87 High Street, Prahran VIC 3181
Tel: 03-9521-3433 or 1800-033-660
Fax: 03-9521-3732
TTY: 03-9521-1200
email: bca@bca.org.au
Web Page: http://www.bca.org.au
Blind Citizens Australia: the united voice of blind and vision impaired Australians. Our mission is to achieve equity and equality by our empowerment, by promoting positive community attitudes, and by striving for high quality and accessible services which meet our needs.
COPYRIGHT: Reproduction of articles appearing in Blind Citizens News is permitted, provided Blind Citizens News and the author(s) are acknowledged.
Large Print ISSN 1321-0343
Audio ISSN 1321 036X
Braille ISSN 1321-0351
Lynne Davis
Welcome to the winter issue of Blind Citizens News. At the time of writing it's wintry and wet in my part of Australia - just the weather for a good read, in fact, so I hope you will find plenty to interest you in this issue of Blind Citizens News.
We received lots of positive feedback from the last issue, and I'm pleased to be able to publish a selection of readers' letters in this issue. Please keep the responses coming - after all, it's your newsletter, so make your voices heard. Many readers let us know how much they gained from the article by Fiona Woods in the April issue. You'll be pleased to know that Fiona's baby son, Sebastian, was born in early July and both Fiona and Sebastian are in fine shape.
Another of our members and former Councillors, Graeme Innes, was moved by Fiona's article to write his own account of a crucial issue in his life as a blind person. In this issue, Graeme discusses his decision to acquire a dog guide, and I think you'll find his article thought-provoking.
A couple of years ago I, too, wrote a piece for Blind Citizens News about my decision to use a dog guide. My situation was different from Graeme's, as I had never really used any other mobility aid with great proficiency and I still had quite a bit of useable (if unreliable) sight. What really surprised me, though, was the response to my article - it was republished in many places, including on the Internet and in a number of countries and languages, and I still occasionally receive letters from people about it. Independent mobility and an accessible environment are such important issues for most of us: these are themes which are taken up in several places in this issue, and will also be central to this year's Convention in Melbourne.
I'd like to invite other readers to take up their writing implements and
reflect on issues of importance to them in their lives as blind and vision
impaired people. Judging by our readers' responses, these
contributions are enjoyed and appreciated - and what better place to
have your say?
For a number of years now Blind Citizens News has been pre-eminent throughout Australia in its delivery of news and information in the field of blindness and vision impairment. However, I am moved to take to my keyboard to congratulate you and Blind Citizens Australia on the excellence of the last couple of issues.
Of course, all of the regular informative features were still there - reports from Michael Simpson and Bill Jolley, and other information on activities (both of Blind Citizens Australia and the field generally). But they were also enhanced by several most thought-provoking articles which made it more difficult than usual to turn off my computer (I read the publication in electronic form) to go and do other things about the house.
I found Fiona Woods' article particularly stimulating - I read it twice and have filed it for later re-reading. Fiona, thank you for your frankness and clarity of thought on what must be a very difficult issue with which you and your family have to deal. Whilst not having had to consider the question of heredity myself, as a recent parent I can imagine how many families would greatly benefit from the sharing of your experience.
I hope that others will follow your example, as more such thought-provoking material can only improve what is already an excellent newsletter. I have taken up the cudgels myself in this issue.
Lynne, please keep guiding and goading us to greater efforts - the results are well worth it.
Graeme Innes, New South Wales.
Having just visited your website, I had first better express my gratitude to you all, for making it so speech friendly. I find these options to email a great thing. So often the work of Blind Citizens Australia goes unremarked, simply because you keep achieving things that make life easier; sometimes we forget to express our appreciation for those who continue to fight for equity.
On the same lines then, I'd like to pass on my appreciation to Fiona Woods for the excellent contribution she made to the recent Blind Citizens News. I think we need more of a forum for people to air their opinions and concerns, their ways of getting around the various challenges that we all face. As someone who had Retinoblastoma myself, I found Fiona's story particularly interesting; the issues she touched on from her own personal life in regard to whether or not to have children, how she coped with Felicity's diagnosis, etc. are all matters of great concern in my life as well. However, her article also had much wider appeal; I am sure all of us would share in her trepidation about how she will cope with three young children; some of us might even have suggestions for her. It is evident however, that Fiona meets most challenges head on, and although I have never met her myself, I am sure she is a most remarkable woman.
I also found the reports on the Women's Seminar in Sydney most encouraging. I'd love to see one take place in Melbourne.
Louise Pearson, Victoria
A couple of items near the beginning of the April News have caused me a good deal of concern.
In a publication for blind people, which invites contributions from its readers, I don't believe that Braille should ever be excluded as a medium for sending these contributions. It may be the only medium which some members, particularly those who are deafblind or elderly, can easily use. I understand your difficulty, and will willingly transfer any Braille contributions to disk for your convenience.
My other concern is with the title Blind Citizens Australia. As a common usage name, I see that it makes the task of answering telephones easier for the staff, though I can think of no other occasion on which its brevity is a real advantage. But if this is to be the official name of NFBCA as the Executive Officer states, then we should look at it very carefully indeed.
Those of us who were born in Australia and were born blind, have been Blind Citizens of Australia all our lives. Those who came to this country, were granted citizenship and either before or later became blind, are also Blind Citizens of Australia. No organisation, federation or association has the right to bestow this title on any of us. It is ours already. As we know, there are many blind and vision impaired people in this country who do not choose to join any blindness-related organisation. This is their democratic right, and they are as truly blind citizens of Australia as we are. If, however, we give our time, talent, financial contributions and interest and concern to an association, organisation or federation, we should feel a part of it, a member of it, and its title should reflect this.
I am proud to state, at roll call in a conference, that I am a member of the National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia. I am also proud to be a blind citizen of Australia, but these titles mean two very different things.
Diana Braun, New South Wales.
Michael Simpson
Phone: 02-9715-1450
Email: simpso@ozemail.com.au
Winners and Losers
In this issue of Blind Citizens News I have decided to take a "good news - bad news" approach. Hence the "winners and losers" title. The only problem with taking this approach in the written form however is that you, the reader, have no choice in which you read first. The decision to give you the good or bad news is totally in my hands.
To get things off to a positive start I thought I might turn to good news first and give you the results of the Rotary Community Lottery.
Congratulations to all six winners. First prize went to Dawn Dickinson, South Tacoma, second went to Don Ross, Oatley, third to Karen Francis, Orchard Hills, fourth to Andrew Rankin, Oatlands, fifth prize went to Terry Atfield, Cessnock and the sixth lucky winner was B James, Epping. I am sure they all got a thrill with the "good news" phone call and that they will all enjoy their prizes. Congratulations also to Mr Jon Dingle, Tabourie Lake, who is the winner of the special draw which was open only to members of Blind Citizens Australia who purchased or sold one full book of tickets. Mr Dingle was a great supporter of the Lottery selling seven books and he is the lucky winner of $500 worth of Philips electrical appliances.
