New Horizons

Thank you to the person who reminded me that I had neglected to republish part II of Padraig Naughton's interview, from 2016. Padraig visited Australia some years ago from Ireland, and we took some time to discuss the differences, at that time, for blind and vision impaired people, between our two countries. Also some more good news for watchers of audio described television.

This week we speak with Belinda O'Connor from Bioptic Drivers Australia. Hear about Bioptic driving, and the establishment of a legal framework to promote bioptic driving and make it easier to be assessed as a bioptic driver.

We harken back to episode 459 in this week's episode. Ahead of some news for Sydney branch members, we replay an interview from 2016. Graeme Innes, no stranger to New Horizons and to BCA generally, published his book around then. If you've not read it yet, here's a great opportunity. Graeme tells us of his motivation to write the book, and a bit about the process.

The focus this week is on the upcoming edition of Blind Citizens News, Blind Citizens Australia's quarterly magazine. Ahead of an interview with editor, Jonathan Craig, we bring you this edition's editorial.

Audio description is again our feature on New Horizons this week. We speak with Will McRostie from Melbourne, about Description Victoria, and a really interesting partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria.

In this week's programme we speak with returning guest, and BCA staff-member, Angela Jaeschke. Angela discusses her new role, and informs us of the impending commencement of a long awaited service! Also, Angela discusses some issues papers which BCA is currently formulating a response on.

We speak, in this week's episode, with Dianna Kube, and Tim Haggis, both of whom joined BCA two weeks ago - Dianna as Policy and Advocacy Team Leader, and Tim as Membership Development Coordinator. Find out about their background, and their views for the roles they have taken on.

This week we speak with Philip and Tess from the Australian Network on Disability. The describe an interesting opportunity for blind or vision impaired students, and an ongoing mentoring programme.

This week brings us the second part of our discussion from Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Andrew Arch, principal consultant with Intopia, talks about changes he's noticed, and what it has taken to get where we are in terms of digital access. Apologies for the audio dropouts, despite these I thought it was well worth bringing to you.

This is the audio edition of Blind Citizens News, for April 2020. It has been broken up into chapters for your convenience. It is narrated and produced by Glenn Morrow.

In this, the first episode to come out of our recently held Happy Hour on Global Accessibility Awareness day, we hear what the day is about, and we hear from David Vosnacos, Access consultant, and Assistive Technology Coordinator with VisAbility. David reminds us where we've come from, where we are now, and where to from here; in terms of digital accessibility. In coming episodes, we'll hear from...

In this episode, we revisit Episode 471, from late 2016. We hear from padraig naughton who discusses some of the differences between blindness services in Ireland and Australia.

This week we revisit episode 439, from 2016. Steve Richardson wrote the New Horizons theme-song, and talks about the programme, themes which have been used throughout the years, and how he came to write and sing a tune that New Horizons listeners have heard for over four years now.

In this week's episode, we feature extracts from a recently held Blind Citizens Australia Happy Hour conversation on keeping your guide dog gainfully employed and motivated during the Coronavirus lockdown. Ryan Jones, from Guide Dogs NSW and the ACT gives us some ideas on how to keep your dog interested, motivated and well behaved during this period of staying at home.

In this week's episode, ahead of some comments from a NSW listener to New Horizons, we speak with Judy Jones, who holds the position of Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. In this strange time of working and socialising all from our homes, the internet and telecoms plays a bigger part in our lives than usual. Byt, who is there to assist those whose telecoms experience has not been up to standar...

It is vital that in these strange times we stay as informed as possible. Blind Citizens Australia is sending an update by mail to all of its members. This is the feature on this week's New Horizons. Whether or not you are a BCA member, or regardless of your access to technology, you can continue to be informed and stay up to date with happenings within the Blind and Vision Impaired community.

This week we bring you the editorial from the recently published edition of Blind Citizens News. Jonathan Craig, editor of Blind Citizens News has written on a subject of interest to many blind and vision impaired people. Also, a way for you to get involved with New Horizons.

In this week's episode, we explore one of the most popular way to join your friends and colleagues during this time of imposed social isolation. Find out how you can use your telephone and Web-Browser to join meetings, receive services and more.

In this week's programme, we feature the audio from a video published late last week by BCA CEO, Emma Bennison. Here about work BCA is doing on behalf of blind and vision impaired people in Australia, and how blind and vision impaired people can get together in this time of physical and often social isolation. Sally Aurisch gives us some detail about how you can save money on drinks during BCA's h...

In this week's programme we revisit the employment project BCA has been running for some time. Project manager, Naomi Barber explains what has been happening and future developments in the project and hopes for the future of employment for blind and vision impaired people in employment and those looking for work.

As we celebrate International Womens day on Sunday March the 8th, we hear from BCA CEO, Emma Bennison. She gave a speech to the department of Communications and the Arts, in December last year. Whilst the topic was people with a disability in leadership, I think many of the same points hold true to this day, for women in leadership. We have come so far but there is still much to be done to ensure...

This week we hear from Angela Jaeschke, Sally Aurisch and Emma Bennison about a revamp of the staff structure within Blind Citizens Australia. As well, an exciting opportunity to work at BCA, if you are into policy and advocacy.

In this week's episode, we repeat the first part of the keynote speech delivered at the 2017 convention of Blind Citizens Australia. Dr. Fred Schroeder, currently president of the World Blind Union visited Australia at the invitation of BCA, and gave this educational and rousing speech. This is a repeat from an earlier New Horizons episode.

Finishing off our series on people with multiple disabilities this week, with the second part of our conversation with Steve Richardson and Jonathan Craig. Hear about the impacts of multiple bone breakages, and developing independence and assessing risk.