+++AUSTRALIAN BLINDNESS FORUM and NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES.
++ABF/NDS UPDATE APRIL 2009.

[Contents begin]
+01. What the ABF is Doing.
+02. News from ABF Members.
+03. Feature Item: Neurological Vision Loss.
+04. NDS and Disability at the National Press Club.
+05. National Disability Insurance Scheme.
+06. Employment.
+07. Social Inclusion.
+08. Not-for-profit Sector.
+09. National Human Rights Consultation.
+10. National Disability Conference Funding Program.
+11. National Disability Awards.
+12. Telecommunications.
+13. Other Information, Publications.
+14. NDS Events.
+15. Other National Conferences.
+16. Continuing Professional Education.
+17. International: World Blind Union.
+18. International: Louis Braille Bicentenary.
+19. International: Other Items.
- Getting More Information on Issues in this Update.
- Reproducing Information from this Update.
- About Australian Blindness Forum.
- About National Disability Services.
[Contents end]

[Update begins]

+01. WHAT THE ABF IS DOING.
In the past month, the ABF has:
- written to the Attorney-General asking for deemed-to-satisfy specifications for wayfinding to be added to the Access to Premises Standards before the five-year review period, and seeking clarification on the ability to complain about wayfinding issues under the Disability Discrimination Act
- written to the Attorney-General seeking a reversal of the decision of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters to discontinue access to independent voting for people who are blind or vision impaired
- attended a meeting of the Aviation Access Working Group
- circulated the second Politicians’ Newsletter
- attended the National Press Club Luncheon address by Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten
- discussed the more timely provision of alternative formats of the Tax Pack with the Australian Taxation Office
- provided input to NDS’s submission on the Independent Disability Equipment Program for telecommunications

+02. NEWS FROM ABF MEMBERS.
- Microsoft makes huge grant to Vision Australia: Microsoft’s biggest-ever Australian grant, valued at $6.7 million, will help people overcome social isolation and loneliness. For example, the software will enable the creation of accessible online communities, blog capabilities and discussion forums. In addition, the creation of an online library will enable Vision Australia clients to subscribe to a variety of newspapers and magazines as well as download the content in a format they can access through assistive technology. To read the announcement, go to http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=823&news=1093. 
- New medication management for people with low vision: After discussions with Vision Australia (http://www.visionaustralia.org/info.aspx?page=823&news=1062), Webstercare Australia, suppliers of medication management systems, developed the new Webster-pak LV (low vision) to specifically ensure that people with low vision can see and take their medications correctly, as packaged and supplied by their pharmacist. The Webster-pak is black, the writing is white in a large font size and sentence case type to make the Mon-Sun labels (down the side of the pack) and dosage times (breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime across the pak), easier to see. The new Webster-pak LV is now being sold in pharmacies Australia-wide. Webstercare invites enquiries and offers free samples – phone 1800 244 358 or email manrex@webstercare.com.au. 
- BCA Postcard Campaign on Audio Description
An initial supply of the postcards is now on its way to the networks of BCA and ABF. The text of the postcard reads:
‘It’s our turn now! Audio Description is a way to describe what can be seen on a screen in a clear and private manner. I, the undersigned, urge the Australian Government to work with the major cinema chains across the country to make sure that the 400,000 Australians who are blind or vision impaired can walk into a cinema and enjoy a move just like everyone else.’
Please encourage everyone involved with your organisation o send off a postcard. All an individual needs to do is sign the postcard, attach a 55 cent stamp and post it to Minister Peter Garrett (address provided on the postcard).
- Promise of bionic eye: The Federal Government will put $50 million into research towards a bionic eye over four years. Blind Citizens Australia National Policy Officer, Wayne Hawkins, welcomed the news but said the funding should not stop at research and development. He said affordability would be the issue as 63 per cent of working-age people who are blind or vision impaired were unemployed or underemployed. Researchers from the University of NSW had been working on bionic eye technology for more than a decade. Bionic Vision Australia (http://bionicvision.org.au/), especially established for the eye project, proposes to have a first advanced prototype ready for human implant by early 2012. It would deliver ‘significant benefits to patients with severe mobility and light perception difficulties’, the group says. 
- Multimedia resource helps families learn sign language, anywhere, anytime: The RIDBC Auslan Tutor is a portable video-based Australian Sign Language (Auslan) teaching resource developed specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch. It is designed for families of young deaf children to assist them to learn Auslan and promote early communication between parent and child. Over 500 signs are included. These signs were carefully chosen as those most needed by families in their interactions with, and teaching of, their young deaf children. For more information, go to http://www.ridbc.org.au/resources/auslan_tutor.asp. 
- Macular Degeneration Awareness Week will be held from 24 to 30 May – more information is on the Macular Degeneration Foundation website at http://www.maculardegeneration.com.au/page3323837.aspx. 
- Are you seeing things that aren’t there? Approximately ten to fifteen per cent of people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience vivid hallucinations that range from seeing simple forms or patterns to complex scenes and ‘imaginary’ people. These are most likely caused by the phenomenon known as Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). Out of fear, people with AMD often fail to report these visions to doctors. To find out more, visit AMD Alliance International at http://www.amdalliance.com/resources/hallucinations.php. 
- Stem cell therapy for AMD: Surgeons predict that stem cell therapy will cure age-related macular degeneration and will be generally available within seven years. The treatment, being pioneered in the UK, involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. The clinical trial, due within two years, is expected to be the second in the world to use embryonic stem cells on humans. The first, on patients with spinal cord injuries, will start in the US this year. AMD Alliance International will continue to carefully monitor developments on this research, and updates will be available at www.amdalliance.org. To read the UK press article, go to information, go to http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6122757.ece. 

