Blind Citizens Australia

In this week's program we speak with Vice President of Blind Citizens Australia, Helen Frerris. Helen describes some of the opportunities for members to connect and gain peer support, some of the activities with which BCA is involved and we discuss some of the portfolios held by Board members.

Jonathan Craig is the policy advisor with Vision 2020 Australia. He provides us with an excellent overview of the recently released NDIS Review Report, and some essential information for people over 65, and those outside the NDIS.

In this slightly extended episode, we note the passing of Dr. Kevin Murfitt AM, who died earlier this month. John Simpson speaks with Kevin's husband, Francois Jacobs, as well as Bill Jolley and Graeme Innes, about many aspects of Kevin, his work and life. Thanks to John Simpson for putting this program together, and to Francois, Bill and Graeme.

This week we're joined by Fiona Woods, president of Blind Citizens Australia. Fiona takes us through some of her highlights for the year, and outlines the results of the Annual General Meeting held on the 14th of December.

This week we speak with Santiago Velasquez about Hailo, an interesting new way to access public transport. Imagine if you could not only identify your correct bus, but know when the bus is coming, easily identify where you want to get off and more. Hailo could well be the answer. For more information, see https://hailo.co

This week, we bring you an edited version of this year's Sue Salthouse Memorial Lecture, given by Emma Bennison, Chief Innovation Officer at Life Without Barriers and former CEO of Blind Citizens Australia. Emma discusses the times when she's almost given up disability advocacy and what kept her going. For the full version of this lecture, please see the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network website at https://www.accan.org.au, and our thanks go to ACCAN for allowing us the use of this material.

We go way back in the archives this week, to 2015, and episode 434. Jenny Dawson from WA presented this session at the BCA convention in Perth.

This week we speak with two new directors on the Board of Blind Citizens Australia, Neale Huth and Robyn McKenzie. Both will take up their positions following the Annual General Meeting of BCA, coming up in December. They discuss their backgrounds and what they bring to the table in terms of skills, experience and hopes for our organisation.

Shaun Scott discovered the Ketogenic diet in an effort to improve muscular-skeletal pain he was experiencing. After a month or so, he started to realise some additional and rather surprising benefits. If you would like more information about Shaun's story, his YouTube video can be found here. Find out more at https://new-horizons.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

# This week we bring you part two of the interview with Gillian Gale AM. This is a repeat program from 2018.

This week we go back to February 2018, bringing you the first in a two-part interview with Gillian Gale, who was honoured in the Australia Day Honours list for her services to Blind and Vision Impaired people that year.

Carly Iles is the CEO of Vision 2020 Australia. Find out more about tVision 2020 and an interesting report and guide designed to assist people who are Blind or Vision Impaired, as well as their friends and families, to access appropriate mental health assistance when needed.

Leisa Proud was recently awarded a residency under the Warehouse Residency for disabled artists and is currently performing her work at the Arts House in Melbourne. I Am (Not) This Body is Leisa's autobiographical work which explores coming to terms with her body and becoming comfortable in her skin. The performance is audio-described both live, and the online version, and runs until the 15th of October. It will also be conducted during the Melbourne Fringe and made available online from the 16th to the 22nd of October.

This week we follow up with BCA President, Fiona Woods. As well, along with a big announcement, a special guest. Hear about changes to the BCA constitution and how they will affect the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Blind Citizens Australia; as well as positions on the board and sub-committees becoming vacant, but arguably most importantly, we congratulate Deb Deshayes on becoming BCA's next CEO. Deb describes her background and her hopes for the role.

Helen Frerris is our guest this week on New Horizons. Helen describes her role as a delegate to the World Blind Union and discusses an upcoming conference to be held in Thailand. This interview was recorded some time ago and unfortunately the registration date for attending the conference has closed but please check the World Blind Union website for more information. Thanks to John Simpson for bringing us this week's feature interview. Find out more at https://new-horizons.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

This week we recognise and celebrate the achievements of Ben Clare who was awarded the David Blyth Award at last Saturday's BCA Policy Connect session. Ben has spent much of his working life teaching, advocating and working with people with disability in Pacific Island nations. Hear Ben's story and what the David Blyth Award means to him.

Jackson Reynolds Ryan joins us this week to talk about the BCA Connect happening this Saturday. If you want to understand more about BCA's policy environment, the work of the National Policy Council and see first-hand who the recipients of the Certificates of Appreciation, and the David Blyth award are, then register for BCA Connect. You can check the BCA website or contact the office for further information.

We are joined this week by Damian Griffis and Jeff McMullen to discuss the barriers to full and complete information about the upcoming referendum. They talk about the historical context, exactly what the changes might provide and how you can find out more information to make a full and informed decision.

Jeremy Moses is our guest this week, discussing his upcoming show as part of the Melbourne Fringe festival. Jeremy discusses his experiences as a comedian who is blind, and how he and other disabled comedians are improving disability awareness.

This week's guest is Sonali Marathe, president of the Round Table on Information Access for People with a Print Disability. She speaks with John Simpson about the organisation, some of its recent and current work and her hopes for the future of alternate and accessible format production.