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 1441-449X
Braille ISSN 1441-5658,
Cassette ISSN 1441-564X
Lynne Davis
Well, a happy new year to everyone, and welcome to the first issue for 1999! In my part of Australia it's hot and humid, and I'm looking forward to escaping the city for a while and to enjoying the pleasures of the southern coast of New South Wales. I'm going to take a pile of recorded books with me, and spend my holiday doing what I've always enjoyed most - swimming, eating, and above all READING.
Which brings me to a topic that threatens to become an obsession: how to get access to good, contemporary literature, and how to be able to choose what I read!
Ever since I can first remember, books have been my constant companions: I've loved their smell, their feel, and of course their contents. As a child, I felt cheated if my Christmas stocking didn't include a pile of books - but I was rarely disappointed. I learned to use libraries at an early age - Aladdin's caves, promising inexhaustible supplies of reading matter, although often dressed in drab, utilitarian garb.
As soon as I had money of my own I became an habitue of bookshops - nothing compared with the pleasure of opening the pages of my latest purchase and settling down for a long session.
Then came the slow, gradual loss of the ability to read print. The past couple of years have been a frustrating and infuriating time, as I searched (mostly in vain) for ways to continue the reading habits of a lifetime. Large print, recorded books, and (recently) Braille: what was available, and how could I find out? The answers to both questions were depressing. There's much to be said on this subject - but this is an editorial, not an article. Suffice to say, for the moment, that the two main issues are what is available (or what is NOT available), and the lack of access to catalogue information. This is definitely an area where blind and vision impaired people receive a very second-rate service compared with the rest of the population. At the moment I feel that Paradise has been lost. The big question is, can it be regained? I'd welcome your thoughts and contributions on this subject.
This issue of Blind Citizens News contains a number of articles from members in various states. Emma Bennison, one of our younger members now residing in Brisbane, attended her first Convention in 1998 under the sponsorship of the Leadership 2000 programme, and she tells us about her experiences there. Kevin Rowley, also from Brisbane, writes in praise of good old-fashioned technology in the form of the Talking Book Machine. And Beth Hayes, from Tamworth in northern NSW, tells us about her interesting project on accessible information on sexual health. The report of Beth's findings is to be published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health - congratulations, Beth!
Coming up in future issues are
interesting articles on various topics, including adults learning Braille and
taking ownership of your own mobility. If you have any ideas for future
articles, please get in touch with me - even if you don't think you're the
person to write about them! And, of course, I look forward to receiving
more of your letters.
Dear Editor
Although it is a well worn metaphor, a long journey really does begin with a small step. As a community, blind and vision impaired people in Australia still have a long journey to make, in terms of equal rights, access to information and changing the stereotypes and perceptions still held by many in the wider community.
We have taken on many aspects of American culture over the last few decades, some of which are more welcome than others. But I suggest there is a glaring omission in the area of personal advocacy. A wonderful example of this was in the recent actions of blind citizens in the US who lobbied their elected representatives in South Carolina. A proposal was being sent to the State legislature to incorporate all disability services into one program; the so-called generic service delivery model. In less than 2 weeks, over 10,000 individual messages had been received from blind and vision impaired people across America opposing this move. The proposal was defeated. Even allowing for the larger population in the US, would such an event have happened here in Australia? I don't think so. But I also think this lack of interest is not all due to apathy. Many people are literally boiling over with frustration but lack the skills or knowledge on how to focus that energy into action.
Blind Citizens Australia is doing an admirable job in advocacy on a political level, and in encouraging advocacy on an individual level. But like any organisation, its success is dependent on its members rising to the challenge.
Probably one of the greatest deterrents to individual advocacy is lack of time. We are all pushed for time these days, and it is not easy to throw another load on your shoulders, by becoming the next "people's champion". However, it also shouldn't become an excuse for doing nothing.
Advocacy can be incorporated into everyday life, and at all levels without necessarily eating up your time or resources. Real advocacy will start to happen when each blind and vision impaired individual, their parents, partners, siblings and friends, all around Australia get into the habit of asking every service provider, government agency and business to meet their needs. That means Braille or large print or tape or electronic information as and when it is required. This has to be a real habit, every day and in every way. Pester, nag and annoy! If the questions get raised often enough, attention will be drawn to these issues from within organisations, and that is when change will start to happen.
Pick up the phone today and make one small step!
Tim Connell
New South Wales
Dear Editor
Firstly, as a new member of Blind Citizens Australia, let me compliment you on your fine publications especially this newsletter. I find its content to be both entertaining and enlightening. Thank you for your superb newsletters and cassette tapes.
I would like to pick up on something mentioned in the August edition of Blind Citizens News. Reference was made to the lack of vision impaired and/or totally blind individuals employed in administrative positions especially within the very agencies established to assist us.
As I am currently looking for a position as a secretary/receptionist, administrative assistant or indeed an administrator, I answered a recent advertisement in the Age newspaper for an administrative position. The position was located in Melbourne with one of the agencies previously mentioned. I believed that I stood a fair chance of fitting the key selection criteria and thus applied for the job.
After waiting for ten days after the closing date for applications, I telephoned the agency concerned. I was informed that eighty people had applied for the position, and that a short list had been drawn up and an individual selected for the position. I was aggrieved to hear that I did not even make the short list.
I felt so strongly that I sat down and composed a very firm letter to the Chief Executive Officer of the agency concerned. I have received a reply which, in my opinion, fails to address any of the issues I raised in my letter.
