+++AUSTRALIAN BLINDNESS FORUM and NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES. 
++ABF UPDATE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009.
[Contents begin]
+01. Victorian Bushfires.
+02. ABF Activities.
+03. NDS and Disability at the National Press Club.
+04. Disability and the Economy.
+05. New National Disability Agreement.
+06. New Family Support Program.
+07. Exploring Improved Communications Access.
+08. Search for Best Practice System.
+09. Social Inclusion Principles.
+10. Access to Premises Standards.
+11. Education Revolution.
+12. National Human Rights Consultation.
+13. Oz-Viskids.
+14. Audio Description.
+15. Information, Publications.
+16. ABF Member Organisations.
+17. Continuing Professional Education Events.
+18. National Conferences.
+19. NDS Events.
+20. International: World Blind Union.
+21. International: Louis Braille Bicentenary.
+22. International: Other Items.
+23. Feature Article: K94U2C.
- 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. VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES.
The ABF Directors and Members send their condolences to everyone that is suffering because of the devastating bushfires in Victoria. The ABF has posted to its website http://www.australianblindnessforum.org.au a range of Emergency Bushfire Information from across Australia that can be independently accessed by people with vision loss. Media releases about this national initiative were issued to major newspapers.
Volunteers at Vision Australia Radio have been giving listeners up-to-date news on the bushfires. Vision Australia and Guide Dogs Victoria have paid tribute to the superb efforts of their staff in going the extra mile. Both organisations are providing accommodation for several families that have been made homeless. 
Vision Australia invites anyone that needs replacement assistive equipment to phone 1300 55 84 58 between 8.30am and 6.00pm on weekdays, leave a voice message at other times, or email info@visionaustralia.org. For more information, visit http://www.visionaustralia.org. 

+02. ABF ACTIVITIES.
Since returning to work after the Christmas break, the ABF has:
- Written to the Attorney-General and the Minister for Innovation about the lack of coverage of wayfinding in the draft Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards; attended a public hearing at Parliament House on the Premises Standards; and through a members’ expert working group (Jane Bryce, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT; Caroline Lewis, Vision Australia; Robyn McKenzie, BCA; Bashir Ebrahim, Guide Dogs Queensland; Tony Starkey, RSB SA), prepared the ABF submission on the draft Standards (see item 10 below)
- Written to Standards Australia supporting calls for a distinct information standard to be included in the AS1428 suite of standards (see item 10 below)
- Written to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for additional figures on the employment of people with vision loss (see item seven below)
- Participated in a meeting of the Aviation Access Working Group
- Included issues on education for students with vision loss in the NDS Overview of the Australian Government’s Education Revolution (see item 11 below)
- Assisted NDS to appoint a representative to the Australian Government’s Digital Television Switchover Taskforce Consumer Reference Group

+03. NDS AND DISABILITY AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB.
Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, will be the keynote speaker at a National Press Club Lunch in Canberra on 1 April 2009. NDS arranged the event and Chief Executive Ken Baker will speak briefly before Mr Shorten about the idea of a disability service entitlement. It is important that the sector is well-represented at the lunch – to register, go to http://www.npc.org.au/assets/files/documents/speakers/BillShorten010409.pdf. 

+04. DISABILITY AND THE ECONOMY.
The Australian Government’s $42 billion economic stimulus package is short on direct assistance to community services. NDS believes there are measures that the Government could take immediately to help rectify this:
- Make disability access a core criterion in infrastructure spending
- Provide direct capital grants to assist community service organisations to upgrade their infrastructure
- Increase the FBT exemption cap on salary packaging
- Increase the Disability Support Pension and Carers Pension
NDS members can access more detail in the NDS News Update of 3 February via http://www.nds.org.au. 

