reproduction of articles appearing in Blind Citizens News is permitted, provided Blind Citizens News and the author(s) are acknowledged.
Large Print ISSN 1441-449X Braille ISSN 1441-5658 Cassette ISSN 1441-564X
Blind Citizens News is distributed in Large Print, Braille and Audio. Electronic copies in text format are available from our Web page, on Disk or by Email. To change your format, please contact Blind Citizens Australia.
BCA's Identity Card carries a photo, address and signature. It may be used where photo identification is required and is worth 25 points when opening a bank account or entering into business transactions. Application forms are available from the BCA Office.
Back to top of PageSome members will have recently received a copy of a survey "The Disability Divide: A Study in to the Impact of Internet Technologies on People with Physical Disabilities". Some time ago, BCA agreed to distribute this survey to members on behalf of the researcher. Many readers will have heard about the research project through SoundAbout.
Our arrangement with the researcher was that a mail out of the survey in print and braille would be undertaken from the National office. The researcher would be responsible for providing copies of the survey as well as an explanation of BCA's role in the research. Unfortunately, we did not receive an appropriate cover letter to send with the survey.
I would like to assure members that we did not forward any names or contact details of any members to the researcher. I apologise to any members who received the survey and were concerned about where it came from and BCA's role in its distribution.
Maryanne Diamond
Executive Officer
Welcome to the June edition of BCA News. By now, some of us will be experiencing the rain and wind which comes with our winter months and I'm sure will have plenty of time to sit beside our heaters or fires and read News.
I would like to initially thank all those members who provided responses to the survey which was placed in the previous issue of News and encourage those who have not already provided a response, to do so, as this will assist BCA in determining what is important to members and how you would like to receive our various information media.
In this issue, we have some articles about different types of recreation undertaken by some of our members and an interesting article submitted by a visitor to our shores about access to Australia's museums and galleries. As well as our regular report from our President, we also have reports from the National Policy and Development Council Working Groups. Sadly, we farewell our National Policy Officer, but welcome our new Finance Officer and a Social Work student who is undertaking a placement at the BCA National Office.
Finally, we are also reminding you that nominations are now open for the David Blyth Award as well as Certificates of Appreciation which will be presented at our Annual General Meeting on the evening of Friday 22 October at the BCA Victorian Convention.
I look forward to receiving contributions for the next issue of News, but, in the meantime, also hope you will find this issue informative and enjoyable.
Back to top of PageI was interested to hear that BCA has an employment working group. This is a very important issue and opening employment opportunities for people with disabilities should be given higher priority.
I worked for 26 years at Vision Australia and was made redundant over 12 months ago. It has been much harder to get another job than I ever would have imagined as there is so much competition out there even for short term contracts. Even for jobs which have the word "Disability" in the title there seems little effort made often to appoint people with disabilities to these positions.
In between trying to find employment I have been involved with setting up an employment sub committee as part of my local council Disability Advisory Committee, and also to lobby the State Government to improve diversity employment practices. As part of the research I have done I have discovered there are some organizations doing a fantastic job in implementing progressive policies and practices in diversity employment.
One example is the Brisbane City Council which has employment targets for PWD (people with disabilities) of 11.2% of their work force to be achieved over four years. Already they are up to 9%. Telstra is another organization doing a lot to provide employment opportunities for PWD. These organizations take the view that their work force should reflect the demographics of the customers they serve to provide the best service, and they see employment of diversity groups as improving their "Bottom Line" as well as being part of their responsibility to be good corporate citizens.
The factors which make an organization achieve success in diversity employment are:
All levels of government, the private sector, and the not for profit sector should be encouraged to adopt diversity employment and BCA should be at the forefront in pushing for this to happen. Unless an organization has a positive attitude to employment of people with disabilities then you have to be much better than someone without a disability to get a job there. Agencies which receive government funding to provide services to people with disabilities (including blindness agencies) should be leading from the front in their employment practices. Too often these organizations seem to be providing very little employment or career opportunities for people with disabilities. I believe that BCA should lobby that disability agencies should have a condition of their funding from government contingent on them showing progress in affirmative employment. Unless this matter becomes top of mind by the Board and senior management, then it is too easy to not make a serious effort to shoulder their responsibilities.
Unemployment amongst PWD who wish to work, and in particular blind people is recorded at between 70% and 80% so we need to be doing more than has been done in the past to make a difference. I am keen to help the employment sub committee to take up this issue.
Peter Rickards
Dear Editor,
Recently Telstra have been advertising in the media and sending out printed material urging us to go on to single bills and offering rewards if we do so. This is fine, but I took up the offer and went on to a single bill, took up one of the reward options, and accidentally found out after calling Telstra to check on the progress of my order to go on to a single bill that I would lose my pension concession and also an exemption to a fee that Telstra have introduced for people who pay their bills via credit card.
I pay my bills with Bpay so wouldn't normally incur a fee, but hey, things could change. Also, can Telstra take away our concessions? Surely the group that would be most disadvantaged would be pensioners? How many blind elderly people also depend on their phone? It's not only blind elderly but blind people in general who use phones more than I reckon others do.
Can BCA do something to raise awareness of this and reverse Telstra's money making policy?
Lisa Hayes
Dear Editor
The National Advocacy Officer, Aileen McFadzean has sought feedback on the experiences of students who are blind or vision impaired (and their parents) in gaining support for access to the curriculum in independent schools (Blind Citizens News, March 2004). In this regard, it is worth noting that the experience of parents and students will vary according to the state and locality (metropolitan or regional) of the student in question. In some states, for example, the provision of additional services is covered under the same arrangements as apply to children in government schools, by government-employed support staff. In other states, the provision of additional support services for students is by non-government agencies.
