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 PageWell winter has hit well and truly for many of us and I hope this finds you all well and warm!
Once again, welcome to this edition of Blind Citizens News. In this issue we say goodbye to some staff, say welcome to others, and give you news about our National Convention. We also have some contributions from members and a summary of a report from the recently held World Blind Union Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly which was held in ShenZhen, China in March this year.
May 1 2007
Dear Editor,
It was a privilege for me recently when, following David Blyth's invitation to join his team members, I was elected to the BCA Board.
For all of us, including our Board, staff and every single member, we have quite a task at hand, but we shall achieve it and this will ensure we are able to provide the appropriate support for people who are blind or vision impaired.
It was also a great pleasure recently to be able to attend the BCA Transport Forum, where updated information and issues regarding access to transport for people who are blind or vision impaired were brought to the fore.
Those at the coalface who utilize and depend on public transport were able to question and impart knowledge to representatives of the train, tram, bus & taxi services.
Not only were some really tricky problems answered or referred on to higher authority, but also compliments were paid where staff went out of their way to assist us.
It was somewhat concerning to learn that braille & tactile signage would soon be only on the outside of taxis, which could pose a problem for those trying to identify a taxi whilst it may still be moving.
The sessions were so busy I found it difficult to get in a comment or question!
So to ask one now.
My question relates to delays on interstate trains pulling out of Melbourne.
My late friend Norm was the scheduled driver for the Southern Aurora due to pull out of platform 1 Spencer Street at 8.00 sharp on the night in question.
The train was ready, the 200 passengers were loaded, the doors closed, and the stationmaster was ready with his green flag to 'get the show on the road' with a 'let her rip Borris'.
At 7.55 pm Norm decided to nick over to the platform toilet for a quick relief just prior to departure of Australia's most prestigious gleaming stainless steel first class express. 8 o'clock came and went, an ambulance arrived and departed, and at 8.30 the train was still stationery at the platform whilst the stationmaster was trying to find a qualified driver prepared to change his plans for the next twelve hours or so, with a return run to Junee and back.
What had happened?
In his haste after abluting Norm had done himself a very painful bloodied injury with his Zipper!
Ouch! Ouch! It brings tears to the eyes thinking about it!
What are we going to do about these late running trains?
Regards to all.
Don Draffin.
Editor's Note: Thanks to Seeing Eye Dogs Australia for this contribution to News.
Sarina is my Seeing Eye Dog, she's not a normal pet,
Although she's fed on dog food and taken to the vet.
Sarina is a special dog of whom I'm very fond,
We are the very best of mates and we have a special bond.
When people distract her from her work it really isn't fair,
It's as though they're acting selfish and they just don't really care!
If they have eye contact with her and start to make a fuss,
I'm scared that one of these days I'll get run over by a bus!
When she's out of harness they give her too much attention,
When she gets too excited over other people I feel as if I'm losing her affection!
If only people would understand, if only they realised,
I depend on this dog for life and guidance, because she is my eyes!
Sarina is a working dog, she's not a normal pet,
Although she's fed on dog food and taken to the vet.
Editor's Note: Below is a response received from Vision Australia in relation to a Letter to the Editor in the last edition of News.
Dear Lisa
In response to your letter to the editor of the December 2006 edition of "Blind Citizens News" I offer you the following information. I hope that the information clarifies some of the issues you have raised in your letter.
Vision Australia Employment Services is funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to assist people who are blind or have low vision to gain and maintain employment. Vision Australia is one of over 220 DEWR- funded Disability Employment Network (DEN) providers operating throughout Australia.
As a condition of DEWR funding, jobseekers are required to undertake a range of assessment activities including a job capacity assessment, disability pre-employment instrument, Vocational Profile and Activity Agreement. Each of these assessments is a mandatory requirement of all DEWR funded employment services.
As a result of the Welfare to Work reforms implemented by the Australian federal government in July 2006, people who are currently employed are not eligible to receive job search assistance from a DEN provider. Only people who are unemployed are eligible to receive job search assistance from a DEN. As a result, Vision Australia, along with other DEN providers, has been placed in the unfortunate position of declining registration of employed people seeking assistance to look for a new job. The rationale of this DEWR policy decision is that job search assistance should be provided to unemployed jobseekers as compared to jobseekers who are currently in employment. Vision Australia is currently in discussion with DEWR about the unintended implications of this policy decision.
