VisAbility Radio on Demand: Recent Episodes
VisAbilityAU
Dating in the 21st century is largely a visual experience, swiping left or right through polished profiles on dating apps. But, living with a vision impairment presents its own set of challenges.
In this episode, Clinical Psychologist Davinia and Youth Support Officer Ryan talk about love, dating and relationships for people who are blind or vision impaired.
They discuss their own dating experiences, staying safe and whether to disclose a vision impairment prior to meeting someone for the first time.
This is the audio version of VisAbility's 2019 Annual Review. Listen to our welcome from the Chair and Acting CEO, review our financials and treasurer's report, and hear a summary of highlights for VisAbility, Guide Dogs WA and Guide Dogs Tasmania.
The Young Ones... how different are young people with a vision-impairment from their earlier generations? How has digital technology and new support systems influenced their response to living with blindness and low-Vision? Ryan Honschooten, Youth Support Coordinator at VisAbility, shares his observations and experience from his many years working with children and youths across a wide age-spectrum. We talked about their aspirations, anxieties and other issues which are common phases of growing up plus examining other aspects peculiar to a youth living without sight.
You’ve Got A Friend?
Forget relying on social media to make new friends, there are others out there who share the same interests and who may be looking for company to do things together. Face-to-face interaction is loads more fun than “virtual togetherness” but where do you start? Jane Hannay, a Community Builder at the wildly popular social connector organisation, Befriend, tells us how easy and rewarding it can be. Listen and start connecting with people now.
Gratitude… Why being grateful really works out to be the better choice.
People call it an “Attitude of Gratitude” and by other names, but it really is firstly a virtue. So why should you and I be grateful, what can we be grateful for and how do we make it a part of our daily responses to the things that happen, even in those difficult moments?. Kayla Brooke, Employee Experience Officer at VisAbility, shares with us what she has learned about being grateful, how we can make a difference for nearly anyone we meet and help change things for the better.
Baby, baby here we come! Pregnancy can be both exciting and nerve-wrecking for any woman but what if you are vision-impaired? Sinead Bryant talks about how she discovered that baby was on the way and what she has been doing to prepare for baby Bryant’s birth. She shares some of the comical moments that will become part of her family’s memories along with what she learned that has helped her experience a beautiful pregnancy despite her vision-impairment. This is one that no woman will want to miss.
Ever thought of minding your own business when traditional employment isn’t quite working? Are you running into roadblocks on the traditional employment routes!? I would like to suggest taking some time to consider starting your very own business. In this monologue Kenneth Phua challenges you to take stock of the skills and talents which you possess, regardless of what field of work it came from or what direct relevance these seem to have presently, and honestly assess if there might be something which could carve out an alternative source of income. Even your experience of disability can play into this - a surprising card that just might work in your favour. You will never know until you give it a go.
Many people naturally find it hard to talk about the loss of their vision. Each individual will accept their disability at different stages.
How much should people know about your vision impairment and does it inevitably label you, so it may preclude you from social events?
In this latest edition of The Blind Argument, Clinical Psychologist Davinia Lefroy and Youth Support Officer Ryan Honschooten talk about acceptance and disclosure of vision impairment through their own lived experiences.
They look at it from a parent’s perspective as well as an individual one and discuss whether you should mention it in situations such as applying for a job or talking to someone new over a phone.
It’s a word which has so many meanings and which is being used more and more in everyday life - we’re talking accessibility.
But what is accessibility and why is it so important? Accessibility comes in many forms and helps us to lead independent lives.
In this latest edition of The Blind Argument, Clinical Psychologist Davinia Lefroy and Youth Support Officer Ryan Honschooten talk about what accessibility means to them.
From Ryan’s frustrations to an app which claimed to be accessible, but wasn’t, and Davinia’s experience of travelling with a travel pass on public transport out of state, they mull over accessibility and inclusivity issues.
We’re all being told how beneficial it is to be your own independent person, but it's easy to fall into the trap of relying on others.
How do you feel if you have to ask for help such as asking for directions to the bathroom? It’s natural not to want to seek assistance, because you may feel that you are burdening others.
In this latest edition of The Blind Argument, Clinical Psychologist Davinia Lefroy and Youth Support Officer Ryan Honschooten discuss ways we can achieve independence through their own personal experiences and how best to deal with those situations which may prove challenging.
“Anticipation” … Don’t Miss this movie coming out in August.
Peter Renzullo’s 112-minute feature film premieres in Perth on 11 August and on this episode Peter spoke about his experience in making this movie. He is a musician, a sound recording expert, a film-maker and also a legally blind person. So who says you have to be sighted to make a movie huh?
How do you communicate? Social media has had a big impact on the way we communicate especially among the younger generation.
If you have a vision impairment or are blind what’s the best way of getting someone’s attention? Perhaps you think it’s still important to position yourself so you are directly in front of someone when you are communicating with them.
In this latest edition of The Blind Argument, Clinical Psychologist Davinia Lefroy and Youth Support Officer Ryan Honschooten debate views and offer tips on interacting with others.
Look What’s Coming Out of the Wood… They make everything from bread-cutting boards. Coffee tables and wine-racks. These men and ladies are making furniture and having loads of fun, end yes they are all vision-impaired. Listen to William Ford and Reg Pollan talk about how it all comes together.
A Few Thoughts about “Just Why It Matters”
There are no two identical blind people. Each has his or her own aspirations, struggles, interests and yes even their own quirks. That’s why I am sharing some of my own on this episode when I pull away part of the curtain to tell you somethings about myself. Kenneth Phua, host of “Just Why It Matters” speaks candidly in a monologue.