+03. FEATURE ITEM: Neurological Vision Loss.
Approximately 94,000 Australians each year experience either a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Up to 30 per cent of these have an associated vision impairment that is rarely diagnosed. Many people are not aware of the nature of vision loss associated with brain injury, nor are they aware of the assistance that can be provided to alleviate the problems that this significant vision loss can cause.
The Royal Society for the Blind, SA (RSB) is pleased to announce the release of its publication ‘Neurological Vision Loss, A guide for people who have a Homonymous Hemianopia’.  This booklet, available in PDF, text and MP3 formats, is designed to provide information about vision deficits associated with a brain injury. It describes how messages from our eyes are processed by the brain and how injury to parts of the brain can affect vision. It also explains how to identify signs and symptoms of neurological vision loss as well as treatment options and support services available.  
RSB is conducting a research project into the effectiveness of rehabilitation practices for Neurological Vision Loss with the assistance of funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing under the National Eye Health Program. For more information, go to http://www.rsb.org.au/News/NVLProject.html or email Margaret Brown at mbrown@rsb.org.au.

+04. NDS AND DISABILITY AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB.
At the NDS National Press Club Lunch on 1 April, televised nationally, Parliamentary Secretary Bill Shorten responded to the idea of a National Disability Insurance Scheme: ‘This is a big idea. It’s as big as the original idea for Medibank. It would turn our current system of providing disability services on its head.’ In his short opening speech, NDS Chief Executive Ken Baker said that Australia needs a national scheme which entitles people with severe disability to long-term care and support services.
NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 2 April at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm and Bill Shorten’s address ‘Right to an Ordinary Life’ is available at http://www.billshorten.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/billshorten.nsf/content/right_to_ordinary_life_01apr09.htm. 

+05. NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME.
In its response to the 2020 Summit, the Australian Government has agreed to consider the development of an insurance model to meet the costs of long-term care for people with disability in conjunction with the development of the National Disability Strategy. While this suggests a universal scheme (disability from any cause) the concept is also presented as ‘catastrophic insurance … to support the families of people with brain injury from birth or from non-insured accidents.’  NDS’s submission to the Strategy called for a scheme that would provide universal and equitable no-fault entitlement to disability services for all Australians who require long-term support, regardless of how that need arose. For further information on the concept of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and an invitation to register support go to http://www.natdis.com.au. 