+05. NEW NATIONAL DISABILITY AGREEMENT.
The National Disability Agreement (NDA), with a budget of $5.3 billion, including an additional $1.3 billion and the highest level of indexation to date at around 6 per cent, came into effect on 1 January. The NDA includes a commitment to ‘improve the evidence base to assist in policy, service and planning decisions’. A stronger evidence base would strengthen the disability portfolio’s bid for resources; improve the monitoring of performance across governments and inform the development of policy directions. The new Agreement includes several performance indicators that will require the collection of new annual data. Work is proceeding on the development of a National Population Benchmarking Framework. NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 2 February at http://www.nds.org.au. 
NDS reports that the NDA contains significant improvements on its predecessor (NDS News Update of 17 February contains more detail):
- inclusion of new priorities such as workforce capacity and aids and equipment
- integration of employment
- working towards national consistency in quality improvement, simplifying access to services and an emphasis on person-centre planning and early intervention
but also poses new risks:
- new approach to funding
- lack of inclusion of funding commitments from State and Territory governments
- lack of clarity on the scope of expenditure
- accountability in relation to outcomes but flexibility for States and Territories in how these are achieved
To read the government information about the NDA, go to http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/disabilities/policy-disability_agreement.htm or email nationaldisabilityagreement@fahcsia.gov.au.

+06. NEW FAMIILY SUPPORT PROGRAM.
The Australian Government has established a new national program that will integrate the existing family, children and parenting programs:
- Family Relationship Services Program
- Strengthening Families Program funded under the National Illicit Drug Strategy
- Communities for Children Initiative
- Invest to Grow Program
- Responding Early Assisting Children Program
- Indigenous Children Program
- Playgroup Program
The new Family Support Program will have two core service streams: Family Support Services and Community and Family Partnerships. Full details on the Family Support Program are yet to be finalised, with the development of the program and service streams to be progressed in partnership with providers over the next two years. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs expects to hold discussions with providers during the next six months about which stream will relate to each service. The NDS News Update of 17 February provides more detail for NDS members. For more information, write to Branch Manager, Family Support Program, Box 7788 Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610, or email family.support.program@fahcsia.gov.au.

+07. EXPLORING IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS.
The Australian Government is investigating new ways to improve access to communications services and technologies for people with disability. On 16 February, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced a feasibility study into a new disability equipment program to operate independently of telecommunications carriers. The media release can be read at http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media#mediareleases and Senator Stephen Conroy’s speech to Signposts for Change: People with Disabilities and Telecommunications Forum at http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/speeches/2009/002. 

+08. SEARCH FOR BEST PRACTICE SYSTEM.
KPMG has been engaged to identify the elements of a ‘best practice service system’. The findings will assist governments to consider reform directions and inform the development of the National Disability Strategy. KPMG has consulted with Federal and State/Territory officials and, in January, met with NDS and other peak associations in a ‘stakeholder workshop’. The project has a short timeline – it is due for completion by 18 February. NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 2 February at http://www.nds.org.au. 

+09. SOCIAL INCLUSION PRINCIPLES.
The Australian Government has adopted a Statement of Principles to underpin its Social Inclusion Agenda. The eleven principles under the following headings can be read at http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/EC6E44A6-C175-4A99-B712-A0AA3759533B/25296/SocialInclusionPrinciplesforAustralia.pdf.
- Reducing disadvantage
- Increasing social, civil and economic participation
- A greater voice, combined with greater responsibility
- Building on individual and community strengths
- Building partnerships with key stakeholders
- Developing tailored services
- Giving a high priority to early intervention and prevention
- Building joined-up services and whole of government(s) solutions
- Using evidence and integrated data to inform policy
- Using locational approaches
- Planning for sustainability

+10. ACCESS TO PREMISES STANDARDS.
The House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee is reviewing the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Australian Government’s draft Access to Premises Standards. The draft standards were developed by the Australian Building Codes Board and the Australian Human Rights Commission to make public buildings more accessible for people with mobility, vision and hearing impairments and are available at http://www.ag.gov.au/premisesstandards. Submissions addressing the Inquiry terms of reference are due by 27 February 2009 – the ABF and NDS have each prepared submissions. Public hearings will be held during March and April in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney (the listing is at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/disabilitystandards/hearings.htm). For background information, go to http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/disabilitystandards/index.htm. 
Standards Australia has advised the ABF that it is in discussion with the Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Building Code Board and has just released a draft version of AS1428-4 (go to http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/disabilitystandards/tor.htm) in conjunction with the public consultation on the Premises Standards. Depending on government feedback, Standards Australia will develop further standards if required or directed to do so.