Brain Injury and Blindness… what you need to know.
Can an injury to the brain result in blindness or a permanent vision impairment? What is the difference between a traumatic brain injury and an acquired brain injury? Is blindness caused by a brain injury necessarily the same as that linked to the health of the eye? Learn more by listening to this conversation with Occupational Therapist Donna Lindop.
Making Education Accessible for Students with a Vision Impairment. There are challenges, no doubt, but with the expanded knowledge in pedagogy developed particularly to meet the needs of people with vision impairment, opportunities for young children as well as those moving on to higher learning are becoming more accessible. Listen to Laura Hawkins, a psychologist, as she explains some of the challenges and break-through's in this field of education.
Georgie is a young woman who is beginning to spread her wings to take on life. She talks about overcoming the trials of blindness as she sets out to chase her dreams and what she is learning along the way. Leaving her family home in the country where she grew up, Georgie is not afraid to have big dreams and not afraid to learn how different life in Perth can be.
In this interview with Dr. Allen she prepares to write the next chapter of her career after leading VisAbility for six years, she shares how she got started in her work in the disability sector, the lessons she has learned from people with disability, what she holds dear and why she will keep on doing what she feels called to. Join me in this exclusive interview.
Emmanuel Lee shares his journey of life which was interrupted, by the onset of blindness, but never halted. His story is characterised by a willingness to take on challenges and turn them into opportunities to develop new strengths which has led him to become a man of many talents.
What makes for a great work environment? A place where your ability and performance is considered as primary rather than a known disability. Nilesh shares his guiding philosophy which informs his every decision concerning building a company which not only has a spirit of excellence but is founded on the high grounds of equal opportunity, co-creation and trust.
The Blind Argument is a debate-style podcast that discusses ‘hot’ topics that surround people living with disability, more specifically vision impairment and blindness.
Clinical Psychologist Davinia Lefroy and Youth Support Officer Ryan Honschooten debate these issues through their past and lived experience, and in doing so offer insights, education and understanding for people living with or without disability. One thing they both agree on is that there’s more than one ‘right’ way of doing things.
The Blind Argument is a debate-style podcast that discusses ‘hot’ topics that surround people living with disability, more specifically vision impairment and blindness.
Clinical Psychologist Davinia Lefroy and Youth Support Officer Ryan Honschooten debate these issues through their past and lived experience, and in doing so offer insights, education and understanding for people living with or without disability. One thing they both agree on is that there’s more than one ‘right’ way of doing things.
The Blind Argument is a debate-style podcast that discusses ‘hot’ topics that surround people living with disability, more specifically vision impairment and blindness.
Clinical Psychologist Davinia Lefroy and Youth Support Officer Ryan Honschooten debate these issues through their past and lived experience, and in doing so offer insights, education and understanding for people living with or without disability. One thing they both agree on is that there’s more than one ‘right’ way of doing things.
Episode Three of the Live, Play, Work series is brought to you by AT Chat from the Independent Living Centre WA and VisAbility. This episode is called Work and focuses on how assistive technology (AT) can be an integral part of increasing productivity, communication and even getting to and from the workplace.
In this episode hear suggestions from expert assistive technology user Zel Iscel who was born blind and VisAbility Occupational Therapist Karen Titheridge. Hosted by AT Chat’s Danielle Loizou-Lake this engaging episode will give you ideas to become more efficient with your work.
Links to assistive technology mentioned in the episode:
Screen readers:
Jaws, NVDA
Screen magnification:
Zoom Text, Zoom Text Fusion
Humanware Screen Magnification range:
Desktop magnifier, Handheld magnifier, Digital Magnifier
Text to Speech apps:
Seeing AI App, KNFB Reader
Voice Over:
Voiceover Guide for IOS
Android Accessibility:
Android Talkback tips
Navigation Apps:
Google maps, Apple Maps, Blindquare, Moovit (Apple), Moovit (Google)
Headphone/headsets:
Bone conducting headphones (AfterShokz)
Braille Embosser:
Braille Note (Humanware), Braille Sense (HIMS)
Episode Two of the Live, Play, Work series is brought to you by AT Chat from the Independent Living Centre WA and VisAbility. This episode is called Play, and focuses on how assistive technology (AT) and community groups can help you to be active, involved in sport, competing, or just having fun.
In this episode hear suggestions and ideas from expert assistive technology user Zel Iscel who was born blind and VisAbility Occupational Therapist Karen Titheridge. Hosted by AT Chat’s Danielle Loizou-Lake this fun and light-hearted episode will give you ideas on how to be active this summer!
Links to community groups mentioned in the show:
Swish with Blind Citizens WA
Tandem Bike Riding with the WATCAC
VisAbility Sport, Recreation and Leisure Program
Rockingham Running Group with Achilles Australia
No Lights, No Lycra
Links to assistive technology mentioned in the show:
Golf and lawn bowls AT
Tactile markers for treadmills
Pacer Pedometer Step Tracker App (Apple)
Fishability Fishing expeditions
AT tips on fishing (The Blind Captain)
Episode One of the Live, Work, Play series brought to you by AT Chat from the Independent Living Centre WA and VisAbility. This episode is called Live, and focuses on how you can host a party, evening drinks or barbeque at home. Listen to how assistive technology (AT) can make you the perfect host.
In this episode, hear suggestions and ideas from expert assistive technology user Zel Iscel who was born blind and VisAbility Occupational Therapist Karen Titheridge. Hosted by AT Chat’s Danielle Loizou-Lake this fun and light-hearted episode will provide you with low cost AT insights, ways to use apps and how to entertain using AT.
