Round Table on Information Access 
for People with Print Disabilities Inc. 

30th Anniversary Conference – 2011
Melbourne, Australia

Bridging the Information Access Gap: Past Successes & Future Challenges

Conference Program
Saturday 21st to Tuesday 24th May 2011
Venue: 
Bayview on the Park Hotel 
52 Queens Road, 
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia 3004 

Visit Round Table at www.printdisability.org
Please note that the conference program may be subject to change without notice.

Welcome 
Welcome to the 30th Anniversary Round Table Conference “Bridging the Information Access Gap: Past Successes & Future Challenges”.   
Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities was established in 1981, this year we celebrate 30 years of achievements and encourage you to be part of our planning for the next 30 years.  
The aim of Round Table is to facilitate and influence the production and use of quality accessible formats for and by people with print disabilities. This year the conference will review the impact of technology and service development over the last thirty years and explore the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in a fast changing global and local environment.
This year's programme includes a wide range of topics and will review the impact of technology and service development over the last thirty years. It will also explore the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in a fast changing global and local environment.  The theme will be explored through a mix of presentations, panel discussions and workshops with a technology exhibition being held in association with the conference.  
We welcome you to Melbourne and to the 2011 Round Table Conference.

John Simpson
2011 Conference Convenor.

Enquiries to:
Tammy Axelsen, 
Administration Officer
Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc
PO Box 229
LINDISFARNE   TAS   AUSTRALIA   7015
Ph: Mobile 0417 101 418
Fax: +61 3 6265 1519
Email: admin@printdisability.org 

Visit Round Table at www.printdisability.org
and the Round Table blog at http://printdisability.wordpress.com

Acknowledgements 
Sponsors 
Our sincere thanks go to the sponsors of this year's conference:

Vision Australia - for producing accessible format conference materials and for donating staff time to assist with conference planning.

Media Access Australia - for providing a USB memory sticks for each delegate.  This has enabled us to supply conference information in accessible electronic text.

Australian Government’s Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, National Disability Conference Funding Program - for providing funding to assist with travel, accommodation and registration costs for consumers to attend the 2011 Round Table Conference.

Thanks 
The Conference Convenor would like to thank the Round Table Executive, the Conference Organising Committee, friends and colleagues at Vision Australia, staff at the Bayview on the Park Hotel and all the presenters, our organisers, trade exhibitors and delegates who have made this conference possible.

Exhibitors 
Quantum, Reading Learning Vision 
Quantum, Reading Learning Vision is dedicated to serving the needs of people with Print Disabilities by providing access to information and tools for greater independence in all areas of life, especially in areas of education, employment and retirement. We provide a range of electronic magnifiers, electronic Braille displays and note takers, 'text-to speech' devices, DAISY players, accessibility software for computer users, as well as training and also our dedicated Software Support phone line.
Visit:  www.quantumrlv.com.au 

Oricom International Pty Ltd
As an expert in communication technologies and leader in design and ideas across multiple categories, Oricom provides real choice. 
Being 100% Australian owned Oricom builds communication products for the tough, unique conditions of Australia and New Zealand.
The reliable expert, who supplies and supports the best phone for person’s with hearing loss and or low vision.
Visit:  www.oricom.com.au  

Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd
Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd. are responsible for the development and manufacturing of digital talking book players (DTBPs) and other products sold under the brand name of PLEXTALK. We are the world's largest manufacturer of DTBPs and a leader in digital recorders and software since the initiation of the digital talking book players and the creation of the global standard DAISY in 1990's. PLEXTALK assistive technology products are created to improve the quality of life, self-reliance and independence of their users.

PLEXTALK has added a state-of-art DAISY player and recorder PLEXTALK Pocket and a network-capable player PTX1 in the product line-up.
 Visit:  www.plextalk.com/in/ 

HumanWare 
HumanWare provides intuitive, intelligent solutions that enable the vision impaired to participate effectively in today's information intensive society.
HumanWare is a global company, with offices and distribution networks throughout North America, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australasia, 
HumanWare employs the industry's largest R&D team, which means we have the capacity to create even more product innovations. Our products are tools to aid the vision impaired to live independently and compete effectively in a sighted world. Product solutions like: 
•	myReader low vision auto-reader
•	SmartView Synergy & Versa magnifiers
•	Stream digital talking book player
•	BrailleNote Apex personal information management system
•	Trekker Breeze GPS for the blind
Visit:  www.humanware.com 

Bush Australia Pty Limited 
Digital TV equipment manufacturer Bush Australia has a talking set top box for digital TV, which is currently in development and testing in conjunction with the Federal Government and Vision Australia. The talking set top box has been trialled by the Government as part of the digital TV roll-out currently underway around Australia, and may be one of the devices chosen to be part of the $308.8 million Household Assistance Scheme announced in the 2011 Federal Budget.
Bush Australia Pty Limited is a division of Harvard PLC and represents key companies from the Group's European portfolio of famous brands.
 Visit:  www.bushaustralia.com.au/ 

