+++AUSTRALIAN BLINDNESS FORUM and NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES.
++ABF/NDS UPDATE JULY 2009.
[Contents begin]
+01.What the ABF is Doing.
+02.News from ABF Members.
+03.ADE Excellence Awards.
+04.Accessible Public Transport.
+05.National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
+06.Social Inclusion.
+07.National Compact.
+08.Third Sector Update.
+09.Other Information, Publications.
+10.NDS Events.
+11.Other National Conferences.
+12.Continuing Professional Education.
+13.International: World Blind Union.
+14.International: AMD Alliance International.
+15 International: Louis Braille Bicentenary.
+16.International: Other Items.
+17.Feature Article: Real-time Communication for DeafBlind People.
+End Notes.
[Contents end]
[Update begins]
+01.WHAT THE ABF IS DOING.
In the past month, the ABF:
-Met with the Australian Electoral Commissioner to discuss plans to progress independent voting in federal elections by people who are blind or vision impaired (a workshop is due to be held in Canberra in early August);
-Participated in the NDS Children’s Committee meeting on 6 July;
-Wrote to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority encouraging their coverage of anti-VEGF treatments for wet macular degeneration;
-Attended a briefing on Social Inclusion indicators;
-Held a Board of Directors’ meeting on 27 July.
Existing ABF policies adopted by the Board in 2008, and their associated actions, are being reviewed by the following ABF Subcommittees:
-Access to Equipment: Currently under review;
-Access to Information: Policy remains unchanged;
-Access to Premises: First policy being drafted;
-Braille Literacy and Numeracy: A revised policy, developed in consultation with Round Table and the Australian Braille Authority, has been approved by the ABF Board and will shortly be available on the ABF website http://www.australianblindnessforum.org.au/Policy.html;
-Education and Children’s Services: A draft revision will be finalised shortly;
-Employment: Policy remains unchanged; letters drawing attention to the under-employment of people who are blind or vision impaired sent to all Ministers responsible for employment; campaign planned to contact all high school counsellors about the specialist needs of students who are blind or vision impaired; specialist information, including a student brochure, case studies and links, to shortly appear on the ABF website;
-National Vision Loss Rehabilitation Services Plan: Advice on the status of the National Vision Loss Strategy sought from the responsible Minister.
ABF Members’ Forum – mark your diaries: The 2009 Forum will be held at the Brisbane Polo Club on Thursday 15 October from 9.30am to 4.00pm. This immediately precedes the BCA Convention on 16, 17 and 18 October at the Royal on the Park. More detail about the Forum will be provided as soon as it is available.

+02.NEWS FROM ABF MEMBERS.
-Gerrard Gosens dances with the stars: Gerrard, a Special Projects Manager at Vision Australia and an avid adventurer, is still being partnered by Jessica Raffa in the Australian series of Dancing with the Stars. Media interest has been significant with TV ads, newspaper articles and radio interviews featuring Gerrard’s ‘inspirational’ participation in the show. A vote for Gerrard can help to keep him dancing. For further information, go to http://au.tv.yahoo.com/dancing-with-the-stars/. 
-Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals (MVP) award: Kenny Johar, Manager Architecture, Innovation and Accessibility at Vision Australia will receive an MVP, the first time that Microsoft will present this prestigious global award to a person with vision loss. MVPs are a highly select group of experts recognised for their commitment in sharing expertise and willingness to help others in the community. The award also recognises Vision Australia’s success in breaking down barriers for the community in everyday areas. For more information about MVPs, go to http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/. 

+03.ADE EXCELLENCE AWARDS.
FaHCSIA has extended the deadline for nominations for the Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Awards until 5.00pm Friday 31 July 2009. Nominations and enquiries about the awards can be made by visiting http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/about/news/2009/Pages/ADE09_news.aspx, emailing excellenceawards@fahcsia.gov.au or phoning 1800 108 196. 

+04.ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
The release of the report of the initial five-year review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport continues to remain ‘imminent’. Following very useful comments from a reference group on the AHRC’s draft guidelines on accessible bus stops, a revised draft for wider comment has been completed and should shortly be available on AHRC’s website (http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/transport/transport.html#buses).