In New South Wales, for example, the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children provides a comprehensive student support service for children in independent schools. The support service provides for weekly visits (of up to 12 hours per week) by a specialist teacher of children with vision impairment, vision assessment by an orthoptist, training in the use of adaptive technology and low vision aids and, where appropriate, the provision of printed materials in alternative formats - Braille, large print, and or electronic format. The service is currently received by 32 independent schools in support of 41 students.
Like all such services, the service provided by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is augmentative to the necessary accommodations that need to be made by the school and classroom staff to ensure the genuine inclusion of the student in the curriculum of the school. Such inclusive practices can never be part of an externally provided additional service and need to be part of a school culture and commitment to inclusion. As Aileen noted in her comments, under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) schools are obliged to make reasonable accommodations to enable a child with a vision disability to receive an equivalent education to other students, at no additional cost to the student or their family.
Whether or not a third party agency (government or independent) is engaged by an independent school to provide additional resources (personnel or material) for students with vision impairment, the DDA puts the onus very squarely on the school to meet the cost of those resources to ensure that the child has equality of access to all aspects of the school curriculum. Parents of children seeking an education in the independent sector, as for those seeking an education in the public sector, should expect nothing less.
Greg Leigh, PhD, FACE
Assistant Chief Executive (Educational Services)
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
The Editor,
I am writing in response to your articles about Street Link in the March 2004 edition. I was very concerned about the criticisms of the programme, which showed considerable lack of understanding of the issues for Queensland.
The negative criticisms were placed in the first part of the critique and were somewhat vitriolic and offensive. By contrast, the positive comments were at the end and much more balanced.
Queensland suffers from a condition which Geoffrey Blainey called "the tyranny of distance". Apart from the south east corner which is densely populated like the southern states, towns and population are spread thinly. It is inappropriate in small towns to have all the features which are essential, and appropriate, for large cities. Alternative creative strategies are needed such as those introduced by Ross Still. This work ensures a co-operative, community which works with the vision impaired person and he/she is able to continue to live in their chosen community.
It is important that any criticism is based on a true evaluation of the facts for each person and town and not totally on a politically correct agenda which fails to take into account these factors.
I am writing this letter having used a white cane for eight years in a small country town. While I have not as yet used Ross Still's programme directly, he has discussed it with me and it has clear benefits for vision impaired people in small rural communities and towns.
John C Vance
Dear Editor,
I have been trained and introduced to the Street Link Program by Ross Still in Rockhampton, he has also come out to my community (4.5 hrs west of Rockhampton) and trained businesses in our small rural town to assist myself, visitors or future local blind or low-vision sufferers to regain some independence.
I was quite surprised at some of the negative comments regarding this program (BCA March News). I visit my specialist's in Rockhampton where I feel so able and independent because there are traffic lights, beeping pedestrian crossing's, shopping centres where all the shops are under one roof, taxi's, buses etc, etc.
For people like me who live in rural or small communities where there aren't even zebra crossings, independence is not an option without help or the Street Link Program. We need to cross the road several times as our shops are spread along one main street.
I quote (from March BCA News), "this program will reinforce the incorrect notion that people who are blind are unable to move throughout their community without assistance." in our case that is a correct assumption.
There is something so satisfying about being independent and we shouldn't have to be forced to leave the lifestyle and people we love to live in the city to be able to experience that. Street Link provides that link for those communities that don't have the budget to allow for easier disability access when they may have only one person utilizing any such changes.
Not only is this a great way of informing the public to have a little understanding for people who aren't as lucky as themselves and how they can help people with low-vision who aren't obviously blind, it gives us a choice.
For me, we live on a cattle property and it means I can jump on the school bus with my son and then have a day in town without having to organise someone to take me, I call that independence!
We don't have to tap into this service if we don't want to (which is insured by the way), but if you value your independence and safety, Ross Still at The Guide Dogs Association has provided that.
Joanna Leane
Kapella, Central Queensland
Dear Editor
Where is this Utopia for Blind people? It must exist because some members of the NPDC live there, or at least that is the impression their negative and ill-informed assessment of the Street Link program gives.
At International, National & State functions we have observed members of the current NPDC seek assistance to find a toilet, make a cuppa or locate their taxi - do they consider this means they lack independence? No it means that in some circumstances they, like everyone else occasionally need a little help.
We admit that at these functions the person is out of their normal environment but so is crossing a busy highway such as the Burnett Highway, Nanango, Princes Highway, Salt Creek or even the Stuart Highway at Render Springs. It is not viable for controlled pedestrian crossings to be installed in these small rural communities. But each time a person who is blind or vision impaired needs to cross the road the safer alternative is sighted assistance e.g. Street Link.
Once again, this is not giving up one's independence, it is using common sense and the intelligent members of a community would see it as this. They would not take it to mean that "all people with disabilities are dependant and time consuming."
Another inaccurate statement is claiming that Street Link is designed for "raising the profile of the Guide Dog organisation for fund-raising - not for assisting users." As the auspicing body of Street Link the program may raise the profile of Guide Dogs and the services they offer. This is a good thing because all dog guide organisations base their promotional campaigns on the dogs not white canes, electronic travel aids or any of the other worthwhile services these organisations offer.
Ultimately it will raise the awareness of the abilities of people who are blind and vision impaired as they move about their community with dignity and safety. Street Link demonstrates the concept of "inclusive communities" by asking a local trader to adopt "their" street crossing and allow time for staff to have sighted guide training so they can safely guide those members of the community who need occasional help. Duty of Care is paramount in this program - Street Link stickers are only placed on facilities that have staff trained by a Mobility and Orientation Instructor.