Sometimes, I think that not even our own organisations appreciate how difficult it is competing with sighted people for employment today. I may be wrong in this assumption and will stand corrected if this is the case. I believe my nineteen years' experience working with one employer, coupled with my qualifications and knowledge of computers, puts me on an equal footing with sighted people.
If organisations established to assist vision impaired people are reluctant to "give us a go", then how can we seriously expect mainstream employers to do likewise?
The comment in the August newsletter was very pertinent to my situation and I wholeheartedly support it. Sometimes I think we have quite a way to go in our quest for equality. We have certainly come a long way but I don't think we are in the home straight at Flemington just yet!
Teresa M. Re
Victoria
Michael Simpson
Like sands through the hourglass so pass the years of our lives. Well I might have taken some editorial licence and stretched the days of our lives out to years but as we move from one year into another they just seem to keep rolling on. It's not that the years are dreary, boring or colourless as "like sands through the hourglass" make it sound, it's just that for blind people the same old issues keep coming back year after year.
I genuinely believe that Blind Citizens Australia is making a difference and changing what it means to be blind but sometimes I despair at the task before us. We continue to receive too many calls from people who have been discriminated against because of blindness, too many calls from people who can't find employment suited to them as a blind person, and too many calls from blind people who are concerned about the lack of specialist services. What is particularly frustrating is when organisations which are publicly funded and have a charter to provide services to blind people treat us with disregard and abuse.
By now most people would have heard of the incident where employees of the Lady Nell "Seeing Eye" Dog School and Rehabilitation Centre repossessed a dog from a blind woman in the street in Wollongong, NSW. This incident took place on Thursday afternoon immediately before the weekend of BCA's Annual Convention. We had been aware for some time that there was an action by the organisation to retrieve the dog and a Court Hearing was anticipated.
During our Convention a resolution was proposed, and passed without dissent, condemning the way in which the dog was taken and calling on the Victorian Government to re-open the Special Investigation into the management and operation of the Guide Dog Owners' and Friends' Association which conducts the Lady Nell "Seeing Eye" Dog School and Rehabilitation Centre. We have continued to provide advocacy support and advice to the woman. Whilst her dog was returned to her by order of the Supreme Court in NSW, the case is still to be fully resolved.
We have also convened a working group of dog guide users, including those who use Guide Dogs and Seeing Eye Dogs, to examine the issue of dog ownership and agreements. The group will work to develop a policy position setting out what it believes the rights and responsibilities of both the user and the agencies should be. We will then work with the dog guide organisations to implement a workable agreement or contract which provides blind people with certainty about their rights and where they will not have to live in fear that their dog can be repossessed without due process.
The issue of the dog being repossessed may have been a low point of our Convention, but I can assure you that there were some terrific highlights too. Very important for the development of Blind Citizens Australia is that our Convention for 1999 will be held in Brisbane. We look forward to travelling north to welcoming members, nice weather and generous hospitality. The Convention will be held in October or November in Brisbane, and the date and venue will be confirmed shortly.
The presentation of the NFBCA David Blyth Award to Joan Ledermann and Certificates of Appreciation to Pat Downie and Carmel Jolley were Convention highlights last November. Joan has made a tremendous contribution to the blind community both through her voluntary work with Blind Citizens Australia and through her professional career in Braille. Bruce Maguire succinctly captured the respect in which Joan is held in his nomination of her for the Award.
Joan has become one of the most respected and influential figures among people who are blind in Australia. As a champion of the importance of Braille as the primary literacy medium for people who are blind, she has played a unique role in the recent history of Braille. She was the first Chair of the Australian Braille Authority when it was founded in 1982, and it is a sign of the esteem in which she is held that she was elected unopposed as Chair of the Australian Braille Authority again in 1994.
Her zeal for Braille, and for the right of blind people to have equal access to information, have led Joan to be involved with all aspects of Braille code development: she played a key role in the development of the Australian Braille Mathematics Notation, and she continues to be Australia's representative on the International committee that has overall responsibility for the Unified Braille Code.
Pat Downie and Carmel Jolley have also made tremendous contributions. Their work for Blind Citizens Australia has left its mark both at a national level and locally through the Sydney and Melbourne Branches.
It is through the efforts of Members such as Joan, Pat and Carmel, and
the strength that we gain in our unity as an organisation, that Blind
Citizens Australia is able to bring about change in the community. If we
are to make a difference both here in Australia and internationally for blind
people we must maintain our momentum. We have come a long way
over past years and whilst I might despair a little at the task ahead we
cannot afford to falter. Join with me in making sure that the last year of
the millennium doesn't slip through the hourglass without making further
gains for blind people.
Emma Bennison
In November I was fortunate enough to attend the Blind Citizens Australia Annual Convention as a Leadership 2000 participant. My feelings initially were mixed. Trepidation about whether I would find it beneficial and also about whether I would be able to make a contribution. Excitement at the prospect of meeting new people and about the possibilities for learning and experiencing new challenges. However, I looked forward to it with anticipation and was given much support from the BCA staff.
When I arrived at the hotel I was struck by the fact that the lifts had Braille on them. Later when I went for a drink at the bar I was shocked to find that a Braille menu was available. This trend continued the next morning when we received copies of the annual report in our preferred format, as well as copies of various other brochures from the hotel in Braille. This was a truly liberating experience for many of us and it certainly made me wish that life could always be so accessible.
This obvious attempt to make the venue accessible set the scene for what was to be the theme for the Convention: Accessibility and Advocacy.