Vision Australia
Vision Australia is the nation’s leading, not-for-profit, provider of blindness and low vision services. There are more than 300,000 Australians who are blind or have low vision and by 2020 this number is expected to double. It’s a big challenge, but Vision Australia is committed to delivering exceptional services that open up exciting possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision. 
Vision Australia Information Library Service provides free books, magazines and newspapers to people with a print disability. As the national library for people with a print-disability, we send materials all around Australia in the post and instantly via download. To join the library, for more information or to support Vision Australia call 1300 84 74 66 
Visit: www.visionaustralia.org 

Saturday May 21
9.45am: Registration

Time	Session	
10.00-10.30am	Morning Tea on arrival	
10.30am-12.30pm	Australian Braille Authority Annual Meeting – Lakeside One 
Chair: Christine Simpson 
See separate Agenda 	
12.30-1.30pm	Lunch – Terrace Room 	
1.30-3.00pm	ABA Meeting continued – Lakeside One 	
3.00-3.30pm	Afternoon Tea 	
3.30-5.00pm	ABA Meeting continued – Lakeside One 	

5.30-7.00pm: 	Welcome Function and Conference Opening – Lakeside Four  
Host:  Julie Rae President, Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc  
Conference Opening:  Robyn Gaile, Executive Officer, Blind Citizens Australia.  

Sunday May 22
8.30-9.15am: Registration

9.30am-6.00pm: Technology and Services Exhibition – Lakeside Four 

Time	Session 1: Keynote – Lakeside Three
Chair: Julie Rae 	
9.30-10.45am	Chairman’s Introduction - Julie Rae, President, Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc  
Keynote Address – Prof Ron McCallum, Chair, Monitoring Committee for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and 2011 Senior Australian of the Year.  
Has there ever been a better time to be blind: Past successes & future challenges in bridging the information access gap: a blind software developer's perspective. Clive Lansink, Director, Accessible Information and Communications Ltd. 
Conference Announcements and Roll Call.   	

10.45-11.15am: Morning Tea

Time	Session 2: Plenary – Lakeside Three 
Chair: Di Francis 	
11.15am-1.00pm	Print Disability caused by a Learning Disability: An Insider’s Perspective. Deborah Zang, Convenor The Learning Disability Network, Victoria. 
Harnessing the power of digitalisation: A journey through time and cyberspace. William Jolley.  
The Bionic Eye, what will it mean for people who are blind or have low vision? Dr Lauren Ayton, Bionic Eye Clinical Research Coordinator, Centre for Eye Research Australia.  
>From reluctance to acceptance: A personal journey, using alternative formatted materials in post-secondary education. Jodie Hoger, Teacher Consultant (vision), TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute. 	

1.00-2.15pm: Lunch – Terrace Room 

Time	Session 3: Forum – Lakeside Three  
Facilitator: Alex Varley, Media Access Australia  	
2.15-3.15pm	Access to Digital TV, Audio Description and beyond 
A forum involving:
•	Michael Brealey, Head of Strategy and Governance Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) 
•	Michael Simpson, Member Digital Switchover Taskforce  Expert Reference Group 
•	Robyn Gaile, Executive Officer, Blind Citizens Australia 
•	Clive Lansink, President, Association of Blind Citizens New Zealand

3.15-3.45pm: Afternoon Tea

Time	Session 4 – Lakeside Three  
Chair: John Simpson  	
3.45-5.00pm	Introducing the World Braille Council, Braille21 Congress. Peter Osborne, Braille21 Congress Programme Committee. (20 mins) 
Meet our Exhibitors - Brief presentations from organisations providing trade exhibits. 	

6.45pm:	Pre-Dinner Drinks 
7.15pm:	Conference Dinner – Lakeside Two 
Celebration of 30 years of the Round Table
Presentation of Lifetime Achievement Award 
Toast to Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc, Graeme Innes AM, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission.     
  	
Monday May 23
8.15-8.45am: Registration

9.30am-6.00pm: Technology and Services Exhibition – Lakeside Four 

Time	Session 5: Plenary – Lakeside Three 
Chair: Brian Conway 	
9.00-9.15am	Conference Announcements and Roll Call	
9.15-10.30am	The proposed WBU copyright treaty: how it would help end the book famine. Maryanne Diamond, World Blind Union President.  
International and National programs to increase accessible content - an update. Julie Rae, General Manager, Community Information Access, Vision Australia. 
Living in a Tactile World – a salute to Braille and other tactile markings. Christine Simpson, Director, Information Alternatives.   	