It is not a fund raising activity - traders don't pay to be part of the Street Link program, people using the Street Links do not pay the trader for their time, where is money going to be raised? Money was sought to have stickers printed and Guide Dogs Association Queensland allows Mobility and Orientation staff to provide staff training for traders as they do for other facilities such as nursing homes, taxi drivers, etc.
We see Street Link as just one step further than Blind Citizens Australia providing sighted guides at Convention. Convention attendees do not consider this is taking away their independence, they consider the service is provided to make their attendance at Convention safe and dignified.
The comments that "in some country towns with no traffic lights or pedestrian crossings such a model could be implemented quite well." and "are useful for aged, newly blind or low vision people" is accurate. Ross Still, who developed Street Link, grew up in a rural community and experience has indicated that the majority of his clients, and those of other mobility and orientation instructors working in rural and remote parts of Australia, are elderly clients with the additional problem of diminished hearing, newly blind or low vision. He is also aware that many small rural Councils are struggling to find money to maintain roads and streets let alone install controlled pedestrian crossings on every street corner. Ross, and all Guide Dogs O and M instructors continue to lobby local government and tourist boards to improve their streets to make it safer for people who are blind and vision impaired to live and interact within their local community.
We gather these members of the NPDC were not among the many attendees at Convention 2003 who whinged about the venue - I heard a number of people were not happy because Convention activities and accommodation were not under the one roof. So how independent are these members of NPDC who claim Street Link is taking away people's independence and dignity?
We strongly disagree with the claim that Street Link will indicate to the world that we (blind and vision impaired people) are "totally dependant on the sighted community"
Patricia Stillman & Rhonda Muggeridge
Queensland
In this report, I will highlight some significant events for our organisation coming up in the second half of the year, in particular State Conventions and the World Blind Union General Assembly.
This year BCA has its State Conventions. The dates are as follows:
This is the second year in which we have conducted State Conventions The 2002 State Conventions were very successful and those who attended found them worthwhile and enjoyable. I hope that if you attended the 2002 State Conventions you will want to repeat the experience and attend this year's Convention. If you were unable to attend a State Convention in 2002, I hope you can attend this year's State Convention and share in a wonderful experience.
The Annual General meeting is to be held in Victoria on the evening of Friday, 22 October preceding the Victorian State Convention. Elections this year are for the National President and National Policy and Development Council representatives for South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. The details of your State Convention and the AGM notice will be sent to you during August.
The National Policy and Development Council met on the weekend of 22 and 23 May in Melbourne. Some of the issues considered by the council included: an update on the Unified English Braille Code, update on the proposed blindness agency merger, review of the progress of its working parties on Transport and Environmental Access, Education and Employment and Library and Information Access along with a number of policy areas undertaken by Collette O'Neill. Reports of Council working groups are in BCA News and reports of progress on specific issues appear on our discussion list, BCA-L and on SoundAbout and our radio program Horizons.
Collette O'Neill is leaving Blind Citizens Australia to take up a position with the Victorian State Government. Collette has been our policy officer for more than three years. Collette is highly regarded within and outside our organisation for her personable approach and the professionalism of her work. On behalf of our members I thank Collette for her contribution to Blind Citizens Australia and wish her every success in her future.
Many of you contacting the National Office by phone may have been greeted by Belinda Ayres who joined BCA at the end of April as Finance Officer. I would like to welcome Belinda to BCA and trust her time with us will be rewarding both professionally and personally.
Readers of Blind Citizens News will be aware of the proposals to merge the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales, the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind and the Vision Australia Foundation into a single blindness agency. This process reaches a critical milestone when those people who are members of the three organisations vote on the merger proposal. At the time of writing, meetings are scheduled for Thursday 1 July and Friday 2 July. If you are a company member of one or more of these organisations, I hope you will take the opportunity to have your say by voting on this important proposal.
The World Blind Union will hold its 6th General Assembly and 3rd World Blind Women's Forum in Cape Town South Africa in December 2004. The World Blind Union is an important organisation for blind people as it is our representative organisation in international forums such as the United Nations and its various organs. The World Blind Union is also an important organisation in linking blind people in developed and developing countries in activities to improve the position of blind people. If you are interested in attending the World Assembly you can obtain information from the World Blind Union 6th General Assembly Web site. http://www.wbu2004capetown.org.za, which can be accessed via a link from the BCA web page.
We congratulate Doug Sloan on receiving an Order of Australia (OAM) for his contribution to blind cricket and blind golf announced in the Queens Birthday Honours List. Our congratulations also go to other friends of BCA who were awarded honours in this round.
It's time for individuals, Branches and Organisational Members to think about whether there is someone they would like to nominate to receive the BCA David Blyth Award or a BCA Certificate of Appreciation. 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 Australia. Certificates of Appreciation are 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 selection criteria are available from the National Office on 1800 033 660. These awards are not presented as a matter of course. Nominees should be deserving and their work for BCA to improve the quality of life for blind and vision impaired people must be outstanding. Please forward your nominations for these awards to the National Office, addressed to me as Convenor of the Awards Committee, no later than Friday, 10 September, 2004.
Many of us were saddened to hear of the recent death of our friend and colleague, Harold Gration.
Harold was an active member of our organisation and in the early years his contribution was enormous as a Branch leader in Melbourne and volunteer in our small office. Many of us will remember him through our Conventions where we got to know him as a good friend and appreciate his thoughtful and practical contributions to our discussions. Harold has given our organisation many years of service and substantial financial support for both of which we are deeply indebted.