The sessions were informative and thought provoking. Personally I was particularly interested in the session on digital television and the possibilities for audio described programming. Also of interest were the sessions on telecommunications and the Internet.
Throughout the Convention I also gained a greater understanding of how BCA functions as an organisation. The Executive Officer's report provided numerous examples of how BCA can be of assistance to blind people in the areas of advocacy and peer support, which are of paramount importance to us as blind people.
Social events were major highlights of the Convention. The Convention dinner was a most enjoyable occasion where we were able to pay tribute to some of the people who have worked tirelessly for BCA. In addition to the more formal social occasions, we also had a more impromptu pizza party which many people attended. The lateness of the hour that some of us made it to bed suggests that we enjoyed ourselves immensely, so much so that some found it difficult to make it to the sessions the next day.
Despite the fact that I enjoyed the Convention, I feel that my comfort level could have been increased had I been given some extra orientation to my surroundings on arrival. The staff at the hotel did the best they could but there were so many of us and from what I could gather the staff were extremely stretched by our arrival. Myself and some other leadership 2000 participants I have spoken to felt that a buddy system of some sort could have helped to integrate us into the Convention more smoothly. Perhaps this could be taken on board for next year's programme.
All in all I found the Convention to be an inspirational experience, so much so that I have decided to join my local Branch Committee. The leadership 2000 programme gave myself and several others the opportunity to experience the Convention at a very low cost. I would encourage other young people to come along to the Convention next year which is to be held in Brisbane. I would urge them not to be overwhelmed by BCA or its more experienced members as I know I was prior to coming to the Convention. It is important to bear in mind that we all have to start somewhere and that all of us have a contribution to make, be it small or large. Often I hear young blind people complaining about what they wish could happen and how they wish that things were more accessible etc. BCA provides the opportunity to make change rather than simply complaining when you don't like something. I would encourage anyone interested to come along to the Convention and be inspired to action, not words. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank BCA for providing the Leadership 2000 programme which allowed me to experience the Convention, and I would like to acknowledge the many people who worked so hard to make the Convention a reality.
I look forward to working towards Convention 99 and hope to see many
of you there.
Beth Hayes
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other sexually transmitted diseases are spreading throughout the world and it is important for everyone to have some knowledge of safe sex practices. There are Sexual Health Clinics, AIDS Councils and Family Planning Centres in all States and Territories of Australia. Anyone can contact these agencies to gain information or make an appointment for blood tests or counselling with guaranteed anonymity and confidentiality. However, for people who are vision impaired or blind it is difficult to access information and retain anonymity, especially in rural areas. This is partly because of the lack of services, the distances between centres and the impossibility of someone travelling with a long cane or guide dog remaining anonymous. The other reason is that the Sexual Health Clinics, Family Planning Centres and AIDS Councils do not have any information in accessible formats.
How do I know this? In 1997, as part of a TAFE course, I did a stint of vocational experience with the local Sexual Health Promotion Officers. One thing that quickly became apparent was that the clinic did not have any non-print information on sexual health, apart from one rather clinical audio tape. There were two or three pamphlets in large print and basic language, published by the NSW Department of Health for people with low literacy skills or an intellectual disability. So my supervisor suggested "a little project" on the lack of accessible information for VIPs. Over the next twelve months this little project grew into a rather large research paper. The findings were depressing.
I contacted blindness agencies across Australia, the AIDS Council of NSW Inc, NSW Family Planning Centre, all rural Sexual Health Clinics in NSW and the major Sexual Health Clinics/Family Planning Centres in other States and Territories. When they were asked if they had any information that could be accessed by people who are vision impaired or blind, or knew where such material was available, the telephone conversations were fairly brief. Except for the blindness agencies the usual response was a stunned silence followed by "No, I have never given it a thought". Some did say they would transcribe information if this was requested, and several expressed interest in obtaining anything that was available. Health services across Australia have obviously paid little attention to meeting the needs of VIPs.
Apart from the basic lack of accessible information it became clear that there is also a lack of anonymity and confidentiality for VIPs, especially in rural areas. Most of the limited amount of accessible information is available through blindness agencies. Because of copyright restrictions, clients are required to identify themselves before they access the information. This denies them the anonymity guaranteed other people who can gain their information through a Sexual Health Clinic. Also as publication dates for this material varied from 1984 to 1994 some of it, at least, would be out of date. One respondent from a blindness agency said, disapprovingly, "Most of our members are over 50 and I doubt they would need anything like that!". The first person to die from AIDS in Australia was a man in his eighties!
Of course, any one of us can telephone a Sexual Health Clinic for information, but for rural residents anonymity is hard to maintain. Phone calls outside the immediate area are STD and these phone numbers appear on Telstra accounts. The promised production of Telstra accounts in Braille will reduce the problem for the relatively few who are Braille literate. A well publicised 1800 number would solve the problem for the rest of us.
Although you could presumably telephone a Sexual Health Clinic for an appointment with complete anonymity in metropolitan areas where there is public transport and a choice of agencies, if you live in a rural area you do not have the same choices. Even if there is a Sexual Health Clinic in your town (there are only nine in rural NSW, not all are open full time) you would probably need to travel with someone whether by bus (large audience), taxi or by car.
It is my experience that in rural communities bus and taxi drivers know everyone who uses their service regularly. I know that there was curiosity about my frequent visits to the Sexual Health Clinic last year. Only one taxi driver actually asked me had I been "naughty" but I have no doubt some of the others would have liked to ask.