I would like to take this opportunity to confirm that Vision Australia provides the same employment services to people who are blind and people who have low vision. There is no separation of services according to level of vision.
There is no doubt that the accessibility issues faced by screen reader users are inherently different to the issues faced by text enlargement users. However, Vision Australia makes no distinction between the two types of adaptive technology users when delivering our services. In fact, Vision Australia Employment Services operating out of the Enfield site appointed a Marketing specialist so that employers could be approached proactively in order to determine accessibility of information systems prior to placing jobseekers with employers.
Yours sincerely
Chris Edwards
Manager, Service Partnerships
Vision Australia
There have been many changes in BCA since the last edition of BCA News. We have said goodbye to a number of staff and hello to a number of new staff. Our new Board has begun work to ensure the ongoing viability of our organisation and we have news regarding our National Convention.
As you all will be aware, BCA held elections for all positions on its Board earlier this year. I would like to thank all those who participated in the election process. We received 584 votes which I believe is an unprecedented number and highlights the passion and commitment to ensuring the future of our organisation. Following the tallying of all votes, the new Board comprises:
The Board has met on a number of occasions, including one face to face meeting, and is working hard to ensure that BCA continues to be the national peak representative body of Australians who are blind or vision impaired.
The Board has identified a number of tasks as priorities for the next six months and many of you will already have received letters requesting your support. The response to date has been heartening and we thank those who have already donated and encourage as many of you as possible to consider supporting the work of BCA. We have also received a number of new Pre-Authorised Credit Card (PACC) contributors in recent months and we would also like to extend our appreciation for their support.
Finally, work is also being undertaken to review our Memorandum and Articles of Association and our Strategic Plan. We will be updating members as this work progresses.
Once again, BCA will be holding its National Convention later this year. The venue for this year's Convention is the Hotel Ibis in Melbourne and we look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. We strongly believe this Convention should focus on rebuilding and reinvigorating the organisation so bring along your passion, your commitment and your voice!
Highlights of our Convention will include:
The Annual General Meeting will be held on the afternoon of Friday 19 October.
Please put these dates in your diaries and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in Melbourne. Further information will be made available on our website, in SoundAbout and in the information packs you will receive around the middle of August.
It is time for individuals, Branches and Organisations 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 is at a Branch or local level. Nominees do not have to be members of BCA.
Nomination forms and 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 contributions to the welfare of blind people and/or to BCA must be outstanding. Please forward your nominations for these Awards to the National Office, addressed to the attention of the Convener, BCA Awards Committee, no later than Friday 1 September 2007.
Well these months have indeed been a time of change for BCA. In March this year, Judi Potts left to enjoy the luxury of retirement and we wish her great joy and success in her undertaking. In May, John Power left to commence a role at Carers Victoria and we also wish him luck in this role. Finally, in June, Mary Latham left to take up a position at the Victorian Council of Social Services and we wish her all the success for her future. However, we have been very fortunate in obtaining the services of Leah Hobson, who many of you may have already met. Leah will be working as our National Policy Officer and we welcome her to BCA. Although we said goodbye to Alyena Mohummadally earlier this year, she obviously could not stay away too long! We welcome her back as our new Solicitor and Community Legal Education Advocate and look forward to her contribution to the organisation. Finally, we welcome Augustine Arogun as our new Finance and Administration Officer. Augustine commenced with BCA in May and you will get to meet all our new staff members later in this newsletter.
Back to top of PageWhat is the CRPD? *
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) is a landmark document. It was negotiated in less than five years and it has the potential positively to affect 650 million people with disabilities worldwide.
When was it opened for signature?
Australia signed the CRPD on the day it opened for signature which was 30 March 2007.
Who has signed? Who has ratified?
As at 26 June 2007, 99 countries have signed the CRPD, demonstrating a commitment to upholding the rights of people with disabilities.
If a country signs and ratifies the CRPD, they in effect have agreed to the legal obligations that the treaty contains. If a country signs a convention (treaty), they have demonstrated in good faith that they are planning on ratifying it.
However, to date there has only been one country that has ratified the convention so far, being Jamaica. As yet Australia has not ratified the CRPD.
When does it come into force?