+05.NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME (NDIS).
Dr Andrew Pesce, President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), has put support behind a long-term care entitlement scheme for Australians with severe disability. He confirmed to NDS that, while he was President, he would commit the AMA to work with the National Disability and Carer Alliance to progress the idea of a national disability insurance scheme. Dr Pesce’s speech can be read at http://www.ama.com.au/node/4827 and there’s more detail for NDS Members in the NDS News Update of 22 July at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 

+06.SOCIAL INCLUSION.
The Australian Government has released the ‘Compendium of Social Inclusion Indicators’, which was independently prepared by the Australian Social Inclusion Board. (Go to http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/AusGov/Board/Documents/Compendium.rtf for the RTF version). To be socially included, Australians must have access to work, social support through family and friends and high-quality basic services like health and education. The report sets out Australian data on a range of key indicators of disadvantage, including access to work and services, social supports, how well neighbourhoods are faring and health. 
Disability gets a little mention throughout, including the rate of employment among people with a mild or moderate disability under the section ‘Lack of access to the job market’. At a briefing at NDS on the Compendium, it was pointed out that the employment of people who are blind or vision impaired does not fit under this category. The Australian Social Inclusion Board (http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/AusGov/Board/Pages/default.aspx) welcomes comments on the Compendium and input on how best to measure social inclusion in Australia. These can be emailed to the Secretariat at socialinclusionunit@pmc.gov.au or posted to Australian Social Inclusion Board Secretariat, PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600.
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has invited State Social Inclusion Ministers to meet to work through further action on priorities. Premier of South Australia Mike Rann has offered to host the meeting.

+07.NATIONAL COMPACT.
Over 70 third sector leaders and government representatives met in Canberra on 20 July to debate and finalise the National Compact draft principles. They also discussed the consultation strategy for ensuring broad exposure and diverse participation. Senator Ursula Stephens launched the centerpiece of the consultation strategy, an online forum (beginning on the compact website http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/compact on Monday 3 August) that will enable organisations and individuals to freely discuss the draft compact together.
The National Compact is part of the Australian Government’s wide-reaching third sector development agenda of significant commitments including the Productivity Commission’s review of the social and economic contribution of the non-profit sector in Australia, and the ongoing work to harmonise regulations and reduce red tape for the sector through COAG. 

+08.THIRD SECTOR UPDATE.
A new report, ‘Managing in a Downturn’, is the first comprehensive study of the third sector since the impact of the economic downturn (http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/LatestNews/Pages/Theeffectsoftheeconomicdownturn.aspx). This reveals that 60 per cent of 263 groups surveyed reported they had lost income during the past six months. One-third lost more than 10 per cent and two-thirds are predicting further losses. Staff numbers and services have been reduced by up to 30 per cent as a result. Senator Ursula Stephens has commented that the Federal Government is accelerating the third sector reform agenda to help strengthen the legal, regulatory and financial framework within which the sector operates.

+09.OTHER INFORMATION, PUBLICATIONS.
-Australia’s Welfare 2009 Conference: AIHW is hosting a one-day national welfare conference to bring together the nation’s leading thinkers and the latest statistics in areas as diverse as housing, homelessness, children’s services, disability, ageing, carers and families. A dinner will be held at the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday 16 November, with the conference on Tuesday 17 November in Queanbeyan NSW (close to Canberra) – for more information, go to http://www.aihw.gov.au/eventsdiary/. 
-Telecommunications and Community Wellbeing: The outcome of the Social Policy Research Centre’s review of the literature on access and affordability for low-income and disadvantaged groups has been published as SPRC Report 07/09 (http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/). A section focusing on people with disability notes that accessibility of telecommunications has been a long-standing problem. Recurrent problems include new technologies being inaccessible or difficult to use; technology that needlessly builds in, or creates disability, where a consumer with impairment would otherwise be freely able to use telecommunications; touch screens and decreasing size of screens making mobile phones less accessible. However, despite identification of the issues, a systematic approach to affordability and disability has not been forthcoming. 
-Interpreter service for people who are deafblind: In 2006, NABS (National Auslan Interpreter Booking & Payment Service) accepted the ABF’s request that it facilitate interpreting services for people who are deafblind when they undertake orientation and mobility training. This month, NABS advised that they now have an interpreter for this role. For more information, visit NABS website at http://www.nabs.org.au/01_what_is_nabs.htm. 
-Smartcopying website provides the official guide to copyright issues affecting schools and TAFE at http://www.copyright.com.au/assets/documents/Guidelines%20for%20Schools,%20TAFES%20and%20indep.pdf. 
-Adaptive Technology Reviews: The Centre for Learning Innovation posts reviews to help people keep up to date with equipment, news and events relevant to students who have special needs. Follow the links from http://www.cli.nsw.edu.au/cli/e-learning/adaptive_technologies/adapt_tech_reviews.shtm for information and product reviews relevant to teachers, support staff, parents and care givers.

