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Parent News

April 2003

Nadia Mattiazzo

Welcome to the first Edition of Parent News for the year 2003. I hope all had a wonderful Christmas and that any students reading this newsletter have settled into their school year.

Please enjoy what we have for you in this issue and do not hesitate to contact me with suggestions/information for future issues.

Happy reading

(Taken from the April 2003 edition of BrailleNote Update

O'Reilly Makes Books Accessible to People with Disabilities Worldwide

In the last BrailleNote Update, I described the upcoming BookShare and BrailleNote interface for US residents which enables paying members of Bookshare.org to download a book directly to the BrailleNote, press enter on the book, and immediately unpack the book which is copyright protected to the unit's Bookreader. I indicated that efforts were being made by those working in the areas of copyright and access to print alternatives by vision impaired people to allow this feature to be extended to use by non US residents.

Well great news is here already. On March 04 2003, Bookshare.org, an online library of accessible digital books for people with disabilities, announced an agreement with O'Reilly & Associates, a leading publisher of computer books, to make digital versions of O'Reilly books available worldwide to qualifying users with disabilities.

Bookshare.org ( www.bookshare.org) is a subscription service that provides an extensive online library of accessible digital books to people with severe visual, reading, and mobility disabilities. The service, which was created by Benetech, the leading technology nonprofit in the Silicon Valley, operates under a copyright exemption in US law allowing the redistribution of copyrighted works in specialized accessible formats for people with qualifying disabilities.

Under the agreement, O'Reilly & Associates will transfer digital copies of its books to Bookshare.org, which will convert the books into accessible formats and make them available to qualifying subscribers in the US. In addition, O'Reilly has granted Benetech rights to provide the books in accessible formats to qualifying users from other countries, the initial step in a planned expansion into providing Accessible digital books internationally.

This is truly a landmark event in the struggle to make books accessible to people with disabilities!

Activities at the Melbourne Museum

Jeni Blake recently visited the Melbourne Museum and spoke very highly about all the exhibits – but one in particular caught her attention.

The Valiant Roamer allows students to become "robotic engineers". They decide how the Roamer should look, what it should do and how it should behave. They invent, build, program, then test the result and decide whether or not they like it, and if it meets their specifications. Such activities stimulate and sustain a wider range of educational outcomes than can be attained with far more sophisticated technology. As an educational tool, it can be used to complement basic literacy and numeracy work for junior school students. At the other end of the age scale more senior students, including students from TAFE and ACFE providers, can write and test more sophisticated programs involving routines, changes of scale, varied sound pitch and more. This can be done on screen with a PC then downloaded into the Roamer. Roamer can also be purchased from the Museum.

(From the Bulletin number 5 2003)

Here’s an interesting thing! Asher Macdonald, Licensing Officer, Copyright Agency Limited was recently asked to clarify some issues regarding provision of materials in alternative formats. According to him, schools are allowed to convert works into another format (eg large print, braille, audio, e-text) but only under the following conditions: "if it (the school) cannot obtain the work in a reasonable amount of time (or at a reasonable cost) from the usual suppliers, after having made a reasonable investigation on availability of the work."

Reasonable investigation would involve the following:

1) School checks with usual supplier of works (eg Statewide Vision Resource Centre via the Visiting Teacher)

2) Supplier advises availability

Note: If after a reasonable investigation, the work cannot be obtained in an appropriate format for the student, it may be reproduced in alternative format in full.

SPEAKING OF COLOURS - A COMPARISON OF TWO TALKING DETECTORS

Jackie Cairns

There are now two talking detectors on the market that will announce the colour of your clothing, food and many other items. This review describes each device and makes a fair comparison of both from a totally blind person's perspective.