As stated above, treaties come into force once governments ratify (which means formally agree to be bound by) them. The CRPD requires a minimum of 20 ratifications before it enters into force.
As a representative from a key stakeholder organization, I attended a workshop at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) at which the federal Attorney General stated that he would put the CRPD on the Standing Committee of Attorney Generals agenda when he next met with them in July.
The workshop produced a positive lobbying commitment, in which a goal was agreed to urge Australia to ratify the CRPD by 3 December 2008, the day being the International Day of People with a Disability. For a media release on the workshop, refer to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity website.
What do we do now?
The only way to make the CRPD a reality is to start and continue to lobby the state, territory and federal governments to ratify it. We need to keep the CRPD on the political agenda so we can affect change. BCA is committed to advocacy and is prioritizing this campaign.
* Please note the information in this article was sourced from
http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/facts.shtml
http://www.ag.gov.au
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/faq/convention.htm
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/word/workshop_communique.doc
During April last year, Prime Minister John Howard announced the government's intention to introduce a health and social services access card. Since this time, the development and implementation of the access card has gained great momentum. However, when the enabling legislation for the card reached the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee, it came under considerable scrutiny due to privacy concerns. The impact of this critique was significant. Reporters Annabel Stafford and Ken Nguyen noted the following in Melbourne's Age newspaper: "Legislation for the Government's controversial health and welfare Access Card will be withdrawn from Parliament after it was sent back to be redrafted by a cross-party committee over fears that it represented a threat to privacy" (The Age, 'Access Card vote halted by privacy doubts', March 16, 2007).
It is expected that the revised legislation, together with its adjunct privacy regulations, will be reintroduced into parliament later this year.
Before moving onto summarise BCA's advocacy work on this important issue, contained below for your information is an excerpt from the governments access card website. This extract covers some important information about the proposed card. It is important to note that the Access Card is not a mandatory card nor does it constitute a national identity card.
About the Access Card
The following is verbatim text taken from the federal government website: http://www.accesscard.gov.au/
"Information on the Card
It is proposed that your smartcard will have printed on it your name, your photo and signature, your card number and card expiry date.
Information on the Microchip
The smartcard chip is expected to include your name, address, details of children or other dependants, digitised photo, signature, card number, expiry date, gender, concession status and your Personal Identification Number (PIN).
You will be able to customise your smartcard by storing information such as next of kin details, details of drug allergies and your organ donor status. Voluntary information will be secured by your personally selected PIN, if you choose.
How will it work?
The card will be your key to receiving Australian Government health benefits, veterans' and social services. From 2010, you will need to present your card when dealing with an agency or provider of these services. Beyond that, it will not be compulsory to carry or show the card.
If you have children, their details will be included on your smartcard's chip. No financial information, health records or your Tax File Number will be on the smartcard, in the chip or held by the registration service. Your existing entitlements will not change". For further information on the Access Card visit: http://www.accesscard.gov.au/about_card.html
Throughout the development of the access card, and its enabling legislation, BCA has been advocating for the needs of people who or blind or vision impaired. When the draft legislation was open for comment during December 2006 and January this year, BCA made a formal submission to the Office of the Access Card. During February, the legislation entered parliament [Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007] and was passed by the House of Representatives. When legislation reached the Senate an inquiry into the bill was conducted by the Senate Finance and Public Administration Standing Committee. BCA made a formal submission to this inquiry. In support of this submission, BCA also delivered evidence to the committee's inquiry during their public hearings. A copy of BCA's submission to the inquiry can be found online at: www.bca.org.au/natpol/0703_BCA_Submission_Access_Card_Inquiry.html.
Alternative formats of this submission can be made on request by calling BCA's National Office toll free: 1800 033 660.
The issues BCA raised in its submission work on the access card include the following:
1. All public material relating to the access card, including promotional material, must be made available in accessible formats for people who are blind or vision impaired.
2. The access card and personal identification: Without access to a driver's license, people with a vision impairment are left in a disadvantaged position in the community when undertaking everyday tasks, such as applying for a home loan or passport. To aid our advocacy on this issue, the submissions recommended that the access card be given the same level of points as a passport, birth certificate and driver's license.
3. That the registration and application process to obtain the access card be accessible to people who are blind or vision impaired.
