Introducing CAVI’s brand new Employment course

Are you a job seeker or thinking about looking for work? If so, CAVI’s brand new employment course may be just the help you need.

This course is no ordinary employment course. We understand that there is more to getting a job than your resume, cover letter, and interview.

This course is taught by blind people who have been successful in both specialty blindness and mainstream employment. The course will run for 8-10 weeks depending on student needs and will include the following topics and activities:

  • Motivations for work
  • The three traits we have found make getting a job much easier and how to develop these
  • Basic skills and knowledge to put in place when beginning a job search including networking and problem solving
  • The job search
  • Writing easy attractive resumes and cover letters
  • Interviewing skills including how to help put employers at ease
  • A mock interview from real hiring personnel through leadership WA as well as feedback on resumes and cover letters
  • Discussions on transitioning into the workplace including fitness, sleep, and socialization

This course will be delivered online and will meet once a week for approximately 2 hours starting in February 2015.

The cost is $100. As with all courses run by the Cisco Academy for the Vision Impaired you will also gain access to a community of students and instructors to network with, even after you have graduated.

If you would like more information or to apply please visit CISCO Employment Course info

In conversation with Minister Fifield

Assistant Minister for Social Services and  Manager of Government Business in the Senate, Minisiter Fifield tells Chair of Australian Federation of Disability Organisations Margherita Coppolino about the NDIS and his plans to make it the best it can be. 

Watch the video

An opportunity for vision impaired / blind adventurers

Vision impaired / blind adventurers are invited to join Ranquilco for the trip of a lifetime. If youʼre seeking a world beyond the familiar, this is for you!

In March of 2014, T.A. Carrithers will lead three blind riders for a 10-day pack trip into the heart of the Andean Cordillera, Argentina. The trip will include: a 3-night stay at Estancia Ranquilcoʼs lodge where the riders, guides and horses will prepare for the journey ahead; 10 days of trail riding and wilderness camping; an additional 2-night, post-trail recovery stage at the Estancia lodge. Horses, pack-mules, food + gear will be supplied, and each blind / visually impaired guest will have his/her personal guide. Pack trip and travel costs to/from Argentina are covered.

This epic, horse-powered trek will become the subject of a movie, called Blind Spot. A vision quest documentary, Blind Spot defies the conventional views on blindness to chronicle an inspirational journey of self-discovery, in search of what we see, what we canʼt see, and what we overlook.

 

See more at  http://ranquilco.com/index.php/trips/blind-spot/

 

Selection criteria for the visually-impaired / blind riders:

– The invitation is open to blind / visually-impaired women + men (must be over 18)
– Prior horseback riding or camping experience is not necessary
– Average fitness level and tolerance for unpredictable weather is preferred
– Must be available to travel to Argentina for 3 – 4 weeks in March of 2014

Share your story with us:

– Please write a brief message (+/- 150 words), or send us a video or audio recording (+/- 1 minute) that expresses your passion for joining this adventure. Weʼd love to learn what you hope to discover on the trail, what you want to bring home, and what you might leave behind…
– Deadline for entries: December 1, 2013.

For more information, or to submit your story, please contact us:

tac.ranquilco@gmail.com
info@blindspotfilm.com

For more information about the film, please go to: blindspotfilm.com

Media Access Study into Education for Children who are Blind or Vision Impaired

Media Access Australia has today released a landmark study into how the access needs of students who are blind or vision impaired can be met in Australian schools. Launched at the Blind Citizens Australia convention yesterday, it is hoped that the study informs how new technologies and systems are adopted.
While there is no official statistic for the number of children who are blind or vision impaired in Australia, a reasonable estimate is 4,000. The vast majority of these school age children attend mainstream schools.
The study explores how the challenge of providing access to media and technology for students who are blind or vision impaired is met across the public, Catholic and independent sectors. The study draws on interviews with mainstream and specialist teachers and service providers.
The report is a comprehensive review of how access is currently provided. Solutions range from large print text books to using pipe cleaners to mould into tactile diagrams. The report’s five expert authors then scope how mainstream technologies such as tablet computers could be used to improve learning outcomes.
The report identifies a number of factors inhibiting access to learning for students who are blind or vision impaired. These include:
• Existing structures hindering knowledge sharing between schools, sectors and states
• A lack of opportunities for coordination to prevent duplication of resources
• Copyright issues affecting the availability of texts in alternative formats
• A lack of information to help educators and education departments to adapt to technological change
Media Access Australia has a long history of work in Deaf and hearing impaired education which places us in a position to offer independent evidence based advice.
CEO and co-author Alex Varley said, “This report offers a bird’s eye view of how technology and information access are currently being provided across the country and across sectors. From this vantage point we can see the common challenges and identify practical solutions which could be adopted to improve services.”

Download the report:
Vision Education Scoping Report Final Version.docx
Vision Education Scoping Report (DOCX 3.4 MB)
Filed Under: Information

Peter Greco Interviews Greg Madson on Vision Extra

Our Guest on Vision Extra is Greg Madson, Candidate for President of Blind Citizens Australia.

You can hear Greg’s interview, go to
http://www.rphadelaide.org.au/Webcast.html
or listen here