The ColorTest 150 is a small pocket-size device that is rectangular in shape and fits quite comfortably in the hand. On the front are two round buttons, quite distinguishable from each other because one is slightly indented. At one end is a sensor that must be firmly pressed against the item you wish to examine. The sensor will translate the data it sees into speech, which then tells you what colour it has just detected. To use the ColorTest, simply press the sensor end of the device against your object, and hold down the left of the two buttons on the front of the unit for a couple of seconds. When you release the button, the ColorTest's excellent female speech will tell you the colour of that object. If you want further information such as brightness and saturation of the colour, you must press the right button of the two within a few seconds of testing your object. If you don't do this quickly enough, the unit will automatically shut off, and you will need to start the procedure again. When determining the colour of an object, it is best to lay the item down on a flat surface so that when you use the detector, its sensor is properly shielded from any light. In this way, you have a better chance of receiving a more accurate reading from the ColorTest.

The right button of the two on the ColorTest will also tell you the battery status of your unit because it comes with a rechargeable cell. Simply press the right button twice in quick succession to hear a reading of the current battery status. The charger socket is located on the left-hand side of the unit, and although the ColorTest will not be damaged by leaving it to charge indefinitely, it does reduce the life of the cell.

The ColorTest 150 comes in a small pouch with print instructions that I found very good for scanning. The instructions also contain a colour chart. This comprises six rows of three squares. Each area can be located with your fingers to distinguish these squares that are separated by borders of dots. The rows of squares on the chart are divided into sections of bright, strong, and dark colours. If you place the ColorTest firmly in the middle of each square and press the left button on the unit, it should help to calibrate the ColorTest.

The device also acts as a light probe, a very useful way of determining whether the light has been left on, or the position of a window in the room. To use the light probe section of the device, simply press the left button and hold it down, waving the unit about at the same time. You should hear a buzzing sound which will rise in tone if it detects light, and lowers in tone if there is little or none. If used carefully and with some perseverance, the light probe can detect whether your paper has type or writing on it, very useful if you drop your sheet on the floor and need to know which side up it should be.

This device is quite a complex beast, perhaps one reason why it is expensive to a modest user. In fact, I would compare it to a scientific calculator, such are the complexities of the unit. Not only does the ColorTest have the ability to tell you the colour of a garment or other object, it tries to measure the brightness, hue and saturation of the colour. This might be very significant to people who have had sight, and are familiar with different shades of green, blue, purple, red etc. The device emits several types of tone, which can be determined once used frequently to indicate shades of colour measured. But for someone who simply wants to know the colour of their jumper, or whether their socks match, then the sophistication and price of this unit are frankly prohibitive.

Cobolt Systems has just released its talking colour detector. It is a rectangular device, and is slightly larger than the ColorTest described above. On the front of the unit is a speaker grill and battery compartment which houses a PP3 cell. If you run your fingers along the right side of the detector, you will find a switch. If this is pressed down, the unit is turned off. Slide it up one notch, and the volume of the device is at its maximum. Push the switch another notch up, and the volume decreases. By pushing the switch up again once more makes the speech even quieter.

On the top of the unit is a removable white cap. There is an indent at the rear of this to position your fingers when gently applying pressure to pull this off the colour detector. If the unit is switched on, and you remove the cap, you will hear the male voice of the unit say "white". The white cap is designed not only to protect the sensor of the unit, but also to calibrate it to give a good colour reading.

To use the detector, switch on the unit and remove the white cap. Now hold the unit against the colour you wish to determine. Wait for a few seconds and you should hear the voice tell you what it has seen. The detector will keep repeating the colour it has found until you turn off the device, or find something else to examine.

It is important to stress that you must try to cover the whole of the sensor if possible when detecting colours. The sensor area is surrounded by a rubberised edge to help you line up your object with the colour detector.

The device comes with large print and taped instructions that are very comprehensive. It is extremely straightforward and uncomplicated to use, and does not require rocket science to operate.

The Cobolt colour detector also contains a light probe. With the cap removed and your unit switched on, simply wave the sensor in the direction of a window or light-bulb, and it will give intermittent beeps to indicate that it has detected light. It will not, however, increase as you get nearer to your source of light, but stops beeping when there is no light to be seen.

The ColorTest and Cobolt device have been designed to do the same job, but are quite different animals at achieving their goals. The ColorTest is a very sophisticated device and does need some patience to determine the colour of clothing, food or liquid. The Cobolt unit is ideal for anyone who wants to get an idea of the colour of something quickly and with no fuss. It is also a good deal cheaper on the pocket too, priced at £49.99.