You might think then that the rest of us who bought tickets in the lottery should consider ourselves as losers. The reality is however that we are all winners because the lottery raised over $14,000 for Blind Citizens Australia, which was support we desperately needed. I would like to thank all of our members who contributed to the lottery and particularly those who volunteered to sell tickets. We would not have achieved such a good result if it had not been for the time and effort these members put in.
There is further good news on the horizon with winners to be announced at this year's Convention for both the David Blyth Award and Blind Citizens Australia Certificates of Appreciation. The David Blyth Award is presented to someone who has worked to improve the quality of life of blind and vision impaired Australians. Certificates of Appreciation are awarded to individuals who have given outstanding service to Blind Citizens Australia over time. Nominations for both awards are open until Monday 14 September and further details or nomination forms can be obtained by contacting the National Office.
The bad news is that only one person can win the David Blyth award and a maximum of two people are presented with Certificates of Appreciation each year. The competition is tough, but the winners from past years have been truly deserving of the recognition.
Convention this year is shaping up to be a tremendous event. It will take place in Melbourne from Friday 2 until Monday 5 October, and will be preceded by a conference for blindness agency staff on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October. By now you should have received your Convention notice and I encourage you to be there even if you can only make it for part of the time. It's your opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new ones, discuss issues which affect blind and vision impaired people and take part in Blind Citizens Australia's decision making process. You can even have your say on the proposed formal change of the name of our organisation from National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia to Blind Citizens Australia.
Further good news is that by Convention 98 Blind Citizens Australia will be in a position to produce Proof of Personal Identity (POPI) cards. Blind people in Australia have been asking for an identity card for some time and we have now worked our way through the tricky issues of eligibility, validation, information requirements and what points the card would be credited with under the Financial Transactions Reporting Act (FTRA).
The FTRA is the Federal Government legislation which determines the number of points you must attain when opening bank accounts or dealing with large financial transactions. It is under this Act and through the Federal Attorney General's Department that we have negotiated the points value which our identity card will carry.
The card, which will include a photograph and signature of the card holder, will be able to be used on those occasions where we are often required to present a driver's license as proof of identification. The bad news is that the equipment and computer software for producing and managing the cards will cost Blind Citizens Australia around $10,000. So if you have a spare $10,000 in your back pocket give Bill Jolley a call. I could do without another plastic card in my wallet but I'm looking forward to using this one which has many winning qualities without the downside of bank interest or overdraft.
So what's the bad news? The bad news is that we are further than ever from achieving our vision of a restructured blindness agency system in Australia which provides equality of access to services for all blind and vision impaired people. I made comment in my article in Blind Citizens News in January this year that we had been working through the Committee of Australian Blindness Agencies (CABA) to bring about some rationalisation and possibly mergers of blindness organisations. This group of agencies which formed in 1993 specifically to look at opportunities for closer cooperation and merger is now likely to collapse.
Its only claim to possible achievement is that it formed the Australian Braille Library Service (ABLS) which was supposed to provide seamless access for Braille readers to the full collection of Braille books held in participating agency libraries. The ABLS was launched just over two years ago and despite consistent requests from blind people the service still cannot provide an up to date Braille catalogue to borrowers. This is just one of the service's failings. Blind Citizens Australia had great hopes that CABA might have been the vehicle for bringing about positive change but it has failed to deliver. One of the problems from the outset was that CABA consisted of only a handful of the total number of blindness agencies from around Australia. Blind Citizens Australia recognised this as a concern as it meant that many agencies were left out, but we gave it hope because it did include most of the major agencies. From an initial meeting of some agencies in 1993 CABA formed with the Guide Dog Association of NSW/ACT, Royal Blind Society of NSW, Royal Society for the Blind of SA, Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia, Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind and Blind Citizens Australia as members. Through the years however the shape of CABA changed with the Guide Dog Association of NSW/ACT and Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia dropping out in early 1994, and the Association for the Blind joining in 1996.
Around Australia we have at least eighteen blindness agencies with annual budgets in excess of $1,000,000. It was estimated in a 1993 report which lead to the formation of CABA that the total expenditure of blindness agencies in Australia was in excess of $100,000,000 per year.
The vision was that through bringing agencies together we could utilise resources more effectively and focus on service delivery rather than maintaining costly management structures. Millions of dollars each year go into duplicating administration and management activity such as accounting, marketing, corporate services (purchasing and personnel management), and senior management. Just imagine what could be done through a simplified structure where we had a national vision, a national approach to fundraising, a national approach to policy and planning, a national approach to the allocation of resources to ensure that blind people have access to a full range of services no matter where they live, and a national approach to the governance and management of services where blind people played a senior role.
The reality is however that this is still a long way off. CABA is in imminent demise. The national structure of the Guide Dog Associations has collapsed, with the Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia no longer operational. Guide Dogs Associations from some states are looking to buy dogs from overseas. Three of the dog guide organisations have just come out of a Federal Court battle which is estimated to have cost $250,000. The cost may be doubled if there is an appeal to the High Court. These funds will come out of the pockets of the agencies and therefore out of the funds raised to provide services for blind people. Merger discussions between blindness agencies in South Australia are falling apart. Tripartite agreements between Victorian blindness agencies are being ignored. Most agencies around Australia are continuing to work with disregard of each other.
One positive note is that Royal Blind Society of NSW and Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind have decided that it may be more achievable to cooperate or merge through bilateral arrangements. Given that multilateral negotiations have failed, I think this is a positive move. However, it has been done without any reference to Blind Citizens Australia. We are looking forward to meetings in September, where we should have more of a formal involvement.
The disturbing fact in all of this is that we as individuals who are blind or vision impaired, or we as Blind Citizens Australia, have little say in blindness agency matters. Out of the eighteen agencies mentioned earlier with an expenditure of $1,000,000 or more each year, only one has a Chief Executive Officer who is blind and only one has a Chief Executive Officer who is vision impaired. Out of the estimated fifty-five to sixty second line managers across these agencies there is only one who is blind. I believe strongly that this has a negative effect, and is one of the reasons why we have not moved any further ahead with mergers or national cooperation. I believe that to have strong involvement of blind and vision impaired people, both at Board and Management level, positively enhances the culture and philosophy of blindness agencies.
Blind people are the only losers out of the problems we face with the current structure and management of the blindness agencies, and it is up to us to turn the tide.
Blind Citizens Australia, has the respect of most blindness agencies for representing the views of blind and vision impaired people in a considred and reasoned way. Bill Jolley, as our Executive Officer, and I have good working relationships with most Chief Executives and Agency Board Presidents, but we can only do so much. It's also up to each and every blind and vision impaired person, member of Blind Citizens Australia or not, to play an active role.
All of us can help to shape the future of services to blind and vision
impaired people. Through our combined efforts and through working
to bring blindness agencies together, we can create a winning service
system which the next generation of blind and vision impaired people
will be proud of.