Links to assistive technology mentioned in the show:
PenFriend 2 Labeller
Sunbeam Bread Slicing Guide
Superlux Florescent Equipoise Lamp or Daylight triple Bright Lamp (both of these are clamp-on options)
Bump-Ons Adhesive Indicators or Touch Dots (these are tactile markers for kitchen appliances)
Envision App: ELI
Seeing AI App
Be My Eyes App
Tactile ruler
Tips for making cocktails
General Liquid Level
Braille board games
In episode 8 of Just Why It Matters, Justin James, Development Manager for Mobile Apps at Bankwest and Kenneth Phua discuss 'Making Apps Work for You'. The rise of smart devices saw our increased reliance on the use of apps and raises the question about the accessibility of this interface for people with a disability. Listen to Justin James talk about this ever-growing tech space and why Bankwest is devoting energy to its development.
In Episode 7 of Just Why It Matters, Vithya Vijayakumare shares how binaural sound can transport the listener to a distant place and offer a completely immersive sound experience (just like standing on a beach facing the ocean’s waves as they break on the shore).
Episode 5 of the Women on the Seen series is titled 'She's Got the Look Part 2'. You loved Part One of She's Got the Look. We talked about makeup to coordinating clothes, right down to styling your hair and discussed the many ways that women with vision impairment can use to fashion a look that works best for them.
However we've had outcries of 'the look isn’t complete' until we’ve talked about shoes, handbags, nails and accessories. So listen as Sinead Quinn and Janet Pettigrew share tips on how a woman with vision-impairment completes the finished glamorous look!
Episode 4 of the Women on the Seen series is titled 'Money, money, money'. Does the notion of financial planning come across as unrealistic to you if your main income stream is a disability support pension or a part-time job?
Do you feel that making provisions for a secure financial future belongs only to women who hold full-time employment or who are sitting on piles of cash? Does the NDIS have any part in this equation? Get ideas to manage your finances better as Janet Pettigrew speaks with Katie McDonald and Christine Tinley about money, money, money.
Episode 3 of the Women on the Seen series is titled 'A Garden Good Enough to Eat'. Janet Pettigrew speaks to Anita Seery, who makes her garden grow the most beautiful and nutritious plants. From growing plants outdoors to greens that frame your window sills, Anita has tips that can transform your experience of gardening.
The home should be the safe haven for anyone, perhaps even more so for a person living with a disability. Sargeant Matthew Sharp of the WA Police talks about the common mistakes we can make that compromise home security as well as the simple measures we can take to protect ourselves. Also learn how to deal with threatening situations which may occur outside the home.
Welcome to the second episode of Women On The Seen. This week's episode is called Don’t Let Rainy Days Keep You Down!
Every woman experiences bouts of anxiety or periods of feeling down but what is it like for women with a disability or vision impairment? How can you recognize these moments and more importantly what can you do to seek relief? Clinical psychologist, Davinia Lefroy and social worker at VisAbility, Marija Clark talk about these issues and suggest practical strategies on this episode.
If you have loved what you hear, let us know by sending a message to kenneth.phua@visability.com.au. Don't forget you can subscribe to VisAbility Radio On Demand on iTunes to stay up to date with our latest episodes.
In this final episode, entitled All Your Questions Answered, we take on your questions including those about digital aids for the kitchen, robot guide dogs, self-monitoring health devices, apps for shoppers, gadgets supporting learning and more.
Guests: Dr. Scott Hollier, Sinead Quinn
Welcome to the first episode of Women On The Seen. This week's episode is called She's Got the Look!
From makeup to coordinating clothes, right down to styling your hair there are many ways that women with vision impairment can use to fashion a look that works best for them. Listen to two women who have worked out their own systems and get tips which you can start using for yourself.
If you have loved what you hear, let us know by sending a message to kenneth.phua@visability.com.au. Don't forget you can subscribe to VisAbility Radio On Demand on iTunes and stay up to date with our latest episodes.
Episode five of All Things Digital, All Things Accessible with expert Dr. Scott Hollier.
In episode five, Dr Scott discusses the international standards that can provide assurance of quality, compatibility and perhaps pricing of all things digital and accessible. Dr. Scott Hollier offers insights from the perspectives of one who is in a position of influence on the international front of the initiative.
Guest: Dr. Scott Hollier
Host: Kenneth Phua
Editor: Matthew Clark
Episode four of All Things Digital, All Things Accessible with expert Dr. Scott Hollier.
In episode four Dr. Scott Hollier ventures further out by taking a look at what developments are going to benefit the person with a vision impairment. From augmented reality and ‘wearables’ to self-drive cars, these all seem to be within reach, but will it be that simple?
Guest: Dr. Scott Hollier
Host: Kenneth Phua
Editor: Matthew Clark
VisAbility on Demand introduces a New Women's Podcast in April 2018
Beginning in April 2018, the all new Women's Podcast will deliver insight, inspiration and diverse perspectives from women in Western Australia living with disability. Covering careers, education, sport, technology, fashion and family life, this series will have conversations that connect with you. Be empowered to live your life the way you choose by following the journeys of women who are forging their own paths. Don’t miss it.
We're currently calling all ladies to join in the conversation on your very own program. Have an idea of a name that represents all of the above? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you. Get in touch by emailing kenneth.phua@visability.com.au.
Listen to host Kenneth Phua's exclusive chat with David Masters, Director of Corporate Affairs at Microsoft Australia and keynote speaker at the 2018 Web Accessibility Camp. In episode 3 of the series Just Why It Matters, David discusses AI, inclusive design and the future of accessibility.