+10.NDS EVENTS.
-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. Register online via 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.

+11.OTHER NATIONAL CONFERENCES.
-The Eighth National Deafblind Conference will be held in Melbourne on 28 to 30 April 2010. A call for papers is now available at http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/content-files/Abstract-Template-National-Deafblind-Conference-2010.doc and abstracts need to be lodged by 7 August. For more information about the conference, go to http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/8th-national-deafblind-conference-2010.asp. 

+12.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. 

+13.INTERNATIONAL: WORLD BLIND UNION (WBU).
For information about the World Blind Union, visit http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/.
-A summit of minds: For the first time, the Presidents of the World Blind Union (Maryanne Diamond), ICEVI (Larry Campbell) and IAPB (Christine Garms) attended the ICEVI Executive Committee meeting in Bangkok in November 2008. They also prepared a strategic plan for forging a Vision Alliance between the three organisations.
-Maryanne Diamond spreads the word: The WBU President (and International and Stakeholder Relations Manager at Vision Australia) recently travelled across the world to participate in a number of international activities, including
*Presentation to the VI2009 International Conference in France, which focused on employment, education, access to information and culture and was aimed at policy makers and managers of organisations of and for the blind
*In Paris, WBU officers met over three days to discuss the 2009-2012 strategic plan. The next meeting will be held in Lewiville, Kentucky in early December.
*The WBU held a two-day summit in London in June as the first step to address employment, one of the strategic objectives for the term. RNIB hosted a group of around 25 people drawn from a range of organisations who explored the issues and principles that would be included in a global campaign.
*In July, Maryanne was a guest speaker at the national convention of the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. 
*A letter has been sent to WBU members to lodge expressions of interest to host the 8th General Assembly in 2012. The final decision will be made by the WBU Executive in November 2010 when it meets in Melbourne.
-Asian Blind Union Newsletter for April-June 2009 includes a focus on: 
ABU standing committees and chairpersons; Central Asia buzzing with ABU activities; Making UNCRPD a reality in the ABU region; Subject enrichment training workshops; Research studies; Empowering low vision professionals. For a copy of the newsletter, email margaret.verick@nds.org.au.

+14.INTERNATIONAL: AMD ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL (AMDAI). 
Below are selected items from the AMDAI Newsletter Summer 2009. For more information about AMDAI, go to http://www.amdalliance.org/. 
-CCR3 discovery could lead to better AMD detection and treatment: Early detection of age related macular degeneration (AMD) is critical for effectively treating the disease and preventing vision loss. A promising study by scientists in the USA has now identified a new target that may block the activity of a protein known as CCR3 thus reducing the abnormal blood vessel growth associated with wet AMD. Wet AMD, the most serious form of the disease, is caused by abnormal, leaky blood vessels. Central vision loss occurs when these abnormal blood vessels invade the retina, the light-sensitive multi-layered tissue that lines the back of the eye. This recent discovery may enable doctors to catch the disease in its earliest stages – before the retina is damaged and vision loss occurs. To find out more, go to http://www.amdalliance.com/resources/newsarticles/CCR3-Discovery.php.  
-Omega 3-rich fish in your diet can prevent or slow AMD: Eating fatty fish such as salmon, tuna or mackerel two to three times a week can slow the progress of AMD according to a new study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. This confirms earlier studies and demonstrates that some of those already affected by the disease can benefit as well. To find out more, go to http://www.amdalliance.com/resources/newsarticles/Omega3-Rich-Fish.php. 
-Check Your Eyesight: The Amsler Grid is a chart that may be helpful in revealing signs of wet AMD; however, it is not a substitute for regularly scheduled eye exams. The chart looks like a piece of paper with dark lines forming a square grid with one dot in the middle. There’s more detail at http://www.amdalliance.org/information/preventionandearlydetection/checkyoureyesight.php. 
-Better Vision, with a telescope inside the eye: A tiny glass telescope, the size of a pea, has been successfully implanted in the eyes of people with an irreversible, advanced form of macular degeneration severely damaged retinas, helping them to read, watch television and better see familiar faces. In a brief outpatient procedure, the new device is implanted in one eye in place of its natural lens. An advisory panel of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended its approval in March, and this is expected to be given by the FDA in October this year. To read more, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/business/19novel.html. 