Bill Jolley
Administration Matters
In June we held separate meetings of the Board of Directors and the National Policy & Development Council. The Board met on Saturday morning, and the Council met on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
We were saddened at the June meeting of the Board to receive the resignation of Doug McGinn due to ill-health. Doug is recovering well, but slowly, and we hope he will be active in our organisation before too long. In his short time on the Board and the Council Doug was starting to make a valuable contribution, in the midst of a steep learning curve, and promising to be a strong leader of the organisation in the years to come.
Under the Articles of Association of Blind Citizens Australia it should be the Board rather than the Convention which fills casual vacancies arising from resignations. The Board has decided at its special meeting in July to follow this procedure this year. Furthermore, the Board will invite the Convention to ratify its decision to leave the two places on the Board vacated by June Ashmore and Doug McGinn vacant, at least until the 1999 Convention. This is consistent with the direction suggested for the organisation in the discussions about our Future Development; that the size of the Board should be reduced and the role of Directors be more sharply focussed, whereas there should be scope to increase the size and the representative capacity of the National Policy & Development Council.
Our work is progressing well to revise the corporate identity of Blind Citizens Australia. Thanks to the advice and professional skills of Cato Design, we have adopted a new logo with new corporate colours.
Directors and Staff are delighted with the new look, and we are sure that new matching stationery will portray a very modern and professional image for our organisation.
Directors are very pleased with the take up of Blind Citizens Australia as our common usage name. They have decided to propose a formal name change at this year's Convention. On behalf of all Staff I am very pleased with this decision and we hope that Members and Delegates will approve the name change from "National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia" to "Blind Citizens Australia" at the Convention. The new name is easily understood and conveys information about who we are and what we stand for. The new name is clear, succinct, easy to use over the telephone and easy to write down on forms. I'm sure that people generally have no idea of the extent to which our formal name has to be abbreviated when we fill in forms or when we register as customers of businesses. As your leaders and your hired staff we are doing our best to further the Objects of Blind Citizens Australia and to improve the general situation of people who are blind or vision impaired. Please give us the tools with which to do it, such as a short, clear, marketable name.
The "Options for the Future" discussion paper of the Future Development Working Party is now available in your preferred format from the National Office. The Working Party examined various aspects of the structure and functioning of Blind Citizens Australia, and has developed proposals which form the basis of the Discussion Paper. Whilst the Board has supported the development of the Discussion Paper and has encouraged its wide distribution and discussion among the membership, the proposals in the Discussion Paper have not been discussed or endorsed by the Board.
Projects
We are working hard to find clever ways of getting our work for people who are blind or vision impaired done through projects. We are pleased that the Government is continuing to fund the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Standards Project, hosted by Blind Citizens Australia. We are delighted that its appreciation of the work we have done and the importance of the project has been reflected in a 25% increase in funding to $105,000 for each of the next two years.
August to October is an important consultation period for DDA Standards. For transport there is the Regulatory Impact Statement on the Draft Transport Standard which will be used to inform the Federal Government in its decision whether to adopt a DDA Standard on Transport. There is also a Regulatory Impact Statement concerning the changes to the Australian Building Code which will bring its provisions closer to the requirements of the DDA. In the latter part of the year there is to be a Draft Education Standard. This one will be very important for us, and I hope we can use this opportunity to identify Braille as the default literacy medium for blind children; so that they only use print exclusively, if it can be established that they will get no benefit from using Braille.
We have received a grant of $100,000 from the Department of Communications and the Arts for a one year project for Telecommunications and Disability Consumer Representation. This project will provide consumer input into telecommunications forums and consultations with the government, industry bodies and telecommunications companies on behalf of people with disabilities. This is another example of where we are working in the wider disability sphere, whilst ensuring that the specific needs of people who are blind or vision impaired are addressed.
We have received a grant of just over $37,000 from the Office of Disability to assess the impact of Digital Television on blind people, particularly with regard to the scope to have voice-over announcements to supplement what are currently vision-only announcements. This is because there is greater flexibility for targeting information to the user's specific requirements over digital television, compared with the present analog television broadcasting technology.
We have received a grant of $50,000 from the National Office of the Information Economy under the AccessAbility program to investigate the impact of Electronic Commerce on people who are blind or vision impaired. The project will investigate online financial transactions, such as over the Internet or the telephone, and the use of Smart Cards. The Federal Government and many businesses are looking to the Internet as a medium for customers to make claims for payment into their bank accounts or to pay bills by credit card or direct debit from bank accounts. Smart Cards are plastic cards containing a computer chip, which present both opportunities and challenges for people who are blind or vision impaired.
Other Developments
We are pleased to welcome Aileen McFadzean back to regular work, following a year off to have a baby. Aileen is settling back into the national advocacy role quickly, as if she'd never been away. Isabel Anton leaves at the end of August, having filled in for the year whilst Aileen was away. Isabel goes with our very best wishes to a job with the Victorian Department of Human Services, and I take this opportunity to thank Isabel for her dedicated and professional work for Blind Citizens Australia and the people whom we serve.
We've had some sickness during July, with Cheryl Gration and Rose Ross being away for several weeks. Both of them are now back at work and feeling much better, so we hope that they both keep well as spring time comes upon us.
We are making good progress with the identity card. We might even call it the "Blind Citizens Australia Card". We hope to unveil the card at the Convention. It will be distinguished by a rectangular hole near one corner, and it will carry the bearer's photo, name, birth date, address and signature. You might wonder why so much information. Well, it was the explicit direction of the Convention that the identity card must have the same identification value as a driver's licence. We can achieve this almost - the only thing is that it will carry 25 points not 40 points under the Financial Transactions Reports Act - a provision of the legislation that we cannot change.
The identity card will substitute for a driver's licence where photo-ID is needed for every-day tasks like hiring a video, paying by cheque, getting a mobile phone, collecting airline tickets, etc. We haven't worked out the details exactly, but we think that the identity card will cost about $20 and be valid for three years. It will only be available to members of Blind Citizens Australia and, since applicants will be required to provide their Disability Support or Aged (Blind) Pension Number, it will serve as proof of legal blindness.
We are sponsoring the VIP-L discussion group on the Internet. This group is administered by Tim Noonan, and it has been necessary to find a new host computer and to find an organisation to meet the costs. The costs are not high, and through Blind Citizens Australia I was pleased to assist. This is a new means of promoting discussion on common issues such as access technology. To subscribe to VIP-L go to our webpage at www.bca.org.au and follow the links and instructions. Alternatively, send an e-mail to Tim Noonan, tnoonan@softspeak.com.au.
I would like to remind everyone that Blind Citizens News is now
available in electronic form: on disk, by email or from our Web Page.
Please contact Cheryl Gration in our National Office if you would like
to receive Blind Citizens News on disk or by email and we shall arrange
it for you.