Apparently there is information on the Internet for those who have access to this resource. Apart from this it would seem there is very little information around for adults who are legally blind and wish to retain anonymity. This lack is a gap that needs to be filled. With this in mind, and with the assistance of the local AIDS co-ordinator, I have submitted a proposal to the AIDS Bureau for funds to produce, on audio tape and computer disk, 30-45 minutes of basic information on various aspects of sexual health. These will be distributed to Sexual Health Clinics and Family Planning Centres to be copied and used as needed. If the funding comes through, anyone will be able to access these resources by telephoning, writing or calling in person to a Sexual Health Clinic or Family Planning Centre. You will still have to give a name and address if you wish to have it mailed, but there is complete confidentiality at the clinics.
[The full text of the research paper "Availability of appropriately packaged
information on sexual health for people who are legally blind" will be
published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health.]
Kevin Rowley
The miracle of electronic communication poses access problems for the low-sighted citizen. When an old tape-player breaks down, we purchase a new machine, then undergo the process of orientation. No apparent thought has been given by manufacturers to standardisation of design.
Finding your way around
Low-vision citizens, have you experienced the following? Whilst being oriented to a new gadget, for instance a Tape Player/CD/Radio, a point is reached where vital visual clues such as arrows or words are appearing on a tiny display panel. But because our sight can't and never will detect the signals, the hurdle is becoming a brick wall. However, our sighted assistant is highly enthusiastic about our learning to use the equipment.
Grabbing us by the hand, they take one of our fingers, lift it through open space, firmly press it on the appropriate button. "There," they say. The machine is now working. But are WE any closer to independent use? Probably not. ASK OUR SIGHTED HELPER TO DON A BLIND-FOLD AND REPEAT THE LAST FEW MOVES. CHANCES ARE THEY WILL BE IN THE SAME BOAT.
Technology and You
It's 1998. By now most of the cassette-playing public have had to farewell an old faithful machine. Sadly digest the technicians' diagnosis, pick our old player up off the desk, walk out the door clutching pamphlets and price lists. Eventually a new one is bought. Who agrees that entertainment equipment of ten or fifteen years ago was much more "low- sighted friendly" than current models? Through neglect rather than malice, designers have left us in the dark. For just a minute, please travel with me to an occasion when self and four-year-old son are home for the day. Tired of making sculptures from play-dough, looking for something else to do. Four-year-old goes to the toy-box, returns with just the thing, so he thinks: a jigsaw puzzle! The pre-school wooden type, a dozen pieces. "Pick up a piece, Dad". This could take hours! I break down into gibberish, telling him jigsaws are impossible for blind people. He isn't having any of my protestations. Tiny hand picks up mine, and directs the jigsaw piece into the correct position. "There," he says. letting go. I move my hand away. He takes the piece from the board though, and presses it back into my hand saying, encouragingly "Now you try, Dad". Like the sighted helper mentioned earlier, he hadn't thought this through. The boy being only four, I made allowances. Our jigsaw game fizzled in a few minutes. Luckily he found a spinning top and we played with that instead.
Hands up low-sighted persons who have found a friend in the tough, reliable Talking Book Machine (TBM)? Yes, amidst marvellous advances in technology, this model hasn't changed. When it breaks down or requires servicing, send it back in its post-free box, knowing the replacement by return mail will be EXACTLY THE SAME.
Until recently, I lived in a remote location in rural Queensland. Whilst participating in a telephone link with other blind and vision impaired people, I was surprised to hear grumblings of dissatisfaction over use of the TBM. Actual operation of the 4-track player, it seemed, was a severe stumbling block. Was the concept of four tracks on a two-sided tape confusing? Perhaps this, plus the two-speed choice, which a beginner can easily confuse with the variable-speed facility. These people had tried the tapes but found little joy there. Some complained that the books they were sent didn't interest them. Had they phoned the free-call number? No, somehow it all seemed too much trouble.
Most of these citizens had lost or were losing sight in middle age or later. Taking on a disability, we do our best adapting to life at home and in the community - which nowadays involves volumes of electrical gadgetry designed by sighted people, and by default FOR sighted people. However, the 4-track player IS designed specifically FOR US! It has given much joy to thousands, if not millions. Why a 4-track machine anyway? Simply so twice the amount of recorded material can be fitted onto a standard cassette. The TBM deserves an accolade. Not only is it virtually bomb-proof; it's reasonably portable (take a book with you on holidays). There are features such as the "cue" facility where one can hear the sound of the tape as it is in Fast Forward and Reverse. Changes in pitch thereby identified, often help the listener find required material with relative speed. More and more tapes now have helpful indexing beeps to improve access. The sliding Speed Control lets us breeze quickly through a page or two. Flick one switch and the TBM is in 2-track mode, and we can listen to a recorded book from the local library or to some chosen music.
Barriers deterring members of the "Target Group"
Additional to the machine itself, there are potential problems when sharing a home with others. Speaking personally, great importance connects to the establishment of my own "spaces" where I store or use particular utensils, tools, ingredients, equipment etc. The TBM takes up less than a square foot of bench, desk or shelf space. Do you wish to sit whilst using the player? If "Yes", set it up in an appropriate spot. Like any recreational reader, you are then able at will to pick up your current book and read a chapter or two. Ideally dedicate a power socket for sole use of the player. Do others in the house inadvertently unplug your power cord? If necessary, affix plug into socket with adhesive tape. A clearly marked notice "Do Not Remove" above power point will help. Then, whenever you are ready to listen to a cassette, the player is totally set-up. Within the everyday chaos of domestic life, one of our prime needs is establishing areas of certainty.