Reality Check, Clinical psychologist, Davinia Lefroy is also legally blind and therefore she is perfectly qualified to talk about the role, the importance and the benefits of psychological therapy for people with disabilities. Listen as she explains and shares from the view point of an expert and from her lived experience.
Episode three of All Things Digital, All Things Accessible with expert Dr. Scott Hollier.
This week Dr. Scott Hollier discusses the Internet of Things. The “Internet of Things” is making its presence felt but what is it, how will it benefit us and what will the future look like with the explosion of IOT capabilities? Dr. Scott Hollier unpacks these as we talk through the main issues of an IOT world.
Have a question, comment or query for Dr. Scott? Comment below or email us at kenneth.phua@visability.com.au, and he’ll get back to you in the final episode!
Guest: Dr. Scott Hollier
Host: Kenneth Phua
Editor: Matthew Clark
Episode two of All Things Digital, All Things Accessible with expert Dr. Scott Hollier.
In the second instalment Dr. Scott Hollier chats about what’s important to know when it comes to internet security for a person who has low vision or who is blind. The conversation also addresses the question of privacy protection and the considerations we need to factor in when making decisions on accepting the terms and conditions of a device or even a mobile app.
Have a question, comment or query for Dr. Scott? Comment below or email us at kenneth.phua@visability.com.au, and he’ll get back to you in the final episode!
Guest: Dr. Scott Hollier
Host: Kenneth Phua
Editor: Matthew Clark
Wondering what’s out there in the digital and tech space for people with disability? Listen now to episode one of All Things Digital, All Things Accessible! Ask expert Dr. Scott Hollier how you can benefit from home gadgets, safe internet use, digitally augmented reality visual devices, wearable technology, driverless vehicles and much more! All Things Digital, All Things Accessible is a new six-part series on VisAbility Radio on Demand. Stay tuned for more episodes.
In the first episode Dr scott Hollier gives us a broad view of what digital devices are and why it’s vital that accessibility should be part of the conversation. VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth and Dr Scott talk about what accessibility is and how it benefits people with vision impairments plus some of the common misconceptions surrounding this subject.
If you have a question for Dr Scott, send us it via email to kenneth.phua@visability.com.au and he will address it in our final episode 6.
Host: Kenneth Phua Editor: Matthew Clark
Title: Hiding Place
Author: Dave Goddard
Narrator: Alan Needhan.
Genre: Australian Fiction
Note: Strong Language
Date Published: January 2017
URl -
- Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131544
- ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131667
Summary: "Here's some pidgin, Mick," and Garrick spoke rapidly. "Who been dat pella? Where him been prom? You been subby him? Him been talk punny way, ay? Him been kardiya bloke."What?" Mick shook his head quickly."I said, 'who is that man? Where is he from? Do you know him? Doesn't he talk in a strange way? He's a stranger in this place'." It's 2017. Mick Wilson's wife has taken off from Adelaide with a long-haul truck-driver and Mick's two little kids. In an attempt to find his family, Mick, a brick-layer and former top-level Australian Rules footballer, blindly heads for Alice Springs. In Central Australia, where many people go to hide from their past, Mick finds a different and challenging world. He stumbles into work on a remote cattle station, with an Aboriginal community close by. He also finds three very different women who shape his destiny. Racial tensions, tangled personal relationships, a mysterious mountain range and a struggling Aboriginal community and football team force Mick to become part of a strange new world and way of being. Across a cultural divide, new understandings emerge in the most unlikely ways. Through it all, Mick searches and aches for his kids, but because of the people he comes to know, he's never alone.
Title: The Wiluna Solution
Author: Dave Goddard
Narrator: Elwyn Edwards
Genre: Detective and Mystery fiction, Suspense fiction, Crime stories.
Date Published: August 2016
URl -
- Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130815
- ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130818
Summary: Who is Jessie Croft? Why has she disappeared from Wiluna? What is the mystery behind the mesmerising eyes? In seeking answers, Kalgoorlie Detective Superintendent Greg Johnson finds himself in Wiluna in the 1930s, which threatens his way of life and the lives of his three daughters and grandchildren. He learns a great deal about Wiluna: its significance as a gold-mining and cattle centre, as the railhead for the Canning Stock Route, and as a site for competing Aboriginal and European histories And he comes to understand that love, and caring for people and justice, can transcend extraordinary boundaries.
Title: A History of the Beanbag: and other stories Author: Susan Midalia Narrator: Tracey Parker & Jim Limerick Genre: Short stories, Australian fiction. Date published: October 2015
URl: • Daisy 2.02:http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/129253 • ePub3:http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131960
Summary: "A History of the Beanbag and other stories" is the latest title in UWA Press' acclaimed "New Writing" series-This is a short story collection with a difference - a scenic tour of the surprises, secrets and fears lurking beneath the cracked veneer of domesticity and suburban complacency. With photographic precision, author Susan Midalia captures the fleeting beauty, light and darkness to be found in the ephemera of everyday life. Like the beanbag of the title, the stories are an invitation to settle yourself in for a reading experience by turns vivid, haunting, bizarre and strangely comforting.
Title: The Apple Core Wars
Author: Linda J Bettenay
Narrator: Elwyn Edwards.
