Focal Point on Vison Australia Radio

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On FOCAL POINT: Emma Bennison is the recipient of the Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement. Rebecca Young, CEO for Access 2 Arts, wrapping up the year in arts and a preview into events for 2025.  Ella Edwards chatted about the personal support program. Ella can have up to 360 print pages transcribed into any preferred format - you can too. Victoria Hunt, Manager, Access Services Unit at...

On FOCAL POINT:  Dr Kate Dempsey, CEO for ANZACATA, is very concerned about the messaging from the NDIA regarding Arts Therapy. Australians with a disability who access Arts Therapy as a crucial therapeutic support have been left confused by an NDIS announcement last week regarding significant changes to the service.  Mia Gardiner, from Crime Stoppers Victoria, sharing important and timely informa...

On FOCAL POINT: Steve Hurd recounts a most amusing incident: whilst wearing Ray-Ban Meta glasses in a St. Vincent de Paul's book shop, interested  bystanders had Steve's glasses read some rather graphic sex scenes out of a book - an accident? Steve also shares news about using the Omny Pod in a more accessible way to manage diabetes. Consult your GP and or Endocrinologist. Adam Shearer, Manager St...

On FOCAL POINT: Chrissy Antonopoulos has  finished a PHD and published some research on implicit bias in hiring people with a disability. Rachel, from Marketing at Beyond Blindness, with updates on events and activities, including a group being set up in Mt. Gambier. 8367 6088 Colleen Lewis explained her and other's roles in a New consumer group recently appointed to shape the future of eye resear...

On FOCAL POINT: Penny Holmes-Brown is Service Area Manager from APM employment, the winner of this year's Link Vision Blind Australian of the year Employer of Choice Award. Rebecca Young, CEO for Access 2 Arts, wrapping up Vision Australia Radio Adelaide's audio description of the Christmas Pageant, as well as invitations to two audio described shows of the State Theatre Company's Jack Maggs - als...

On FOCAL POINT: Nathan Stock, from Seeing Hands ( https://seeinghands.org/ ) with news on dictionaries that are accessible on braille displays and now available in a number of languages. You can access the : dictionaries here: https://projects.seeinghands.org/dictionary/ Mia Gardiner, from Crime Stoppers Victoria, shared news on how bystanders can be alert to Elder Abuse - signs to look out for an...

On FOCAL POINT: Courtney Webeck, Cricketer; Tennis Athlete and student is the 2024 Blind Australian of the year.  Mahesh Nath, from Pacific Vision, will be at Tech Fest - where, among other things, we will see the first showing of an electronic magnifier from HIMS. Nikki Brooke is about to Launch her first published book "Plagued Lands" Phil Vandepeer, co-founder and co-presenter for Focal Point,...

On FOCAL POINT: Libby Henderson is the Co-Founder and Commercial Director for Big Purple Phone. Big Purple Phone is an accessible, user friendly, mobile phone. Learn more here: https://bigpurplephone.com.au/    Libby will be at Tech Fest 6th November 43 Franklin Street Adelaide.  You can book by calling 1300 944 306 or go to: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/techfest-see-differently-with-the-royal-...

On FOCAL POINT: Tobias Stuntebeck is an Industrial Designer from “White Cane” in Duderstadt Germany. The re-engineered cane its history and is looking for feedback from users.  which will be at Tech Fest 6th November at UCity, 43 Franklin Street Adelaide.  Tech Fest is put on by See Differently.  Find out more here:   https://whitecane.com/   You can book your tickets for Tech Fest by calling 1300...

On FOCAL POINT: Dr Ceecee Britten Jones, from the Centre for Eye Research, sharing news about work on The Advanced Genomics Collaboration to help find the genetic causes of many unidentified retinal diseases.  10th October is World Sight Day, you can find out more by calling 03 8344 3441 or emailing IRD@groups.unimelb.edu.au Darrin Johnson, Volunteer Business Advisor For EP Global, introducing us...

On FOCAL POINT: Mike Kent, from Curtin University, with an invitation to an Audio-description Symposium 16th October Curtin University. You can attend in person, or online; register here: https://research.curtin.edu.au/research-rumble/ad-symposium-2024/   The program will be live at: https://research.curtin.edu.au/research-rumble/ad-symposium-2024/ Mia Gardiner, from Crime Stoppers Victoria, with...

On FOCAL POINT: Haben Girma, Deafblind Advocate Extraordinaire, is a guest speaker at UNSW Centre of Ideas. Haben is the first Deafblind Harvard Graduate; has been named one of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and was awarded the White House Champion of Change - presented by President Barack Obama. Find out more here: https://www.habengirma.com/   If you want to hear the "Authentic" version of the interview...

