Welcome to the April edition of Blind Citizens News for 2020. You can also download the Word version or listen to the audio within each article (coming soon).
List of Articles
- Editorial – “Let’s talk about Stevie Wonder. Is that an outtake from his weird concept album Journey through the Secret Life of Plants I hear, or is it the sound of all of you groaning…”
- Traveling Alone: a first-timer’s perspective – “Like many people, I had the desire to have an overseas travel adventure, however being totally blind meant there were some obvious obstacles…”
- Australian Disability Parking Permits – a win in Queensland – “If you subscribe to Blind Citizens Australia’s email lists, you should have heard of a significant advocacy win for Leonie Barber, and for Queenslanders…”
- Register for Upcoming Training in our Aged Care and Service Provider Resources – “The Service Providers Expectation Policy has been developed to assist members in receiving services from blindness service providers…”
- When Blindness Isn’t Your Only Disability – “For many of us, blindness or vision impairment isn’t our only diagnosis. Often an additional disability or medical condition presents a variety of different challenges, which can…”
- The Stranger on the Bus – “I don’t know you, but you think you know me. I’ve got my headphones in, and I’m just getting to the really good bit in my book. I’m on the way home from work…”
- An Eye to the Future of Employment – “This work aims to change the perceptions associated with employing people who are blind and vision impaired…”
- BCA’s Bedrock for the Future – “The purpose of this article is to give readers information about the Jeffrey Blyth Foundation, and to seek your consideration of making a donation or leaving a bequest to the Foundation…”
- Update to the BCA Member Database – “In early 2019, Blind Citizens Australia received funding through the National Disability Insurance Agency’s Information, Linkages and Capacity Building grant program to invest in a new membership database…”
- From Anger to Acumen: The Advocacy of Martin Stewart – “For many years, Martin Stewart was driven by anger. It’s an understandable stance. Blind from birth, his childhood was marred by abuse, his education limited by ableism,..”
- 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 Other Publications Funding and Donations for BCA Feedback for BCA How to make a complaint about BCA
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 1441-565
Blind Citizens News is distributed in Large Print, Braille, and Audio. Electronic copies in text format are available on CD or by email. If you would like to receive Blind Citizens News in another format, please contact us.
Other Publications
New Horizons Radio Programme and Podcast Blind Citizens Australia Annual Report
Funding and Donations for BCA
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 Health and Human Services (DHHS) Victoria, the Department of Social Services, Vision Australia, the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, Guide Dogs Victoria, and our generous members.
If you would like to make a donation to Blind Citizens Australia, you can call the Office on 1800 033 660, and use your credit card. You can also donate online. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Feedback for BCA
Do you have any compliments, suggestions or concerns you wanted to let BCA know about? You can do this anonymously by following this link and completing a feedback form, or you can call BCA 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
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 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 visit www.bca.org.au/feedback or call the office.