I have used both devices to determine a range of colours in all shapes and sizes. The ColorTest has a smaller sensor, and lends itself better to tiny items such as phono plugs and buttons. The Cobolt colour detector has a wider sensor area, and is excellent for reporting the colour of clothing and larger items. The Cobolt device is also fitted with an ear-phone socket, a very useful addition for those who might want to attach the unit to an external speaker for increased volume output, or wish to use the separate ear-piece supplied for private listening. Both products also have excellent quality English speech fitted in them.

There is clearly a market for both devices, depending on what you want to use them for. If you are technically-minded and have perhaps had sight in the past, the ColorTest 150 is worth the outlay for its complicated range of features. But if you just want to find out the colour of something you wish to wear, or check out a roll of wall-paper in B&Q, then the Cobolt device will suffice nicely at a fraction of the price of its rival.

The Cobolt talking colour detector is priced at £49.99 and may be purchased from Cobolt Systems:

telephone: 01493-700172.

Accessible Dictionary

(From the RVIB Client Newsletter, February 2003)

Check out the websites

Wordweb is a free accessible dictionary program that works well with screen readers and screen enlargement programs. It contains over 120,000 words and can be used on its own or within Microsoft Word.

When wordweb is installed an additional entry to the Tools menu in Microsoft Word is created. To use wordweb it is a simple matter of highlighting a word and then calling up WordWeb either via a short cut key or from the Tools drop down menu. The program will then automatically look up the word for you. Alternatively you can start up WordWeb and then type in the word manually.

This program can be downloaded from www.netword.demon.co.uk/wweb/

The Age

The Age newspaper has a text version. The url is:

www.theage.com.au/text

Welcome to HotBraille

HotBraille.com are providers of web-based communication tools for people who are blind or vision impaired, their friends and family. Here you can send braille letters, learn the braille alphabet, meet new people, and connect with over 15,500 other HotBraille members.

Learning Braille Tutorials

A new site has come to the internet that allows people to learn braille at their own pace, the current tutorials are given in text only format, for those who use screen readers, and in image based format for those who are sighted.

You can learn any tutorial from grade one and grade two braille, peg slate, slate, stylus and more. Also if you are looking for things like guide dog schools, specialist schools, braille books and more, you can find it all here.

http://www.braillejail.net

'Ready, disabled and willing'

Damon Rose, who is blind, is at the head of a team of disabled people who are producing a London BBC web site Ouch! ( www.bbc.co.uk/ouch). The publicity blurb says "Ouch! will not be adopting the gentle and worthy approach of other disabled sites but will instead tell it like it is". Rose says, "From our point of view disability is the norm and that is the angle that we will be coming from".

Margaret Verick

Policy Officer (Blindness and Vision Impairment)

ACROD

Bits & Pieces

Nadia Mattiazzo

(From the RVIB Client Newsletter February 2003)

Two new lists for students.

Blind-students is a list for Australian and New Zealand students who are blind or vision impaired to exchange information, and advice.

To subscribe send a message to:
blind-students-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
leave the subject line and the body of the message blank.

world-blindstudents is international

To subscribe send a message to:
world-blindstudents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Leave the subject line and the body of the message blank.
These groups are for current and recently graduated students.

(From the Bulletin number 5 2003)

Just a reminder: Tamara Pollard from the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) has initiated a research project to evaluate low cost low vision devices (magnifiers and telescopes) with students. This project has been granted approval by the Department of Education & Training. The research team is seeking students to participate in this study. To be eligible, student will be:

- aged 10–17 years

- able to converse and read in English

Students will be asked to read one passage (age appropriate) of 200-300 words and writing on a blackboard with each device. The students will be asked questions regarding their preferred device, ease of use and comfort. Each student will be required to be present for a maximum of two hours. Students will be assessed on the weekend in a central location (for example, the zoo). All costs involved, including travel, will be reimbursed on the day.

