Talking Vision by Vision Australia Radio

Sam speaks with music therapist Emily Shanahan following the recent developments around NDIS funding for music and art therapies, and the positive impact it has had and continues to have for people of all ages with disabilities such as blindness or low vision. Then after we hear from Emily, Maureen from the library is back on the show with a preview of all the exciting things going on in the libra...

We celebrate World Braille Day on the show this week, with an extra special anniversary in 2025 as this year marks the 200th birthday of braille since Louis Braille innovated the writing system in 1825. Sam kicks off the show speaking to Tristan Clare, chair of the Australian Braille Authority as well as publications officer at Next Sense to talk about why braille plays such a vital role for peopl...

This week we feature the best of Talking Vision in 2024, with some of Sam's favourite interviews from the year as you sit back on Christmas Day for a holiday special episode of Talking Vision. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Sam speaks with Associate Professor Matthew Butler from Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology and president of Round Table , Sonali Marathe, who tell us about a new series of 3D printing guidelines for educational materials designed to be tactile and accessible to students who are blind or have low vision. We also catch up with editor of For Your Information, Liz Dalakouras, to get...

This week Sam speaks with Dale Pierce and Sharon Taylor, two participants heading along to take part in the Vision Australia Trek for Vision. The trek takes place over five days from April 29 to May 3 2025 on the Abel Tasman track on the South Island of New Zealand, to raise vital funds for Vision Australia client services such as the quality living groups helping people navigate life with vision...

Sam is joined by Janene Sadhu and Michael Janes, who both took up the option of live audio description at the 2023 Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight. They tell us about their experiences at the Bowl with AD, in the lead up to this year's Carols on Christmas Eve simulcast on Vision Australia Radio. You'll also hear from Keith McVilly, a member of the Disability Worker Registration Board of Vic...

This week we hear from social worker and youth mentor Ian Clements, who after experiencing vision loss as a young adult overcame the various challenges that came with that to work as part of the Top Blokes Foundation in the Hunter Valley region. Then later on in the show we feature some news and information about the upcoming International Day of People with Disability on Tuesday December 3, and F...

Hear from Jason Gipps as he catches up with guest curator of Geelong Design Week, Dr Tonya Meyrick, to chat about how they are making design accessible for members of the public who are blind or have low vision. Later in the show it's award season as we recap the 2024 Vision Australia awards with Vision Australia acting CEO Justine Heath, who presented the awards at the recent Vision Australia Ann...

Sam caught up a while back with blind endurance runner, motivational speaker and all around thrill seeker Ben Pettingill, whose aim for 2024 is to run 3,249km for mental health in a project he calls 3249 Blind. You'll also hear from Liz who's back to tell us about the latest issue of For Your Information, and we hear from Blind Australian of the Year Award winner Courtney Webeck who spoke with Mar...

This week on the show Sam speaks with father and son Peter and Rohan Rickards, alongside Kathy Leitch from Vision Australia. Peter and Rohan are the inventors of Sensaball, a multi-directional cane tip designed to give greater feedback and less friction and vibration for white cane users. Then after you hear from Peter Rohan and Kathy, Karan Nagrani is back on the show after catching up with Brisb...

Sam is joined by Corene Strauss and Brooke Carter from the Australian Disability Network, who are here to tell us all about the PACE mentoring program for job seekers with disabilities, as well as their upcoming It's Not Hard to be Inclusive campaign running in the lead up to International Day of People with Disability on 3 December. Then later in the show Sarah from the library is back to tell us...

Sam is joined by Samara Cunningham, artistic director of South Gippsland-based theatre company (It's no) drama who are hosting a production in November. Very shortly they will also be running a training session to help locals make the performing arts more accessible for performers and staff in the region who are blind or have low vision. Then later in the show Sam catches up with Harzita Hashim fr...

Sam welcomes back Karan Nagrani to Talking Vision this week in the lead up to the Blind Australian of the Year Awards held on 26 October in Brisbane, where Karan will be the MC. Then we hear from Vanessa Papastavros who's here to tell us about the latest news from Speak My Language, a series of national audio and video podcasts featuring stories, advice and lived experiences of cultural and lingui...

