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

[Contents begin]
+01. What the ABF is Doing.
+02. News from ABF Members and Associates.
+03. Access to Premises.
+04. Independent Voting.
+05. Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award.
+06. Model OHS Act.
+07. Minimum Qualifications for Disability Support Workers.
+08. Digital Television Switchover.
+09. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
+10. National Human Rights Consultation.
+11. National Arts and Disability Strategy.
+12. Not-for-Profit Sector.
+13. National Peak Body for Aboriginal People with Disability.
+14. Other Information, Publications.
+15. NDS Events.
+16. Other National Conferences.
+17. Continuing Professional Education.
+18. International: World Blind Union.
+19. International: AMD Alliance International.
+20. International: Louis Braille Bicentenary.
+21. International: Other Items.
+22. Feature Item: WebAnywhere.
- End Notes.
[Contents end]
[Update begins]
+01. WHAT THE ABF IS DOING.
On 15 October, the ABF hosted the 2009 Members’ Forum in Brisbane. Good representation of ABF members heard presentations on a wide range of topics from a range of speakers: 
- Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs
- ABF Chair, Andrew Daly
- ABF Policy Subcommittee Chairs
- NDS’s Dr Ken Baker
- Attorney-General’s Department’s Helen Daniels
- ATO’s Trish Maluta
- WBU President Maryanne Diamond
- WBU Pacific-Oceania Sub-region Chair Dr Kevin Murfitt
- RIDBC Renwick College’s Frances Gentle
- Macular Degeneration Foundation’s Julie Heraghty
- RSB’s Margaret Brown and Chris Muldoon
- Guide Dogs Queensland’s Bashir Ebrahim OAM
After opening the Members’ Forum, Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk issued a media release about the ABF and her attendance at the forum.
Members also spent some time considering the next ABF Strategic Plan and holding the 2009 annual general meeting. The new Board of Directors is Andrew Daly, RSB (Chair); Chris Laine, GDQ (Vice Chair); Michael Simpson, VA (Treasurer); David Blyth, BCA; and Dan English, RGDT. The Chair thanked retiring directors, Gerard Menses and Jan North, for their contribution to the ABF over the past year.
The report of the ABF 2009 Members’ Forum will shortly be available on the ABF website http://www.australianblindnessforum.org.au/. 

+02. NEWS FROM ABF MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES.
- Employment Pathways Program: Vision Australia Enterprises is giving young people who are blind or vision impaired the opportunity to gain valuable workplace skills through this new program. To find out more, go to http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=585. 
- Graduate Certificate in Vision Impairment (Orientation and Mobility) Sydney: Vision Australia is seeking six outstanding professionals wishing to train and work as Orientation and Mobility Specialists. Students with appropriate qualifications accepted onto the 2010 course (8 February to 22 October) will be paid a bursary of $12,500 over the duration of the course. Successful applicants will be required to agree to work as a full-time permanent O&M Specialist in a Vision Australia Client Service Team in NSW/ACT or Queensland for a minimum period of three years. There are also places on the course for two students who pay the fee of $10,000 in full up front. For more information, contact Bronwen Scott, Course Coordinator, phone 02 9334 3431.
- Vision Australia’s Dickinson Literary Award: This writing competition aims to highlight the creativity of people who are blind or have low vision and promote their cultural contribution. Awards will be given for fiction and non-fiction pieces from adults, young adults (under 25) and youth (under 16). There is also an all-ages award for the best biographical piece on living with blindness or low vision. First prize for each category is $500 worth of products from Vision Australia’s Equipment Solutions. Entries opened on 1 October and close 31 December 2009. For further information, visit http://www.visionaustralia.org/info.aspx?page=1964. 
- Trial for Simple Computing: The Royal Society for the Blind (RSB), in partnership with Dolphin (United Kingdom) and Quantum Technology (the Australian agents), are conducting a pilot project to evaluate the effectiveness of new Dolphin Guide software (www.dolphinuk.co.uk/products.asp?cat=9). This software is designed to enable a person who is blind or vision impaired, with little prior computer experience, to easily perform activities such as browse web pages; write letters; send emails; scan and listen to documents.
Ten participants of this trial will receive training from the RSB’s Adaptive Technology Department and will participate in a survey and evaluation questionnaires at the end of the pilot project. Each participant will also, compliments of Dolphin, be able to keep the Guide software, as well as a refurbished PC, printer and scanner from the RSB.
Dr Celia Chen, from Flinders University, will provide a report on the effectiveness of this software for the participants.
- First Commercial Braille Wine Labels in Australia: Fox Creek Wines has released the first braille wine bottle labels in Australia. Working closely with the Royal Society for the Blind they have designed and produced new back labels for their current vintages with braille and large print text. The first three wines with the braille and large print text back labels are the 2009 Shadow’s Run Sauvignon Blanc, the 2008 Red Baron Shiraz and the Vixen Sparkling Red. 
The new label Fox Creek Wines are available at the cellar door and from selected retail outlets or online at www.foxcreekwines.com. Visitors to the winery can also receive braille and larger print tasting notes. Fox Creek Wines intend to provide accessible labeling with all future wine releases. Some members who attended the Australian Blindness Forum Workshop on September 25th can verify the quality of these wines.

