The RIDBC
uarterly
Winter 2015
Listening Lucy and Hearing Hannah! Luke is taking on the world Music teacher’s
Liam is thriving at ‘big school’
RIDBC leading the way in braille eLearning
Sara is trekking the Great Wall of China for RIDBC
From the Chief Executive A look at Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) this quarter. It’s hard to believe it has been five years since RIDBC turned 150 years young! Much is happening and I do hope you enjoy reading this edition of The RIDBC Quarterly. Recently I was delighted to attend RIDBC’s official launch of UEB Online. This world first program is helping people who can see to learn Unified English Braille (UEB), an innovation led by our own Dr Frances Gentle. Already over 3,000 users worldwide have embraced this program, an incredible outcome. Within fundraising we have launched the RIDBC Great Wall Challenge 2015 and momentum is building for this exciting trek. Well done to Sara, featured in these pages, who is busy fundraising so that she can complete the challenge!
I was recently in Port Macquarie for the NSW Health Minister’s pre-election announcement of funding to allow us to develop a new, fit for purpose cochlear implant centre on the NSW Mid North Coast. We warmly welcome this government support. RIDBC is keenly watching developments with Australian Hearing, which a 2014 Commission of Audit recommended be privatised. Through Australian Hearing, the federal government currently provides a critical service to both children and adults with hearing loss, including complex clients and Indigenous Australians - no matter their location. RIDBC is committed to supporting the continuance of this quality hearing service across
Australia, in addition to our focus on vision loss services. Throughout the year, RIDBC will continue to ensure the broader community has access to our programs. Canberra and Port Macquarie are both on the 2015 agenda and I look forward to providing you with updates on our plans for additional community based services soon. Thank you for your ongoing, interest, support and commitment to RIDBC. Over 6000 Australians are helped each year as a result of your generosity.
Chris Rehn RIDBC Chief Executive
(L-R) The Hon. Troy Grant, MP; RIDBC cochlear implant recipient, Marianne; and The Hon. Jillian Skinner, MP; joined RIDBC Chief Executive, Chris Rehn to announce funding for our Port Macquarie cochlear implant services
Liam with his mother, Julie, learning to use an electronic brailler to develop his reading and writing skills
Liam is thriving at ‘big school’ When Liam was just six week of age he was diagnosed with Norrie disease, a condition that causes blindness and in some cases, hearing loss. When Liam was two and a half years old his parents, Julie and Craig, turned to RIDBC for support. “Liam is blind and has mild hearing loss in both ears,” said Julie. “He had been having issues with his speech so we turned to RIDBC as they provided the speech therapy that we hadn’t been able to access through other vision loss providers. It was then that we discovered the intensity of services available through RIDBC. “Liam was enrolled in RIDBC Early Learning Program (Vision Impairment) and it was the best thing we could have done. He also joined RIDBC VisionEd Preschool, a specialist preschool for children with
vision loss. I cannot put into words how much he changed – his interaction with the world around him and his motivation to learn just accelerated.” Now Liam is five years old and is attending ‘big school’ at RIDBC Alice Betteridge School, which caters for children with significant vision or hearing loss, as well as a level of intellectual impairment.
“Liam has already told me he is going to be school captain by the end of the year,” said Julie. “When he started with RIDBC he couldn’t talk at all, now he comes home at the end of the day he doesn’t stop talking about school until he goes to bed – it’s amazing!”
The transition from preschool to kindergarten was made easier with RIDBC’s support. “It’s incredible to be a parent of a child with additional needs and feel no apprehension about your son starting ‘big school’ because of the support you are receiving,” said Julie. “Without RIDBC I would be lost in teaching Liam. RIDBC gives me the guidance to support him in the best way. “We are using technology to ensure Liam is able to access the curriculum and develop his reading and writing skills using braille. Using specialist technology like an electronic braille machine, or even everyday technology like an iPad, RIDBC is working with Liam to make sure he has the skills he needs to succeed.”
Trekking the Great Wall of China for RIDBC! Sara is 21 years old and has hearing loss in both ears, using both a cochlear implant and a hearing aid to give her access to sound. She is looking forward to taking part in the RIDBC Great Wall Challenge 2015! RIDBC is this year calling on the community to join intrepid trekkers like Sara to walk the Great Wall of China and fundraise for a worthy cause. “My parents found out I was deaf when I was 11 months of age after a routine hearing test,” said Sara. “That’s when they discovered RIDBC and mum says it was the best decision they made. I joined RIDBC’s early learning program, then one of their specialist preschools, and finally RIDBC Garfield Barwick School which supports students from kindergarten to year six who use cochlear implants or hearing aids. Sara is fundraising for her trek by making accessories to sell, such as animal crochet hats and beanies, as well as scarves and credit card holders!