+11. EDUCATION REVOLUTION.
At the COAG meeting on 29 November 2008, the Australian Government delivered an unprecedented National Education Agreement (http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2008-11-29/docs/20081129_national_education_agreement_factsheet.rtf) to drive education reform from 1 January 2009. The new Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority will be supplied with the information necessary to enable it to publish relevant, nationally comparable information on all schools to support accountability, school evaluation, collaborative policy development and resource allocation. The Authority will provide the public with information on each school in Australia, including each school’s performance in national literacy and numeracy testing results.
On 5 December 2008, the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians was released, replacing the Adelaide Declaration of 1999. The new declaration enunciates two goals, a commitment to action, a series of action plans commencing with a plan for 2009-12 and a biennial forum convened by Australian Education Ministers. To read the declaration, go to http://www.mceetya.edu.au/mceetya/melbourne_declaration,25979.html. 
The National Curriculum Board, established in April 2008, has released ‘The Shape of the National Curriculum: A Proposal for Discussion’ and a series of Framing Papers and has invited comment by 28 February 2009. To find out more, go to http://www.ncb.org.au/our_work/preparing_for_2009.html. 
NDS has prepared an overview of the Australian Government’s Education Revolution and its likely impact on students with disability. To request a copy, email margaret.verick@nds.org.au. 

+12. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTATION.
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) supports a Human Rights Act for Australia and is inviting comment on how human rights should be protected in Australia. The National Human Rights Consultation is run by an independent committee and supported by a secretariat in the Attorney-General’s Department. ‘Let’s Talk About Rights’, a toolkit to assist organisations and individuals participate in the consultation is available at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/letstalkaboutrights/info.html.
The new website http://www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au, which will be regularly updated to July 2009, provides more information about the consultation process including how to make a submission (deadline 29 May 2009) and how to register to attend a community roundtable session.

+13. OZ-VISKIDS.
A major research project has been undertaken to develop and maintain an Australian-wide childhood vision impairment register. This register will collect data about the incidence and prevalence of childhood vision impairment (only those children with a formal diagnosis of vision impairment). The RIDBC Renwick Centre, where the register is based, is in partnership with key Australian service providers, corporate donors, government departments and health professionals. Please phone Jill Watson on 02 9872 0303 to sign up or to get more information.

+14. AUDIO DESCRIPTION.
- BCA Postcard Campaign: Blind Citizens Australia is about to launch its major campaign, ‘It’s Our Turn Now’, to draw attention to the long overdue need for audio description of films in cinemas. Twenty thousand postcards are nearly ready for distribution. To help with this, BCA would welcome the support of ABF member organisations to get the postcards out to as many people who are blind or vision impaired as possible. The idea is that individuals will simply sign the postcard, attach a 55 cent stamp and post it to the Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (his address will be on the postcard). For background information, visit http://www.bca.org.au/news0812.htm#audio or phone BCA on 03 9654 1400 or email bca@bca.org.au.  
- ‘Keys to Living Together’: The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has released audio described and captioned versions of the first three DVDs in the ‘Keys to Living Together’ series. These DVDs are for pre-married or committed couples, couples with a newborn baby and step or blended families. The Department has asked for the availability of these DVDs to be promoted throughout our networks. Copies of the DVDs can be ordered by phoning 1800 050 009 or emailing keys@fahcsia.gov.au – please note that captioned and audio described versions will need to be specifically requested.  
As previously advised, the next three DVDs in the series, including one for families with a child with disability, are currently in production. Captioned and audio described versions are expected to be available at the same time as the standard version. For more information about the series, go to http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/family/keys_info.htm.