Harold was a pioneer in many of the beneficial developments for blind people in Australia, which we enjoy today. As a young man, he was one of the early leaders of the Blind Workers Union. As the unions delegate to the Australian Federation of Organisations of the Blind, Harold lent his considerable skills and energy to that organisation's effective efforts to improve conditions for blind people. It was this organisation which achieved the abolition of the means test on Blind Pensions.
Upon obtaining qualifications as an art and craft technical school teacher, Harold used these skills to pioneer the establishment of day centres for blind people. Harold's commitment to rehabilitation also led him and his first wife to establish a rehabilitation centre as part of the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog Training Centre.
Harold's life has been generous, pioneering and productive. On behalf of Blind Citizens Australia I record our appreciation of his contribution to Australians who are blind and express our deepest sympathy to his family.
Robert Altamore
President
Recreation is an extremely important part of most of our lives. Recreation covers an infinite range of activities. It is therefore not surprising that at BCA we receive requests for advocacy in this area. Most cases involve people whose recreation experiences have been affected by discrimination.
It is unfortunate that dog guide users still experience discrimination in many areas associated with recreation. These include restaurants and cafes, aeroplane travel and cruises, and the all too common taxi experience. These experiences can really diminish a person's confidence to use his or her dog confidently and can cause ongoing anxiety.
We also receive calls periodically relating to travel and public liability insurance with either a higher premium being charged, letters from doctors requested, outright refusal to insure or an overly broad exclusion clause being applied.
It seems that good planning and good communication is very important in decreasing the likelihood of people experiencing difficulties. It can be tricky, however, knowing how much information to give about one's disability. For example, an activity organiser or a tour operator might discourage a person from participating because of fears of accidents occurring and disruption for other people if the person discloses the extent of his or her vision loss when booking the activity or trip. On the other hand, giving an activity organiser or tour operator not enough or timely information can result in confrontation and resentment and a less accessible service.
Participation in sports, particularly at school, has been raised with BCA a couple of times this year. Schools have expressed concern about the safety of vision impaired students participating in sports, particularly ball sports. The lack of one-on-one attention and concerns about safety can lead to blind and vision impaired students sitting on the sidelines and not developing necessary skills and fitness as well as enjoying themselves.
Access to the built environment can affect the ease with which people that are blind or vision impaired can experience recreation. Access problems decrease the opportunities for people who are blind or vision impaired to independently do something recreational. Lack of physical access and lack of confidence means that some people have to wait for family or friends to take them out. We were recently involved in a discrimination complaint relating to the lack of audio tactile devices at an intersection. The complainant had to cross an extremely busy intersection to access his local gymnasium. He literally felt he took his life in his hands every time he crossed.
Access to library services is also an issue raised with us frequently. Sometimes we are asked to advocate in relation to generic library services at other times in relation to services providing a specific service to people who are blind or vision impaired. Limited and slow access to published works is a continuing frustration for many people.
BCA's advocacy service is available to assist and advise people in relation to access to recreation. Through our advocacy service, many people have been able to achieve not only outcomes that benefit themselves, but others as well. Through the efforts of individuals who lodge complaints of discrimination, audio tactile devices and TGSI's have been installed, tour companies have developed disability access policies and insurance companies have modified their hardline approach. People who take action despite personal cost to themselves, can help to insure that other people do not have the same negative experiences of recreation. Often the taking of action can be therapeutic in the sense that people have stood up for themselves and their right to have a full and active life.
Back to top of PageSince my last report the 2004-2005 federal budget has been released and electioneering has begun in earnest. The budget did not contain any changes to the DSP (Blind), however there were some announcements in the areas of support for carers and in education and training, including:
In terms of the federal election, Blind Citizens Australia has identified four priority issues: employment, the need for a cost of disability allowance, accessible voting and access to government information. We will be working with the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations to make sure that disability issues make it on to the election agenda.
Recently, Blind Citizens Australia has been working on developing a "Frequently Asked Questions about Blindness" booklet for people employed in the building industry. A group of members with a range of vision types is working to answer some of the questions that we are often asked by building owners, architects and surveyors. These include questions about how people who are blind navigate, why tactile ground surface indicators are useful and why colour and luminance contrast are important. The job of putting the book together is being done by Cristina Giacominato, a member from Melbourne.
On a final note, I am leaving BCA in June to go to work for the Department of Human Services. I have worked for BCA for three years and it is time for me to move on to other challenges. I have enjoyed working with my BCA colleagues and have especially loved meeting and talking to members when I could. Your passion and commitment has been inspiring. Keep fighting the good fight. I will certainly do all I can in the future to help.
Back to top of PageBCA is currently involved in an employment project that will assist job network members to provide better employment services and better employment opportunities to people who are blind or vision impaired.
BCA is developing a training manual, and delivering training workshops around Australia, to demonstrate to Job Network Members that there are a wide variety of industries, occupations and professions that people who are blind or vision impaired can be employed in, given appropriate training, support and access to adaptive technology.
BCA is developing an online toolkit, and printed resource manual that includes information such as;
The workshops will be held nationally in August 2004, including Melbourne, Dubbo in central west NSW, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. They will involve presentations by employees who are blind or vision impaired, and also presentations by "best practice" employers, who will provide insight into the challenges and solutions associated with obtaining and maintaining employment for people who are blind or vision impaired.