4. Card Design: The access card needs to be distinct in its size, shape, tactile and visual appearance to enable people who are blind or vision impaired to distinguish it from the mass of cards people who are blind or vision impaired use in their daily lives. However, these specific needs for the blind and vision impaired community should be commonly embedded features applied to all access cards. To apply these special needs of the card only to blind or vision impaired recipients will only increase the stigmatisation of the blind and vision impaired community. BCA has been consulting with representatives from the Department of Human Services on these design issues.
The required legislative framework which will allow Government to implement the Access Card has been held up through Senate inquiries. It is also important to note that two elements of the proposed legislation have now been brought together. If you would like to bring yourself up to speed with the proposed legislation you could access the documents listed below.
The four documents below- about 400 pages in all, are now available in HTML and in audio (MP3 and DAISY files.) The Department of Human Services will hold the audio masters in order to duplicate them upon request.
The Office of the Access Card can be contacted on 131 792 or you can email accessibility@humanservices.gov.au. Please ensure that you ask for the documents by name as set out above.
This is my final contribution to BCA News as I have accepted a policy position at Carers Victoria. I want to say it has been a pleasure to work on BCA's policy issues and advocate on behalf of the membership over the past three years. I wish the organisation all the best for the future. You will find Leah Hobson, the new appointee to the position of National Policy Officer for at least two days a week, a pleasure to work with. Leah has been working with me in a volunteer capacity for the past year and has demonstrated a keen passion for people who are blind or vision impaired and a strong skill base in policy development. Please welcome Leah to the position.
Back to top of PageHi everyone,
My name is Leah Hobson and I'm the new National Policy Officer at BCA. I've come into this role after a year of volunteering with BCA under John Power's supervision - some of you may have seen the 'Safer Streets' document I was involved with.
My professional background is a mix of research in the community and public sectors and administration work here, there and everywhere. I've been involved in the disability sector as a volunteer since I started university back in 1998, and I'm currently the Vice President of the Australian Deafblind Council.
I'm really looking forward to hearing your thoughts about what's important for people who are blind or vision impaired today. Remember, even if you're not willing to pursue a policy-related issue that crops up in your life, it can be useful for me to know about it.
Firstly, we can keep track of which issues are cropping up most often. That helps us to choose what we focus on, and it also gives us valuable ammunition if we're seeking funding or arguing for political change. Secondly, it's always helpful for a Policy Officer to have a stash of case studies! Case studies can give people a better idea of how an issue affects people in the real world. You can offer your experiences as a case study anonymously if you wish.
Please feel free to get in touch if there's something you want to talk about, either by emailing me, calling the office or dropping me a line through the feedback form available on the BCA website at: http://www.bca.org.au/natpol/member%5Finput/
I should probably say welcome to myself to this wonderful organisation BCA. Many of you would have heard or spoken with me on the phone, I am the new Finance and Administration Officer.
Just a little bit about myself, I am originally from Nigeria (The giant of Africa). I stayed four years in Hong Kong (the pride of Asia) and finally in Australia (the lucky country). Very funny, isn't it? Except do not think I am nomadic.
I have worked in so many industries both in Australia (now home) and abroad. I was involved with an organisation called Christian Solidarity Worldwide where I did some research on religious persecution, mainly on Nepal.
Although I have been involved with a few charitable and not for profit organisations, but BCA to me is unique. Why do I say this? As you unleash your skills, you also learn along the way about the ethos of the organisation.
What more? I am a Christian and still studying. I love playing keyboard in the church.
I do hope that our time together will generate unbeatable resources. With your blessings, as ideas unfold, we shall put them into operation for the augmentation of the purposes of the organisation.
Back to top of PageEditor's Note: We will feature profiles of the other BCA Directors in the next edition of News.
My name is Barry Chapman. I was born and have lived all of my life in Sydney. I have an early onset form of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), which means I always had impaired vision, unlike many with RP who don't notice the first signs of sight loss until their late teens or even later. In my younger days I had quite useful sight, but now I am virtually totally blind. I have two sisters, one of whom also has RP.
I started my schooling at the local school in Wiley Park where I grew up, but by the age of nine, it was thought I would be better off at the school for the blind at Wahroonga. When this school closed in the early sixties, those with no sight or very little sight went to the North Rocks school for deaf and blind children, whilst those with usable sight went to units attached to various local schools. I transferred to the unit at Kingsgrove North High School.