World Sight Day is coming up on October 10 and to celebrate this week on Talking Vision Sam catches up with paediatric ophthalmologist Dr Stephen Hing from the Retina and Eye Clinic in Sydney.  Stephen joined Sam to speak about this year's themes for World Sight Day: the importance of eye care in young people and inspiring children everywhere to love their eyes. Later in the show you'll also hear...

October is a busy month in the world of performing arts with Arts Centre Melbourne's disability led arts initiative, Alter State, kicking off from October 2 to 13. Sam speaks with access consultant Sarah Houbolt and CEO of Vitae Veritas Nilgun Guven all about what people can expect if they head along. Then later in the show, The Other Film Festival is shortly upon us running from October 3 to 16,...

Sam is away this week but you'll hear from Jason Gipps who caught up with a group of graduates from the Career Visions program. Career Visions is a Queensland based program run in partnership between Vision Australia and the Queensland government to give job seekers who are blind or have low vision important skills for their chosen careers, and gain the confidence to jump back into the workforce....

Sam catches up on the show this week with comedian Jeremy Moses, who lives with a rare vision condition which has resulted in him being legally blind from birth. In the past year Jeremy has taken to the stage to share his lived experience of disability, and he will be taking his talents to the Fringe Festivals in Sydney and Melbourne over the coming weeks. Support this Vision Australia Radio progr...

Sam is joined by Ross Joyce from the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) to discuss the news of federal NDIS minister Bill Shorten's retirement from politics in early 2025. Then we hear from the National Gallery of Australia's Adriane Boag, who joins the show to tell us more about the monthly Art by Description series taking place every second Friday. Support this Vision Austr...

Sam speaks this week with event manager of Ability Fest, Ashleigh O'Gara from Untitled Group. Ability Fest will be kicking off over the month of October in both Melbourne and Brisbane, highlighting the talents of musicians with disabilities and ensuring an accessible and inclusive experience for the audience. Then later on in the show we hear from Liz Dalakouras, the manager of For Your Informatio...

As we approach the first day of the Paralympics on August 29 Australian time, Sam is joined by co-host of Studio 1 and four time Paralympian Sam Rickard, to give us a preview of the games and what he and Lizzie have in store for listeners over the next couple of weeks. Then later in the show we hear from Belinda Wilson from Vision Australia to tell us about the range of programs available to child...

Sam speaks to deputy CEO of People With Disabilities Australia, Megan Spindler-Smith, about the government's recent response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Then later on in the show, Vision Australia library manager Sarah Bloedorn catches up with Sam to tell us about the latest events and new releases available for library members...

Sam catches up with Kelly Schulz, founder and managing director of Knowable Me, an organisation providing market research services and key insights into needs and preferences of people with disabilities. We also hear from Vision Australia Radio's Jason Gipps, he's here to tell us about some exciting new shows for people to look forward to, and invites all in the Bendigo region to come visit the st...

We take a trip around regional Victoria on the show this week as Bruce Lees catches up with Graeme Knight, they're both members of the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club (BAREC) which are holding a Radiofest on August 18. Then we head over to Geelong as Sam speaks with Eddy Kontelj from Achilles Geelong, a new chapter of Achilles Australia which is launching on the Bellarine Peninsula with...

Sam is joined by Daniel Fenech, the director of independent documentary The Blind Sea which follows the life of paralympian and blind surfer Matt Formston as he rides the world's biggest waves. The Blind Sea is out in cinemas from August 15 to 18, and 50% of proceeds from ticket sales go towards Vision Australia. Then later on in the show, there's some big news to share as Vision Australia CEO Ron...

Tanya Thomas from the Frankston and District Basketball Association is on the show this week to tell us about their blind and low vision basketball program, taking place every Tuesday morning at the Frankston Basketball Centre. You'll also hear from Maureen O'Reilly from the Vision Australia Library, who's here to tell us about a couple of events over the next few weeks for children to enjoy. Fina...