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Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is the united voice of blind and vision-impaired Australians. Our mission is to achieve equity and equality by our empowerment, by promoting positive community attitudes, and by striving for high quality and accessible services which meet our needs.
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On 16 March 2009, the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM) released a report recommending that the government should not continue to pursue accessible voting for people who are blind or vision impaired.
Read the report and what you can do
Blind Citizens Australia State Conventions were held during October and November. Audio archives are available for listening.
For further details, visit the Convention 2008 page.
New Horizons, Blind Citizens Australia's weekly radio program, can be heard on RPH stations throughout Australia and over the Internet. Listen to New Horizons.
Blind Citizens Australia is concerned by today's announcement by Vision Australia that due to a 17 percent reduction in revenue, the organization has had to reduce its number of staff in its sites across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
David Blyth, President of Blind Citizens Australia today said "I'm not surprised to hear the news. The primary concern of Blind Citizens Australia is that people who are blind or vision impaired, continue to receive specialist services provided by agencies such as Vision Australia".
Today's announcement indicating that Vision Australia is the latest Australian organization to be affected by the global economic downturn, has many of us at Blind Citizens Australia concerned about the delivery of services resulting from the job losses across all Vision Australia's 23 sites.
"We are reassured to hear that Vision Australia is committed to maintaining their current level of services to people who are blind or vision impaired" said Mr. Blyth.
Blind Citizens Australia, as the nation's peak consumer organization of people who are blind or vision impaired, is appreciative of the factors which have led to Vision Australia's decision to re-organize its service delivery model. The priority, now, is to ensure that specialist support and services meet the needs of people who are blind or vision impaired.
Blind Citizens Australia sees today's announcement from Vision Australia as a commitment to ongoing improvement and provision of quality and accessible services that meet the needs of Australians who are blind or vision impaired.
Media contact: Robyn McKenzie, Executive Officer 0417 549 535
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) wholeheartedly applauds today’s announcement from Minister for Health and Aging, Justine Elliot.
Minister Elliot has announced that twelve independent cinemas will begin providing captioning and audio description for their patrons who are hearing and vision impaired.
Minister Elliot stated that the government will provide funding for the twelve independent cinemas to provide these services on a permanent basis.
Before today's announcement none of the 485 cinemas operating almost 2000 screens around Australia offered audio description for people who are blind or vision impaired.
Audio described cinema uses headsets to give important visual information to movie-goers who are blind or vision impaired.
Robyn McKenzie, BCA's Executive Officer, said in response to the Ministers announcement "I'm thrilled by Minister Elliot's announcement. For the first time ever, Australians who are blind or vision impaired will be able to participate in one of our nation's foremost entertainment and cultural activities".
Blind Citizens Australia is the peak consumer organization for Australians who are blind or vision impaired, and as such, is always greatly appreciative of any advancement that provides greater access to community participation for Australia's 400,000 citizens who are blind or vision impaired.
Whilst all members of Australia's blindness community will welcome today's announcement from Minister Elliot, there are many in the community who believe more action needs to be taken in order to attain the levels of equality of access that are required by Australia's anti-discrimination laws.
"As significant as today's announcement is, it's unfortunate that the majority of Australia's blind or vision impaired will still be left in the dark when it comes to being able to independently enjoy going to the movies with family and friends", said Ms. McKenzie.
It is expected that within the next week, several individuals will lodge discrimination complaints with the Australian Human Rights Commission against Australia's major cinema chains who currently operate 12 cinemas that offer captioning for patrons who are deaf or hearing impaired, but no audio description for patrons who are blind or vision impaired.
Media contact: Wayne Hawkins, National Policy Officer 0437 355 985
The Australian government is undertaking a review of pensions for people with disabilities, carers and seniors. Blind Citizens Australia put in a submission to the review which talked about the needs of people who are blind or vision impaired. A summary of the submission is also available.
Whilst the date for submissions has now past, you can still send letters supporting our cause. BCA has created a pro-forma letter for this purpose.
There are several things to note about this letter:
If you have any further questions, please contact Leah Hobson at the BCA head office by phone on (03) 9654 1400 or 1800 033 660, or via email at leah.hobson@bca.org.au.
Blind Citizens Australia recently responded to a review of organizations which provide help to jobseekers with disabilities run by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. This review is about the way these services are funded, how they report to government and how they are run every day.
On 18th July 2008, the Australian government announced the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. For more information, please see the press release issued by the Attorney General's Department. BCA has been actively supporting the ratification of the Convention through writing submissions and attending government consultations.
On 29 June 2008, The ABC Radio National program Street Stories was about blind and vision impaired people and the use of technology. The program featured a number of Blind Citizens Australia members including Greg Madson and Jenny and Trevor Dawson. You can
listen to Street Stories - Tricks of the Trade here.
The Federal Government is undertaking an inquiry into media access for people who are blind or vision impaired and deaf or hearing impaired, including film, television, DVD and internet content. Read Blind Citizens Australia's submission to the Media Access Inquiry here.
The Federal Government has decided to develop a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy to help people with disabilities find work. Recently the government asked the public to say what they felt was important to consider when developing the Strategy. Read Blind Citizens Australia's submission to the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy consultation here.
Read the text of the speech to the Every Child Matters conference, given by Leah Hobson, Blind Citizens Australia's National Policy Officer.
Read Blind Citizens Australia's Position Statement on Silent Vehicles.
Read Blind Citizens Australia's Volunteering Policy.
Read Blind Citizens Australia's response to the Equal Opportunity Act (Victoria) Review Options Paper.
In 2007, BCA held two public transport forums in Victoria, which combined, were attended by over 120 people. A report containing the recommendations of these forums has been prepared and contains information that will be forwarded to public transport operators. Read more.
As part of their legal requirements, the Victorian government is undertaking a review of the Equal Opportunity Act (1995). Blind Citizens Australia recently made a submission to the review which can be found here.
Blind Citizens Australia in collaboration with the City of Greater Geelong marked International Day of People with Disabilities on December 3, 2007 with the public launch of the BCA Obstacle Notice, a national campaign to make residential streets safer for people who are blind or vision impaired.
Blind Citizens Australia, in conjunction with the Blythe-Sanderson Group,
proudly launched the
Blind Citizens Australia Obstacle Notice
at the BCA National Convention 2007. This A6 notice provides a self advocacy tool for people who are blind or vision impaired that assists in removing obstacles from local communities. It also raises the profile of BCA and awareness of blindness and vision impairment. The notice is now available for members in all states and territories of Australia. Select the above link for details.
Listen to audio archives from the 2007 Blind citizens Australia National Convention.
On December 4 2006, Sensis introduced a number of changes.
Blind Citizens Australia is working with the Australian
banks and the Australian banking industry to establish a comprehensive
search facility for members to locate audio enabled ATMs in their area.
Find your nearest audio ATM
Visit the home of audio description. The website is maintained by Media Access Australia and includes general information on audio description, how audio description began in Australia, titles available and where to buy them.
Keep up-to-date with news from our National Policy Officer.
Read the fare and guide dog policy for Qantas, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Blue and Pacific Blue.
Send comments to: Barry Chapman, Webmaster <barrych@bigpond.net.au>
Last Modified: 29 June 2009
Blind Citizens Australia
Ross House
247 - 251 Flinders Lane
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
Telephone: (03) 9654 1400 or
1800 033 660
TTY: (03) 9376 9275
Facsimile: (03) 9650 3200
E-mail: bca@bca.org.au