Graeme Innes
One of the questions I have been most frequently asked during my adult life is "Why haven't you got a dog?" My flippant response is that I'm training a guide parrot, which will sit on my shoulder and give me directions. I haven't used that one very often, but when my son heard it once he was so taken with the idea that it has become a family legend.
The idea that all totally blind people use dog guides must rate very highly on the pop chart of community misconceptions. As readers of this newsletter would know, the facts are quite different- I don't have the exact statistics but the percentage is small. However, as with any situation that is a little bit different, dog guides stand out and are remembered.
In a few months this annoying question is not one with which I will have to deal. Whilst making no claim that my views in deciding to apply for a dog guide are "right", I thought they may be of interest to other readers of Blind Citizens News.
I applied for my dog through the Guide Dog Association of NSW & ACT. I chose them because they are based in the city in which I live, and because I have been very satisfied with other orientation and mobility training which I have received from them over the years. Also, several conversations which I had with one of their instructors assisted me to make the final decision (but more of that later). I am in no position to make a comparative judgment of this organisation against any others which train dogs, as I have no experience of any. This article is therefore not a recommendation for any organisation, but rather a sharing of my experiences.
You would have gathered by now that I have applied for the dog, been assessed and been approved. I am currently awaiting advice that my dog is ready. This first article details my experiences so far - the next part will be written several months after the dog arrives. And who knows - there may be a third part a few years down the track. I have always been a good independent traveller and, whilst not dismissing the value of dog guides for those who choose to use them, I have never placed myself in that category. "I can get around quite well myself, I don't need one" has always been my position. However, I have come to appreciate in the last few years that my independent travel has been at a cost - I can travel independently, but it takes a lot of concentration, and causes a degree of stress. At the end of a long working day this is the last thing that I need.
Also, I am often frustrated when trying to find a particular place, or to navigate through new or less familiar areas. This means that I tend to avoid visiting such areas myself, or when I can't avoid it I tend to walk more slowly and hesitantly. If I am running late, the stress which this causes is only increased by the frustration of having to slowly and carefully navigate through an unfamiliar street or building. My work is done in many different venues, and requires me to be fairly mobile, so this is a frequent occurrence.
If I'm out with my family or friends I tend to stay with them all the time, rather than finding a coffee shop while my son spends hours playing what to me are mindless video games. Our outings would probably be enhanced if I felt a little more independent. So, is there an answer to the ever-increasing taxi bill, and the complaints from family that I am always too tired to do things? Can I remove some of my frustrations while travelling, and make family outings more enjoyable for all by having just a little more independence? Perhaps the answer is a dog guide.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly why or when I came to this realisation, but I think it was about two years ago. I observed a number of friends and acquaintances using dog guides, and started to consider a dog as an option for myself. I also spent some time with an orientation and mobility instructor whilst learning to use a Mowatt Sensor.
I frankly discussed my thoughts - both positive and negative - with her. She was astute enough not to try to "sell" me a dog guide, although she clearly expressed the view that I would be a good user of one. During our conversations some of the advantages were outlined, and I learned more about the process. She planted some seeds in my mind, and left me some issues to consider. At that time I was not ready to make my decision, and I think that she realised this. However, she assisted me along the path without pushing too hard.
I have outlined the positives, and on their own they are persuasive. But I had a few other issues to consider. My independence and recognition as a competent and capable member of society are things that I highly prize. I also work hard to have people interact with me, not with my disability. I have observed many people with dog guides over the years, and seen that often it is the dog, and not the person, who draws the attention; it is the dog which becomes the main topic of conversation. This may not be an issue for other people, but because of my approach to life it is something that would annoy me intensely, and I wondered whether I would be able to tolerate it, or change it?
I wrestled with this question for some time. I discussed it at length with my family, and with people I knew and respected who were dog guide users. I also spent time discussing it with the same orientation and mobility instructor who understood my concern. Most of their answers confirmed my worst suspicions. Whilst they did not always share my view about the unacceptability of this behaviour, they confirmed that it was a very regular occurrence.
I am not a lover of animals. I have nothing against cats or dogs, and had several pets when I was growing up. However, as an adult, I have always taken the view that the inconvenience of pets (the feeding, the mess, the smell, and what you do with them when you are away from home) was not worth the benefits of companionship, fun, etc. This again is a personal view. It means that the benefits I would gain from having a dog guide would have to outweigh the responsibilities that I would be taking on - feeding, grooming, walking and looking after an animal. I will respect my dog as a close workmate, but only because it helps me to achieve easier mobility, not because of a love of the animal for its own sake.
I wasn't sure whether I wanted to add extra responsibilities to an already busy life. I walk a fair amount, particularly after moving recently to a house some fifteen minutes walk from the railway station. So I wouldn't have to do much extra walking to exercise the dog adequately. But I would need to feed the dog, ensure it was toileted, regularly groom it and make sure that it kept fit and well. I spent lunch with another guide dog instructor quizzing him about all of these responsibilities in some detail. Finally, could I and my family put up with the doggy smell in the house? Clearly, a dog guide is an inside animal. Would its presence, including any smell, intrude on the life of my family and myself? I did not want to dismiss this issue lightly because - unlike a strong cooking or other smell which can be removed by opening a window, using a deodoriser, or by the passage of time - this dog was going to be near me for most of the next ten years. I was also conscious of bringing a dog into a home which is as much that of my wife and two children as it is mine. Whilst after our discussions they assured me of their support, I knew that there would be an impact for them, and this was another factor for consideration.
Life often requires us to make compromises. I finally decided to make one and applied for the dog. The positives outweighed the negatives. The next steps were easy. I had an assessment which went for a couple of hours, and included the completion of a form by my doctor. Soon after that the approval letter arrived.
My next problem was negotiating the training. I did not want to live in Melbourne, or out near Campbelltown in Sydney, for four weeks. Firstly, I could not bear to be away from my family (particularly my ten month old daughter) for that length of time. Secondly, I do not have the luxury of annual leave in my current job - if I don't work I don't get paid. I just could not afford to take a block of time as big as that without any income.
This again was something I was able to negotiate. The orientation and mobility instructors who did the assessment told me that a domiciliary program could be arranged, and that I could fit my dog guide training in around my work commitments. I was impressed that the organisation was able to tailor its service to meet my needs.
Now I just have to wait, something that I don't find easy. When I
make a decision I like immediate gratification. But some time in the
next few months I'll receive a phone call, and about four weeks after
that I will meet my dog. I know that the adjustments in my orientation
and mobility won't be easy, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.
The next part of this article, three or four months after the dog's
arrival, will chronicle my progress.
Bill Jolley
It is our pleasure to host the 24th Annual National Convention of Blind Citizens Australia in Melbourne this year. It will have been sixteen months since the last Convention, because the end of the financial year was changed from March to June, so we are looking forward to a great Convention and to meeting friends old and new. In fact, it is seven years since we last had a National Convention in Melbourne. The Convention will be held at the Park Avenue Motor Inn, 441 Royal Parade, Parkville, from Friday October 2 to Monday October 5. More details are included in the formal Convention Notice for 1998, which was mailed to all members in their preferred format late in July. The Convention will be packed with features to interest members and colleagues from blindness agencies.