+03. ACCESS TO PREMISES.
- ABF Workshop on Wayfinding was hosted by RSB in Adelaide on 25 September. Members of the ABF Access to Premises Policy Subcommittee from across Australia attended, along with others from the blindness sector, Standards Australia, Australian Human Rights Commission, TransAdelaide and Ross Sands Architects. 
The term ‘wayfinding’ was first coined in 1960 and is about universal design, not just signage and lifts. Participants agreed on the following definitions to promote consistency when raising issues with governments and others: 
- Wayfinding is the system which enables a person to proceed safely and independently through an environment from one point to another, in a dignified manner. (It was noted that a wayfinding system must define start and finish points; confirm present location and direction; identify potential hazards; and facilitate / enable safe escape in an emergency.)
- Continuous path of travel is an uninterrupted, detectable path of travel to, from or within a building, providing access to all required facilities.
Participants also agreed that the ABF Access to Premises Subcommittee is the most appropriate body to promote the identified issues with the aim of ensuring that people who are blind or vision impaired are able to independently and with dignity, safely orientate and navigate through built environments. 
Notes of the Workshop on Wayfinding and the draft Wayfinding Strategy are available on request.
- Universal Design: Participants in a National Dialogue on Universal Design, convened by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities Bill Shorten, unanimously agreed that more work was needed to make universally designed homes more available. They also unanimously agreed on the need to codify a national approach incorporating the value of universal design to the community; a definition and a set of principles of universal design; and what its features are in relation to housing. There is a need to work closely with industry and the community, including around education and training. An aspirational goal is for all new homes to be of agreed universal design standards by 2020, with interim targets and earlier completion dates to be determined for some standards. A commitment was made to form a high-level working party to achieve substantial progress within six months. The media release and full statement are at http://www.billshorten.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/billshorten.nsf. 

+04. INDEPENDENT VOTING.
Focus groups held in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide during October were organised through BCA, RSB and BWA. This gave opportunities to 92 people who are blind or vision impaired to hear about the proposed options to facilitate independent voting at future federal elections. The Reference Group held its third meeting with the Australian Electoral Commission on 19 October. Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn, appearing before the Senate Estimates Committee on 26 October, gave an overview of the Reference Group’s involvement, the future directions proposal and the timeframe for drafting and tabling legislation. The Commissioner also acknowledged the membership of the Reference Group (Graeme Innes, Michael Simpson, Robyn McKenzie, Wayne Hawkins and Margaret Verick) and the status of the Australian Blindness Forum as the peak representative body for the blindness sector. As more information becomes public, it will be passed on to the ABF network.

+05. SOCIAL, COMMUNITY, HOME CARE AND DISABILITY SERVICES INDUSTRY AWARD.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) released the exposure draft of the Award on 25 September (http://www.airc.gov.au/awardmod/databases/social/Exposure/social.pdf). The Award will provide coverage for those employees working in disability services that would previously have been covered by the SACS Award. Importantly, those workers currently covered by the CETTS Award will be ‘roped in’ to this new Award. NDS received extensive feedback from members following its News Update of 29 September (http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm). NDS has since met with Australian Business Industrial to raise members’ concerns. The Award modernisation proceedings continue before the Full Bench of AIRC from 20 to 31 October 2009.