+06. EMPLOYMENT.
- Economic Downturn hits Disability Enterprises: Over half of respondents to an NDS survey of Australian Disability Enterprises report that their sales figures are down, with corresponding negative impacts on profit figures and performance against budgets. Over half also report that their investment returns are down, with over a fifth significantly affected. Fundraising returns are also down with nearly half of respondents reporting reductions. Around a third of respondents felt they had not yet experienced the full impact of the downturn. NDS has prepared a draft paper for the Government proposing ways to reduce the adverse impact of the economic downturn on Disability Enterprises and NDS members are invited to provide feedback by 1 May. For more information, NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 23 April at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm.
- Australian Disability Enterprises Sharing Work Capacity: There’s a new page on the NDS website http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm to allow Australian Disability Enterprises that are NDS members to list commercial opportunities they may not have the capacity to undertake or require assistance to complete, and list commercial enquiries that are outside the scope of their usual business. 
- Modernisation of Supported Employment Services Award: NDS (with legal counsel) has met with the ACTU, LHMU and FaHCSIA to consider a first draft of a modernised LHMU Supported Employment Services Award. To read the NDS News Update of 28 April, go to http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 
- Disability Employment Services: Changes to the proposed service model for Disability Employment Services that will take effect on 1 March 2010 include:school leavers will be able to directly register with Disability Employment Services to significantly improve school-to-work transition for job seekers; the definition of employment outcomes will include employment with multiple employers over a 26-week period; the number of job placement fees for job seekers will increase from two to four for up to two years
NDS News Update of 7 April has more information for NDS Members at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. The media release by Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, is available at http://mediacentre.dewr.gov.au/mediacentre/OConnor/Releases/NewEmploymentServicesforPeoplewithDisability.htm. 
- Jobs Fund – first call for proposals: The Australian Government is seeking proposals for innovative community, environmental and heritage projects that will create jobs and build skills for the future. The Jobs Fund is a $650 million initiative aimed at supporting and creating jobs and skills development through projects. The Jobs Fund forms part of the Jobs and Training Compact and has been established to support families and communities most affected by the global economic recession. The closing date for proposals is 4.30pm EST Friday 22 May 2009 – go to http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/Pages/JobsFundfirstcallforproposals.aspx. 

+07. SOCIAL INCLUSION.
A ‘new look’ social inclusion website (http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au) has been launched. The website includes information on the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda, priority action areas, work underway and the work of the Board. Also included is information on the development of a National Compact with the Not-For-Profit Sector.

+08. NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR.
Parliamentary Secretary Ursula Stephens has commissioned the Productivity Commission to inquire into the contribution of the not-for-profit (NFP) sector to the nation’s economy; asked ABS to update its statistical information on the sector; and is seeking security the agreement of a working group of the Council of Australian governments to start work on harmonising Commonwealth, state and territory third sector regulation. NDS will be making a submission to the Inquiry. A fact sheet at http://www.nds.org.au/national/Facts/FactSheet-NonprofitSector.doc provides background on the NFP sector, and for other information NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 9 April at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 

+09. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTATION.
The consultation is a chance for the National Human Rights Consultation Committee to hear people’s ideas about human rights and talk about ways to protect and promote human rights in the future. In addition to major towns and cities, the Committee will be visiting places throughout regional and remote Australia during the first half of 2009. To read reports of sessions already held and to check on the dates for other sessions, go to http://www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au/www/nhrcc/community.nsf/calendar.

+10. NATIONAL DISABILITY CONFERENCE FUNDING PROGRAM.
Applications are open for this funding for conferences to be held between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010. Past funding has been used to improve conference access by people with disability by providing Auslan interpreters, note-takers and materials in alternate formats. Funding can also be used to assist with the costs of transport to and from the conference, conference fees and accommodation during the conference. Applications close on 5 May 2009. More information is available from http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/disabilities/access-conference_funding.htm or email disability@fahcsia.gov.au or phone 1800 672 682.