We have planned a seminar for service management staff of blindness agencies, which will be held at the Park Avenue during Thursday and Friday preceding the Convention. It will be opened by the Victorian Minister for Youth and Community Services, Dr Dennis Napthine.
The National Women's Branch will hold a breakfast for women on Friday morning, featuring a distinguished guest speaker. The Branch's AGM will be held later in the weekend.
The Convention theme is "Access: the Key to Equality".
On Saturday we shall concentrate on access to information, technology and telecommunications.
On Sunday we shall concentrate on access to the built environment - pedestrian safety, tactile and visual signage, indoor facilities and audible traffic signals.
We are offering to assist younger members to attend their first Convention, by subsidising travel and accommodation costs.
We plan to have some distinguished guest speakers, including a Federal Minister to open the Convention, but we will not be overloading the program with long speeches. The emphasis will be on feedback and discussion through demonstrations and workshops.
The Convention will also include some social events. We hope to have the Convention dinner at the MCG, including a special hands-on tour. We shall host a welcome function for first time attendees on Friday evening. We also plan to have a barbecue one day for lunch.
The Horizons Seminar for agency staff will feature:
The Convention will be held in the week after the football finals, which is the last weekend of the school holidays in some states. This means that twenty-one day airfare discounts will probably not be available. To get fourteen day discounts at flight times convenient to you it will be necessary to book as early as you can.
The Convention serves as the AGM for Blind Citizens Australia, so there are some matters to be dealt with. These are detailed in the Convention Notice, and are summarised below for your convenience.
The Convention Program will include presentation and discussion of the Annual Reports, discussion of resolutions and other items of policy or management of Blind Citizens Australia, any proposed changes to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and election of Directors.
Only Individual Members of Blind Citizens Australia (Members) and the previously notified delegates of Branches, Class A and Class B Organisational Members (Delegates) can vote at Convention. To participate (except as a registered Postal Voter), Members and Delegates must complete the official registration form. They must also pay, in advance, the prescribed registration fee of $120.00 for full registration (including Convention Dinner) or $35.00 for each day or part day attended (no charge for Friday). The separate dinner charge is $40.00.
During the past year the Council of Blind Citizens Australia has operated as two distinct forums, currently made up of the same people: the Board of Directors and the National Policy and Development Council. This reflects the dual role of Councillors in Blind Citizens Australia: to carry out the duties of management and governance as company directors, and to lead the organisation's policy and development work. In discussing formal matters it is therefore appropriate to refer to the Board and to Directors.
It may be presumed that for the time being the members of the Board will constitute the members of the National Policy and Development Council, although the Board and the Convention have greater freedom in constituting this Council than they do in constituting the Board itself. The structure of the Board is fixed by the Articles of Association. Further coverage of this matter is contained in the Future Development Discussion Paper, which is now available from the National Office on request to Members, Branches and Organisational Members.
An election, if required, for the office of President and Chair of the Board will be held on Saturday October 3. The term of office is two years. The retiring President, eligible for re-election, is Michael Simpson.
Elections, if required, for five Elected Members of the Board will be held on Sunday October 4. The term of office is two years. The retiring Directors, eligible for re-election, are Robert Altamore, Lynne Davis, Karen Knight, Joan Ledermann and John Simpson.
There are two casual vacancies on the Board, following the resignations during the year of June Ashmore and Doug McGinn. The Articles of Association provide that casual vacancies resulting from resignations are filled by the Board, although it has been customary in Blind Citizens Australia to allow casual vacancies at the time of the Convention to be filled by the Convention for one year terms. This year the Board has decided not to do that, and further it has resolved to leave those two Board positions unfilled until at least the 1999 Convention. The Board will invite the Convention to ratify the decision to leave the two places on the Board unfilled during 1999. This decision was made by the Board in the knowledge that one of the clear directions emerging from the Future Development Working Group discussions is to reduce the size of the Board of Directors whilst increasing the size and representative capacity of the National Policy and Development Council.
An election, if required, for the Representative Member on the Board will be held on Sunday October 4. The term of office is one year. The retiring Representative Member, eligible for re-election, is Leighton Boyd.
More details about eligibility and the nomination process are given in the Convention Notice. Board nominations must reach me as Company Secretary at the National Office by 12:00 noon on Friday September 18. Please note that this is a different arrangement from previous years. Nominations will close two weeks before the Convention, rather than on the morning of the day the election is to be held. This will give Members and Delegates more time to think about who they wish to vote for, and will allow the poll to be open for longer than merely a morning tea or lunch break. It will strengthen the democracy within Blind Citizens Australia; and the change is necessary if, in the future, we decide to introduce postal voting for the election of Directors.
All proposed resolutions and draft policy statements must reach the Office by Monday, September 7. The deadline for proposed changes to the Memorandum or Articles of Association has passed.
One resolution proposing a change to the Memorandum of Association has been submitted by the Board. It proposes a formal name change for the Company from "National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia" to "Blind Citizens Australia". The formal resolution has been circulated to all members.
Members not attending the Convention may exercise a postal vote on any resolution proposing an amendment to the Memorandum or Articles of Association. Members must register their request to exercise a postal vote by advising me, as Company Secretary, in written form at the National Office by Friday September 11. Voting papers will then be mailed to all registered Postal Voters by Friday September 18. Completed voting papers must then be returned by 2.00pm on Friday October 2 to the National Office.
The Convention is not only for members of Blind Citizens Australia, although the event belongs to members. In recent years we have been pleased to welcome new people, including staff of blindness agencies. This is the most significant gathering of blind people in Australia, and it's a great opportunity to get information, to make a contribution and to have a good time.
I look forward to seeing many people there. For more information,
contact our National Office on 03-9521-3433 or 1800-033-660
for members outside Melbourne.
Members of Blind Citizens Australia, aged 20 to 27 years, wishing to attend their first Convention can now qualify for financial support to offset travel and accommodation costs, under the Leadership 2000 Program. Speaking about Leadership 2000, our President, Michael Simpson, has said: "We are concerned that younger people who are blind or vision impaired have few chances to mix with one another, to learn from each other's experiences and to address the issues which are important to them. Through Leadership 2000 we shall encourage up to eight young people to come to the Convention, where they will be able to share their experiences and ideas and contribute to the future of our organisation."
Through Leadership 2000 we will meet the travel and accommodation costs for Convention attendees who:
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their request by Friday September 11, and we will then confirm travel arrangements based on the applicant's preferences and the best available discount fares.
We shall also meet accommodation costs, according to a twin share arrangement, but all meals and other costs are the responsibility of the individual. The applicant must pay a full Convention registration at the time of application. If the application is unsuccessful and the applicant does not attend the Convention, the registration fee will be reimbursed in full. Application guidelines are available from Cheryl Gration in the National Office, together with details of Regional Branches.