+06. MODEL OHS ACT.
On 25 September, the Workplace Relations Committee (WRMC) released an Exposure Draft of the model OHS Act. The model Act is based on the policy decisions made by WRMC on the National OHS Review recommendations made by an independent panel. Safe Work Australia released the model act (http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/EA78038F-6BF1-41D6-83A2-EA3234EFCED2/0/SafeWorkAct2009_PDF.pdf), discussion paper (http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/999477D8-B3C2-4C6C-A9CD-5063FDB08131/0/Discussionpaper_ExposureDraft_ModelActforOHS_PDF.pdf), administrative regulations and the consultation Regulation Impact Statement (http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/6375FFD8-D62A-4F0C-A89E-E68179BCB41A/0/ConsultationRISOHSModelAct_PDF.pdf) for public comment. NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 1 October at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 

+07. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR DISABILITY SUPPORT WORKERS.
NDS’s board has adopted a position on minimum qualification for disability support workers, which supports the development of a core induction program based on nationally recognised competencies. The issue of minimum qualifications has arisen in the context of the development of a national disability workforce strategy. NDS members can read the full position statement in the NDS News Update of 21 October at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 

+08. DIGITAL TELEVISION SWITCHOVER.
The Digital Television Switchover Taskforce (Barry Chapman represents NDS on its Consumer Expert Group) has released a tender calling for a supplier to provide a set-top box, install it and demonstrate its use to those eligible for assistance in the Mildura area (the first location where analog will be switched off in 2010). The tender requirements are specifically for the estimated 3,500 households that have been identified as being eligible for assistance and include consumers who are elderly or have a disability. It is expected that the experience of the rollout of these services in Mildura will be used to modify the program for progressive nationwide rollout.

+09. NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME (NDIS).
The campaign for the NDIS gained momentum when Dr Rhonda Galbally, Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council (NPWDACC) spoke at the National Press Club on 7 October. The NPWDACC is a national advisory council providing advice to the Australian Government on the needs of people with disability, their families and carers. Ken Baker, NDS Chief Executive, is a member. Dr Galbally’s address included evidence from the recently released report ‘Shut Out’ (http://www.nds.org.au/national/other/Shut-Out.pdf). To read the address, go to http://www.nds.org.au/National/Other/PressClubOct09.rtf.

+10. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTATION.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the release of the report by the National Human Rights Consultation Committee. The report’s major recommendations are that the Australian Government focus on human rights education and adopt a federal Human Rights Act. The AHRC media release is at http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2009/94_09.html and the report at http://www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au/www/nhrcc/nhrcc.nsf/Page/Report.

+11. NATIONAL ARTS AND DISABILITY STRATEGY.
Following twelve months of consultation, the National Arts and Disability Strategy has been endorsed by the Cultural Ministers Council and released. The Strategy broadly aims to encourage the universal accessibility of arts and cultural activities throughout all jurisdictions in four areas: access and participation; arts and cultural practice; audience development; and strategic development. For more information, go to http://www.cmc.gov.au/__data/assets/text_file/0016/90250/national-arts-disability-strategy.rtf and NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 13 October at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm.

+12. NOT-FOR-PROFIT SECTOR.
The Presiding Commissioner of the Productivity Commission, Robert Fitzgerald, in launching its draft research report said that there is a need for wide-ranging reforms and a reduction in compliance costs faced by the not-for-profit sector. He also said that proposed reforms would bring together the multiplicity of governance, taxation and fundraising regulatory requirements to create a much stronger foundation for this expanding sector. Further, proposed changes to government funding arrangements would reduce compliance costs and burdens, leading to significant gains in service delivery efficiency and effectiveness. The media release is available at http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/study/not-for-profit/draft/media-release and the full draft report (539 pages) at http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/study/not-for-profit/draft. NDS members can read the NDS News Update of 15 October at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 

+13. NATIONAL PEAK BODY FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPE WITH DISABILITY.
The Aboriginal Disability Network (ADN) has received Australian Government support to form a national advocacy peak body to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, their families and carers. More information is available at http://www.pwd.org.au/adnnsw/ or email adnnsw@pwd.org.au. 

