May News - Able Australia, Disability Services

Able Deafblind Recreation visits Fire Station No.1 

 

Able Australia’s Deafblind Recreation Group was treated to a wonderful series of tactile and visual experiences on Thursday 28 May at Fire Station No. 1 in East Melbourne.

 

From touching elements of the life saving equipment, trying on parts of the uniform and getting up close to the trucks, the visit to the station was interactive, educational and loads of fun from start to finish.

 

 

A fire safety talk was incorporated into the visit and prompted a lot of questions from the deafblind guests and volunteers.

 

Able Deafblind Recreation is just one way Able Australia is breaking down communication and social barriers for people living with disabilities in our community.

 

We would like to express our thanks to the Metropolitan Fire, particularly the Firefighters at Station No.1 who were patient, informative and charming throughout and of course the volunteers who make it all possible.
Victorian Ushers & Deafblind Club
 

 

VUDBC was established in 1995 and is a recreational group that gives people with Usher’s Syndrome and dual sensory loss opportunities for social outings and catching up with friends.  The activities are held on Saturdays every three months. The club supports around 40 people, who primarily use Auslan as their first language.  Support is provided by sighted friends, volunteers, guides/interpreters, making the club more positive for people with Ushers and deafblindness to overcome isolation and make friends.

 

The Victorian Ushers and Deafblind Club (VUDBC) is selling T‑shirts relating to deafblind communication. The cost of the T-shirts is $20 and postage is free. Sizes range from small to extra large.

 

Click here to download the order form.

 

The profits go to the club to cover expenses such as social outings, any volunteer expenses, petrol and training. The VUDBC club currently does not have any type of funding support and relies heavily on sales of T-shirts and other donations.  

 

By wearing the T-shirts you can also play a part in highlighting awareness of the difficulties that people with deafblindness experiences on a daily basis.

 

For more information do not hesitate to contact Heather Lawson on hjlawson@netspace.net.au or Fax 03  9882 9210.

 

Thank you for your support with Victorian Ushers and Deafblind Club.

 

VUDBC is proudly supported by Able Australia
Arthur Rogers - Executive Director of Disability Services visits Ablelink

     

    

 

Able Australia was privileged to have Arthur Rogers, the Executive Director of Disability Services for the Department of Human Services, visit our service Ablelink on Thursday 16th April, meet some of the service users and see the adaptive technology at work. In attendance were Board Members Richard Park and Frank Harris and Celestine Hare CEO. The visit was also a timely opportunity to highlight some of the communication difficulties facing people with deafblindness and how Ablelink is aiming to solve these problems.

 

Five of the people with deafblindness who regularly access the adaptive communication services based at Ablelink were present to best explain how the different systems work, the impact they have on their lives and the need for ongoing improvement, development and expansion.

 

Located in Ross House Flinders Lane Melbourne Ablelink incorporates a range of eCommunication tools such as Braille readers, TTY telephones, CCTV, web cams and large print which were all put on show, highlighting the importance of these systems in coping in an increasingly technology dominated environment.

 

Arthur Roger’s visit gave the people with deafblindness a genuine thrill knowing that their plight is not going unnoticed.