Genre: War Stories, Historical Fiction, Australian Fiction
Date Published: May 2017
URl -
- Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131424
- ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131925
Summary: From the fertile fruit growing Perth hills to a World War II prison camp - this is a saga of two men battling for survival. Entwined in the battle is hatred, then mateship as they fight for their
lives and compete for the heart of their one true love. ‘The Apple Core Wars’, Linda J Bettenay’s third book, tells the story of Jacky Bellamy, Charlie Parkin and the beautiful Stella Cerini. Jacky is a wild boy from Karragullen, Stella a nurse who defies convention and Charlie an outsider from the enemy territory of Roleystone and rival for Stella’s attention. The normal hurly-burly of their early lives is contrasted against the bleak backdrop of Camp Fukuoka 14 in Nagasaki, Japan. Despite the awkward love triangle, a surprising friendship emerges when Jacky and Charlie are thrown together as prisoners of war.
Their lives are further challenged by an atomic bomb and a shocking family secret. The war ends and those who survive return home to an uncertain future.
Jonathan Mills, affectionately known as JohnO, shares his journey from the perspective of a man who loses his 20/20 vision as a young lad to his current positive outlook of life. JohnO works hard, plays hard and best of all, he’s a joy to be with.
Title: Secrets Mothers Keep Author: Linda J Bettenay Narrator: Jim Malcolm Genre: Detective and Mystery mystery, Crime stories, Australian Fiction Note: Sexual Content, Graphic Violence Date Published: September 2016
URl - • Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130157 • ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130881
Summary: A brutal murder occurs on an isolated farm in the 1920's in Western Australia and the victim's wife and children are violently abused, scandalising the whole country. The killer has no apparent motivation but admits his guilt and the abused wife has to rebuild her shattered life. Secrets Mothers Keep traces how three lives are entwined. A young English boy with learning difficulties and the precursors of mental illness, learns to cope with his 'black moods' and poor social skills. He faces numerous challenges and finds support and strategies that enable him to survive. Finally an event makes him crack.
Title: Wishes for Starlight Author: Linda J Bettenay Narrator: Jim Limerick. Genre: Historical fiction, Australian fiction. Note: Sexual Content, Graphic Content, Strong Language Date Published: February 2016 URl -
- Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130008
- ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131086
Summary: How does a deaf, orphaned, Noongar boy survive during the implementation of the draconian 1905 Aborigines Act? By having powerful and caring friends.' Starlight is born in 1889 in the thriving timber town of Canning Mills, Western Australia. He is discovered in a chicken coop living with dogs. The three white children who find him are remarkable: headstrong Mary who was born into a dysfunctional family, the Italian immigrant Marco and fun loving Arthur. Gradually change arrives in their insulated lives; the friends confront reality - will their actions be enough to save those they love from harm?
Set largely in Western Australia, 'Wishes for Starlight' is a novel where friendship and loyalty are pitted against prejudice and disadvantage. It is a story about relationships, resilience and what equality and freedom really mean.
In 2013 VisAbility celebrated 100 years of life-changing service to the Western Australian community.
Beginning as the Ladies Braille Society in 1913, VisAbility has grown to deliver services to Western Australians who are blind or vision impaired in every corner of the State. In 1977 the Society joined with Guide Dogs for the Blind, the original founder of Guide Dogs in Australia in the 1950s. This is our story.
Listen here to the VisAbility Annual Review 2017 and enjoy the stories of the past year.
Dr. Fred Chen, a clinician scientist of the Lion’s Eye Institute spoke to VisAbility Radio at the recent Royal Australia and New Zealand Opthalmology Congress about the latest work surrounding the prevention and treatment of blindness. Dr Chen is part of a global team of scientists whose research holds much promise for people living with blindness and low vision. Listen to his interview here!
Our VisAbility Radio Host attended RANZCO 2017 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Kenneth Phua was lucky enough to find Dr Angus Turner, co-convener of the conference, with a spare moment to sit down and have a chat. Listen to the fascinating podcast now, as Dr Turner shares stories of his time on the Lions Eye Institute Outback Visions bus - as it travels huge stretches of Western Australian outback providing care for regional Aussies.
VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua caught up with VisAbility's Community Activity Centre Coordinator, Michael Pereira to discuss the importance of Personal Safety. Have a listen now!
VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua chats to Dr Scot Hollier, Digital Access Specialist, on the topic of 'Giving Back'.
The 2017 Abilities Expo's second session is in full swing! VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua sits down with Dean Blanchard, Founder and Director of Music Rocks Australia to hear his story and the social and personal opportunity music provides to young people. Music Rocks Australia allows people of all abilities to engage and enjoy music, as well as develop their talent. Attendees of the Abilities Expo were lucky enough to enjoy two performances from Music Rocks Australia. Listen to Dean's interview now!
While the 2017 Abilities Expo is under way, VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua managed to catch up with Jacqui Jones, Workplace Transition Coordinator from Warnbro CHS Education Support Centre. Jacqui assists middle school and high school students living with intellectual disabilities. The Middle school (Year 7,8,9) program assists the students in integrating with a whole range of mainstream classes, and the high school (Year 10,11,12 and 13) program focuses on getting them work-ready, acquiring skills to leave school and join the workforce. Hear in more detail, the fantastic work that Jacqui does in this podcast now!
VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua interviews Kate Keisler, an Occupational Therapist and Director from Calm and Connected. Calm and Connected is an organisation that supports young people with anxiety, stress, social skills in the community, empowering them to engage with school, social events and the family. Have a listen now!
Amongst the excitement of the Abilities Expo 2017, Kenneth Phua chats with Cahoots CEO, Jess Karlson. Previously known as Kids Camps, Cahoots evolved to meet the needs of children living with disability here in WA. Cahoots is all about fun and support, developing camps for children of all ages to foster life and social skills.
VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua sits down with Frank Schaler, Operations Manger of Life Without Barriers. Life Without Barriers started in 1995, supporting the needs of the Newcastle community. They also provide support for those people living with disability throught the Australian immigration system.
VisAbility Host Kenneth Phua managed to catch up with Fiona Hood, Manager of the Eastern Region at Saint Jude's Disabilities Services at the Abilities Expo 2017. Fiona gives us background on the family run organisation that is Saint Jude's. They've been around for 35 years!
To kick the morning session of the Abilities Expo off, VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua catches up with Dr Marita Faulkmer. Marita is a researcher at the Autism Research Group at Curtin University. Kenneth discusses the new research project underway and the aims of the study to help students plan for leaving school, and a brand new online program.
VisAbility Radio Host Kenneth Phua interviews Paul Jones, the Chairperson of the annual Abilities Expo 2017. They chat all about the upcoming Expo, its significance to the WA community and its mission to empower young individuals with disability. The Abilities Expo is held on the 19th September at the Crown Perth Grand Ballroom. For more information, please visit the Department of Communities, Disability Services website.
Tune in to Career Practitioner Marion Haas as she shares with you how to polish those interview technqiues and give yourself the best chance at scoring the job you want.
Tune in to Career Practitioner Marion Haas as she shares tips on how to master the art of writing application letters.
Tune in to Career Practitioner Marion Haas as she shares tips on how to write a great resume that will help you get an interview for the job you really want.
The people of Cedar Cove know how to celebrate Christmas. Like Grace and Olivia and everyone else, Beth Morehouse expects this Christmas to be one of her best. Her small Christmas-tree farm is prospering, her daughters and her dogs are happy and well, and her new relationship with local vet Ted Reynolds is showing plenty of romantic promise. But, someone recently left a basket filled with puppies on her doorstep, puppies she's determined to place in good homes. That's complication number one. And number two is that her daughters Bailey and Sophie have invited their dad, Beth's ex-husband, Kent, to Cedar Cove for Christmas. The girls have visions of a mom-and-dad reunion dancing in their heads. As always in life, and in Cedar Cove, there are surprises. More than one family's going to have a puppy under the tree. More than one scheme will go awry. And more than one romance will have a happy ending!
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130659 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130721
Narrator:Sandra Burr Genre: Romance
Thirty-three-year-old Cassie wants a husband and kids, and she turns to Simon Dodson, a professional matchmaker for help. Dodson assigns her three tasks to complete, and despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie completes them all. Her Christmas match turns out to be a wonderful surprise.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130097 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130098
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert Genre: Romance
Disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon must get from Washington to Los Angeles in time for Christmas. Forced to take the train across the country because of a slight "misunderstanding" at airport security, he begins a journey of self-discovery and rude awakenings, mysterious goings-on and thrilling adventures, screwball escapades and holiday magic. He has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart, as he rediscovers people's essential goodness and someone very special he believed he had lost. Equal parts hilarious, poignant, suspenseful, and thrilling, David Baldacci's The Christmas Train is a delightful journey filled with memorable characters who have packed their bags with as much wisdom as mischief, and a story that shows how we do get second chances to fulfill our deepest hopes and dreams, especially during the season of miracles.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130275 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130276
Narrator: Tim Matheson Genre: Adventure Stories
Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip Christmas and set sail on a Carribean cruise. But, as this weary couple are about to discover, skipping Christmas brings enormous consequences - and it isn't half as easy as they'd imagined.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/69818
Narrator: Joy Bresser Genre: Humorous Fiction
Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas, and refuses to accept that it is a time for peace and goodwill to all men. One Christmas Eve, however, he receives a visit from the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley. Marley's ghost tells Scrooge of three other spirits who will come to haunt him that night, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. As the spirits send him dark visions of what his future may hold, will their warnings be enough to make Scrooge see the error of his way, and mend them?
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/129313 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/129314
Narrator: Miriam Margolyes. Genre: Juvenile fiction, Historical fiction
Lord Percy Hunterdon despaired - he had inherited a Gothic horror of an estate along with a pair of fifteen-year-old brats to marry off. It was no secret to him that finding husbands for these two vile young ladies would require the utmost expertise: the care of a governess of superior caliber. When Jean Morrison spied Lord Hunterdon's advertisement, dreams of an unmarried viscount and a magnificent castle danced in her head. She imagined him as Byronic and brooding, pacing the battlements with a black cloak wrapped around his manly shoulders. And naturally, he would fall madly in love with her. Her dreams immediately burst apart at the seams when she saw the dank, dirty Trelawney Castle and encountered for the first time the evil dispositions of her new charges. Still, despite all of this, the golden hair and dancing eyes of her employer conjured up fantasies that were most unseemly for a governess of distinction.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130371 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130372
Narrator: Charlotte Anne Dore. Genre: Romance
When English tycoon Sir Robert Waldo Hardwick dies mysteriously in a car accident, he leaves behind a note naming six people he suspects might have wanted him dead. Following Sir Robert's instructions, Daisy Keane and P.I. Harry Montana team up to take the suspects - and also six red herrings - on a fabulous Mediterranean cruise, all expenses paid. Calling at Monte Carlo, Saint-Tropez and Sorrento, they finally arrive at the beautiful Villa Belkiss on Capri, where Sir Robert's will is to be read... With unexpected twists, the mystery deepens and passions flare as an intense attraction develops between loner Montana and wary Daisy.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130377
Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie. Genre: Romance, Detective and Mystery fiction
In 13th Century England, Hastings of Trent is married off by her father to the brutish Severin of Langthorne, a knight who will know how to protect their property. The novel follows Hastings as she transforms Severin from a wife rapist to a friendly companion.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130875 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130876
Narrator: Anne Flosnik Genre: Romance
A self-anointed spinster at fifty-one, Myra Lipinski is reasonably content with her quiet life, her dog, Frank, and her career as a visiting nurse. But everything changes when Chip Reardon, the golden boy she adored in high school, is assigned as her new patient. Choosing to forgo treatment for an incurable illness, Chip has returned to his New England hometown to spend what time he has left. Now, Myra and Chip find themselves engaged in a poignant redefinition of roles, and a complicated dance of memory, ambivalence, and longing.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130138 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/E11531
Narrator: Elizabeth Berg. Genre: Romance
Maeve Binchy's bestselling novels not only tell wonderful stories, they also give an insight in to how Ireland has changed over the decades, but how people remain the same: they still fall in love, sometimes unsuitably; they still have hopes and dreams; they have deep, long-standing friendships, and some that fall apart. From her earliest writing to her most recent, Maeve's work has included wonderfully nostalgic pieces and also sharp, often witty writing which is insightful and topical. But at the heart of all Maeve's fiction are the people and their relationships with each other. A few of the girls is a glorious collection of the very best of her stories, full of the warmth, charm and humour that has always been an essential part of all of Maeve's writing.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130216 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130217
Narrator: Kate Binchy, Gordon Snell. Genre: Romance
The Reign of King Edward the Third is an Elizabethan play printed anonymously in 1596. It has frequently been claimed that it was at least partly written by William Shakespeare, a view that Shakespeare scholars have increasingly endorsed. The rest of the play was probably written by Thomas Kyd. The play contains many gibes at Scotland and the Scottish people, which has led some critics to think that it is the work that incited George Nicolson, Queen Elizabeth's agent in Edinburgh, to protest against the portrayal of Scots on the London stage in a 1598 letter to William Cecil, Lord Burghley. This would explain why the play was not included in the First Folio of Shakespeare's works, which was published after the Scottish King James had succeeded to the English throne in 1603. The plot of the play consists of two distinct parts. The first is centred on the Countess of Salisbury (the wife of the Earl of Salisbury), who, beset by rampaging Scots, is rescued by King Edward III, who then proceeds to woo her himself. In the second part of the play, in several scenes reminiscent of Henry V, Edward joins his army in France, fighting a war to claim the French throne.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/117522
Narrator: Cast Genre: Drama and Plays
Tragedy written 1605 and concerns the character Lear, his daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia, Lear's faithful servant Kent, and Edmund, the evil bastard son of Gloucester.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/36248
Narrator: Cast Genre: Drama and Plays
What if the fairies and star-crossed lovers of the forest had smartphones? A classic is reborn in this fun and funny adaptation of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays! Four lovers who can't decide who they have a crush on. One mischievous fairy with a love potion. Total chaos in the fairy world, the human world, and everywhere in between!
The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylock and the famous 'Hath not a Jew eyes' speech. Also notable is Portia's speech about the 'quality of mercy'.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/115219
Narrator: Cast Genre: Drama and Plays
Ellie Kendrick, a truly youthful Juliet, and Adetomiwa Edun, a boyish Romeo, head an excellent cast whose period costumes point to the timelessness of parental disapproval, adolescent temperament, rivalry and violence. Filmed before a live audience at Shakespeare's Globe in the heart of London, its intimate and atmospheric setting adds immediacy and vitality to the humour and passion of Shakespeare's verse
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/1848
Narrator: Cast Genre: Drama and Plays
Nancy Drew investigates some suspicious accidents at a friend's newly-purchased inn and uncovers a clever gang of robbers involved in the theft of government property.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/114636
Narrator: Unknown Genre: Mystery Fiction
Poirot is aboard a snowbound train when a passenger is found murdered.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/129368
Narrator: John Moffat & full cast Genre: Mystery Fiction
Makedde Vanderwall is a psycho-magnet. A woman who has a habit of attracting the wrong kind of man. She's a single, Canadian, street-smart daughter of a cop, an alluring Venus who works in the lucrative world of modelling while studying forensic psychology. When Mak travels to Sydney on assignment and discovers her best friend brutally murdered, she unwittingly opens a Pandora's Box of suspicious photographers, hired thugs and mysterious lovers. She also encounters Andy Flynn, the handsome, cloyed detective investigating the Stiletto Murders - the most violent signature killings Australia has ever known. In her quest to uncover the truth behind her friend's death, Mak falls headlong into a deadly game of cat and mouse, unaware she has become the obsession of a sadistic psychopath. She is driven into a corner, an evil place where she must suspect everyone and everything.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/115796
Narrator: Tara Moss Genre: Mystery Fiction
Thanks to a heart transplant, former FBI agent Terry McCaleb is enjoying retirement. But when a beautiful woman called Graciela Rivers comes visiting his dock McCaleb learns that the heart beating in his chest belonged to her sister, who was murdered.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130581 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130790
Narrator: Dick Hill Genre: Mystery Fiction
Traditionally, the canon of Sherlock Holmes consists of the 56 short stories and 4 novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Holmes fans appear to have been the first group to use the term "canon" in this way, distinguishing between Doyle's original works and subsequent works by other authors using the same characters.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/115684
Narrator: John Telfer Genre: Mystery Fiction
A tale of court intrigues in the land of Seven Kingdoms, a country "blessed by golden summers that go on for years, and cursed by cruel winters that can last a generation." Treachery, murder, incest.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/128525 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131144