10.30-11.00am: Morning Tea

Time	Session 6A: Advances in Accessible Information provision 
Lakeside Three
Chair: – John Simpson 	Session 6B: Workshop  
Lakeside Two 
Chair: Christine Simpson, 
Chair Australian Braille Authority 	
11.00am-1.00pm	UK Developments. Peter Osborne, Chair, WBU World Braille Council Braille21 Congress Programme Committee.  
Video  “eBooks for blind and partially sighted people”). 
Enhancing Access to Information - the way ahead for Vision Australia. Tony Iezzi, National Library Manager Vision Australia.   
Digital Content: A New Future for People with a Print Disability. Geoff Strempel, Associate Director, Public Library Services, South Australia. 	The Australian Braille Authority’s Braille Formatting Guidelines.
Leona Holloway, Formats Development Officer, Vision Australia 
Kathy Riessen, Coordinator Alternative Print Production, SA School for Vision Impaired 	

1.00-2.15pm: Lunch – Terrace Room 

Time	Session 7A: Product and Service Innovation (Part 1) – Lakeside Three 
Chair: Elisabeth Wegener  	Session 7B: Focus on Education – Lakeside Two 
Chair: Elizabeth Hayward  	
2.15-3.30pm	Computer Aided Information - ‘A new solution to an old problem’. Mr Warren Oldreive, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, UK & Dr Mary Waight, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, UK.  
>From DAISY to ePub - Towards a mainstream future. Kenny Johar, Vision Australia.  
Hardware solutions for information access - without barriers of distance and computer literacy. Hiro Fujimori, Manager of R&D, Assistive Technology Products Business Unit, Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd. (PLEXTALK). 	The role of Vision Australia’s Feelix Library in extending experiential learning. Louise Curtin, Feelix Co-ordinator Vision Australia. 
Using Universal Design for Learning principles to bridge access gaps
to resources for students with vision impairment in inclusive classrooms. Ben Whitburn, Deakin University.  
How can we improve the development of digital learning materials to embrace “universal design” for students who have a print disability? A vocational education and training (VET) perspective. Jodie Hoger, Teacher Consultant (vision), TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute.  	

3.30-4.00pm: Afternoon Tea

4.15-5.15pm: 	Round Table Annual General Meeting – Lakeside Two 
			Chair, Julie Rae 
			See separate Agenda 

Tuesday May 24
8.15-8.45am: Registration

Time	Session 8: Focus on Government  - Lakeside Three  
Chair: Julie Rae 	
8.00-9.15am	Conference Announcements and Roll Call 	
9.15-10.30am	The National Disability Strategy – what’s in it for people with a print disability? Senator The Hon Jan McLucas: Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers 
The National Broadband Network rollout, a disability perspective.  Teresa Corbin, CEO Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).  	

10.30-11.00am: Morning Tea

Time	Session 9A: Product and Service Innovation (Part 2) – Lakeside Three
Chair: Sheena Daniel	Session 9B: Focus on Braille – Lakeside Two 
Chair: Linda Triasmono 	
11.00am-12.30pm	Online tools for delivering support and information in using and finding out about assistive technology solutions. Luisa Ferronato, National Manager Assistive Technology Services, Vision Australia.   
Addressing the information needs of Disabled Travellers. Diana Palmer, Managing Director Disability Infoline, IDEAS Online and Community Education.  
Findings from the Australian Government’s study into the accessibility of the Portable Document Format (PDF) for people with a disability. Neil King, National Manager Accessibility Consulting, Vision Australia. 	Braille and DAISY – Working Together. Leona Holloway, Formats Development Officer, Vision Australia. 
Teaching Braille to Adults. Jordie Howell & Mitzi Raaphorst, Adult Braille Instructors, Vision Australia. 
Refreshable Braille, where are we now – where are we going?  Danny Keogh
Blindness products support, training and sales, Quantum Reading Learning Vision (20 mins) 

Time
12.30-1.00pm	Closing Session – Lakeside Three 
Chair: Julie Rae 
Conference closing.	

1.00-2.00pm: Lunch – Terrace Room 

Time	Concurrent Workshops 	
2.00- 4.00pm	Workshop A – Lakeside Three 
Accessibility improvements in mainstream electronic book reading devices. Jim Pipczak, Adaptive Technology Consultant, Vision Australia.
Workshop B – Lakeside Two 
An introduction to accessible formats for people with print disabilities: Braille, DAISY, clear print, e-text, e-books and web accessibility.  Moira Clunie, RNZFB. 
Workshop C – Lakeside One 
Clear Print: introduction to Round Table’s guidelines on producing legible print and reformatting documents into large print. Elisabeth Wegener, St Edmunds School.