Orientation to the 4-track player, a quirky but relatively simple machine
How often is orientation in the home overseen by an already stressed partner, carer or a busy professional from one of the agencies? Printed instructions are read out to the potential user. The machine is made to work. But the next day the user gets a little confused. Compounded by general frustration, the reading session may end without success. If some time passes before further on-site help is available, the downhill slide may have already begun. [Yes, I KNOW the Tape Libraries have Freecall Numbers where clients can phone for help. I suggest, though, that the stress, anxiety and depression accompanying "going blind" often makes mountains out of molehills. "People are always in a rush; too busy to spend the time helping us work through our problems." "Sighted people simply don't understand". These are common sentiments.
Although I had few problems getting used to the TBM, I must add that I did suffer lengthy bouts of depression. Hand-in-hand with depression is low self-esteem. If things aren't going right, the "depressed" readily decide themselves to be the problem. We are "stupid" or "hopeless".]
Here is an opportunity for peer support within the blind and vision
impaired community. A register of volunteers could be established, such
volunteers being experienced users of TBM's and available to assist, over
the phone, new users in their local region. A tutor/student relationship is
established. The tutor has the responsibility of seeing the process
through. The new user goes through the steps whilst in telephone
contact; further assistance is only a phone-call away. Not necessarily
restricted by office
hours, weekends, holidays, etc. And rare nowadays: speak to THE SAME
PERSON EACH TIME. Should the tutor not receive a follow-up call from
the student, then be pro-active. Ring the student for an honest report on
progress or problems. It's important in the early stages to stress to the
"student" the long-term advantages of learning to use this machine rather
than remaining at the mercy of the electronics industry. Teething pains
fade quickly from memory. I propose that Blind Citizens Australia
adopt a program as outlined, with volunteers coordinated through the
Branches. I would gladly be an active participant.
Karen knight
Communication With Members
One of the key activities of Blind Citizens Australia over recent years has been to ensure effective communication with members. As membership of the organisation is now over 2500 people across Australia, keeping in touch with members is challenging. Currently, we have four main vehicles of communication: Blind Citizens News, Horizons, state-based SoundAbout audio magazines and our web page.
Blind Citizens News is produced in print, disk, audio and Braille approximately four times a year. This is a very challenging task for everyone involved. Firstly, it is important to ensure that the content has something for all our members: a balance between news and information, policy issues and human interest stories. Over the past year, Lynne Davis has taken on the job as editor. Through somewhat difficult circumstances at times, Lynne has worked to deadlines and produced a high quality publication that Blind Citizens Australia can be proud of. We have had some excellent feedback from members, and Lynne is always interested to have your input and your contributions. Blind Citizens News is not just a tool to let you know what is happening in the National Office. It is one way that we can also communicate with each other: a way of sharing experiences and expressing a point of view. Congratulations Lynne on a job well done.
After Lynne finishes putting the newsletter together, it must go to the office for proofing and then be sent out for printing, brailling and recording. Once this is done, copies must be prepared for mailing. In the case of tapes, over 1000 tapes must be copied. So you can begin to appreciate that it is a team effort. Without the expertise of the staff team led by Bill Jolley and the invaluable assistance from volunteers, it would not be possible for you to receive such a high quality product as often as you do.
Horizons is another avenue of communication. As most of you know, this is a weekly radio program broadcast on the RPH network and on some other community radio stations. Neville Kerr continues to present this program as he has done for many years. Recently, the 765th edition went to air. Neville continues to make an outstanding contribution and Blind Citizens Australia members would, I am sure, join with me in thanking Neville for his great effort and ongoing commitment to the program.
In a survey of Horizons listeners conducted earlier in the year, it was found that, although there was great variation across States, about twenty percent of those surveyed listened to the program. Any radio station would be pleased with that level of listenership. It is a good reflection of how our members like to keep in touch with what is happening. Information conveyed through the radio program is more immediate and the interactive nature of the interview process means that the information conveyed through the radio program is necessarily different from that of Blind Citizens News. I recommend Horizons to you and encourage you to listen whenever possible.
SoundAbout Magazine is yet another way in which Blind Citizens Australia communicates with members. Each State, except Tasmania, now has a SoundAbout magazine: SoundAbout Victoria, SoundAbout NSW/ACT, and so on. These are audio magazines that are produced four to five times a year. There is a co-ordinating team in each State whose task it is to co-ordinate the content and produce the magazine. Each audio magazine takes the form of a series of interviews generally including a chat with the president of the branch or branches in that State, the National President and other interviews that would be of interest to members. They focus on State-based information, whereas Horizons and Blind Citizens News have a national perspective. Thank you to all those people in each State who work to make the production of these audio magazines possible. Again, we are grateful to the staff and volunteers in the National Office for the copying and distribution of the SoundAbout magazines. Think about the enormity of receiving, at this stage, four different SoundAbout magazines four or five times a year, and having to copy and distribute all those tapes and then receive the return mail and wipe the tapes for use next time. They do a great job.
The fourth way in which we communicate with members and others is via our web page. Barry Chapman has been our web master. He has done an outstanding job in developing the web page, creating links to other sites and keeping it up-to-date.