+11. NATIONAL DISABILITY AWARDS.
Nominations are now open for the 2009 National Disability Awards. This is the opportunity for people with disability to be acknowledged for their remarkable achievements and contribution to the community and to recognise others who have contributed to the disability sector. This year the Award categories have been expanded to five:
- Minister’s Lifelong Achievement Award
- Disability Rights Young Leader Award
- Business Award
- Local Government Award
- Social Inclusion Award
Nominations close 5.00pm AEST Friday 22 May 2009. For more information and the nomination forms, go to http://www.idpwd.com.au/awards.asp. 

+12. TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
- New Consumer Action Network: The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is being formed as a new peak body for consumers and consumer organisations on issues including telecommunications and the Internet. Members of the inaugural board include a representative of the Consumers’ Telecommunications Network (CTN). For more information, go to http://www.accan.org.au/. 
- Mobile Premium Service Code: A coalition of national and regional consumer organisations, including CTN and ACCAN, have aligned to say they do not support the mobile premium service code recently published by industry. Consumer groups have called on the regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) not to register the code because ‘it does not provide adequate consumer protection and customers will continue to suffer significant detriment due to misleading industry practices’ (source Deafness Forum Australia). To read CTN’s media release, go to http://www.ctn.org.au/content.cfm?ContentType=Content&ContentID=91. 

+13. OTHER INFORMATION, PUBLICATIONS.
- Accessible Housing: The Victorian Government has launched a package of measures to encourage people to ‘Build for Life’. The new community awareness campaign and regulatory measures will allow one in five Victorians who have a disability, or are over the age of 60, or are carers to build accessible features into new homes and renovations. The Build for Life video is a ‘quirky’ look at how one couple discovers that their dream home is an inaccessible nightmare. The video and transcript are at http://www.buildforlife.com.au/www/html/120-about-welcome.asp. 
- LiveWire Newsletter, published by Quantum Technology, can be downloaded in PDF from http://www.quantumtechnology.com.au/files/LiveWire%20March%202009.pdf or as text from http://www.quantumtechnology.com.au/files/LiveWire%20March%202009.txt. 

+14. NDS EVENTS.
- Building Workforce Capacity – Satisfaction, Safety and Skills, the NDS National Workforce and OHS Conference, will be held in Hobart on 4 and 5 May. More information is at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 
- Shining Through – Creating sustainable employment in a turbulent world: This international conference, incorporating the NDS 2009 National Employment Forum and the Workability International conference, will be held in Sydney from 6 to 9 September. Online registration is available at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm.  
- CEO Meeting – Policy and Management Advice for Decision Makers: This annual event, to be held in Canberra on 30 November and 1 December, is for CEOs, senior managers and board members from NDS member organisations.

+15. OTHER NATIONAL CONFERENCES.
- AFDO first national conference: ‘Policy About Us, For Us! A Practical Revolution in the Lives of People with Disabilities’ will be held in Melbourne on 28 and 29 May 2009. Go to http://www.afdo.org.au/node/229 to register for conference updates.
- Round Table conference will be held at the Citigate Central Motel in Sydney from 30 May to 2 June. The conference aims centre on the changing face of service delivery while continuing to provide service in today’s context. For more information, go to http://www.e-bility.com/roundtable/ or contact Tammy Axelsen, RT Administration Officer at RoundTableAdmn@bigpond.com. 
- Communities in Control 2009, the biggest annual gathering of community sector workers, volunteers and supporters, will be hosted by Ourcommunity.com.au in Melbourne on 15 and 16 June. There’s more information at http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/control/control_main.jsp. 
- Disability Studies conference will be hosted by the Disability Studies and Research Centre at the University of NSW on 26 and 27 June 2009. To find out or more, go to http://www.hotelnetwork.com.au/conferences/conferences/disability_studies. 
- The Disability and Age Discrimination Law Reform Summit, to be held on 30 and 31 July 2009 in Sydney, will feature keynote presentations by the Hon Robert McClelland, Federal Attorney-General, and Graeme Innes AM, Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Human Rights Commissioner. For more information, go to http://www.iir.com.au/disabilitylaw.