Leadership 2000 provides a great opportunity for younger members of
Blind Citizens Australia to attend their first National Convention and to
be part of the future of our organisation.
This report is a joint contribution by myself and Peter Johnson. Peter is the Council member with responsibility for transport and access issues. Blind Citizens Australia has policy statements on public transport, pedestrian safety and audible traffic signals. You can obtain these policy statements by contacting the National Office. I encourage Branches and members to obtain copies of these policies, and to use them in their work locally on transport issues. These policy statements can be used as the basis for submissions to local authorities and transport providers on access and transport issues.
A lot of work is being done at the local level on transport issues and
we would be pleased to hear from Branches and members about their
work. One of the useful roles this regular column can play for us is to
provide a forum for sharing our experiences and successes in working
for accessible transport and an accessible environment. As an example
of initiatives at the Branch level, the Sydney Branch has recently
prepared a comprehensive submission on bus travel. Buses are an
important part of the transport system both in big cities and smaller
towns. I would encourage members and Branches to think about bus
transport in their own areas and talk to their local providers about how
the bus service can be made more accessible for blind and vision
impaired people. Copies of the Sydney Branch submission on buses
can be obtained by telephoning the Branch on 02-9744-7366.
This is my first contribution since I replaced June Ashmore on the Executive Committee, and I want to discuss Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSI's). Most people will know these as tactile paving or just tactiles. Blind Citizens Australia recently set up a Transport and Access Committee to look at issues from a national perspective, and the first of the problems to be put under the microscope was TGSI's.
There are two distinct types of tactiles and each of these has a specific purpose.
Finally, all tactiles must be easily detectable by people with low vision. They must contrast with the surrounding area in which they are laid, not blend in with it.
In order for TGSI's to be of benefit to blind and vision impaired Australians we must have a minimum standard and consistent application of the standard. One of the main problems from our point of view is that the relevant authorities throughout Australia have been given differing advice as to what is required when laying TGSI's.
"How can I help?" I hear you all crying! If you know of any Tactile Ground Surface Indicators being laid in your area, or if you are being consulted about the laying of TGSI's, please ensure that before any work is started Blind Citizens Australia is consulted. If we are all to benefit from TGSI's we must ensure that they are used correctly.
For any clarification or queries you can ring Ivan Peterson in our
National Office, or myself, Peter Johnson, on 08-9222-6777 (work) or
08-9309-1664 (home). For those attending the October Convention
in Melbourne, it is hoped to hold a workshop on TGSI's (ie. where and
how they should be used), and so I look forward to seeing as many of
you there as possible.
Leighton Boyd
The issues raised through my regular contact with the Organisational Members continue to centre on Access and Transport. We are addressing these issues at the appropriate forums and are hopeful that some of them may be resolved in the near future.
One new issue which has arisen recently has been the access of blind and vision impaired people to the new telephone feature "Calling Number Display". Discussions continue to be held with Telstra, but at this stage there has been no progress.
Another issue which is being monitored in Victoria is the ability of the "Visiting Teacher Service" to provide adequate support and services. Because of the cut backs in funding by the State Government. I recently attended a meeting at the Department of Education's Statewide Vision Resource Centre (SVRC), with Maryanne Diamond, chairperson of the Victorian Coordinating Committee, and Ivan Peterson from Blind Citizens Australia's office. We discussed a variety of issues and resolved to conduct a survey of parents, to ascertain what services they required and what support Blind Citizens Australia could provide. It is also our intention to support the work of other Visiting Teacher Services, in a similar way, in the future.
My profile in this edition will be of the Statewide Vision Resources Centre. The Victorian Department of Education's Statewide Vision Resource Centre (SVRC) supports approximately 500 students with a vision impairment enrolled in schools or pre-schools. Some of these students are also supported by the Visiting Teachers (Vision Impairment).
A student's eligibility to access the SVRC and Visiting Teacher Service is established by the Educational Vision Assessment Clinic. The SVRC provides a range of Professional Development including:
Educational materials, including text books, class handouts and leisure reading, are produced in alternative formats to allow the vision impaired student to access the curriculum. As well, the SVRC maintains a specialist lending library of materials for use by visiting teachers, students, school personnel and families. Materials include teacher references, teaching materials, variable speed cassette players, Braillers and reading stands. Internet access is also available.
Senior students with a vision impairment receiving Visiting Teacher support are eligible to apply for special consideration for examinations. Staff from the SVRC are involved with assisting the student to determine their special requirements and in the coordination of such arrangements. The SVRC is also responsible for producing alternative format examinations on behalf of the Victorian Board of Studies.
Staff at the SVRC maintain a knowledge of developments in the education of vision impaired students through constant contact with similar agencies throughout Australia. Visiting teachers in particular keep in contact through newsletters and professional development activities.
The Visiting teachers (Vision Impairment) are based in schools throughout metropolitan and country Victoria. These schools fall into nine regions with the number of visiting teachers in each region determined by the respective Regional Managers.
If you are interested in talking to people working in the area of vision impairment and education, you might like to join a discussion group via the Internet called "Vision Impairment Chat". This has been recently established to allow educators of students with vision impairment, and those with an interest in the area, to share ideas and information. In order to register as a participant, all you need do is go to the homepage at http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au, click on the words "Discussion groups" and follow the directions. After registering you will find the "Vision Impairment Chat" site under "List Discussions" on the main menu.
The Statewide Vision Resource Centre is situated at
360 Springvale Road,
Donvale, Vic, 3111.
Phone: 03-9841-0242.
Fax: 03-9841-0878.
I look forward to continued input from Organisational Members on any
issues or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me at home on
03-9434-3832, by fax on 03-9650-5088, by email on
boyd_family@msn.com or through
the National Office.
Isabel Anton
Improving Service Delivery by Ophthalmologists
During the 12 months I have been employed as Advocacy Officer at Blind Citizens Australia I have heard many accounts of members' experiences with ophthalmologists. They can play a critical role in the lives of blind and vision impaired people. In particular, their comments and opinions can influence the way a person views their vision impairment, and the impact it can have on their life.
Many people have spoken highly of their ophthalmologists and we acknowledge that most of them bring a high level of expertise, dedication and compassion to their jobs. However, there is always scope to improve service delivery. As consumers, we can play a part in this endeavour by providing ophthalmologists with feedback. Therefore, we are inviting members to write to us with relevant comments and suggestions about how ophthalmologists can improve the way in which they do their work.
When we receive your responses we propose to collate them and use the information to write to the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists outlining the consumer perspective. Mr Jim Belshaw, Chief Executive Officer of the College, has welcomed this initiative so that we can work together to improve service delivery by ophthalmologists. Ms Pam Waugh, a member of Blind Citizens Australia, will be assisting us with this project.