+14. OTHER INFORMATION, PUBLICATIONS.
- Launch of Web CapTel Trial: A new technology trial was officially launched last week by former Prime Minister John Howard, the Ambassador for Deafness Forum of Australia. The ACE Web Captioned Telephony (CapTel) trial will allow Australians affected by hearing loss to receive supporting phone captions, in real time, via the internet. While the technology has been available in the US for some time, this is the first chance Australians have had to use it. Web CapTel works with any type of phone. The important difference is its ability to display every word the caller says as they speak, in a similar manner to captioned television. The trial will involve more than 500 people over a two-year period. For more information, go to http://www.aceinfo.net.au. 
- Pilot project to train communication guides for people who are deafblind: Senses Foundation in WA has received funds from Disability Services Commission to run the country’s first pilot project introducing communication guides for people who are deafblind. The grants will be used to provide special training for a group of communication guides and at least three hours’ intervention each week for the 15 people with deafblindness selected to take part in the twelve-month trial. For more information, contact Senses Foundation (http://www.senses.asn.au/). 
- Coles ID Mate talking barcode scanner grants: Coles and the Melbourne-based not-for-profit Visual Independence have launched a grants program to fund product scanning technology to bring greater independence and improved quality of life for Australians who are blind or have low vision. The Coles ID Mate is a portable scanning unit that enables those with vision difficulties to scan a barcode and hear valuable information that can assist them with many everyday activities, including shopping, cooking, working and studying. This year, Coles will fund at least seventy ID Mates, tailored to Coles and Officeworks products, for shoppers who would benefit from this technology but would not normally afford it. Visual Independence, through its association with Vision Australia and Guide Dogs Victoria, will screen applicants who will need to satisfy means testing criteria and assessed for their suitability for the Coles ID Mate. For more information, contact Bernie Slagtman, phone 03 9853 9880 or email info@visualindependence.org.au or visit http://www.visualindependence.org.au/. 
- Sculpture by the Sea touch tour: This November, Sculpture by the Sea, exhibited along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk in Sydney (29 October to 15 November), will offer guided touch tours for the first time. All are welcome, but the tour is particularly suited to people who have low vision or are blind. The touch tours take one hour and session numbers are limited to five people – bookings need to be made via email at least three days before the date of attendance. For bookings and access information, email Emily@sculpturebythesea.com. 
- JAWS Scholarships: Quantum Technology and Freedom Scientific present the JAWS Scholarship Program 2010. Australians who are vision impaired and who would benefit from having JAWS software for work or study are eligible to apply. The prize is a copy of JAWS for Windows Professional. In 500 words or less, tell Quantum why you need a Freedom Scholarship and how it will assist in your life. Applications must be attached to an application form. For application forms and further information phone Quantum Technology on 02 8844 9888, or visit http://www.quantumtechnology.com.au/scholarshipprogram. Applications close Friday 29 January 2010. 
- Simply Scripts: Although some DVDs have audio description, they are few and far between in Australia. After some searching, a student in Victoria found a site called Simply Scripts where film scripts can be downloaded for free. To find out more, go to http://www.simplyscripts.com/movie.html. (Source: Statewide Vision Resource Centre)

+15. NDS EVENTS.
- 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. The brochure and preliminary program are available at http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 
- Accommodation & Social Participation Conference 2010 ‘Moving On: Supporting People with Disability to Manage Change’ will be held on 6 and 7 May 2010 at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast. The Call for Papers has just been announced and will close on 20 November 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.nds.org.au/national/default.htm. 

+16. OTHER NATIONAL CONFERENCES.
- Making Links 2009, to be held in Melbourne on 17 and 18 November, will provide a forum on information and communications technology (ICT) for the not-for-profit sector. This year’s theme of ‘Sustaining Communities in Tough Times’ will address the twin challenges of the global economic crisis and environmental sustainability. For more information, go to http://www.makinglinks.org.au/.
- 2009 National Ushers and DeafBlind Camp: Able Australia Recreation Program and Victorian Usher and DeafBlind Club and the Vision and Hearing Support Club are hosting this camp on Phillip Island for people with deafblindness from 20 to 22 November. Places are limited, so people wishing to attend the camp should contact Emely McCord at Able Australia as soon as possible – voice phone 1300 225 369, TTY 03 9882 6786, email emely.mccord@ableaustralia.org.au. Volunteers are needed so people wishing to assist, please contact John Finch to request an application form by emailing jfinch2@vtown.com.au, phoning 03 9439 2570 or by posting to PO Box 1213 Camberwell VIC 3124. 
- The Eighth National DeafBlind Conference will be held in Melbourne on 28 to 30 April 2010. The call for papers closed on 7 August. For more information about the conference, go to http://www.ableaustralia.org.au/8th-national-deafblind-conference-2010.asp. 

+17. 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. 