Back to top of PageMany may remember that at the Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) Convention in Canberra in October 2003, the National Policy and Development Council (NPDC) Working Group on Library and Information Access, hosted a 4 part workshop. The workshop featured presentations related to a project by the Australian Caption Centre, aimed at introducing audio described DVD television programs into Australia; demonstrated the National Information and Library Service (NILS) telephone ordering system; demonstrated the accessible voting system introduced for the ACT elections; and demonstrated the Audio Read satellite based audio book delivery system.
Naturally as a result of the workshop , a number of resolutions were passed at the Convention which set the direction of the Library Services and Information Access Working Group.
We decided, for a number of reasons, to divide the Working Group into two sub-groups. We broke the areas down to cover library services issues in one group, and the more technical information access issues in the other.
Mat Mirabella of Victoria chairs the Information Access sub-group with its members being John Simpson and Frank Nowlan from Victoria, myself and Bruce Maguire from Sydney, and Aaron Howell from Queensland.
The Library Services sub-group is chaired by myself, and its members are John Simpson and Frank Nowlan from Victoria, Bev Burrows from Queensland, Fiona Woods from New South Wales, Jan Miller from Tasmania and Lynne Davis from NSW.
I hope to be reporting in more detail in future issues of BCA News, on the progress towards audio described DVDs, private independent and verifiable voting, and the trials of the Audio Read satellite book delivery system.
Although these are exciting projects, the Working Group recognizes the need to insure quality library services for blind and vision impaired people for today. We would very much like to here from any one about current experiences with library services from NILS or any other library service. I can be contacted after hours on (02) 9552 2121.
The Information Access sub-group has identified additional areas needing our attention. Firstly, there seems to be very little available in the market by way of accounting software which is accessible using screen readers. Secondly, despite it being possible to make portable document format (PDF) documents accessible, in many situations inaccessible PDF documents are still being posted on web sites. As with the Library Services sub-group, the Information Access sub-group is also keen to hear from people about accessibility of accounting software, and experiences with inaccessible PDF documents.
Needless to say, the provision of accessible information to people with print disabilities both through libraries and technology is changing and evolving, but remains as a core part of our daily lives.
Susan Thompson Library Services and Information Access Working Group
The National Policy and Development Council meets face to face twice a year and also at national BCA Conventions. Outside of that the working groups meet by regular telephone meetings and use of a specific NPDC email list. I am the NPDC representative for Western Australia.
During the last six months the working group, which I chair, has:
We have also discussed a range of issues including:
If you would like any information about the topics listed here, or you wish to raise issues that can be considered by this Working Group, please contact me Erika Webb - erikaweb@perth.dialix.com.au 08 9401 6078 or the Blind Citizens National Office. - bca@bca.org.au 1800 033 660
Erika Webb, Chair, Transport and Environmental Access Working Group
The Employment Working Group consists of Theresa Smith (Chair), NSW; Terry Boyle, Qld; Rikki Chaplin, Qld; Kim Hand, SA; Kevin Murfitt, Vic; and Robyn McKenzie, Vic.
The Working Group is working on a number of projects. First it is conducting some inquiries into the Business Services (or workshops) operated in the various states to employ blind and vision impaired people. The Blind Workers Unions in the relevant states have been asked whether any of their members have reported any issues associated with working in the Business Services. To date, no issues have been raised. It has also been learnt that the Business Services do encourage their employees to seek open employment if they so wish, either by actively encouraging them to seek out employment opportunities, or by referring them to the services of the local blindness agency.
Second, the Working Group is continuing to develop an employment information page on the BCA website. The information provided by members has now been collated so will be ready to post to the site in the near future.
If you have any comments or issues you would like to raise with the Employment Working Group, please contact Theresa Smith by:
Mobile: 0427 434 720 or email: tsmith24@pobox.une.edu.au
Theresa Smith, Chair Employment Working Group
Over the past few months the Blind Citizens Australia National Policy and Development Council Education Working Group has been reviewing the BCA Education Policy.
A draft of the reviewed education policy is now with the NPDC for comment.
For several weeks now the Education Working Group members have been investigating the adaptive equipment schemes available to students who are blind or vision impaired in each state.
These investigations have turned up a selection of documents. The Education Working Group will collate these documents into a single document suitable to be commented upon.
There is still no word on the Disability Discrimination Act Education Standard. BCA is currently looking into ways it might speed up the process.
On the alternative format front, the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) has been meeting throughout the year. The AVCC working group has been looking at promoting standards for the transcription of material for print handicapped students. BCA has representatives on the Committee and is monitoring the progress of this work.
The NPDC Education Working Group of Karen Knight, Maree Brown, Michael Simpson, Vicki Alipasinopoulos and myself, would like to take this opportunity to wish Collette, our policy weaving wizard, all the best for the future. Although the Education Working Group is sad to see her go, we are excited for her, as she moves towards a new horizon.
Greg Madson, Chair, NPDC Education Working Group
Back to top of PageWe would like to thank all members who have generously donated to BCA recently. If you would like to make a donation to BCA, but find it difficult filling out forms you may like to call the National Office on 1800 033 660 and donate over the phone using your credit card.
Back to top of PageFor the first part of 2004, the Women's Branch and its membership has focused on strengthening its ties at a local level.
Already this year, one very successful event has been organised and hosted by the members of the Branch in Brisbane. A luncheon in honour of Karen Knight, the recipient of the Women's Branch "Aspirations" award was held in March. The "Aspirations" award was presented to Karen at the 2003 BCA Convention by the National Women's Branch for being an outstanding role model to vision impaired Australian women.