ON FOCAL POINT: Reggie Sorensen, two-time winner of Big Brother, is an important part of the Blind Australian of the year Award's gala evening 26th October 26th in Brisbane. Reggie will be welcoming all on the Red Carpet. To nominate your individual and the Employer of Choice go to: https://blindaustralianoftheyear.com.au/ Sandra Gesuato, from Beyond Blindness, with a very comprehensive summary of...

ON FOCAL POINT: Karan Nagrani, Social Content Manager for Link Vision, has an invitation to nominate your choice for the Blind Australian of the Year and Employer of Choice Award - as well as previewing the Gala Event 26th October in Brisbane. Find out more here: https://blindaustralianoftheyear.com.au/ Rebecca Young, CEO for Access 2 Arts, would love applicants for the role of Access Coordinator...

ON FOCAL POINT: David Goldfield, Director for Marketing at Blazie Technologies, with news about the very new BTSpeak: an all-in-one pocket notetaker; tablet and computer with a braille keyboard.  For more information call Blazie Technologies in the US 00111 772 214 1616 or go to: https://www.blazietech.com/ Belle Owen, leading Advocate from JFA Purple Orange, responding to the long awaited report...

On FOCAL POINT: Bryan Blazie, CEO, and David Goldfield, Director for Marketing at Blazie Technologies, with news about the very new BTSpeak - a pocket computer and notetaker, with braille keyboard. For more information go to: https://www.blazietech.com/   Ben Dew, DE&I Pathways & Events Specialist at Tennis Australia, previewing the inaugural 2024 NT Blind & Low Vision Open at the Darw...

On FOCAL POINT: Professor Glen Gole was recognised in this year's King's Birthday Honours for outstanding service in ophthalmology; teaching; training and mentoring others. Jeremy Peck, Member Services Officer for Beyond Blindness, with news on events and activities - in particular the southern areas. You can call the Christies Office on 8556 6288; Beyond Blindness 8367 6088; or Jeremy 0438 051 22...

On FOCAL POINT: Liz Symons has set up “My Talking Kitchen” sharing tips; tricks and devices to cook safely and independently for yourself and others. Check out My Talking Kitchen on Youtube https://youtube.com/@mytalkingkitchen607?si=T_ZdDLW9RLqt7aP5 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mytalkingkitchen Rebecca Young, CEO for Access 2 Arts, with news on SALA; audio described shows and courses to...

On FOCAL POINT: Jane Britt, Disability Policy Consultant from Jane Britt Consulting, with thoughts about the Disability Royal Commission (DRC); 222 Recommendations and the government's response. Jane Brit can be found here: https://janebrittconsulting.com.au/ Mia Gardiner, from Crime Stoppers Victoria, gave us some very valuable information about the organisation; how you can report anonymously an...

On FOCAL POINT: Amanda Acutt shared her views on Mattel's release of Blind Barbie. Juliet Middleton, Live Big CEO, spoke about the opportunity to improve transport for people with disabilities during this time when reforms are being considered. You can contact Live big on 1300 390 222 or go to: https://www.livebig.com.au/ Howard Dickinson, President of the Australian Blind Bowlers Association, wra...

On FOCAL POINT: Professor Lyndell Lim, from the Centre of Eye Research Australia, speaking about weight loss drugs and diabetes drugs linked to a rare form of vision loss. Amy Hall,  Clinical Supervisor Behaviour Support Practitioner (Adv/Spec) and Director at Banksia Support, sharing some very disturbing news of treatment of some children with disabilities in the education setting. If you have an...

On FOCAL POINT: Kelly Schultz is the Founder and Director for knowable.me - a platform to share your thoughts about almost everything; take part in surveys; mystery shopping and product testing.  Find out more here: https://knowable.me/   Jen Musolino, Member Engagement Officer at Beyond Blindness, chatting about Jen's past roles; time at Beyond Blindness and activities, events and opportunities i...

On FOCAL POINT: Ross McGregor, talks about NAIDOC week. Ross also tells us how he found about his indigenous heritage at 32 Tony Scott, Vice President for the Australian Blind Bowlers, previewing the Nationals coming up at the Coomealla bowls club from the 18th Check out the live stream on Youtube and Facebook on 20th and 21st July. Search  “rink run down for blind bowls” Nicola Ettridge, has just...

On FOCAL POINT: Sophie Coppenhall, PHD candidate at Monash University, is doing research into people's experiences in art galleries; museums and more. To help Sophie with research, email coppenhall@monash.edu Karen Massier, Executive Manager at Max Solutions, talked about 1 in 3 people looking for work aren't confident in applying for jobs due to their digital skills, or lack thereof.  Find out mo...