+16. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.
There is a comprehensive 2009 program on offer from RIDBC Renwick Centre. To find out more about courses in hearing impairment, Braille, vision impairment, multiple disability and special offers, go to http://www.ridbc.org.au/renwick/courses/continuinged_calendar.asp. 

+17. INTERNATIONAL: WORLD BLIND UNION (WBU).
Selected items from the WBU E-Bulletin of March 2009 appear here and in the two following International sections. 
- WBU Strategic Plan 2009-2012, developed last December, can be found at http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/homed145.html. The plan will be updated twice each year as work is undertaken. A list of representatives on various organisations and bodies will soon be available there, along with a list of various groups of individuals who will undertake the work.
- Vision Alliance is an initiative of the WBU, ICEVI (International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment), IAPB (International Agency for Prevention of Blindness), formed to create greater synergy and collaboration between the three organisations at the global, regional and national levels. The aim is to improve the services and programs of each partner.
- World Sight Day, ‘Gender and Eye Health’ on 8 October is when Vision 2020 members work together to raise public awareness, influence governments and education target audiences about blindness prevention programs and generate support. To find out more, visit Vision 2020 at http://www.v2020.org/page.asp?section=0001000100070013 and Vision 2020 Australia at http://www.vision2020australia.org.au/news-events-world-sight-day.cfm.

+18. INTERNATIONAL: LOUIS BRAILLE BICENTENARY.
- WBUAP Onkyo Braille Essay Contest – reminding all Braille writers: As announced last month, essays for this contest must be lodged by the deadline of 10 May 2009. Please send essays by email to scarter@rsb.org.au or post them to Sharyn Carter, Royal Society for the Blind of SA, 254 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000. If you need more information about entry conditions, please email margaret.verick@nds.org.au.
- BANA Creates Braille Excellence Award: In honour of the Bicentenary, the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) has created the ‘Braille Excellence Award’. This award will be given to people or organisations that have developed or contributed to a code, have developed code materials, or software that supports codes, and/or who represent the highest standards of Braille production. The first award is being given to Dr Abraham Nemeth for his contributions making maths and science accessible for people who are blind around the world. For additional resource information, go to http://www.brailleauthority.org. 
- International Congress Visually Impaired 2009 will be held in Coupvray, France from 18 to 20 June 2009 as part of the Bicentenary celebrations. For more information, go to http://www.cinal-dv2009.com/. 
- Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation: As announced in the ‘Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius’ biography, National Braille Press has launched its 2009 Prize. Potentially, the award process will inspire new strategic directions for National Braille Press. The $20,000 Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation will be awarded to an individual or group of individuals who contribute to innovation in the field of tactile literacy for people who are blind. The Prize can be granted for a new educational method; a new tactile literacy product; or a new technological advance. Applications must be submitted electronically, followed by a signed hard copy, by 20 July 2009. For further information, go to http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/louis/index.html. 
 - Australian Louis Braille Bicentenary Website: The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC), in creating a website to mark the bicentenary of Louis Braille’s birth, has produced and collected a range of resources about Braille facts, info, videos, trivia, games and quizzes, links to Braille events and workshops and some reading lists. The information is geared towards the general public to provide an overview of the history of Braille and an introduction to the Braille code. To find out more, go to http://www.cubicconsulting.com.au/ridbc/index.cfm?skinname=content&page=43984.
- Braille Bug: The American Federation for the Blind’s Braille Bug website http://www.afb.org/braillebug/ provides information for sighted students.