+15.INTERNATIONAL: LOUIS BRAILLE BICENTENARY 
-Louis Braille Medal: The WBU awarded its highest honour to Euclid Herie of Canada in Coupvray, France on 20 June. The medal is awarded at most once very four years and is granted to an individual who has made a substantial and outstanding contribution to people who are blind or have low vision through international service or to the WBU over many years. To find out more about Euclid Herie, read the press release at http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/documents/awards-scholarships/Louis-Braille-Medal-Press-Release.doc. 
-‘Blind and Busy – Life Stories of People Who Use Braille’ was launched at Guide Dogs Victoria in Melbourne on 18 June. Similar launches will be held in Adelaide in August and Horsham in September. The author, Rebecca Maxwell, thought it appropriate to celebrate the Louis Braille Bicentenary by collating some of the many life stories of Braille users. Rebecca lives in Melbourne and, among other things, writes poetry, is the current president of the Society of Women Writers, Victoria and is involved in the Disability Advisory Committee of the Yarra Council. To find out more, go to http://www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au/node/305 where there is a link to purchase the book.
-‘The Joy of Life’ was launched by ABA Queensland in Brisbane to honour the life of Mercy Dickinson (1919-2003), a tireless advocate for braille literacy. The book contains a wide range of stories and poetry pieces, all exploring the many ways people experience joy in their lives. The book has been produced in various formats, which may be purchased at $12.00 per copy. For more information, contact Linda Triasmono (lindatriasmono@bigpond.com).  
-Survey of Braille readers in South Australia: Stefan Slucki reports that the ABA SA Subcommittee, with help of the Royal Society for the Blind of SA, conducted a survey of Braille readers. The results indicated overwhelming satisfaction with the level and range of transcription services, with some not being aware of the services.
-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.

+16.INTERNATIONAL: OTHER ITEMS.
-Concern about new shared surfaces: The National Federation of the Blind of the UK is appalled to hear the call for streets to be shared to slow down traffic in London. This will take away all pavements and all pedestrian crossings, making it unsafe for people who are blind or partially sighted to walk in the streets. To find out more, check out the campaign against shared surfaces being run by the UK’s Guide Dogs for the Blind at http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/sharedstreets/. 
-Fulbright Professional Scholarships: Fulbright Professional Scholarships are available to Australian citizens, in junior to mid career positions, poised for advancement to a senior role from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors (outside academe), or junior to middle level academics whose professional focus is industry related and whose research and sharing of results within the industry is clearly outlined. As a guideline, Professional Scholars are generally aged between 30-45 years. The scholarship supports a 3-4 month program of professional development in the United States. 
Application proposals must include an educational component (such as a short-course and/or research) and identify a potential US host institution at which the applicant would spend a significant period of their scholarship. It may also involve other forms of professional experience including visits to relevant organisations. While the program may include attending a conference, this does not fulfill the educational requirements of the scholarship. The Professional Scholarship does not fund postgraduate (that is, Masters or PhD) study programs. 
Applications for 2010 are now open and close on 31 August 2009. Find out more at http://www.fulbright.com.au/scholarships/australian/professional.html. 
-Accessify Forum claims it has been the number one destination for accessibility discussion on the web for nearly six years. The site has recently been redesigned and the forum system improved. Although this is ongoing, people can join in the discussions at http://www.accessifyforum.com. (Reprinted from Headstar E-Access Bulletin July 2009)
-Off-the-shelf iPhone Accessibility: RNIB writes that the advanced screen-reader and other accessibility features on a new version of Apple’s iPhone represent an ‘extremely significant development’ of a previously inaccessible technology. ‘Off-the-shelf’ features built into the iPhone 3GS allow people who are blind or vision impaired to send and receive text messages and emails, browse the internet, play music and make and receive phone calls. The ‘VoiceOver’ screen-reader on the new phone also claims to be the world’s first “gesture-based screen-reader” working with the iPhone’s touch-screen to describe or read out whatever function or piece of text the user moves their finger over, in any of 21 different languages. This allows users to read emails or text messages, and a ‘Speak Auto-text’ function will speak out letters or words being typed on the phone, suggesting possible corrections as it proceeds.  While RNIB says Apple has taken a positive step by building in these features for free, they would like Apple to continue to look at making the iPhone usable by those who may not be as technologically savvy. (Reprinted from Headstar E-Access Bulletin July 2009)
-Deafblind Web Users Engage with Social Media: In a project from the UK deafblind charity Sense, social media users are being invited to think about the internet in terms of touch, taste and smell, to raise awareness of deafblindness and encourage deafblind people to use social networking sites. An online ‘Sensehub’ portal (http://www.sensehub.org.uk) has been created to allow visitors to link to sense-based channels on site such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. (Reprinted from Headstar E-Access Bulletin July 2009)
-Haptica Braille Watch presents a concept that enables the user to get a quick and accurate time reading while being discrete. It consists of four groups of four braille dots which constitute numeric braille cells. The time is displayed in military time format. A contoured canopy-like surface creates an easily locatable channel where the time can be scanned with a finger. Each braille dial rotates in or out of the channel according to the time that is being displayed. Braille dials and the channel are incorporated into the watch case. Non-braille literate people are also attracted to the watch as they only need to memorise 10 braille cells. For more information, go to http://www.tuvie.com/haptica-braille-watch-concept. 
-World Sight Day, ‘Gender and Eye Health’ on 8 October this year 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.
-ICEVI 13th World Conference: The Call for Abstracts for this conference, to be held in Thailand in August 2010, is open and will close on 31 October 2009. The overall conference theme is ‘Achieving Education for All Children with Visual Impairment: Strategies and Challenges’. There’s more information at http://www.icevi.org/13thWC/call_for_papers.html. ICEVI’s journal, The Educator, is also available on the ICEVI website at http://www.icevi.org/pdf/educator_january_2009.pdf. 

