Author Archives: Leona Holloway

2019 Onkyo Braille Essay Writing Competition

The World Blind Union Asia Pacific Onkyo Braille Essay competition is now open for entries, closing 15 June 2019. If you or someone you know is a writer who uses braille, please read the information below and share with your networks. We look forward to receiving your entries by 15 June. Should you have any questions, please contact Samantha Marsh on 1800 033 660.

About the Contest

Perkins BraillersThe Onkyo World Braille Essay Contest is a worldwide initiative planned and sponsored by Onkyo Corporation Ltd. and the Braille Mainichi in Japan, and is implemented by the World Blind Union-Asia Pacific (WBUAP). It is administered locally by the Australian National Onkyo Selection Committee for the World Braille Essay Contest. The Committee comprises representatives from Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) and other blindness agencies and organisations whose focus is on information access and braille.

The purpose of the contest is to promote Braille literacy and encourage the reading and writing of Braille; and to encourage cultural and social interaction among blind and vision impaired persons through their writings. The top 5 entries will be sent to the WBUAP Onkyo Selection Committee for final consideration, and any winning Australian entries will be published in Blind Citizens News.

This is an annual competition, with cash prizes awarded to the best seven entries received from within the WBU Asia Pacific Region. The main prize, “the Otsuki Prize” is $US 1000. Other prizes are for “Excellent Works” ($US 500) and “Fine Works” (either $US 300 or $US 200) depending on the age group. Participation in the contest is open to people from 14 years of age, living in the World Blind Union-Asia Pacific Region. Entries are divided into two age groups: persons between the ages of 14 and 25 years; and persons from the age of 26 years upwards.

Essay topics

  1. Having Overcome the Challenges of Blindness, How I Can or Have Contributed to Society.
  2. The Significance of Braille in the IT Era and in my daily life.
  3. The people or organisations which have helped me on my journey to success.
  4. How Music Has Shaped My Life and Changed the Attitude of Society Towards Blindness.

The closing date for entries is 15 June 2019. Winners will be notified in November 2019.

Essays must be between 700 and 1,000 words and presented in hard copy Braille or in computerised Braille if you can provide proof of your Braille literacy. This can be in the form of a letter from your Braille instructor, teacher or other professional who can vouch for your skills.

When submitting your essay to Blind Citizens Australia, you must also provide (1) An electronic photo of yourself and (2) a cover letter stating your full name, address, and contact details, your date of birth and your status ie. student, home maker, worker. If you are a student, please state what school you are from including the name, address and email contact for your school.

Entries must be submitted to BCA by June 15 2019 at:

Attention: Samantha Marsh

Samantha.marsh@bca.org.au

Blind Citizens Australia
Ross House
Level 3, 247-251 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000

Good luck!

2019 ABA Annual Meeting wrap-up

Meeting participants seated at 2 tables in Braille HouseThe Australian Braille Authority meets annually, preceding the Round Table Conference on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities.

Reports were presented on the work of the Australian Braille Authority, international collaboration and the work of member organisations.  These are summarised in the 2019 ABA Chair’s Report by Jordie Howell.

chart with hiragana, romanji and brailleKathy Riessen announced the release of the ABA Guidelines on Foreign Language Material. These are a series of documents: The first introduces general rules for transcribing foreign language in a UEB context and the remaining documents each provide guidance for a different language. French, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin and Japanese have all been covered. The documents can be downloaded for free from our website in print or braille. Our thanks are extended to Kathy Riessen for leading this work and to the many braille transcribers, proofreaders, users and teachers who provided invaluable input.

Nigel Herring of Pentronics raised the issue of import of quality braille paper to Australia. New import restrictions are impractical for the small quantities of braille paper required in Australia, meaning that we now only have access to poor quality paper. Nigel will work with the Australian Braille Authority to submit a request for exemption for braille paper.

This year, the meeting was hosted by Braille House in Annerley, Queensland. After the conclusion of the main proceedings, we were treated to a tour of their facilities, including their children’s area, Moon collection and braille production facilities. Our thanks are extended to Braille House for their hospitality.