+19. INTERNATIONAL: OTHER ITEMS.
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: A new website, disAbilityknowledge.org (http://moodle.disabilityknowledge.org/course/view.php?id=16) provides a valuable resource of information, including DPI Toolkits on the Convention and the UN Handbook for Parliamentarians. A legal opinion on Article 12 is available on the site and may be of use in national lobbying efforts.
- Human Rights Materials: A new publication from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, ‘Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: A Handbook for Civil Society’ is now available online at http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/NgoHandbook/ngohandbook.pdf. 
- ICEVI Seventh European Conference ‘Living in a Changing Europe’ will be held in Dublin, Ireland from 5 to 10 July 2009. For more information, go to http://www.icevidublin2009.org. 
- Free Screen Reading and Large Print Software: NVDA (Non-visual Desktop Access) is claimed to be a very comprehensive and robust free access package for the Microsoft Windows operating system. Providing feedback via synthetic speech and Braille, it enables people who are blind or vision impaired to access computers running Windows for no more cost than a sighted person. Find out more at http://www.nvda-project.org. 
A screen reader called Thunder from Sensory Software Ltd is free for all individuals and organisations. For more information, go to http://www.screenreader.net/. Screen Magnifiers homepage http://www.magnifiers.org has a listing of magnifiers for people requiring large print. One of those, the Virtual Magnifying Glass (http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/) is a free, open source, cross-platform screen magnification tool that is said to be simple, customisable, and easy-to-use. 
- Voice Internet Technology: The corporation Internet for Everyone aims to assist anyone, anywhere to surf the web, access email and other internet services using voice technology. For more information, go to http://www.internetspeech.com. 
- BrowseAloud, a text-to-speech solution which reads website content aloud and highlights each word as it is spoken, is aimed at benefiting people with mild vision impairment, literacy and learning difficulties, dyslexia and those who have English as a second language. It is not designed to replace traditional screenreaders such as JAWS. BrowseAloud is free-of-charge to anyone using it, although websites pay an annual fee to be BrowseAloud-friendly. BrowseAloud was designed by Texthelp Systems in the UK and is currently used on almost 3,000 websites worldwide, including The House of Representatives, USA (and some websites in Australia). To find out more, go to http://www.browsealoud.com/page.asp?pg_id=80076. 
- Advocacy Manual: ‘Creating Successful Campaigns for Community Living: An Advocacy Manual for Disability Organisations and Service Providers’, published by the European Coalition on Community Living, is aimed at conducting workshops for people with disability and can be adapted for use in many countries. To download it in Word, go to http://www.community-living.info/documents/ECCLAdvocacy%20Manual_TextVersion.doc. 
- Website for Partially Sighted Persons, PartiallySighted.com, has been established specifically to meet the needs of people with vision impairment. Visit http://www.partially-sighted.com for the information and free access to the discussion forums.

[News items end]

- Getting more information on issues in the ABF/NDS Update: Unless otherwise stated, please contact Margaret Verick at margaret.verick@nds.org.au, phone 02 6283 3214.
- Reproducing information from the ABF/NDS Update: Anyone may reproduce any of the information in this Update – just acknowledge this source.
- About AUSTRALIAN BLINDNESS FORUM http://www.australianblindnessforum.org.au.
Australian Blindness Forum (ABF) was first formed as an unincorporated body in 1992, funded only by its members. In April 2007, the ABF became an Australian public company limited by guarantee, funded by its members and governed by a board of directors. The purpose of the ABF is to operate as a peak body representing the blindness sector for the benefit of people who are blind or vision impaired. The Project Officer (Australian Blindness Forum) is located at the ABF registered office, 33 Thesiger Court, Deakin ACT 2600 – contact Margaret Verick, email margaret.verick@nds.org.au, phone 02 6283 3214. 
- About NATIONAL DISABILTY SERVICES http://www.nds.org.au.
National Disability Services (NDS) is the national industry association for disability services, representing over 600 not-for-profit organisations. Collectively, NDS’s members operate several thousand services for Australians with all types of disability. NDS’s members range in size from small support groups to large multi-service organisations, and are located in every State and Territory across Australia.

[Update ends]