“Mum said I really thrived in those early years and she got the help she needed to work out the best ways to continue to support me as I got older.” Sara remembers her early years with RIDBC fondly.
“Without RIDBC I would probably have trouble with things as simple but as important as reading, which I love,” said Sara “It was also great for me to have friends with hearing loss, to grow up with people just like me. I’m still in contact with many of those people today!” Now completing a Bachelor of Natural Science (Animal Science) at university, Sara decided to take part
in the challenge to give back to RIDBC. “It’s good to ‘give back’ because RIDBC provides such great services,” said Sara. “Now with programs like RIDBC Teleschool, which supports families in more remote areas, I can really see how important RIDBC continues to be for families all over Australia.” The world of fundraising challenges is new to Sara, but she’s excited to take part.
“I haven’t done anything like this before, I’m learning how to fundraise!” said Sara. “I’m excited to trek the Great Wall of China, experience another country, and meet the other people doing the challenge. It will be fun!” It’s not too late to sign up for this incredible adventure by the team at Inspired Adventures and experience something that is truly life changing! Head to www.ridbc.org/GreatWall to find out more.
Julian and Michelle are now using UEB Online to support their son, Charlie, to develop his braille skills
RIDBC leading the way in braille eLearning RIDBC has officially launched the world’s first eLearning braille course, UEB Online. UEB Online is designed to help people who can see support the people in their life who are using braille as a vital part of their communication. UEB Online is leading the way in using technology to promote braille literacy both in Australia, and internationally. Learning Unified English Braille (UEB) code has never been easier with this accessible online platform - all you need is your computer and an internet connection. “Braille is fundamental to the development of language and literacy in people who are blind,” said UEB Online project leader and RIDBC Lecturer (Vision Impairment), Dr Frances Gentle. “Designed for people who can see, UEB Online creates opportunities for families and mainstream educators to access a simple system that will allow them to support children and adults with
vision loss who are using braille - no matter where they live. For regional residents, Julian and Michelle, UEB Online has been an essential tool for learning the braille they need to best support their son, Charlie, who has significant vision loss. “RIDBC has been using technology to support our family since 2007 when Charlie was the first child to access RIDBC Teleschool, a program that supports families in regional or remote areas using high quality videoconferencing technology,” said Julian. “For families living in regional areas like ours, specialist disability services are scarce on the ground. UEB Online
is providing an accessible, affordable solution for us to learn braille. It’s just another way RIDBC is making sure we get the expert assistance we need to give Charlie the best possible start in life. “Now I can help Charlie with his homework, something that every parent wants to be able to do for their child. It sounds so simple, but things like that are essential to Charlie’s language and literacy development. With this support, Charlie’s confidence has really increased and he’s less frustrated. It’s pretty incredible.” Users wanting to access UEB Online should visit www.uebonline.org, registration is free.
Chace is making incredible progress! When Katrina and Cameron’s son, Chace, was diagnosed with hearing loss at birth, the family turned to RIDBC Gosford for support.
Chace was diagnosed with a severe to profound hearing loss in both ears when he was just two and a half weeks old. “After he was born, Chace underwent a series of medical tests to establish the cause of his hearing loss,” said Katrina. “He’s now three and a half and we are still trying to work it out. “Chace has been in and out of hospital with a number of medical issues and we have been told that some of these could impact his ability to learn.” At two months of age Chace received two hearing aids, but these didn’t give him enough access to speech sounds. “We were referred to Professor Catherine Birman and SCIC Cochlear Implant Program,” said Katrina. “Chace received two cochlear implants when he was seven months old. When they were switched on he initially didn’t react - then part way through the ‘switch on’ he turned around and smiled when I spoke!” RIDBC has been by the family’s side since Chace was a baby. “As Chace has grown up RIDBC has continued to work with us according to what he needs at each stage of his development,” said Katrina. “Being able to access all our assessment, cochlear implant and early
Chace is being supported by RIDBC Gosford’s broad range of services
intervention therapy services in one place makes it so much easier, especially as we have to travel to Newcastle for other medical appointments.” RIDBC is also working with Chace’s preschool to prepare him for school. “RIDBC has been helping his preschool understand how to best support Chace in the classroom,” said Katrina. “His progress has been fantastic.
He is using four to five word sentences and his speech is now at a point where others can understand him.”
“RIDBC has guided us through it all, teaching us strategies to support his development. I am looking forward to Chace being able to lead a normal life and integrate into primary school – with RIDBC he will be able to do that.”
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