+18. INTERNATIONAL: WORLD BLIND UNION (WBU).
The September WBU E-Bulletin includes the following updates. The full version can be read at http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/documents/e-bulletin/WBU-E-Bulletin-0909-September-09.doc. 
- Right to Read Campaign: Maryanne Diamond recently participated in a question and response session with Francis Gurrie, Director of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation). Maryanne asked, among other things, what impact the UN Convention (CRPD) may have on the ‘famine’ of accessible material because, under the Convention, there is the right for people with disability to have equal access to information. Francis Gurrie responded that he thought the impact would be ‘enormous’ and it is now on the WIPO agenda. WIPO is facilitating a stakeholders’ platform to look at ways of practically improving access to published works for people with vision loss. The stakeholders’ platform is composed of the publishers, the International Publishers Association, WBU and DAISY Consortium.
- White Cane Safety Day: WBU’s press release of 15 October raised concerns that present day innovations are threatening the safe and independent travel of people who are blind or partially sighted. Acoustic information is a primary tool for orientation, for example, to determine when traffic has actually stopped rather than when it has been signaled to stop. When crossing at an intersection that has no traffic lights, people listen for oncoming traffic to determine when to cross. However, the increased incidence of ‘hybrid/quiet vehicles’ on roads do not allow sufficient time to safely cross a street after their approach is detected. It is essential that vehicle manufacturers design some kind of sound into these vehicles. 
The new urban design concept ‘shared space’ is being applied in many countries to create more pedestrian friendly, civilised streets with less traffic and lower speeds. However, the concept is causing concern as it is most commonly delivered as a ‘shared surface’ where kerbs are absent and pedestrian and trafficked areas are at the same level. Priority in crossing the space is negotiated by making ‘eye contact’.
The WBU called on governments, regulators, designers and manufacturers to establish and implement standards that will ensure universal access for all people with disability. For more information, go to http://www.worldblindunion.org/en/documents/publications/white-cane-safety-day_09.doc. 
- WBU Pacific Disability Forum (PDF): This year’s forum was attended by around seventy delegates. It was preceded by a women’s forum and followed by a general meeting of the PDF Council. Dr Kevin Murfitt represents WBU-AP Pacific-Oceania on the Council. The women’s forum included the launch of a UN Development Program Pacific Centre 2009 report, ‘Pacific sisters with disabilities: at the intersection of discrimination’. Other reports and discussion focused on the CRPD and the need for gender equity issues to be addressed.
- Papua New Guinea Blind Union (PNG-BU): The PNG-BU has held a board meeting, developed a strategic plan and identified member recruitment processes and proposed constitutional changes to be put to the next general meeting.
- Relaunching of IDA Website: The International Disability Alliance (IDA), of which WBU is a founding member, has launched its new website http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org.  

+19. INTERNATIONAL: AMD ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL (AMDAI).  
International Film Contest: AMDAI launched a film contest during AMD Week (19 to 27 September), which has a grand prize of USD10,000. The goal is to find creative communications materials AMDAI can use to promote AMD awareness. The first entry in the contest has been lodged and can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDwqqpOB69U. More information about the contest is at http://www.amdalliance.org/resources/film-contest.php. 

+20. INTERNATIONAL: LOUIS BRAILLE BICENTENARY.
- Australian Braille Book of the Year Award: Vision Australia has announced the re-establishment of this award. Through the sponsorship of Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), Vision Australia has produced eighty Australian adult titles in braille, which are available to be borrowed from the Vision Australia Information Library Service’s general collection. The Australian Braille Book of the Year Award aims to encourage and develop braille literacy among people with print disability; promote understanding of alternative format needs within the Australian publishing industry; and increase dissemination and reading of Australian content by transcribing Australian literature into formats accessible to people with print disability. All braille users registered with the library service are encouraged to vote for one of the 80 titles in the running. The winning book will be the one with the highest numbers of votes, culminating in an awards event in 2010. For more information, go to http://www.visionaustralia.org/info.aspx?page=2172. 
- Gillian Gale Award for Braille Literacy 2010: This Quantum Scholarship honours the remarkable contribution of Gillian Gale to the education of students who are blind in Australia and internationally. A Mountbatten Learning System and all associated software and accessories will be awarded to one child in both Australia and New Zealand. The award is open to applications on behalf of children between the ages of three and eight years who are learning braille or are assessed as a future braille learner. In one thousand (1000) words or less, applications signed by an Early Childhood or Early Intervention professional and/or parent, should tell ‘why you feel braille literacy will be essential to your child’s success and describe the role you envisage the Mountbatten Learning System will play in your child’s future’. For more information, go to http://www.quantumtechnology.com.au/brailleliteracyscholarshipprogram. 
- The Black Book of Colors, written by Venezuelan author Menena Cottin, has no colours, only black pages with black raised pictures. The text is written in braille and white print appears at the bottom of each page. The book’s dust jacket reads: ‘It is very hard for a sighted person to imagine what it is like to be blind. This ground-breaking award-winning book endeavours to convey the experience of a person who can only see through his or her sense of touch, taste, smell or hearing.’ Find out more about the book at http://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/004796.html. (Source: Statewide Vision Resource Centre, Victoria)
- 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.