+17.FEATURE ARTICLE: REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION FOR DEAFBLIND PEOPLE 
(Written by Anna-Riitta Sippola, translated by Raili Ojala-Signell, abridged by Stacey Love, originally published in the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, February 2008, reprinted in ‘Imfama’ Issue 1/3 2009 by the South African National Council for the Blind)
‘When a sighted person with normal hearing goes bowling he or she can see and hear how successful the throw was. When a deafblind person goes bowling, he or she can neither see nor hear what happens in the bowling alley.
Riitta Lahtinen, who is the Chief of Communications at the Finnish Association of the DeafBlind, enlisted the help of her husband, Russ Palmer, in order to improve communication for deafblind people so that it can not only take place in real-time but be intensive and filled with emotion. Lahtinen’s quest to develop this real-time deafblind communication began when her husband’s deafblindness started to progress in the 90s. Her study made use of deafblind people who have lost their hearing and vision.
Using the bowling scenario Riitta explains how communications with a deafblind person usually happens. The deafblind bowler can have the success of his or her throw described by having a guide use sign language into the deafblind bowler’s hand or explain the situation letter by letter on the surface of the open palm. However, the use of both of these methods means that the communication does not happen instantaneously.
Lahtinen’s method ensures that information reaches the deafblind person in real time. In order to describe the movement of a ball which has been thrown down the lane by the bowler, she draws her finger upwards towards the shoulder blade. Once the ball swings to the left, for example, her finger swings to the bowler’s left shoulder too – she mimics the action of the ball with her finger movements.
Another example of where Lahtinen’s system of communication works well is when a deafblind person is communicating and needs feedback on the reaction of the person with whom they are communicating. Lahtinen stands behind her husband while he gives a lecture. To share the crowd’s reaction to what Palmer is telling them, Lahtinen draws a smiling face on Palmer’s back, or a direct line to show the seriousness of the audience’s facial expressions. Her touch also indicates tones – the movement made to describe ‘yes’ and ‘YES!’ are different – the latter’s movement is clearly faster and more vigorous. These reactions are thus conveyed to Palmer in real-time. Lahtinen and Palmer have also devised various symbols to represent colours through touch – the colour green is expressed by an upwards movement, like growing grass; whereas yellow is a slight brush and black is a heavy touch.
The directions of the movement on the deafblind person’s back, as well as the emphasis of the movement and its rhythm all work towards the creation of the grammar in the language of touch.
Lahtinen believes that her study will benefit a variety of disability groups, their families and the professionals working with them. In Norway, this kind of touch-based communication is already used for rehabilitative purposes.’
There’s more information about deafblindness on the Australian DeafBlind Council website at http://home.connexus.net.au/~dba/.
[Update ends]

+End Notes
-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 650 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.