The luncheon was a great success, with over forty people in attendance. By all accounts, Karen's presentation on advocacy was to her usual inspiring standard and will soon be available to hear as part of BCA'S Horizons program, so stay tuned.
Sydney members are next in line to hold an event of a very different nature. Choosing appropriate clothes, hairstyles and make-up is often quite a confusing and difficult task; and feeling confident that one looks presentable can be very important for people's level of self-esteem. A "Colour Confidence" workshop is being arranged by the Branch for Saturday June 5. This will be an opportunity to catch up with old friends, make some new ones, and learn about the latest seasonal colours in cosmetics. It will be run by professionals from cosmetic company Nutrimetics. Any incentive products earned by the Branch on the day will be used for fundraising purposes at a later stage. If anyone is interested in organising a similar thing please contact the Branch for help with publicising it.
2004 being a year for State Conventions, we are hoping to involve members in sessions co-ordinated by the Branch in conjunction with some of the State Conventions. As the Branch Annual General Meeting was held in Sydney in 2002, it is hoped it will have a change of location this year, meaning that members from a different state will have a say. At this stage, Queensland is the front runner. Stay tuned for more information.
A new Branch committee was elected to office at last Convention. Once a committee settles into working together, the next task is to identify and prioritise the many objectives to work on to further the Branch throughout its term. This process has now been completed and we're all trying hard to bear in mind that aiming high is always a good thing.
Some of the areas of focus include:
The most effective vehicle we have currently for achieving information dissemination and communicating with members, is the Branch's quarterly magazine "Aspirations. It is a major project every three months, largely undertaken by our tireless editor Christine Simpson, and it is going from strength to strength. In fact, the Branch is hoping to set up an arrangement with a sister organisation, in another country in order to exchange articles and information about common issues of importance to blind women, and also issues specific to blind women in different countries. We are very excited about this development.
Finding relevant material for "Aspirations" is a constant challenge. If you would like to contribute to "Aspirations" or would like to discuss an idea, please do not hesitate to contact the editors.
It is a once off cost of $10 to join the Women's Branch for current members of BCA. For anyone wishing to join BCA and the Women's Branch, the total cost is $20.
For further details, contact Branch President Lee Kumutat on: Phone: (02) 46204873 or email the Branch at: nwb@bca.org.au
Back to top of PageMy first experience in working with blind people is occurring right now while I'm writing these lines. This year is my final year in the Bachelor of Social Work studies and as part of my course I was sent to do a work-placement of three months at Blind Citizens Australia.
To be honest, when informed of my work-placement I was mainly happy at the opportunity to gain experience in research, which is my main project here. As I have never been personally close to blind or vision impaired people, I was a bit afraid. I thought perhaps there are some special rules I'm not aware of or some kind of language I'm not supposed to use, such as saying: you see.
It is only my first week here, but I already feel better. Actually I'm even starting to develop a kind of inferiority complex, as it seems that the blind workers' memory is much better than mine so is their sensory perceptions, such as hearing. So who knows, maybe I'm the one who causes them uncomfortable feelings while they are not sure which language to use with me?
Just a few words about myself. I studied social work in Israel in the Tel Aviv University and did most of my work experience at the Arabic neighbourhoods working with multicultural population. I speak 3 languages: Hebrew, Russian and English, all three of them with various funny accents. I immigrated to Australia in 2000 and I'm now completing my degree at the University of Melbourne. I also work as a freelance writer, with particular emphasis on multicultural themes.
The current work placement is an exciting opportunity for me to become familiar with Australian social work and various human resource agencies; to overcome my own ignorance in regards to the issues concerning people who are vision impaired and to gain experience in research.
I will be conducting two research projects:
If you are a blind or vision impaired carer and you are happy to assist me, please contact me on 03 9372 6400 or via email: bca@bca.org.au
All I need is to conduct a personal interview with you. It can be done either in person in Melbourne or on the phone. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Back to top of PageFollowing is a list of all BCA Policy Statements, which can be found on our web page or obtained from the National Office in alternative formats on request.
BCA are also in the process of formulating a housing policy.
Back to top of PageCollections Management Assistant (Hampshire History & Historic Camera Collection), Hampshire County Council.
I have become interested in access issues as I am registered as blind and for many years have experienced access problems. Although my original qualifications are in the field of Product Design, I am now employed in a Keepership role at Hampshire Museums Service in the UK.
I visited Australia in 2003 on a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship, In order to see how well Australia has fared since the introduction of the Disablement Discrimination Act (DDA) in 1992. The UKs DDA (1995) Part III Service Providers comes in on the 1st October 2004. After this date all Museums and Galleries have to be "reasonably" accessible to visitors with impairments. Could the Australians help the UK in its quest for universal accessibility to its cultural institutions?
The three areas I researched into were Heritage Buildings (Listed Buildings in the UK), which have been converted to Museums and Galleries, Galleries and Exhibitions themselves and Website development.
I visited Museums; Galleries and organisations dedicated to improving the lives of disabled people in all the major cities. Perth; Adelaide; Melbourne; Tasmania (Launceston & Hobart); Brisbane; Canberra and Sydney. I realised very quickly that progress in the implementation of the Australian DDA in 1992 had been limited.
After studying my research I came to the following conclusions:
Australia has the problems of the "tyranny of distance", a smaller population and the three tiers of government not always agreeing on the outcomes of legislation. The UK does have central organisations looking into access issues such as MAGDA and the MLA.
Australia and the UK share both willingness to address issues of access and many of the problems in terms of finance and infrastructure that are inhibiting early implementation of the DDA. However the differences in population, area of land mass and the system of government make it unlikely that any scheme could easily transfer from one country to the other.