The results of this research will be published in Australian and international journals, and a report will be given to all of the students, families and schools involved.

Please call Tamara Pollard (9929 8328) for further details or copies of the information and forms.

(From the Bulletin number 6 2003)

The Association of Parents of Vision Impaired Children is a relatively new group of parents who meet on the third Thursday of the month at RVIB from 8.00pm. All interested parties are welcome at their meetings. Their first AGM was held on 20th March with all office bearers elected un-opposed. Their projects, at present, are:

- to work on getting a website up and running

Address: PO Box 638 Box Hill, Victoria 3128

Tel: Gayle Skinner (03) 9431 2678 or Rod Pritchard (03) 9754 7308

(From the Bulletin number 6 2003)

The following upcoming sessions may be of interest to parents and teachers:

How can children with Auditory Processing delay be recognized and helped? The implications of Auditory Processing difficulties will be discussed. Strategies that are effective for improving learning and behaviour will be suggested.

When: Monday 28th April 7.30-9.30pm

Cost: $35-$45

Learning Difficulties explained and more! What does an assessment involve and how to make it most effective for your child. When is external help necessary? Find out great home-based strategies.

When: Tuesday 20th May 7.30-9.30pm

Cost: $35-$45

A panel consisting of an Occupational Therapist, Speech Pathologist, Special Education teacher, Psychologist and Behavioral Optometrist explain what they can do for the child with a learning disability.

When: Saturday 14th June 10am-4pm

Cost: $70-$80

This session will focus on issues VCE students are likely to have difficulty with, eg time management, meeting deadlines. Secondary students welcome.

When: Tuesday 15th July 7.30-9.30pm

Cost: $35-$45

How Information Technology can support learning for students of all ages with literacy difficulties. Demonstrations and discussion of helpful software that can be useful in the classroom or at home.

When: Saturday 23rd August

Cost: TBA

The effects of training visual information processing skills in learning disabled primary school children.

When: Tuesday 21st October 7.30-9.30pm

Cost: $35-$45

Here is a list of all programs being conducted by Guide Dogs Victoria for the year 2003. For further information, see contact details below.

May

1 Kitchen Skills for Adults (OT)

19-21 Cane Skills Refresher (O&M)

June

14 Tips & Techniques for Parents (OT)

19 ABI Seminar for Professionals

24 Kitchen Skills for Children (OT)

July

7-11 Senior Program (CMS)

August

7 ABI Seminar for Clients

12 Information Day for Professionals (OT)

September

22-25 Junior Program (CMS)

October

9 ABI Seminar for Clients

November

27 ABI Seminar for Professionals

December

11 Kitchen Skills for Children (OT)

Guide Dogs Victoria

Chandler Highway

(Private Bag 13)

Kew Victoria 3101

CMS Children’s Mobility Service

O&M Orientation and Mobility Service

ABI Acquired Brain Injury – Neurological
Mobility Service

GD Guide Dog Service

OT Occupational Therapy

For further information on any of the above special programs or our mobility services please contact:

Cath Caddis, Referrals Officer

Phone: (03) 9854 4467

Fax: (03) 9854 4466

Email: catherine.c@guidedogs.asn.au

Birthrights by David Williamson

Playhouse Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre

Monday 5 May 6.30 pm

Saturday 10 May 4.00 pm

Tactile Stage Tour 10 May at 3.00 pm

Frozen,

Fairfax Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre

Staring Helen Morse and Frank Gallaher

Monday 26 May 6.30 pm

Saturday 31 May 4.00 pm

Tactile Stage Tour 31 May at 3.00 pm

Bell Shakespeare Company Presents

Hamlet

Playhouse Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre

Saturday 7 June 1.30 pm

Tickets for all these shows from Ease Ticketing, 9699 8497, Mon-Fri, 10.00am-4.00pm

Articles for next issue

Please forward articles by 13 June 2003 to:

Nadia Mattiazzo

Victorian Advocacy & Information Officer

Blind Citizens Australia

PO Box 229

Prahran Vic 3181

Tel: 03 9521 3433

Fax: 03 9521 3732

TTY: 03 9521 1200