After leaving school, I began looking for work, but it took some time before I found something. My sight had started to deteriorate noticeably at this time and I undertook mobility training. I also learnt to read Braille, something I had not needed until then.
My work for the first few years involved some process work and a short time in the office of the Royal Blind Society.
In 1970, I was fortunate to get a job in computer programming with the NSW public service. I remained with the public service in various aspects of computing until my retirement early this year. From 1972 to 1976 I studied part-time at the NSW Institute of Technology, where I gained a Diploma in Information Technology.
Screen reader programs such as JAWS didn't exist when I started in computing, so I had to rely on various ways of accessing information. This included a form of braille produced by placing a strip of rubber across the print hammers of a standard impact printer and having a computer program which produced braille characters using the print full stop. I also had to rely on some sighted assistance for reading. In the latter years, I used JAWS and needed very little sighted assistance to do my work.
I first joined Blind Citizens Australia in 1977, when the organisation was in its infancy. I have served in various capacities including a previous stint as a Board member, a member of the National Policy and Development Council and have served for many years as the Treasurer on the Sydney Branch Executive. I have also provided technical support for the recording of items for SoundAbout in New South Wales since it began in this state.
Even though I have retired, I still spend quite a lot of time on the computer surfing the web, reading emails and listening to audio. I am also doing some part-time computer tutoring at the Association of Blind Citizens. The rest of my time I plan to spend supporting the work of BCA in various capacities and enjoying my retirement.
I am married to Barbara with three adult children and two grandchildren. I was educated at Trinity Grammar, Scotch College, Swinburne Technical College & the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind.
In 1960, I commenced an apprenticeship leading into a cadetship with General Motors Holden, during which I achieved a State Award for Craftmanship.
In 1967 I joined my father and younger brother in the family manufacturing business. We now make street & parkland furniture and employ about 40 people.
Current positions held.
My external community involvements as well as BCA include Committee positions with the Knox Council on disability & transport. I am also a member of the Vernier Engineers Society, was in Rotary for over 20 years, and have been a former Director of both Vision Australia Foundation (VAF) and the RVIB. VAF involvements included: Chair of the Tilly Aston Council & member of the 3RPH Operations committee.
My hobbies include railway heritage & book reading. I try to read two books a week. For about 15 years, I have been visiting community groups like Rotary and Probus, talking about coping with ageing & sensory loss.
I was born in Wynnum a bayside suburb of Brisbane and have lived in Brisbane all my life. I have a congenital condition called Reigers Syndrome: the eyes develop glaucoma, have smaller than normal corneas and iris malformations. I am the youngest in a family of five and none of my siblings have the condition.
I attended Wynnum Central State Primary School and it was on a routine visit by the school nurse that my poor vision was detected. After many visits to specialists my condition was diagnosed at the age of twelve.
I attended Wynnum North State High School until Year Twelve and during that time I had repeated surgery on my left eye and finally lost it to glaucoma at the age of twenty. Although I performed well at school I had little career direction and upon finishing school worked in a variety of jobs doing office work (those were the good old days when resumes and selection criteria were foreign words!)
I married Ramon in 1975 and we have three children: Nicholas, Anne-Marie and Marisa. During all this time I had stable vision of 6/12 and never thought of myself as vision impaired. At the age of thirty-nine the battle to save my remaining eye began: multiple glaucoma surgery and repeated corneal grafts were ultimately all to fail and I have been totally blind since 1998.
I joined BCA in the early 1990's mainly to get information about life as a blind person but it was not until I attended my first state convention in 2002 that I became active in the organization. I have been a Brisbane branch committee member for several years and have been branch secretary for the past two years as well as being on the organizing committee for two state conventions.
I have been employed by the Queensland Eye Bank since 1999 as a donor Family Liaison Officer and am an avid reader, enjoy cooking and entertaining. Attending live concerts and theatre and travelling with my husband.
I have a strong belief in the worth of BCA and as our son has inherited my condition my goal is to be a positive role model for him and to promote the issues of blind and vision impaired people in the community.
My name is Frank Nowlan, and I live in Melbourne, and have done so all my life. I am married and have two adult children [both boys]. I lost my sight when I was four months old, as a result of complications from measles.