+15. INFORMATION, PUBLICATIONS.
- Australian DeafBlind Council has appointed Leah Hobson as its new President after serving four years as its Vice President. Leah, who is deafblind, previously worked with Blind Citizens Australia and is now the National Policy Officer for the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO).
- Disability Support Pensioners: A new report, ‘Characteristics of Disability Support Pension Recipients’, profiles 714,156 people receiving the DSP at 30 June 2007. The report shows that over 22 per cent of DSP earners had earnings of less than $100 per fortnight and 19 per cent had earnings of between $500 and $1000 per fortnight. The report can be accessed at http://www.facsia.gov.au/disability/dsp_reports/2007/default.htm. 
- Awesome Access is an initiative of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC). Launched on 25 February, the Awesome Access package includes a comprehensive information booklet and a DVD highlighting the day-to-day accessibility issues of three students who are vision impaired (preschool, primary and secondary) attending mainstream schools. For more detail, phone RIDBC on 02 9871 1233.

+16. ABF MEMBER ORGANISATIONS.
- RSB celebrates 125 years: The Royal Society for the Blind (RSB) has been supporting South Australians who are blind or vision impaired for 125 years and today that number is 10,500. A memorable event occurred in 1950 when Miss Helen Keller, the American woman who had been blind and deaf since birth but overcame these disabilities with great success, visited Adelaide and RSB (then the Royal Institute for the Blind) and Melrose House (a hostel for the aged and ‘unemployable’ blind) and was greatly impressed by both facilities. In recent years, RSB’s focus has been on expanding low vision and regional services, assisting people to gain competitive employment, providing access to new technology and educating the community about vision impairment. RSB Guide Dog and Mobility Services were introduced and have significantly expanded into breeding and training facilities to enable it to meet the needs of South Australians who are blind or severely vision impaired. For more information, go to http://www.rsb.org.au/index.html. 
- Australia Day Honour: Congratulations to Dr Bruce Martin on the OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) awarded to him in this year’s Honours list. Dr Martin, an ophthalmologist in South Australia for many years, has also worked at the RSB’s unique Low Vision Centre for the past ten years.
- Calling All Artists: Vision Australia (VA) is planning to feature artworks by artists who are blind or have low vision in its 2010 calendars and diaries. VA will accept photos of drawings, paintings, craftwork, mosaics and sculptures – in fact, anything that demonstrates people’s creativity. To enter, mail a photo of your work to Victoria Richardson at Vision Australia Marketing, PO Box 176, Burwood, NSW 1805, or email digital images to victoria.richardson@visionaustralia.org. Please include your name, age, address, contact details and eye condition as well as the title of the artwork submitted and its medium. Entries close 31 March 2009.

+17. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION EVENTS.
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. 

+18. 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.
- Disability Studies Conference: The Disability Studies and Research Centre will host a conference at the University of New South Wales on 26 and 27 June 2009. To find out or more about the conference, go to http://www.hotelnetwork.com.au/conferences/conferences/disability_studies. 

+19. 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/conferences/WF2009/CallForPapers.pdf.
- 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 on 6 to 9 September. The Call for Papers closes on 31 March – for more information, go to http://www.nds.org.au/conferences/EF2009/CallForPapers.pdf. 
- 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.

