While Round Table strives to make the information on this noticeboard as relevant, timely and accurate as possible the inclusion of information on this page does not constitute endorsement by Round Table.
Conferences and Events
2025 Round Table Conference
Conference Theme:
Access Unlocked: Innovating for Information Equity
Dates and Venue:
Saturday, 24 May to Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Stamford Plaza Melbourne, 111 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
SPEVI Conference
Theme: EmPOWERment through connection, inclusion and education.
When: 13-15 January 2025
Where: UniSQ Brisbane, 293 Queen Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
All information about this exciting event can be found on the dedicated SPEVI 2025 Conference website.
ICEVI World Conference, Gujarat India, 14-17 November 2024
The 2024 World Conference of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) will take place in Ahmedabad, India, from 14 to 17 November 2024. The Conference will feature a dedicated exhibition area for trade displays and service providers and pre- and post-conference workshops on 13 and 18 November.
The Blind People’s Association (BPA), India, and Sense International India are the host organisations of the conference. The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU) is providing its Ahmedabad campus as the conference venue.
The theme of the conference is “Inclusion in diversity: Equity and accessibility for all”.
For more details, please visit the 2024 ICEVI World Conference website at www.icevi2024wc.org, and also the ICEVI global website at https://icevi.org/conferences/. The websites include the First Announcement, Call for Papers, and abstract submission form. Accommodation options are currently being negotiated and will include a range of pricing options. Accommodation details will be uploaded to the conference website in the near future.
Ahmedabad is well connected by international airlines from various world cities. Among the historical sites in Ahmedabad is the Sabarmati Ashram, situated on the banks of river Sabarmati. The Ashram was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 to 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle. It was from here on March 12, 1930 that Gandhiji launched the famous Dandi March, the Salt Satyagraha which ultimately resulted in freedom.
We look forward to welcoming you to the 2024 World Conference. The conference offers the opportunity to connect with world leaders, researchers, professionals, and parents/caregivers, and to share insights into current research and practice in the field of education for persons with blindness, low vision, deafblindness, and multiple disability.
Please share this invitation with your networks.
Dr Frances Gentle
President, International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment
Positions Vacant
Of Interest
Print Disability Services Program
Vision Australia and VisAbility are two service providers included in the Federal Government’s Print Disability Services Program (PDSP) for 2021-2024.
The Federal Government is providing this service to produce alternative formats of printed and digital material, to meet the needs of people living with a print disability. The aim of this program is to improve access to printed materials for all Australians.
If you think you may benefit from this service, please get in touch with these organisations:
Vision Australia
Tel: 1300 847 466
Email: printaccess@visionaustralia.org
Website: Vision Australia
VisAbility
Tel: 1800 847 466
Email: access@visability.com.au
Website: VisAbility
dAp Dots
dAp Dots is a collection of Braille books that help with learning and understanding the basics of the UEB Braille code. They are designed to provide an effective foundation to Braille literacy for parents and children. The UEB code for early Braille learners and contracted Braille is introduced.
Who will benefit from dAp Dots?
- Braille reading children being introduced to the Braille code
- Parents/Guardians of Braille reading children
- Teachers of early Braille reading students
The resources are available for purchase as digital files to download. You can use these files to produce your own embossed or swell paper versions.
dAp Dots was developed by Tricia d’Apice (Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, Sydney), as a result of her valuable research into Braille literacy.
Website: www.nextsense.org.au/apps-and-resources/dapdots
Launch of UEB Online for Mathematics
RIDBC has released this Media Release (89 KB) to mark the May 2019 launch of its free, online braille mathematics training program using Unified English Braille – go to https://uebonline.org/
It would be appreciated if you could share RIDBC’s Media release with your networks. We welcome feedback on the online braille literacy and mathematics training programs from educators, O&M instructors, health professionals, parents and families, and others who are interested in learning braille.
New Sonokids Ballyland app for beginning users of iPad who are blind or vision impaired
Ballyland Stay Still, Squeaky! is a new app for beginning users of iPad who are blind or vision impaired:
- a fun ‘Cause & Effect’ Story that responds to touch with audio feedback
- a Game that helps to develop finger drag skills and build spatial awareness on the iPad
Get Ballyland Stay Still, Squeaky! from the AppStore
For those of you who wonder if this app is the same as the Stay Still, Squeaky iBook: The story is the same as the story from the iBook, which is no longer available. But on top of the story, the app includes a brand new Bonus game, which you can access after having listened to Squeaky’s story at least once. In this game, you need to listen carefully and drag your finger along the screen to specific spots of dirt, and ‘collect’ them in the correct order (touch and hold). Then a mini story plays out as a reward and you also score points. Please note that the grid pictured on the screen in the game is only for visual support, and is not relevant to the gameplay for children who are blind. This as opposed to Ballyland Sound Memory, where the game revolves around an accessible digital grid with rows and columns.
Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Bill 2017
Great news from Australian Parliament – the Copyright Amendment (Disability Access and Other Measures) Bill 2017 has passed in both houses, allowing adoption. This is fantastic news for our sector. In brief, the Bill introduces two new exceptions 113E (for persons with disabilities and everyone assisting them) and 113F (for organisations assisting person with a disability). Both extensions extend to importation and exportation of accessible materials, addressing our compliance with the Marrakesh Treaty. All copyright material (print, music, video, art, etc) can be converted to an accessible format for people with a disability (including learning disabilities such as dyslexia) provided that the format is not already available in that format at an ordinary commercial price and in reasonable time. A copyright statement does not need to be included (no more 135ZP). Reporting is not required, however CAL is willing to continue maintaining a master copy catalogue to assist with sharing of accessible materials. The technicalities are available at http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5832 and a simpler explanation is given by CAL at https://www.copyright.com.au/2017/03/simplification-copyright-act-win-local-creators-users-australian-content/.
You may also like to refer to the 2017 Round Table presenter papers on copyright available for download from https://printdisability.org/conference/2017-round-table-conference/. The Bill is expected to come into practice later this year.
A Revolution in Accessing Digital Tactile Graphics
Graphiti is a dynamic multilevel tactile touch display developed by Orbit Research for the American Printing House for the Blind. This revolutionary display was developed in conjunction with the Transforming Braille project.
Graphiti will allow students and adults to access a wide variety of on-screen graphics by touch. This includes pie charts, bar graphs, geometric forms, maps, floor-plans, flow-charts, line drawings, and dynamic graphical content.
Graphiti’s breakthrough technology allows graphics to be depicted by means of an array of variable-height pins. To change to the next graphic, the pins on the refreshable display move up and down to create a tactile representation of the graphic. Graphiti can display topographical maps and other features such as grey levels and colors.
For more information, visit http://www.aph.org/graphiti/
The Tactile Pictures Book Project
Now offers everyone the opportunity to request a free, customizable tactile picture book. They develop customizable, and inclusively designed tactile picture books for children, with direct input and collaboration from their families. You can request a book through an online form on the website: https://tactilepicturebooks.org
ICEVI publications
Round Table is a member of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI). ICEVI is a global association of individuals and organisations that promotes equal access to appropriate education for all children and youth with vision impairment. ICEVI publications, including their newsletter, conference proceedings and “The Educator” magazine are available to Round Table members and can be downloaded from their website.
Last updated: November 7, 2024 at 9:39 am