Please provide your responses to this invitation by 30 September 1998. The response must indicate whether or not the information provided to us is confidential. Responses should be sent to the National Office marked "Ophthalmologists Survey". Members who require assistance with their responses should contact Pam Waugh on 02-9869-2018. We encourage as many members as possible to participate in this project so that we can ensure our discussions with the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists are representative of all our members' views.
Impact of Compensation on the Blind Pension
I am writing this article to alert members to the possibility that their entitlement to the blind pension may be affected if they or their partner receive a compensation payment. This applies to people in receipt of the Disability Support Pension (Blind) and people in receipt of the Age Pension (Blind). The rules which apply are very complex and confusing, so I have only given an overview of the situation. These rules are not new and affect only a very small number of blind pensioners but it is important that members are aware of them.
The types of payments which can affect the blind pension are those made for lost earnings or lost capacity to earn. They are usually paid as a result of a workplace accident, a car injury or injuries received from the negligence of another person. For example, compensation or damages paid under worker's compensation schemes, motor vehicle third party schemes and personal injury claims can affect the blind pension. Compensation payments for pain and suffering do not affect the blind pension.
In some cases, payments under a personal accident or insurance policy or income replacement insurance policy can also affect the blind pension.
Different rules apply depending on when the compensation was received and whether the compensation is in the form of periodic payments (such as weekly payments) or a lump sum. There are provisions for the compensation provisions to be disregarded in special circumstances, but this is difficult to establish.
Periodic Compensation Payments
In most cases people who are already on the blind pension will not be affected if they receive periodic payments of compensation. This is because, if a person is already receiving the blind pension when the accident, injury or illness which results in the payment of compensation occurs, compensation in the form of periodic payments is assessed under the ordinary income test. As the blind pension is free of the income and assets tests the blind pension will not be affected.
However, if a person applies for the blind pension after their entitlement to periodic compensation payments arises, their blind pension may be affected. In these cases, the fact that a person's partner receives periodic compensation payments can even affect the person's entitlement to the blind pension.
Lump Sum Compensation
Compensation paid in a lump sum is treated differently. In these cases, Centrelink applies a formula to determine a period of time within which a person is not entitled to particular social security payments (this is called the preclusion period). A person is not entitled to the blind pension during the preclusion period. It does not matter whether the person was already receiving the blind pension when their entitlement to a lump sum compensation payment arose.
Conclusion
This is a very complex area of law. It is made even more difficult because the law keeps changing. For example, the Federal government recently announced that from July 1999 an income test will be applied to some lump sum payments for pain and suffering. Thankfully, these changes will not affect the blind pension.
The government argues that the rules in relation to compensation are
required to prevent people from double dipping, that is, from obtaining
compensation for economic loss from more than one source.If you or
your partner are seeking compensation for economic loss you should
obtain advice about how it will affect your blind pension. As outlined
above, the law governing the effect of compensation payments is
complex and keeps changing so you cannot rely on the information
contained in this article. If you are in this situation, you should obtain
advice from your solicitor or from me by calling the National
Office.
Diana Braun
The full title of this branch, which we do admittedly shorten in common usage, is "The National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia Women's Special Interest Branch". The branch has always warmly welcomed new members. We know we need their input, and are very willing to help and encourage them in any way that we can. What we are NOT is anti-men. Our branch's first Treasurer was Michael Simpson, and he did a good job of it too. My own husband, Leo, was also one of our first members. If you are not a member of the women's branch and would like to join it, please contact our Treasurer, Mrs. Joan McCann, PO Box 546, Port Pirie, SA 5540. The cost of joining the branch is $10, payable just once.
There have been a few changes since I last wrote in Blind Citizens News. Our efficient secretary, Janine Sadhu, has had to resign from her position. We are very grateful for all she has done for the branch since June last year. Erika Webb and Robyn Stephens will jointly act as secretary till our next Annual Meeting at Convention in October. Thanks, both of you.
Our bookshop has been dismantled, and we are not running a women's book club this year. I'm sorry about the latter, but it was hard to find suitable books, and not many people were interested in joining the book club. The titles left in the bookshop were either bought by branch members or donated to libraries. We held a conference in Adelaide last year prior to Convention. This time we plan a women's breakfast, probably on the Friday, and have invited a guest speaker. Costs and details will be announced when we know them and have talked with the Convention planning committee. We also need to hold our Annual Meeting during Convention, hopefully at a time when no other meeting conflicts with it. Please come along if you possibly can, and think about where you want this branch to go, and if you would wish to join our Executive.
In a recent Horizons interview, I talked with Neville Kerr about our latest cassette project. It's called "Women, the same only different" and was originally produced in Sydney with a small grant from the NSW Department for Women. Our object was to portray blind women as they really are, not as the stereotypes so often shown in the media.
Seven women were interviewed by Fiona Woods or by me, and we hoped to broadcast the resulting documentary on the ABC. This did not happen, for reasons I won't go into here, but we have now produced the interview programme on cassette, with the invaluable editing assistance of Dale Simpson of Information Alternatives, and are selling it for $15 per copy, in its own Braille and print label folder.
Unlike our other cassettes, "Home Nursing", "Parenting" and "Women
and Leadership", this tape is aimed not at you, who know already that
you are different from the blind
people you may have encountered in "A Country Practice",
"Prisoner"
and the like, but at the many sighted individuals in this country who
have never met a blind person, and believe what the movies and
television tell them. Please help to spread the word. Buy a copy of
"Women, the same only Different" and having listened to it yourself,
give it away. If you happen to know anybody working in the media,
you have probably already changed their opinion of blind people, but
maybe they in turn will pass it on. Those interviewed include Lynne
Davis, Joan Ledermann, Patricia James, Sue Thompson, Joan
Heckman, Mariana Saens, and Lee Smith. We are really very proud of
this production.
We have just posted our second "Women In Touch" for this year. A
copy was sent to a lady in Jordan, thus we now have 11 countries
receiving the magazine. This was our first issue in which four women
did the interviewing. They were Joan McCann, Pam Crothall from New
Zealand, Joan Heckman and me. If you would like to know who we
interviewed, you will need to subscribe to "Women In Touch." Our
treasurer will be happy to hear from you.
The Paralympic Games will be held in Sydney from October 18 to 29, 2000. Several members of Blind Citizens Australia recently attended a seminar held by the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee (SPOC), and we thought our readers might like to share some of the information provided there.
The first Paralympic Games were staged in Rome in 1960, with 400 athletes from 23 countries competing. Only wheelchair athletes competed in those games. Since that time, the games have grown dramatically, both in size and in the variety of athletes competing. Vision impaired athletes participated for the first time in the Heidelberg Games in 1972.
The Sydney Paralympics will include 18 sports, with 4000 athletes from 125 countries competing. Fourteen of the 18 sports are also played in the Olympic competition: unique to the Paralympics are goalball, boccia, powerlifting and rugby. Most sports will be played at Sydney Olympic Park (now under construction). Cycling, equestrian, sailing and shooting will be held at satellite venues within 30 minutes' drive of Sydney Olympic Park.