I attended the Royal Victorian Institute For The Blind, and then Christian Brothers College East St. Kilda. I then went to Melbourne University, where I obtained a Law Degree.
I worked as a lawyer in the field of legal aid, specialising in family law, (chiefly divorce), and criminal law, where I acted as solicitor for people charged with murder and manslaughter. I found this work both fascinating and challenging, but after 13 years of legal work I decided it as time for a career change. I took a job in the Melbourne Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, where I was Director Of Investigations. My last job before retiring was with the telecommunications regulator Austel, now known as the Australian Communications And Media Authority, where I spent over 11 years, heading up their Consumer Protection area. I came out of retirement to work In the BCA National Office, where I spent several months as Executive Officer.
I have had a long association with BCA, and served as the inaugural Chair of the Victorian Advocacy and Information Committee. I have many interests; among them are operating my amateur radio station, and listening to music. I also have several keyboards which I love to play. I spend too much time surfing the Internet and playing with computers in general. I find science fascinating, and love learning about science-related matters, I also greatly enjoy good food, good wine and good company.
I think this is an exciting time to be serving on the BCA Board, and I hope to play a part in making BCA more effective so that more members will have their needs and wants addressed. As a grass-roots membership-driven organisation, BCA cannot succeed in achieving its aims without a high level of member support and involvement. To this end I believe we need to work to find out what members want and expect of BCA and how we can best involve our members in attaining our shared goals.
Back to top of PageBlind Citizens Australia's National Convention is fast approaching and this year it will be held in Melbourne. The National Women's branch will hold its annual general meeting at convention and you will find a notice regarding this in the Winter edition of our newsletter, Aspirations. If you are interested in running for a committee position, please contact the branch. There are no prerequisites in standing for a position except that you be a woman and a full member of BCA.
For the past few years the women's branch has presented its Aspirations Award to a woman who possesses unique qualities and has shown resourcefulness and made a difference to her local community or the blind community in general. The Aspirations Award is presented at the branch AGM and I encourage you to read the notice and send us your nomination of a woman who you feel is deserving of such an award to acknowledge her achievements.
The BCA-Womentalk email list has been flourishing with discussion around topics for our convention session and other tidbits. The committee has decided to pose a focus question to the list so that members can freely discuss areas to do with the branch, BCA and other issues.
In the Autumn edition of Aspirations and via the list, the committee asked members to choose one out of three ideas to assist in choosing a topic for our convention session. Feedback has been positive and we have chosen to run with the session on Nonverbal Communication. Thank you to all those who provided us with responses and I hope you will become involved as the planning unfolds.
The Women's Branch has been asked to advertise Pathways to Parenthood - A resource guide on parenting. It has been produced by the NSW Network of Women with Disability (NNWwD) and mentions one of our publications "Kids are Fun for Everyone" as a reference. A summary of the contents of the publication appears below:
"We have developed a "one stop" information resource for women and men with disability who are considering pregnancy and parenthood. This guide includes both mainstream and disability-specific resources that can be of benefit to parents [to be] with disability and chronic illness - along with websites, books, DVDs, support groups, personal stories, and where to access (plans on) modified equipment for parenting.
We are producing this resource in the following formats - a 270 paged printed handbook, a text-only CD, a large font size CD, a text & graphics CD, an electronic format, and a Braille book."
We will provide you with details of where this publication can be obtained once it is available. In the meantime, if you wish to contact the Women's Branch President Jordie Howell at nwb@bca.org.au
Back to top of PageFollowing the 2004 federal election, various agencies such as Blind Citizens Australia, made representations to the government to provide facilities for voters who are blind or vision impaired to be able to have accessible voting so that they could cast a secret and independent vote.
In August 2006, the federal government provided funds for a trial to be conducted in a limited number of locations around Australia for the next federal election.
The Australian Electoral Commission has developed a voting machine that is designed specifically for people who are blind or vision impaired. The machine has headphones that assist the voter in navigating each "virtual ballot paper". A telephone style keypad is used to make selections. For those with some sight, the voting machine has a 21 inch screen. The text can be increased in size and the background colours changed to suit individual preferences. When the voter has completed voting, the voting machine will produce a print out. In order to keep the voter's preferences secret, the preferences will be hidden in a barcode. These printouts are then placed in the ballot box and decoded after the election.