Back to top of PageFor people who live in Sydney this is to inform you about the Karate classes for people who are blind or vision impaired.
The classes are held three times a week in a Dojo located in Five Dock, Sydney. The classes normally run on Tuesday and Friday evenings, and Saturday afternoons.
The Seido style of Karate originated in New York in 1976, and was developed by the founder Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura, as a break away from the more traditional form of the self-defence martial art form of Karate. This style of Karate was developed with families in mind - our youngest member is 3 and our oldest 70. The training programs are tailored to suit your physical fitness level and our motto is "never give up". Seido means "sincere way" and this form of Karate focuses more on developing Spirit than techniques and strength.
Students of the style learn Katas - that is a combination of stances, punches, kicks, blocks and movements performed in a routine. You are also taught a range of self-defence strategies, and in higher grades you learn to spar.
The blind program in New York has so far seen 4 vision impaired people achieve the rank of black belt. Our blind program began in Sydney in 2001, and Karate has enabled me to develop more self-confidence, and to improve my physical fitness, strength and flexibility. It has also taught me that everybody has ability, regardless of disability.
For further information phone Miklos Farago on 02 9491 6829.
Or call the Karate Information Line 02 9715 2083. email: Blindprogram@seidosydney.com.au
Website: http://www.seidosydney.com.au.
Recreation is all about refreshing and reviving your spirits and your strength. This can of course be done in many ways. As my own interests have always been inclined towards the intellectual and aesthetic, rather than physical and athletic, my recreation time has predominantly involved such things as reading and listening to music. But a key component of recreation is participating in group activities. For a person who is vision impaired, much can be gained from the association with other blind and vision impaired people.
As is the case in other parts of the country, swish has been played in Geelong for many years. A small group of older people have been playing swish on Tuesday mornings at the premises of Vision Australia Geelong, formerly at the Pakington Street site in Newtown, and now at the new building in High Street, Belmont. The swish table was obviously one of Vision Australia's best kept secrets, as I only learned of its existence in mid 2002. I'd been aware of swish for a long time, as my older brother was a swish player in Melbourne in the late '70s and early 80s. But prior to 2002, I'd only played swish on one occasion in the mid '80s.
So when I heard about the swish table at Vision Australia, I was keen to check it out. Each Tuesday morning, a group of Vision Australia clients assembled in the Dorothy Simpson room at Illawarra (as the building was then known) to play swish as part of their day centre activities. From this group of swish enthusiasts I learned the finer points of the game. To my chagrin, however, there were no younger people playing swish in Geelong. Younger blind and vision impaired people in the region were probably unaware of this swish table's existence.
In July 2002, I suggested to the Vision Australia staff that there should be a swish group for younger people. Rather than wait for someone else to form this group, I decided to do it myself. The Vision Australia staff contacted some of their younger clients, and we had our first swish competition in October 2002. We decided that our swish group would have to meet in the evenings, in order to give people who were working or studying during the day the opportunity to participate. The initial turnout was small, but it was a start, something which we could build on. Slowly but surely interest in our swish group has increased. Currently, we are on the verge of becoming the Geelong branch of Vic Swish. We meet at Vision Australia Geelong, at 7 PM on the second Wednesday of each month.
Our group isn't just about playing swish. It's about being active, and having fun. Our swish evenings have been augmented by some moderate indulgence in wine and chocolates. As a group we've also had several outings, including our Christmas breakup parties at a popular caf‚ wine bar, as well as having dinner at various Asian restaurants. As the group has gathered more members, it has morphed into a social group which will provide a diverse range of social and recreational activities for blind and vision impaired people in Geelong. We've called our group Visability, and it is under the auspices of Vision Australia.
For blind and vision impaired people, particularly those living in a regional city like Geelong, recreational opportunities are scarce. In addition to encouraging blind and vision impaired people to attend gyms and other leisure facilities, it is important to provide recreational opportunities such as swish, blind cricket, and so on. Our group would like to establish a goalball competition in Geelong, as well as provide activities such as horse riding, rock climbing, tandem cycling, walks along the beach, ten pin bowling, and card games. All we require is for blind and vision impaired people to show their support, and get involved in these activities. Rather than waiting for others to provide these opportunities we, as blind and vision impaired people, should be taking the initiative and creating these opportunities ourselves.
Any blind or vision impaired people who are interested in playing swish, or who would like to get involved with the recently-established social group, should get in touch with Alice or Samantha at Vision Australia Geelong on 5249 2700.
Back to top of PageI've always considered myself to be a person who did not have time for recreation - I co-produce a weekly radio programme, I'm on a number of committees, and my various health conditions mean I have a lot less functional time in my day than the average person. Despite all of these factors, I now regularly play swish, an Australian-created sport developed by blind people for people of every level of sight.
It was the 25th of September last year when my friend Rikki Chaplin, who works at the Royal Blind Foundation of Queensland, called me about something to do with his work, and casually asked me at the end of the conversation if I was going to swish that night. Now I've known Rikki for over 20 years, so he's quite use to my sometimes overexuberant reactions to good news, but this time even he was a little surprised. I had not played swish since I left high school, and have been desperate to play again for years. I went to swish that night, had a wonderful time and, aside from a concert, a trip overseas, and one night when I was very unwell, I've played every week since then.