+20. INTERNATIONAL: WORLD BLIND UNION (WBU).
- WBU Asia-Pacific (WBUAP): At the last WBUAP Policy Council Meeting in Tokyo, members discussed the Quadrennium Plan of Action which included calls for setting up three new committees on Resource Generating; Economic Empowerment and Employment; and ICT and Assistive Technology. Also discussed were ways in which WBUAP can play an active part in the WBU/ICEVI Initiative to Promote Education for All Vision-Impaired Children in the developing countries of the region. The meeting decided that every affiliate should appoint Liaison Officers to deal directly with the WBUAP Secretariat and to receive information and circulate it to relevant persons/parties in each country. Andrew Daly, ABF Chair and a delegate to the WBU, has been appointed Australia’s Liaison Officer for the WBUAP.
- WBUAP Pacific-Oceania Sub-region: At the WBU General Assembly last year, the Asia Pacific Regional delegates elected the WBUAP Board and Policy Council for the next four years. Kevin Murfitt from Australia was elected Treasurer of the WBUAP as well as Chair of the Pacific-Oceania Sub-region. Below is a summary of selected items from Kevin’s first Sub-region update for 2009. To get a copy of Kevin’s full report or to provide him with any information to share with colleagues in the Pacific-Oceania Sub-region through future updates, email kevin.murfitt@deakin.edu.au. 
The Pacific Disability Conference will be hosted by the Pacific Disability Forum in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 20 to 23 April 2009, with participants expected to arrive on Sunday 19 April and leave on Friday 24 April. At this stage the four-day conference includes: Pacific Regional Forum on Women with Disabilities on 20 April; Disability conference/workshops on 21 and 22 April; and PDF General/Council Meeting for PDF members on 23 April. More information is at http://www.pacificdisability.org. 
Historical Workshop in Papua New Guinea (PNG): Late in 2008, Papua New Guinea’s Blind Union held their first national elections during a five-day workshop in Goroka. The 30 participants, all of whom are blind or have low vision, elected a nationally representative board comprising five men and four women. The workshop, attended by Kevin Murfitt, Robyn McKenzie from Blind Citizens Australia and Daniel Stubbs from Fiji, was sponsored by the Danish Association for the Blind and Vision Australia. 
International Council for the Education of People with Vision Impairments (ICEVI): Frances Gentle, the Australian Chair of the ICEVI Pacific Committee, reports that Fiji was selected as the first country in the region for focused support to develop an Education for All, Vision Impairment (EFA-VI) Plan. The Fiji EFA-VI Plan was developed at a forum in Suva in October last year, hosted by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) and Vision Australia. ICEVI recently announced that it was committing US$25,000 towards implementation of the Fiji Plan in 2009. For further detail about the plan, go to http://www.icevipacific.org.au. 
Professional Diploma in Orientation and Mobility, Pacific Region: At present, many children and youth with vision impairment in the Pacific are marginalised from the school system because they are unable to journey independently and safely between home and school each day. ICEVI Pacific partnered with the PRIDE Project (Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of basic Education), RIDBC, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and Australian Volunteers International to establish a professionally focused regional train-the-trainer program in O&M. The program, open to education and rehabilitation professions from the 15 PRIDE member countries, was delivered in Fiji in November 2008. It is endorsed by the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). 
Equipment Recycling Website Pilot: This project was successfully piloted last year but needs re-energising. To date, donations of low-tech equipment have been made by agencies such as the Royal Society for the Blind of SA, Vision Australia, Blind Citizens Australia and a commitment from RIDBC. The ABF continues to encourage other agencies in Australia and New Zealand to contribute their surplus or deleted stock to the project. If anyone knows of low tech equipment needs, there is a ‘request’ link on the website at http://www.rsb.org.au/wbu. 
- WBUAP Onkyo Braille Essay Contest
Winners in 2008: Congratulations to two BCA members who were awarded prizes in the sixth contest – Vanessa Murby won second prize ($US200 and a trophy) in the 14 to 25 years age group and Gaynor Marsh won second prize ($US500 and a trophy) in the over 26 years age group.
Calling all writers in 2009: The Onkyo Corporation Ltd, The Braille Mainichi Newspaper and the World Blind Union-Asia Pacific now invite people who are blind or vision impaired in the Asia Pacific Region to compete in this seventh contest by submitting essays on three topics: 
1. ‘How Has Braille Changed the Lives of a Person Who is Blind or Vision Impaired, in Particular to My Own Success?’
2. ‘In What Ways Have Braille and Audio Devices Enriched My Daily Life?’
3. ‘How Can Braille Help a Person who is Blind or Vision Impaired to Become a Successful Musician?’
Each essay in Braille must be original and one contestant may only submit one entry. Each country may only send a maximum of five entries from two age groups: Group A – persons between 14 to 25 years and Group B – persons 26 years and older. This means that each country may choose to send all five entries from Group A or all from Group B or a combination from the two groups. Each entry when translated into English must be between 750 and 1000 words and must be submitted to the Australian selection committee (more information about this later) by the deadline of 10 May 2009. For a copy of the complete entry terms and conditions, email margaret.verick@nds.org.au.