+21. INTERNATIONAL: OTHER ITEMS.
- UN Disabilities Committee Chair: Congratulations to Professor Ron McCallum AO on his election as the 2010 Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In March, Professor McCallum was also appointed as the inaugural General Rapporteur with responsibility for reporting to the UN General Assembly on the recommendations and activities of the Committee.
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Leading disability organisations in Australia have formed a project group to compile a Shadow Report on Australia’s implementation of the CRPD. The aim is to make recommendations to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These recommendations will provide the basis for the UN recommendations to the Australian Government regarding Australia’s implementation of the Articles of the CRPD. The main focus of the Shadow Report will be reporting the extent to which Australia has implemented its obligations under the CRPD and to provide recommendations for future action by the Australian Government. The release of the Shadow Report is expected prior to the Australian Government submitting its Progress Report to the UN in August 2010.
The project group consists of Disability Discrimination Legal Centre and Australian Disability Rights Network; Queensland Advocacy Incorporated; People with Disability Australia; Disability Advocacy Network Australia; Australian Federation of Disability Organisations; and Disability Studies and Research Centre. For more information, phone Amelia Dixon, DLA Phillips Fox on 02 9286 8590 or email amelia.dixon@dlaphillipsfox.com. 
- First Forum Disability Ministers: The first ever meeting of Forum Disability Ministers held in the Cook Islands, 2 to 23 October, has endorsed a Pacific Regional Strategy on Disability 2010-2015 to support member countries to protect and promote the rights of persons with disability in the region. Representatives of thirteen Forum member countries agreed that the Strategy will also provide a framework for the coordination of development partners, governments and civil society in building a disability inclusive Pacific. An estimated 800,000 people in the Pacific have some form of disability. Many are the poorest and least able to cope and the most marginalised members of the society. Outcomes of the meeting can be read or listened to at the ABC’s Radio Australia website at http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/200910/s2723857.htm. For more information, contact Dr Helen Tavola, the Forum Secretariat’s Social Policy Adviser by emailing helent@forumsec.org.fj. 
- International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD): On 3 December, the IDPwD is celebrated worldwide recognising the achievements and contributions of people with disability. Registration of events in Australia for IDPwD 2009 is open – to find out more, go to http://www.idpwd.com.au/. .
- Materials for Children on the UN Convention: The 2009 ‘It’s About Ability: Learning Guide on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ is now available (http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_50687.html). This is a companion resource to ‘It’s about Ability: An Explanation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’, developed by UNICEF and the Victor Pineda Foundation. Designed to empower children and young people aged 12 to 18 speak out on the Convention and become advocates for inclusion in their communities, the learning guide offers lesson plans and suggested activities to be used by young leaders, peer educators, teachers and other educators at the community level.
- ILO Video on Disability: ‘Decent Work for People with Disabilities – Count Us In!’ is a four-minute video produced by the International Labour Organisation which combines music and images to raise awareness about the barriers as well as the actions needed to help people with disability obtain decent work and a better life. The video can be viewed at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/disability/countusin/main.html. 
- UNDPI Video on Changing Perceptions: The UN Department of Public Information, in collaboration with DESA has produced a brief video as a part of its Twenty-first Century Program that will be distributed to broadcasters such as CNN World Report. The focus of the video is to help address stigma and discrimination of people with disability. It presents highlights of the lives of two people with disability in Hong Kong and shows that, when given equal access to education, employment, transportation and proper healthcare, people with disability can live their lives fully just like everyone else. Go to http://www.un.org/av/unfamily/21stcentury.htmlto watch the video. 
- WHO Task Force on Disability: The World Health Organization has acknowledged that the UN Convention will change the way it works and has established a Task Force on Disability to lead its efforts. The Task Force aims to ensure that WHO policies, programs and projects are designed and implemented with people with disability in mind. During its first year, the Task Force achieved significant results in key areas including information access, physical access, awareness raising and technical programs. A work plan has been drawn up for the second year. For more information, contact Tom Shakespeare at shakespearet@who.int. 
- Improving the participation of children with disability: The draft manual on improving participation for children with disability (0 to 6 years) being developed jointly by WHO and UNICEF is ready for field-testing. The manual, ‘Let’s Participate’ is written for primary healthcare professionals who care for children with disability. It provides knowledge, ideas and suggestions designed to improve participation for young children in society. For more information, contact Alana Officer (officera@who.int) or Christopher Capobianco (CCapobiance@unicef.org). 
- Disability and HIV Policy Brief: People with disability are at a greater risk of HIV infection and often lack access to HIV prevention and support services. Rates of sexual assault and abuse are also high among the disability population. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and WHO launched a new policy brief on disability and HIV, which explores this neglected issue and makes recommendations for policy change. The brief can be downloaded at http://www.who.int/disabilities/jc1632_policy_brief_disability_en.pdf. 
- UNESCAP Accessibility Manual: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific is currently working on an accessibility handbook that will be used for capacity-building and to raise awareness of accessibility issues. The authors are looking for specific instances where people with disability have faced barriers in gaining access to public services. They would like to use these stories to educate policy-makers on the reality of the situation of people with disability to help them better understand the importance and impact of universally designed systems. Please send your experiences in English, limiting words to one page. Please send submissions by 31 October 2009 to Jonathan Foret at jv4a@yahoo.com and include your full name and country in your email. Only selected submissions will receive notice prior to publication. The handbook is expected to be launched in 2010.
- Annual Pacific Rim International Conference: The Centre on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii is calling for submission of proposals to the 2010 Pac Rim Conference on Disabilities that will be held in Honolulu on 12 and 13 April 2010. The conference will explore new directions through scholarship, best practice and international networking, as well as include an International Forum on the Rights of People with Disability, an international film festival and more. More information is at http://www.pacrim.hawaii.edu. 
- 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. 
- Twelfth International Conference on Mobility and Transport will be held in Hong Kong from 2 to 4 June 2010. The conference theme is ‘Sustainable Transport and Travel for All’. Deadline for submitting abstracts is 31 August 2009. For further information, visit http://www.transed2010.hk. 
- SPEVI Conference 2011 will be held in Sydney from 16 to 21 January 2011. The call for papers will go out later this year. In the meantime, for more information, contact Tricia d’Apice at the RIDBC Teleschool by phoning 02 9872 0332 or emailing tricia.dapice@ridbc.org.au. 