I am very pleased to report that Horizons is now available from our web page. This has been a while in coming, but the technical issues have been sorted out and the program sounds great from a desktop or portable computer which has the Real Audio software installed. Congratulations to Barry Chapman who finalised the technical arrangements, and thanks to RVIB which provides disk space for us to store the computer files.
In summary, keeping in touch with over 2500 members is a challenging undertaking. Our four vehicles of communication target different audiences and convey information in different ways. We continue to strive to improve communication with members. Suggestions and comments from members are always welcome.
Summary of Branch and Organisational Members Activities
Branch Activities
The National Women's Branch, as this organisation's only national special interest branch, has continued to meet the challenge of keeping in touch with its members across this vast country of ours. A news tape has been circulated three times in the past year and the Executive Committee of the Women's Branch meet as often as possible via teleconference.
An important project for the Women's Branch during the past year has been the production of a cassette entitled "Women, The Same Only Different". This production consists of interviews with blind women from a variety of backgrounds. For $15, you can purchase this very useful resource and blind and vision impaired people are encouraged to pass the cassette on to their sighted peers or to their local community radio station to spread the word about the abilities and achievements of blind and vision impaired women. The Women's Branch also continues to produce the quarterly audio magazine "Women In Touch". This audio magazine finds its way to many countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong, and India, and is enjoyed by our international colleagues.
Victorian Supporters of Radio for the Print Handicapped (VSRPH) is another of our special interest branches. This group has continued to meet and this year they awarded the VSRPH Volunteer Services Award to David and Janet Ditchfield for their outstanding services to 3RPH over many years. At the Annual General Meeting of VSRPH, a decision was taken to request Council to wind up the branch. This was in no way a reflection that there was no longer a need for a listeners' group. It was decided, however, that there would be a position on the Melbourne branch committee for a representative from the listener group. Dale Simpson currently holds this position.
Similarly, South Australia Supporters of Radio for the Print Handicapped (SASRPH) is a listeners' group based in Adelaide. They also took a decision at their AGM to request Council to wind up the branch and for the issues of this listeners' group to be raised through the Adelaide Branch.
Regional Branches
Again this year, branch reports indicate that significant change has been achieved in many areas. There are a number of common themes that emerge from reading various branch reports.
Personnel Changes
There are some branches which have experienced several changes in personnel during the year. While change is healthy, branch presidents have noted that it can also slow the pace of achievement at certain times.
Brisbane branch has farewelled four members of the Executive during the year and the new committee is in the early stages of learning about how Blind Citizens Australia functions at a branch level. Terry Boyle, however, has continued as President and is providing a smooth transition for the branch as other executive personnel familiarise themselves with their new positions. There have been changes at the helm of the Sydney and Melbourne branches. Joan Ledermann and Christine Simpson have been President of the Sydney and Melbourne branches respectively for four years. As two very experienced people within our organisation, they have provided good leadership at the branch level and will continue to work in various capacities within the organisation. We are grateful for the time, effort and dedication that they have shown as Branch Presidents. Trish James is the new President of the Sydney branch and Sandra Knight is the new President of the Melbourne branch. We wish Trish and Sandra well in their respective roles as branch presidents in the coming year. The Adelaide branch has also seen some changes this year. While Tony Starkey remains as President of the branch, three loyal supporters of the branch have elected not to stand for committee. John Bastiaans, Dolly Lee and Dorothy Laughton have given many years of outstanding service to the organisation and we wish them good health and happiness in the coming year. They will no doubt stay in touch with the branch and with the activities of Blind Citizens Australia nationally. We congratulate Peter Johnson, President of Blind Citizens WA. He reports that he now has four people under the age of thirty on his committee. It has been difficult to encourage younger people to become an active part of our branches, but Peter and his committee are obviously making good progress in this area. Richard Mackay, President of the Macleay/Nambucca branch also reports some difficult personnel changes. A number of sighted helpers have moved away from the area or have competing commitments, which has made it difficult for the branch to pursue planned new directions. They have, however, found that there are a number of elderly blind and vision impaired people living in a local nursing home and as a result, the branch holds its monthly meeting there about twice a year. Richard's strategy of going out to the members when they cannot come to meetings is a commendable one.
Access
Access has been a prominent theme in the activities of many branches in the past year. The ACT branch has worked with Disabled Peoples Initiative ACT to highlight concerns about access to buses. Meetings have been organised with Action Buses to emphasise the importance of consulting with people with disabilities when working to reform the bus network. As a result, the Department of Urban Services has established the Transport Reform Advisory Group (TRAG) with a sub-committee to examine the needs of people with disabilities. Laurie Grosvenor is the ACT Branch representative on this committee. The Access Committee of the Sydney branch has also been busy with their particular focus this year being on access to transport. Last year I reported that the Sydney branch were having considerable difficulty obtaining adequate on-train announcements. Many members and supporters subsequently signed a petition about the issue. The branch is hopeful that progress is being made and success can be reported in the next annual report. The Access Committee of the Sydney branch have also lodged a submission with the Minister for Transport entitled "Blind People and Buses". No further progress has yet been made with the issues addressed in that submission.