Historic handmade braille alphabet wall chart.

Congratulations Dorothy Hamilton

The Australian Braille Authority extends our congratulations to Dorothy Hamilton, who was named in the 2019 Australia Day Honours. Dorothy was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to music.

Blind from birth, Dorothy developed an early love of music. She was the first blind woman in the southern hemisphere to obtain a music degree. She then went on to fulfil her childhood ambition of teaching music to sighted students as at Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, where she taught recorder, piano and choir.

In 1985, Dorothy was instrumental in establishing the internationally-renowned National Braille Camp. She has also taught blind students unable to attend the camp remotely, via phone.

Dorothy has represented Australia in international discussions of the braille music code.

Dorothy began her braille music transcription career as a proofreader for the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. In the 1990s she took on the role of braille music transcription at Vision Australia using a computer and refreshable braille display.

At 91 years of age, Dorothy continues her music transcription work at Vision Australia and is a mentor and role model for many.

Dorothy Hamilton holding a wooden case with medal and plaque

2019 Round Table Conference

The Round Table Conference is an annual opportunity to share information and meet new people in the field of print accessibility in Australia and New Zealand. The conference provides three full days of technical research, presentations and practical workshops on issues related to accessibility. There are also many opportunities for networking and socialising with key speakers, presenters and attendees.

Tactile map of Brisbane museum districtThe 2019 Round Table Conference will be held in Brisbane in May 2019. The theme is “The Changing Landscape for Accessible Information”.
Dates:
Saturday 4 May 2019 (ABA Annual Meeting at Braille House)
Sunday 5 May to Tuesday 7 May 2019 (Round Table Conference at Rydges Hotel)
Location: 
Rydges South Bank
Cnr Grey & Glenelg Streets
South Brisbane QLD 4101
Tel: (07) 3364 0800 or from overseas +61 7 3364 0800

Registrations are now open. We hope to see you there!

Congratulations Christine Simpson

Christine Simpson and Neil Jarvis

Christine Simpson and Neil Jarvis

Congratulations are extended to Christine Simpson, the 2018 recipient of the Tammy Axelsen Lifetime Achievement Award for service to the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc. Christine has been involved with the Australian Braille Authority for over 25 years, including six years as ABA Chair, and was editor of the Rules of Unified English Braille, the most important publication in English braille today. Christine, we thank you for your hard work, steady guidance and friendship.

2018 Round Table Conference wrap-up

Sam Taylor and Jordie Howell at the ABA meeting 2018

Sam Taylor and Jordie Howell at the ABA meeting 2018

The 2018 Round Table Conference was held at Rydges Sydney Central with the theme “Advances in Information Access – Opportunities, Applications and Technologies”. The Conference was preceded by the ABA Annual Meeting, at which a new Executive was elected. We are pleased to announce the re-appointment of Jordie Howell (Chair), Josie Howse, Kathy Riessen, Leona Holloway and Sam Taylor, and to welcome Tristan Clare as our newest member. Our thanks are extended to outgoing members Christine Simpson and Ross de Vent.

The 2018 ABA Annual Meeting Minutes are now available.

Congratulations Gillian Gale

Medal_of_the_Order_of_AustraliaCongratulations to Dr Gillian Gale on her award as a member (AM) in the general division of the Order of Australia in recognition of her extensive work supporting the education of children with a vision impairment throughout Australia. Among her many achievements, Gillian has worked as a vision specialist teacher, edited Round Table’s Guidelines on Conveying Visual Information, co-authored the Ozzie Dots program for early braille literacy, serves on the steering committee of the Feelix Library, and is a life member of SPEVI. She has served as a teacher, mentor and inspiration to so many of the braille community.

Braille Camp 2018

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) and their Telelink team held their biggest ever Braille Camp in January 2018. Over 150 members from remote and regional families came together over four days to practice hands-on skills and network with other families.

children enjoying braille camp