Welcome to the Autumn edition of Blind Citizens News, the very first for 2022! You can download the Word version or listen to the audio within each article. In this edition we also included a Member Letter. You can read it here or listen to audio version here.
List of Articles
- Editorial – Ben Clare – Ben Clare reflects on the advancements of assistive technology through the years and during the pandemic. ‘The pandemic has brought into sharp focus how this lag can do everything from decreasing independence for blind people to the very real risk of us being unable to access essential services.”
- Are you the next Blind Citizens News Editor? – We’re looking for a new Editor to join the team on a voluntary basis.
- Reflections on an amazing seven years – John Simpson – “We set for the organisation a more succinct vision and mission that is expressed in three simple words – Inform, Connect and Empower. These keystones to our strategic direction have served us well and proved to be critical in addressing the challenge of supporting our members and others who are blind or vision impaired during this ongoing Covid Pandemic.”
- Reflections of an Outgoing CEO – Emma Bennison – “I thought it would be timely to reflect on what I have found to be some of the more challenging aspects of the role and how they have shaped my hopes for the future of our organisation”
- Personal Recount of Travelling Overseas During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Cameron Algie– Cameron recounts her experience of international travel – from the preparation, to the trip, and through the return.
- From the National Women’s Branch – Katrina Taylor – Find out what the NWB have been up to over the past few months, how you can join and how to get involved.
- Audio Version of the Class for the Partially Sighted – Bruce C Gillies -“At the time of the November 2020 edition of BC News being published, I could only offer copies with either text and photographs or text only to be sent as an attachment to an email. I am now pleased to be able to inform readers, that an audio version of the document has been produced”
- Update on BCA’s 2021 Recommendations Session – BCA has a long-standing tradition of accepting recommendations from members as part of its national and state conventions.
- National Policy Council: Recent Work and Priorities for 2022 – Jack Reynolds-Ryan & Prue Watt – “In the latter half of 2021, the NPC turned its attention to a substantial re-write of BCA’s pedestrian safety policy, which was also last updated in 2009.”
- An Eye to the Future – Nicole Willing – BCA is very pleased to announce that the Eye to the Future project 2.0 was re-launched just before Christmas, which was made possible by a grant from the Department of Social Services Information, Linkages, and Capacity Building Grant Program.
- Submit Your Writing to Blind Citizens News
- Directory of Contact Details
- New Horizons Radio Broadcast Schedule
Editor’s Note
Blind Citizens Australia refers to our members as people who are blind or vision impaired. However, we respect the right of individual authors to use whatever language is most comfortable for them.
Publication Information
COPYRIGHT: Reproduction of articles appearing in Blind Citizens News is permitted provided Blind Citizens News and the author(s) are acknowledged.
Large Print ISSN 1441-449X Braille ISSN 1441-5658
Blind Citizens News is distributed in Large Print, Braille, and Audio. Electronic copies in text format are available from our webpage, on CD or by email. The audio edition is available as a podcast by searching for Blind Citizens Australia in your favourite podcast app or can be accessed via the Vision Australia library service. If you would like to receive Blind Citizens News in a different format please contact us.
Funding and Donations for BCA
Listen to the audio recording here.
BCA would like to acknowledge the generous work of the Jeffrey Blyth Foundation. The Foundation was formed in 1995 with BCA being the primary beneficiary.
We would also like to acknowledge our funding partners: the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) NSW, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Victoria, the Federal Department of Social Services (DSS), the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), Vision Australia, Guide Dogs Australia, Everability and our generous members.
If you would like to make a donation to Blind Citizens Australia, you can call 1800 033 660, and use your credit card. You can also donate online here. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Feedback for BCA
Listen to the audio recording here.
Do you have any compliments, suggestions or concerns you wanted to let BCA know about? You can do this anonymously by going to our website and completing a feedback form or you can call the BCA Office toll free on 1800 033 660. Your feedback will be used to improve our services to better meet the needs of our membership.
How to make a complaint about BCA
Listen to the audio recording here.
Any member, client, volunteer, or their advocate, can lodge a complaint about the services provided by BCA. Complaints can be made in the following ways:
Phone: 1800 033 660
Email: bca@bca.org.au
Website: Feedback and Complaints
Post: Blind Citizens Australia, Level 3, Ross House
247 – 251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Vic 3000
If there are complaints of a serious nature, the Chief Executive Officer will ask that the complaint be put in writing.
Complaints will be recorded in accordance with the requirements for complaints management outlined by The Office of Disability Services Commissioner. Member and client privacy will be respected and protected in relation to the recording, management and resolution of the complaint. For a full copy of BCA’s complaints policy, please go to this page or call BCA.