Voting will be available in pre-poll voting centres for two weeks prior to and on polling day. Pre-poll centres that are equipped with voting machines will be located in each capital city or a venue nearby and at other regional centres.
Your support and feedback in this trial will be vital. The locations of the pre-poll centres will be announced closer to the election. For more information please contact Catherine Poyner on 02 6271 4575.
Electors who are blind or vision impaired and will not be near a site involved in the trial have the option of casting an assisted vote at a polling place on election day, an early vote at either a pre-poll voting centre, or voting by post.
Back to top of PageEditor's Note: Due to the size of the report, it has been decided to include a brief summary of the Assembly and the communiqué which was circulated at the conclusion of the Assembly.
| 21st - 24th March, 2007 | |
| Shenzhen, China | |
| Prepared by: | Robert Altamore |
| Andrew Daly | |
| Kevin Murfitt | |
| Nadia Mattiazzo | |
The Assembly attracted delegates from 16 Countries in the Asia Pacific Region. The Women's Forum was conducted during the Assembly and a separate report is available on this.
Items to note from the Assembly include:
At the conclusion of the Assembly a communiqué the "Shenzhen Statement" was released.
SHENZHEN STATEMENT
World Blind Union-Asia Pacific
Mid-Term Regional Assembl
We, the participants of the World Blind Union-Asia Pacific, one of the six regions of the World Blind Union which acts and speaks on behalf of blind and vision impaired people, gathered at its Mid-Term Regional Assembly on 23 March 2007 in Shenzhen City, People's Republic of China:
After the success of the BCA Victorian Metropolitan Public Transport Forum, planning is underway to hold an additional forum in Geelong in mid to late September. This forum will focus predominantly on regional transport issues. For more information regarding this forum, please contact the National office on (03) 9372 6400.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council wants to improve the information it provides to residents who cannot read standard-size print.
If you know anyone who has a vision impairment and requires Council news and information in large print, audio, email or other formats, please ask them to contact Council's Public Relations Unit on 5422 0302 or email elonm@macedon-ranges.vic.gov.au
Services include:
Guide Dogs Victoria hosts the largest residential orientation mobility facility in Victoria, suitable for Guide Dog Clients and those wishing to train with a long cane. Facilities include private room accommodation (with ensuite), a communal lounge and dining room, as well as full catering services for residential training programs. Guide Dogs Victoria is flexible in its training approach, also offering to help on a domiciliary basis with those needing general assistance with their mobility. Instructors are willing to travel extensively throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Thousands of people have had their lives transformed by the general mobility training and Guide Dogs services provided by Guide Dogs Victoria. Over the last 50 years, nearly 5,000 vision impaired and blind citizens have received services from Guide Dogs Victoria. This year, the 7,336th puppy was born and staff and volunteers have spent more than 600,000 hours training Guide Dogs over the past 50 years. Amazingly, the distance walked while training our dogs would reach further than the moon and back, over 800,000 kilometres!
The passion, dedication and commitment of the staff is as deep today as it ever was. Guide Dogs Victoria will continue to innovate and expand services to ensure that the vision impaired and blind people of Victoria have the opportunity to enjoy independent, safe and mobile lives with dignity and an excellent quality of life.
For assistance with your mobility call Guide Dogs Victoria
Ph: 9854 4444
Guide Dogs Victoria, Chandler Highway, Kew
Visit www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au
Audio Books Direct online bookshop is a great source of popular and hard to find audio titles. Its website www.audiobooksdirect.com.au lists many thousands of Australian and overseas titles on cassette and CD. About 2000 are on MP3 CD, many of which are formatted for Daisy players. You can order over the website or by phone, fax or mail. For more information email customerservice@audiobooksdirect.com.au, phone 02 62592835 or write to Audio Books Direct PO Box 162 Kippax ACT 2615.
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 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 PageArticles for the next issue should be submitted no later than Friday, 16 November 2007. 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 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.
Full page (320 words large print) $375
Half page (150 words large print) $200
Quarter page (70 words large print) $105
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 twice a year and is widely read by people with a direct interest or involvement in the services and facilities available to Australia's blind and vision impaired population. We circulate 870 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.
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