Narrator: Roy Dotrice Genre: Fantasy fiction
Not since C.S. Lewis have we seen such enthralling fantasy tales for younger readers - the Little Fur books are destined to become classics of their genre. Extraordinary writing, captivating characters, enchanting stories - these books are examples of the highest quality literature for children anyone can imagine, an immense achievement from the master of the genre. Stories with universal, global appeal. They will captivate readers all over the world with their timeless, fairytale feel. Written and read by Australia's most highly acclaimed writer of fantasy for young people. Book 2 in the Legend of Little Fur series of stories full of magic and wonder, of unforgettable characters and exciting adventures. "Little Fur is an endearing little creature ... the novel reads as a gentle fable that children from eight to 10 will enjoy.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130329 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130330
Narrator:Isobelle Carmody Genre: Fantasy fiction
There was a show of shooting stars when harry Potter was born - weathermen all over our world were amazed. But in the other world, the Ministry of Magic wasn't surprised at all, for Harry Potter was to be one of the finest and most famous wizards.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/83777
Narrator: Stephen Fry Genre: Fantasy fiction
This newly revised and expanded edition of the Gunslinger is the first book in the epic Dark Tower series. In his first step towards the powerful and mysterious Dark Tower, Roland encounters an alluring woman named Alice, begins a friendship with Jake, a kid from New York, and faces an agonising choice between damnation and salvation as he pursues the Man in Black.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/86613
Narrator:Bob Shannon Genre: Fantasy fiction
Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power – the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring – the ring that rules them all – which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as the Ring is entrusted to his care. He must leave his home and make a perilous journey across the realms of Middle-earth to the Crack of Doom, deep inside the territories of the Dark Lord. There he must destroy the Ring forever and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/115672
Narrator: Robert Inglis Genre: Fantasy fiction
Daphne Lethbridge is bright, romantic and vivacious. The First World War has ravaged Europe, but it has done nothing to daunt her spirit. Her enjoyment. though, is soured by her cynical contemporary, Virginia Denniston, who spars with Daphne on every occasion. Beneath their surface civility seethes a deep enmity but, when Daphne realises the bitter truth of her marriage, it takes a chance encounter for her disillusionment to give way to an understanding of a woman's destiny.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131009 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/131010
Narrator: Clare Higgins. Genre: Domestic fiction
After having a child together, John and Irene divorce. Years later, when an unthinkable crisis occurs, the two learn things about their deepest feelings that surprise them both.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130675 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130907
Narrator:Gabrielle de Cuir. Genre: Domestic fiction
Josephine Alibrandi is seventeen, illegitimate, and in her final year at a wealthy Catholic school. This is the year her father comes back into her life, the year she falls in love, and the year she discovers the secrets of her family's past.
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/60487
Narrator:Rebecca Macauley. Genre: Domestic fiction
As heard on BBC radio 4 book at bedtime winner of the Irish book awards novel of the year 2014 shortlisted for the costa first novel award 2014.Tess Lohan appears to be a quiet child. But within lies a heart of fire. A fire that will propel her from her native Ireland into the hurly-burly of 1960s New York. In this city she will face the twists of a life graced with great beauty, but forever floating close to hazard. Joyous and heart-breaking, Academy Street journeys through six decades and one incredible story.
DAisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130822 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130827
Narrator:Melanie McHugh Genre: Domestic fiction
1945 - the war in Europe is over, most women can't wait for their men to return, but in the small town of Rivenshaw in Lancashire, Judith Crossley fears having her husband back in the house. He'd grown into a bully and a drunkard, and on the occasions he'd come home from leave, he'd hit her. He wasn't a good father either - when their eldest daughter Kitty won a prestigious scholarship to the private girls' grammar school, Doug had tried to stop her going, saying it would turn her into a snob. Luckily Judith had help from an unlikely ally - Maynard Esher, from an old aristocratic family on the other side of town - but Judith knows that when her husband returns, she'll be blamed for letting Kitty take up her school place. She decides that for the children's sake, she must leave her husband. But with the house rented in his name, and other accommodation scarce, where on earth can they go? Alice Bretherton is returning from being a Land Girl in Wiltshire. Her great-aunt has left her a house bordering the park in Rivenshaw, but it was partly bombed and is in a poor condition. Still, she decides to camp out in it, if it's at all habitable, because she has nowhere else to go. However, when she arrives, she finds a displaced Polish man is already living there . . .
Daisy 2.02: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/129337 ePub3: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/129339
Narrator:Julia Franklin Genre: Domestic fiction
This year we have been brave. As an organisation, we have chosen to champion what we believe in. Our values. Our purpose. Why we exist. We have a vision for independence. We are here to empower. To enable. To engage. Join us on our journey.
It makes sense to financially prepare for your future. It is potentially a future of uncertainty, so it is important to be in control of your destiny as much as possible. Join Tony Hagan for Episode One of Funding Forever - a regular discussion about what drives us as humans to give to others, and what we find meaningful about contributing to a better future.
This story, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer among the Indians, is the first new book with Mark Twain's name on it in nearly a hundred years, with readers saying they can't tell where Twain stops and Nelson begins: a story of adventure, wit and wisdom with Tom and Huck seeking true love while tramping through hostile Indian country, befriending Bill Hickman and Porter Rockwell, stealing from the United States Army, then on to face a gunfight and hangman's noose in Sacramento, California.
DAISY: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/127452 ePub: http://visabilitylibrary.com.au/entry/130954
Narrator: Grover Gardner. Genre: Adventure fiction