What’s On?
July 2009 Vol 2 Ed 3

In This Issue
2009 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Confident Living Program News
Technology Outlook
Industry Skills Centre
Important changes to Transperth services
Country Age Pension Fuel Card
Shopping Online
Audio Description Information Sessions
Audio Description Services in the Theatre
Accessible Mobile Phone Information
2009 WA Disability Collective Lecture

2009 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Association’s AGM this year will occur on Thursday 22 October at 6.00pm. It will be held on our premises, 61 Kitchener Avenue, Victoria Park, in the Wesfarmers Theatrette. Tea and Coffee will be served at 5.30pm during registration. Please call Deb Rankin by close of business 21 October 2009 if you will be attending. We shall be sending all members more information closer to the event. 
I look forward to seeing you there.

Regards
Dr Margaret Crowley

Confident Living Program News
Volunteers Urgently Needed
We need volunteers to help with our mosaics, pottery, handicraft and woodwork activities. Drivers are also sought to transport our clients to and from these activities, in either their own or an Association vehicle on a weekday morning or afternoon. Please give Annaliese a call on 9311 8276 today.  

Learn how to email or use the internet
Using emails or the internet can help you stay in touch with family and friends and find useful information - including news and sport. The Association has just submitted applications to the Department of Education and Training to continue its provision of First and Second Click (FSC) classes from August 2009.  To register for classes in: 

	Albany call Susanne Reilly on 9842 5566
	Bunbury call Ailsa Honen on 9791 3200
	Rockingham call Rosemary Panting on 9586 1147
	Victoria Park call Josh Giblett on 9311 8201

Have you had a fall or need more comfortable shoes?
If so, don’t miss the “Happy Feet – Falls Prevention Seminar” on Tuesday 15 September from 9.30am - 3.30pm in the Association’s Leisure Centre. The programme includes advice about falls prevention from a Physiotherapist and about foot care from a Podiatrist. A footwear retailer representative will assess and recommend safe footwear and a massage therapist will conduct foot massages. To register, please call 6222 4960.

‘MoneyWise Seminar’ 
How to cope during the economic downturn
This seminar will include budgeting skills, wise shopping and financial strategies to take advantage of banking procedures and opportunities in the current economic climate. It will be held here at the Association in September over 3 sessions at a total cost of $15.00. Do register your interest immediately by phoning 6222 4960. The Town of Victoria Park will be part-funding this event and will also subsidise the attendance cost for any of its residents. 

Goal Ball to start in July
Good News! The Department of Sport and Recreation has funded a Goal Ball program for 12 months.  This is an exciting game that can be shared by you and your sighted friends and family members. Some of you may prefer to participate at competitive level in preparation for the Paralympics. To find out more call Michael Pereira on 9311 8254. 

Yoga 
Yoga will be offered for 8 weeks from Tuesday 21 July from 2.00 - 3.00 pm in the Association’s Handa Hall. Call Sarah or Michael to register on 9311 8254.  

Golf 
Use our golf simulator to learn golf or improve your handicap. 
To book a session, call Sarah or Michael on 9311 8254.   

Staying Fit
Start with the Low Impact Exercise classes to improve your balance, mobility, strength, general well being and help reduce incidence of falls. Alternatively you may prefer working out in the gym or have a game of basket ball, swish, Bocci, ten pin or carpet bowls. Call Michael or Sarah on 9311 8254 for more information.

Technology Outlook
On Sunday the 23 August from 12 noon until 4.30pm we will be hosting our Technology Outlook at the Association in the Dr Geoff Gallop Braille and Talking Book Library.  
 
Please come along to this free event, where you can catch up with our leading suppliers of assistive technology and try out some of the latest equipment. Items on display will range from the latest portable and desk top magnifiers to optical character recognition systems. If you have any questions or would like further information please contact Helen James on 6222 4906.  

Industry Skills Centre
For inquiries, information and forms relating to the Industry Skills Centre activities described below, please contact Naomi or Matthew on 6222 4904.

Braille
If you would like to start Braille training, why not register to join in a Braille Blazers group? This group meets one afternoon per week for 10 weeks, and a new group starts every term. The next group will start on 14 October. This is a fun and easy way to introduce you to the world of Braille.  

Training 2010
If you want to know more about new training initiatives introduced on 1 July by the Federal and State governments, come along to Technology and Training Outlook on Sunday 23 August.  From 12 noon until 4.30 pm, we will be running information sessions to help you find out about opportunities to study and gain qualifications in 2010.

Assistive Technology Workshops
Two very popular workshops will be repeated in Semester 2:

	Exploring ZoomText Magnifier Features 
	Friday 11 September, 9.00 am – 12.30 pm
	Explore the ZoomText Magnifier interface and learn how to 		configure ZoomText to your own colour, size, and other 			settings.  Learn about hotkeys and use the AppReader 			and DocReader features. 