+21.INTERNATIONAL: LOUIS BRAILLE BICENTENARY was commemorated in Paris from 4 to 8 January 2009. Participants from 46 countries and five continents attended the conference ‘Braille 1809 to 2009: Writing with six dots and its future’ – Australia was represented by fifteen people, seven from Vision Australia including Maryanne Diamond, WBU President, who made a presentation. A number of resolutions were passed (go to http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/homed145.html), including calls for: WBU and ICEVI to promote the teaching of Braille as early as possible; re-establish the World Braille Council; WBU to commission a third edition of ‘World Braille Usage’; and promote the use of Braille in public spaces and on consumer products.
- Australian Louis Braille Bicentenary Website: The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, in creating a website to mark the bicentenary of Louis Braille’s birth, has produced and collected a range of resources about Braille including 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.
- Newspaper article: On 24 February, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph published a comprehensive article about Louis Braille and the Bicentenary provided by Vision Australia. To request the PDF or text version email Kate Gniel at kate.gniel@visionaustralia.org.  

+22. INTERNATIONAL: OTHER ITEMS.
- W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 released: The World Wide Web Consortium formally released the WCAG 2.0 as a standard on 11 December 2008. Described by the W3C as a ‘new era for web accessibility’, the updated guidelines aim to be broader and more technology independent, providing additional flexibility in their implementation over the original 1.0 standard. For further information about the W3C WCAG 2.0 standard, go to http://www.w3.org/WAI/. 
- Journal of the South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment: The latest issue is now available and includes articles about Braille, home visit practices, increasing participation of individuals with vision impairment and multiple disabilities, orientation and mobility and what parents ask their children’s teachers. To subscribe or find out more, phone Dr Mike Steer on 02 9872 9814 or email mike.steer@ridbc.org.au.  
- Twenty-fifth Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities: Before this conference is held in Honolulu on 4 to 5 May, the Second Annual International Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will take place on 2 and 3 May 2009 in honour of the sixtieth anniversary of human rights. More information about the PacRim conference is at http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/. 

23. FEATURE ARTICLE.
The following article has been provided by the Royal Society of the Blind of South Australia. Other ABF members are invited to send in articles for future issues of the ABF/NDS Update.
K94U2C: For those of us who are a little older and not quite ‘up’ with the new terminology of ‘text speak’, let me translate: K9 = canine; 4 = for; U = you; 2 = to; C = see.
With over 10,500 clients, the Royal Society for the Blind (RSB) is the primary source of assistance in South Australia for people who are blind or vision impaired, giving them the opportunity to live independently in the community and improve their quality of life.
RSB’s commitment extends to improving the mobility and independence of young South Australians who are blind or vision impaired. Preparatory training and discussion about RSB Guide Dog mobility, involving all stakeholders such as families, schools and the young person, can take place from as early as 12 years of age. A camp such as K94U2C can then open the door to acceptance for training with an RSB Guide Dog at a future date. This initiative and direction in service provision offers young people the same rights of access to an RSB Guide Dog, if they are suitable and can benefit, as any older South Australian who is blind or vision impaired.
At West Beach in April 2008, the RSB hosted a ‘come and try an RSB Guide Dog’ camp called K94U2C for young people aged 14 to 16. The concept behind the camp is to give young people a snapshot experience over the course of a weekend of owning, caring for and working with an RSB Guide Dog. More so, this experience will empower them, with support and guidance, to make good decisions about whether an RSB Guide Dog will meet their mobility needs either now or in the future. This is an innovative concept and one breaking new ground in South Australia and around the world.
K94U2C is a stepping stone to increased mobility and, therefore, greater independence for young people. The camp is run and funded in collaboration with CanDo4Kids. Both organisations are committed to this worthwhile and exciting concept, because K94U2C is GR8 M8.
The RSB is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers a wide range of free services through a professional, committed and highly qualified team, which is supported by volunteers across the State. The RSB is a Quality Assured and HAACP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system) certified organisation and is a member of Charity Direct.
For more information about K94U2C and the next camp in July 2009, email Chris Muldoon at CMuldoon@rsb.org.au.
- Getting more information on issues in this Update: Unless otherwise stated, please contact Margaret Verick at margaret.verick@nds.org.au, phone 02 6283 3214.
- Reproducing information from this 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]