In Sydney and the ACT, blind and vision impaired people have participated in focus groups as part of the review of the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme. Blind Citizens WA has also been involved with transport issues. They have been working with Transperth to provide a more accessible bus network for blind and vision impaired commuters. They have sought agreement from Westrail and Metrobus to educate their drivers about the needs of blind and vision impaired travellers, and have been working to highlight the priority seating for people with disabilities on buses. The Brisbane branch has also been addressing some public transport issues. Visual bus arrival announcements are being introduced into the Brisbane City Council bus network. The inaccessibility of these announcements was a significant concern to members. The Council was urged to address this issue immediately and they have assured the branch that it will be consulted as soon as a prototype of a device incorporating both audible and visual announcements is ready. Smaller branches such as Macleay/Nambucca have also been keen to have input into local access committees. The President of the Macleay/Nambucca branch sits on the local access committee and other branch members sit on the access committees of adjoining councils such as Southwest Rocks. The Tweed Valley branch joined with other local community groups to petition State Rail to keep Murwillumbah station open. To date, it has had a reprieve.
Staff Support
A highlight of the year for Adelaide Branch was the establishment of an office. Through the generosity of Royal Society for the Blind, Adelaide branch has a prominent office location, members have access to the branch office and volunteers staff the office regularly. As a result, the branch has increased its profile in the community and is consulted by government and agencies on a variety of issues. The report from Blind Citizens WA also highlights the importance of a prominent office in the community. This year, Blind Citizens WA has also had the support of a part-time advocacy officer in addition to Anne Purser, their administrative support officer. Ben Sgherza has addressed a number of individual advocacy issues on behalf of Blind Citizens WA members and others states are hoping to be able to follow the lead of the Western Australians. The Sydney branch have certainly worked hard to obtain funding for a Sydney-based worker, but without success thus far. The Melbourne branch acknowledge the efforts of Ivan Peterson, the Victorian Information and Policy Officer and it is clear that the support of a paid worker is a valuable asset for the branch.
NSW Women's Project
As I have reported, the Sydney branch has not yet been successful in obtaining funding for a paid worker. They have, however, obtained some project funding. A project of particular note was the NSW Women's Project. With funding from the New South Wales Department for Women, the Sydney branch worked in concert with the National Women's branch, the RP Society of NSW and the Association of Blind Citizens of New South Wales to conduct the project. Fifteen women from around the state were selected to attend a four day workshop in Sydney. The program was a mix of skill development, information sessions, socialisation and less formal learning opportunities. Participants returned to their own communities with many new skills and mechanisms are in place to continue to support these women. There have been regular telephone hook-ups to discuss the work they are doing in their local communities and generally to maintain contact with each other. Reports of the project will soon be available for those interested in further detail or for anyone who would like to replicate the project in their own state.
Access to HACC Services
During the year, June Ashmore as Vice President for Disability Services encouraged branches to become part of their local HACC networks. Richard Mackay from Macleay/Nambucca is chairman of the Mid North Coast HACC forum. He is also on the planning committee for the funding of HACC services. The ACT branch held a forum that focussed specifically on the lack of access by blind and vision impaired people to HACC services.
Social Events
Social interaction is an important part of branch activities. Although branches meet the need for social interaction among their members in different ways, it is clear that most branches work hard to provide a balance of fundraising opportunities and social events. Our President, Michael Simpson, has visited most branches over the past year and as Vice President, Membership and Communication, I have visited Tweed Valley and Macleay/Nambucca branches.
The Overseas Service branch has also continued to work hard this year. They have raised over two thousand dollars, sending one thousand dollars to the School for the Blind in Sri Lanka and the Housing Complex for the elderly blind also in Sri Lanka. Over the past year, the Overseas Service branch has sent 450 three kilogram packs of Braille paper to 25 organisations in 12 different countries.
Organisational Members
The Association of Blind Citizens of New South Wales has been very busy this year. Their premises have undergone extensive renovation so that they are now fully accessible. The Association continues to produce its radio program, "Outlook", which is broadcast on Radio 2RPH and 2SER. It is now in its 16th year of production.
Senswide Services is another of our organisational members. It is a Victorian-based organisation which provides support to people with a sensory disability seeking work. The introduction of a program called Senswork has been a major initiative in the past year. This program focuses on providing support to people with dual disabilities in their efforts to find employment. Some of these clients may have a dual sensory disability or it may be that the client has an intellectual disability and a sensory loss. Blind Citizens Australia congratulates Senswide for this initiative and wishes them well for the coming year.
The Australian Retinitis Pigmentosa Association (ARPA) has had a busy year with each member group making great strides towards raising awareness in the broader community about all forms of retinal dystrophy as well as responding to the needs of members and collecting scarce funds for research. News from the International Retinitis Pigmentosa Association Congress held in Lugarno, Switzerland, indicates that, for some forms of retinal dystrophy, a treatment may be available in the next five years. IRPA has a new name, Retina International, to reflect the broadening of its charter to encompass all forms of retinal dystrophy.
For the RP Society of Victoria, the year was a successful one. Regular activities of fundraising, producing a newsletter, funding research, managing a city office and resource centre continue. A support group was established in Bendigo this year and they meet on a bi-monthly basis. It is hoped that support groups can be formed in other areas of Victoria in the coming year. Working with Blind Citizens Australia, Association for the Blind and Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind to raise awareness of the needs of people who are blind or vision impaired has also been an important part of the RP Society of Victoria's work and they look forward to continuing working cooperatively with the agencies and Blind Citizens Australia in the future.