	Exploring ZoomText Speech Features 
	Friday 16 October, 9 am – 12.30 pm
	Explore the ZoomText Speech interface and learn how to 			configure ZoomText to your own speech, echo and verbosity 		settings.  Learn about hotkeys and use the AppReader and 		DocReader features with speech.

Assistive technology workshops will incur a fee of $25 and may be subject to cancellation due to lack of sufficient numbers to make the workshops viable.

Important changes to Transperth services
 On Sunday 28 June, significant changes to train and bus services across the metropolitan area were introduced, which may affect your use of public transport. Details of these changes are available on the Transperth website home page at:
www.transperth.wa.gov.au or call the Transperth InfoLine 13 62 13.

Country Age Pension Fuel Card
This new scheme was launched on 30 April and seeks to provide more support for the transport needs of age pensioners living in country areas. The card provides eligible age pensioners with up to $500 a year towards the cost of fuel and taxi travel from participating providers. To be eligible a person must be receiving an Age Pension from Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (Age Service Pension or Social Security Age Pension) and be a permanent resident of an eligible non-metropolitan (country) local government area. The card is limited to one per couple per financial year and car ownership or possession of a current driver’s licence is not required. 
Application forms are available from and must be submitted at participating country post offices. For more information call the Country Age Pension Fuel Card Information Line on 1300 666 609 or visit the following website: 
http://www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/RegionDev/RforR/FuelCard.asp

Shopping Online
For people with a vision impairment, online shopping services provide a very convenient means of purchasing goods - including groceries, which are home delivered. Such outlets can be found via an internet search. While some might not have accessible websites, one that does, for example, is 
Ezyshop, visit www.ezyshop.com.au

Audio Description Information Sessions
Does low-vision make your experience with TV, DVDs or cinema a frustrating one? Audio description is a widely available and popular service for people who are blind and vision impaired in the UK and US, but it is under-utilised and almost unknown in Australia. 

Come along to one of these sessions delivered by Media Access Australia, to learn more about Audio Description, discover where and how it is available, experience the benefits with a live demonstration and be in the running for a door prize. Following the formal presentation you can enjoy an audio described episode of the TV comedy hit Thank God you’re here. 

On Tuesday 4 August, the Association will host two sessions in its building at 10.00 am – 1.00 pm or 5.30 pm – 8.00 pm. In Bunbury a session will be held on Monday 3 August from 12 noon – 3.00pm in the Conference Room at Milligan House, 35 Milligan Street. 

Light refreshments will be served at all sessions. If you haven’t already registered your interest please do so before Wednesday 29 July by calling Val at the Association on 9311 8218 or emailing: valerief@guidedogswa.com.au. For more information about Audio Description and Media Access Australia, visit its accessible website at: www.audiodescription.com.au.

Audio Description Services in the Theatre
A new Audio Description Service is available at Perth Theatre Trust Venues. With a small earpiece and receiver, users can listen to descriptions of the set, costumes and action. The service commences 10 minutes before the performance to allow for descriptions of the set and other elements and the narration of program extracts. 

Audio Description is available for the following performances –
Much Ado About Nothing, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 29 August 2.15pm

EQUUS, Presented by Perth Theatre Company and His Majesty’s Theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre, Saturday 26 September 2.00pm

The Web, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre 				Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 3 October 2.15pm

The Sapphires, Presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Playhouse Theatre, Saturday 31 October 2.15pm
 
Tickets for audio described performances are available one week in advance through BOCS Ticketing on 9494 1133. The service must be requested at the time of booking. Patrons are requested to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the performance in order to collect their equipment and be comfortably seated before the audio description commences 10 minutes before the start of the performance. For further information regarding the Audio Description Service please contact 
Alice Jorgensen, from the venue management organisation, on 9380 3000 or email ajorgensen@sac.aegogdenperth.com.au

Accessible Mobile Phone Information
The Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI) project was developed to provide a central information source about mobile phone accessibility. Its website provides information about useful features, comparisons between specific products and links to manufacturer’s websites. It also explains in more detail some of the accessibility features and provides information about their operation. This site can be found at: 
www.mobileaccessibility.info/index.cfm

2009 WA Disability Collective Lecture
This lecture will be delivered by the Hon Bill Shorten, MP, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services. He will speak on the human rights and social justice aspects of the National Disability Strategy, particularly in light of Australia’s recent ratification of the International Convention on human rights and disability. It will be held on Thursday 6 August at 6.00pm in the Social Sciences Lecture Theatre at UWA. This event is free and open to the public, no bookings required. For more information contact the Institute of Advanced Studies, 6488 1340 or www.ias.uwa.edu.au

61 Kitchener Avenue, Victoria Park 
PO Box 101, Victoria Park 6979
Email: hello@guidedogswa.com.au 
Website: www.guidedogswa.com.au

(08) 9311 8202 of Freecall 1800 847 466