Athletes compete within the following categories: amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, les autres, vision impaired and wheelchair. Once classified into these groups, athletes are classified according to functional ability. Vision impaired athletes compete in track and field events, cycling, goalball, judo, sailing, swimming and equestrian.
Tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies, sporting competitions, and Olympic Arts Festival events will go on sale in early 1999.
Spectators will be encouraged to use public transport to travel to events. The new Olympic Park railway station, claimed to be state-of-the-art in access terms, opened recently.
The Sydney Paralympic Games will be bigger than the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Winter Olympics.
If you want to find out more about the Paralympics, go to the SOCOG
website at http://www.sydney.olympic.org.
If you have always meant to write a story, maybe I can help you get started. I am putting together a correspondence course for blind or vision impaired would-be authors. It comes on cassette and includes lessons, reference material and assessment.
For further information, including cost, contact Mrs. Diana Braun,
43 Woodside Avenue, Burwood, 2134.
Tel: 02-9747-2741.
Reviewed by Jessica Richards
"Blind Man's Bluff" is the biography of the Australian Roger McKenzie, now a motivational speaker and successful business man, who was blinded by a rare strain of meningitis when a teenager.
I faced reading it with some trepidation. I am more sceptical than most people about what I think of as "disabled hero" books. I find myself peeping round corners trying to find the patronising comment lurking on the next page and asking whether a disabled subject's supposed achievements would be remarkable in a non disabled subject. I need not have been so cautious: John Ayliffe did write about someone who is a hero in anyone's terms. Roger McKenzie has lived an amazing life of travel, big business, fast cars and expensive yachts, which makes for fascinating reading. The book moves quickly, and vividly describes his experiences and adventures. Descriptions of the many different people Roger has met really interested me.
And "Blind Man's Bluff" is more than that. It fascinated me because Roger McKenzie seems to have taken a long time to come to terms with his disability. The adventures, big business, expensive yachts and good beer have their counterbalance in Roger's mistakes. Every one of us ... we blindies ... seems to need to put lots of extra effort into what we do well. This can place particular strains on the tenuous balance between work and relationships, which most successful people find difficult to maintain. Roger's business interests had an ugly effect on his short marriage and like all of us he has had to cope with the difficulties in finding intimacy which major disabilities can cause. One of the book's greatest strengths is its interviews with the people who have been close to Roger and the way in which the effects of sudden disability on his family (especially his mother) were carefully integrated into his story. The book is subtitled "Roger's Amazing Journey". I ask myself whether at least some major part of that journey is Roger's need to come to terms with the problems associated with blindness and whether the journey will ever come to an end. After all it is repeated throughout the book that there is only one test to find out whether your life is over ... Are you dead?
I recommend "Blind Man's Bluff" quite highly to anyone who wants a good read. As a good adventure story it scores about three and a half stars and as a disability book it might score about four stars. Options for recording the book are being discussed, and it should be on the library shelves very soon. The print copy is produced by Halbooks Publishing for $29.95 and would make a great gift for sighted friends and family members.
John Ayliffe (1997) "Blind Man's Bluff. Biography of Roger
McKenzie."
Halbooks Publishing, Australia.
Ramona Mandy
Last February Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) conducted a national workshop on violence against women with disabilities. I was given the opportunity to nominate for a place at this very important gathering, and was invited by WWDA to be part of the workshop.
WWDA developed an Information Kit on Women with Disabilities and Violence for distribution to all workshop participants. A Master Copy of the Kit has been produced by WWDA in large print format and on disk. The kits contain relevant information such as reference lists of literature, issues papers written by WWDA and contact lists of groups working in the area.
I found the workshop very interesting and productive. Although there were only about 30 women, many parts of Australia, as well as various disabilities, were represented. The two days initially focused on gathering information about what work was currently being done in the area of violence and women with disabilities. What became clear from this was that there was not a lot of coordination of information, which meant that many groups were not aware of the activities of other groups, despite the fact that often they were conducting similar projects. Another issue to emerge was that, in the whole of Australia, although there are many projects in the area of women and violence and projects in the area of violence against people with disabilities, there was very little being done specifically relating to women with disabilities and violence.
The workshop was very successful and received very positive feedback from all those involved. The final report of the workshop is currently being written up by WWDA. An Interim Report of the workshop has been sent to the Commonwealth Office of the Status of Women (which funded the project).
I was extremely pleased and interested to learn that WWDA had been involved in developing a Disability Action Plan for the Woorarra Women's Refuge in Victoria. The plan is available in Braille and disk from WWDA. In relation to vision impairment, it covers ways that Woorarra - and therefore other refuges which choose to use the plan as a model for improvement - can accommodate the needs of women with a vision impairment. This would cover such things as access to information and mobility to and around the refuge.
Violence against women with disabilities in Australia is a significant and growing problem. The major work undertaken by WWDA and other groups in the last few months in relation to this area is crucial to gaining an understanding of the problems and finding ways to address them. I would like to thank Blind Citizens Australia for giving me the opportunity to have a very small role in this process.
If you would like any more information on anything in this report, please contact Carolyn Frohmader at the National WWDA Office. Her contact details are:
Carolyn Frohmader
Women With Disabilities Australia
Canberra Business Centre
Bradfield Street
DOWNER ACT 2602
E-mail: hskeat@pcug.org.au
Tel: 02-624-21310
Fax: 02-624-21314
TTY: 02-624-21313
Bill Jolley
Andrew Hart is a young man from Brisbane. He is a member of Blind Citizens Australia, having lost his sight during early primary school. He now has a PhD. in mathematics - an achievement he can be very proud of. We have another star in the blindness field - one whose achievements can inspire others and who can break down barriers, a person who can make a major contribution and become a strong leader outside of his professional life.
I congratulate you Andrew. Yours is a major achievement that should
give you personal satisfaction and which will benefit blind people
immediately and for generations to come.
Vivien Palcic has two Braille versions of "Japanese For
Busy People", a language textbook for beginners, and she would like
to find an interested buyer. The price for these books is ninety dollars
each. If this sounds like the challenge you've been waiting for, or you
know someone who might be interested, contact Vivien on 08-9344-2264.
The closing date for articles for the next issue of Blind
Citizens News is Friday, September 18, 1998. Articles should be sent
to Lynne Davis at the Blind Citizens Australia Office, in large print or in
electronic form (disk or email attachment). If you would like to discuss
your ideas for a possible article please call Lynne on 02-9438-5675 or
send her a message via the Office.
For the latest information from Blind Citizens Australia tune in to Horizons on your RPH station, on a Community Station near you, or over the Internet. Horizons is broadcast regularly on RPH stations. It is also becoming available on Community Stations, but you may need to contact your local station to ask it to receive Horizons over the satellite. Horizons will be available over the Internet very soon, from our Web Page at http://www.bca.org.au. You will need a computer with a sound card and the Real Audio software.