For anyone who's never heard of or played swish before, the analogy often used to begin explaining it is table tennis - it's more an analogy of parallels than similarities. Swish is indeed played on a table, but both long sides have a raised edge. The players use bats but they are rectangular rather than round. A ball is used but it's a little bigger, and has bells in it. And the table has a net, but the ball must be hit under it rather than over it, which is just as well since the net is really a tall piece of opaque board. One team or player stand at each end of the table, and they hit the ball from their end of the table to the other end and visa versa. The main way of scoring points is by hitting the ball to the other team in such a way so that they are unable to return it. The winner of the game is the first player or team to score eleven points or beyond with a margin of two or more. At competition level, three sets of games are played to decide the winner.
There are many things that really impress me about swish. One of them is that it's a game that both blind and sighted people can play and, even if a sighted person does not wear a blindfold, the net, and the speed of the game, mean that their sight gives them very little advantage.
Another thing that impresses me about swish and is really important to me, is that it's a sport that I can participate in fully without severe consequences for my health. Anyone who has chronic fatigue syndrome or it's relatives will be very familiar with the idea that CFS is not about "being tired all the time", it's having varying amounts of energy, and having to balance what you would like to do now with how it will affect your health later on. With swish, I can spend 3 hours a week playing games, and retrieving the ball when it goes off the table in other peoples' games, and know that the consequences for me are sore legs and feet for the next 24 hours, and needing to keep the next day relatively quiet. Before I got sick I did competitive swimming, blind cricket, and goalball, none of which I would be able to do today without exhausting myself for a week. Swish provides me with the opportunity to get back into competitive sport; something I thought I'd never be able to do again.
Something else that impresses me about swish is that, at the Brisbane Swish Club where I play, our weekly gatherings are always a good night out. The atmosphere is welcoming, people enjoy the games, and the standard of play is high.
There is one swish club in Brisbane and two in Victoria, and I would strongly encourage anyone who lives in those areas to go along to your local swish club and try it out. For more information on the Brisbane Swish Club you can contact Mark Muscat on 07 3254 0895. For more information on the Melbourne swish club you can contact Terry Carlson on 03 9885 8419. I even more strongly encourage anyone who doesn't have a swish club in their area to get together a group of interested people and start one. The more people playing, the more interesting our national tournaments, being held later this year, will be.
Back to top of PageArticles for the next issue should be submitted no later than Friday, 30 July. Articles should be sent to Blind Citizens Australia National Office, if possible in large print (16pt or larger) or preferably in electronic form (disk or email attachment).
If you would like to discuss your ideas for a possible article please call on 1800 033 660,or email bca@bca.org.au.
Back to top of PageMembers of Blind Citizens Australia and generous members of the public have, for many years, partly funded the work of BCA through donations and lotteries. In recent times a number of friends and members have also shown their support by leaving a bequest or legacy from their estate in a Will.
This kind of support is vital for our ongoing work and we encourage all members and friends to ensure that Blind Citizens Australia will be here to work for blind and vision impaired Australians in the future. BCA's advocacy to ensure that services and facilities do not discriminate against our members and other blind people has proved to be of enormous benefit to all blind Australians and we need to make sure that our work continues.
You can help by making a bequest in your Will. Please include Blind Citizens Australia in your Will by using the following wording:
"I give to Blind Citizens Australia the sum of (include sum both in words and figures) free from all duties or other taxes, whether State or Federal."
Back to top of PageBlind Citizens News accepts material in the following categories:
Information about new services, facilities or events of wide interest among blind and vision impaired people is accepted for inclusion within the news content.
Announcements, for sale notices and other advertisements from individuals and small non-profit organisations may be included in a "Notice Board" section, provided that they do not exceed 25 words and are targeted to a national readership. A charge of $20 will apply for each notice.
Advertising on behalf of government, commercial or community organisations that is considered to be relevant to the general readership will be included under the heading "Advertisements". Advertisers must provide a copy suitable for inclusion in all formats of the publication and the following rates will apply.
For greatest impact, why not consider sponsorship of an entire issue of Blind Citizens News? For $800 you will obtain:
A credit of up to 25 words on the front cover; 2 print pages for the sponsor's message (equivalent space in other formats).
Blind Citizens News is published four times a year and is now read by more than 3000 people with a direct interest or involvement in the services and facilities available to Australia's blind and vision impaired population. We circulate 980 large print, 1000 audio, 200 Braille and 50 electronic (computer disk and email) copies to members, libraries, service agencies, government departments and equipment suppliers throughout Australia. Blind Citizens News also appears in full on the internet website of Blind Citizens Australia.
Back to top of PageFor the latest information from Blind Citizens Australia tune in to Horizons on your RPH station, on a Community Station near you, or via the BCA website. 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 by Satellite.
Back to top of PageAdelaide
5RPH 1197 Khz
9.15 pm Wednesday,
repeated 6.00 pm Friday
Brisbane
4RPH 1296 Khz
7.00 am Friday;
repeated 6.05 pm Monday
Canberra
1RPH 1125 Khz
11.15 am Tuesday;
repeated 8.00 pm Tuesday
and 9.30am Saturday
Hobart
7RPH 864 Khz
1.30pm Friday;
repeated 5.15pm Saturday
Perth
6RPH 990 Khz
10.30 am Friday;
repeated 9.45 pm Saturday
Sydney
2RPH 1224 Khz
3.00 pm Wednesday;
repeated 8.15 pm Saturday
Victoria
8.30pm Wednesday;
repeated 6.30pm Sunday
on the following stations:
Melbourne RPH 1179 AM
Albury RPH 101.7 FM
Bendigo RPH 88.7 FM
Geelong RPH 99.5 FM
Mildura RPH 107.5 FM
Shepparton RPH 101.1 FM
Warragul RPH 93.5 FM
Warrnambool RPH 94.5 FM.