+22. FEATURE ITEM: WebAnywhere.
It’s a common story: a student who is blind or vision impaired starts school and requires assistive technology software such as a screen reader. It seems like a simple request in theory, until the IT department raises objections about installing software on one of their computers. It can often take a while before a student has a computer set up at the school with all the appropriate assistive technologies installed. 
A free solution that will work on pretty much any computer regardless of its operating system or type of browser is now available. WebAnywhere can be used by simply going to http://www.webanywhere.cs.washington.edu/wa.php. It is a non-visual interface that requires no new software to be downloaded or installed. It works right in the browser, which means you can access it from any computer, even locked-down public computer terminals. Once the webpage has loaded, the computer will start talking, allowing the web browser to be used as a basic screen reader. From here, any other page can be loaded and also read out through the page’s internal web address window.
For students who are blind or vision impaired, the benefits of WebAnywhere are profound. Although the screen reader is not as advanced as a product like JAWS, the fact it can be used instantly by simply going to a website means that students have the flexibility to use any internet-enabled computer, no matter how much security was put on it by an IT administrator. From an itinerant teacher perspective, WebAnywhere means that students can start accessing their online education resources immediately at a basic level while the issues of setting up more specialist products are addressed. 
For more information on WebAnywhere and other helpful tips and tricks for making the internet more accessible to people with disability, go to the Media Access Australia website at http://www.mediaaccess.org.au/component/content/article/605.html. (Source: Media Access Australia)

- 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.