For RPH Australia, it has been a busy and rewarding period that has seen significant progress toward the provision of RPH services across rural and remote Australia. 3MPH Mildura, the first RPH service established outside a capital city, commenced transmission in November, 1997 and three other licence applications for regional Victorian services are currently under consideration by the Australian Broadcasting Authority. RPH Australia now provides its daily newspaper reading program, National Press Hour, to seven community stations, while a further five stations receive funding to support their production of local RPH programming. Twelve community stations have now taken advantage of RPH training seminars, conducted specifically to encourage the general stations to take up RPH programming. RPH Australia has established its own satellite broadcast channel to facilitate program exchange in the short term, a direct to-home service in the near future and beyond that, a network of re-broadcast facilities in regional centres and rural communities.
This report has only given members a glimpse of what our organisational members do. I would like to thank Leighton Boyd for his work in liaising with organisational members. He has done an outstanding job. Blind Citizens Australia looks forward to forging even closer links with these organisations as we work for the common goal of changing what it means to be blind.
Leighton Boyd
Currently there are seventeen Organisational Members which represent diverse groups in the blindness field, as well as being spread throughout the various states and territories of Australia. The two groups which joined during 1998 were the Deaf-Blind Association in Victoria and the RP Fighting Blindness Association of South Australia.
It has been my pleasure to make regular contacts with all groups and hear about the different activities being conducted, as well as to receive valuable input with respect to the work of Blind Citizens Australia in general. During the coming year I hope to maintain these contacts and where possible to forge stronger links with, and between, all of the Organisational Members.
It was good that some of the Organisational Member groups were still able to be represented at Convention '98 despite the unavoidable change of date. I enjoyed being able to meet these representatives, and I am sure that they, in turn, appreciated the ability to meet each other, both formally and informally, to discuss matters of common interest. Hopefully more member groups will be able to send delegates to Convention '99 so that this very positive interaction can continue.
Some of the specific issues which continue to be dealt with include:
In this edition, I will profile the member organisations which are concerned with Retinitis Pigmentosa so that you will gain a better knowledge of their activities and the type of service that they provide.
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is the most commonly used name for a group of blinding eye diseases which are degenerative, hereditary and, at present, incurable. In RP, photoreceptor cells die, or fail to reproduce themselves, and consequently there is progressive deterioration. The retina loses its ability to transmit pictures to the brain and vision decreases. Some people with RP are only mildly affected, whilst others experience major sight loss and the eventual result may be total blindness. It is predicted that approximately 8,000 Australians have RP, with many more people being carriers of RP genes but not personally affected.
"Retina Australia" is the national association, formerly known as the Australian Retinitis Pigmentosa Association. It was formed in 1984 and membership comprises two delegates from each State or Territory RP organisation. These delegates meet regularly to discuss national issues, share information and ideas, and to report on events and activities which are occurring in the States and Territories. One of Retina Australia's major functions is to allocate nationally raised funds for research into RP, and other retinal dystrophies, after consultation with the Grants Assessment Committee which is a sub-committee of the Retina Australia Scientific Advisory Committee. Other major functions include liaising with the international RP body, Retina International, as well as sharing information with affiliated organisations overseas.
Other Organisational Members concerned with RP are: the RP Association of Queensland, RP Foundation Fighting Blindness Association of South Australia, RP Society of New South Wales, and the RP Society of Victoria. These groups were established at different times over the past twenty-three years and have worked in consultation with each other during this time. Members of all of these groups are predominantly people who themselves have RP, or family and friends of RP-affected persons. Each group is independently run, but all are involved with promoting the detection, prevention, treatment and cure of RP, and other retinal dystrophies, as well as providing information and the opportunity for mutual support for RP-affected people. Each group is also striving to increase public awareness of RP as well as raising funds for research and for administration costs. All groups have tax deductibility for donations.
The organisations can be contacted as follows:
We, at Blind Citizens Australia, look forward to your continued input on
any issues or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact me at home on
phone/fax 03-9434-3832, email on
boyd_family@msn.com.au or
through the Blind Citizens Australia Office.
One in thirteen Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. This means that many people - whether family, friends, or co-workers - will be affected in some way by breast cancer.
"Women And Breast Cancer" is a series of five radio programmes, available on audio cassette from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) for the cost of twenty dollars. In these programmes, breast cancer specialists explain treatment; GP's and nurses discuss screening services, treatment and support in rural and remote areas; and women from all walks of life speak frankly about the impact of breast cancer on their lives.
To order "Women and Breast Cancer", call the NH&MRC National
Breast Cancer Centre on 02-9334-1700.
The closing date for articles for the next issue of Blind Citizens News is
Friday, March 19, 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 Community Radio Satellite. You can now listen to Horizons over the Internet from the Blind Citizens Australia web page. You will need the Real Audio software and a computer with Windows-95. The sound quality is very good and you can hear programs back to November last year. It's a new way of getting information, so why not give it a go.
Canberra -1RPH 1125 kHz
11.15 am Tuesday;
repeated 8.00 pm Tuesday
Sydney - 2RPH 1224 kHz
3.00 pm Wednesday;
repeated 5.00 pm Saturday
Melbourne - 3RPH 1179 kHz
8.30 pm Wednesday;
repeated 6.30 pm Sunday
Brisbane - 4RPH 1296 kHz
7.00 am Friday;
repeated 6.05 pm Monday
Adelaide - 5RPH 1197 kHz
9.15 pm Wednesday;
repeated 6.00 pm Friday
Perth - 6RPH 990 kHz
6.00 pm Wednesday;
repeated 10.30 am Friday
Hobart - 7RPH 864 kHz
7.15 pm Saturday;
repeated 4.45 pm Wednesday
Mildura - 3MPH 107.5 MHz
8.30 pm Wednesday;
repeated 5.30 pm Sunday