AMC2010 - Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

!"#
$%&
Morning Workshops
“TACTILE MAPPING WORKSHOP”
Presented by:
Ben Schwarz, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT,
Karen Warwick & Adrian Mielke, O&M Instructors, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT.
Max: 30 participants.
Morning workshop 9am - 12.30pm
A tactile mapping workshop can enhance the participants’ confidence, spatial
awareness and ultimately their independent mobility. The Orange office of Guide
Dogs NSW/ACT have successfully conducted a number of three day Introduction to
Tactile Mapping Workshops designed to give clients the opportunity to
• Enhance their spatial awareness,
• Use the enhanced spatial awareness and map reading skills to enable those
who wish to embrace electronic wayfinding technology to receive maximum
benefit from their aid, and
• Provide the participants with the skills and confidence to use a tactile map to
navigate through unfamiliar environments
The tactile mapping workshop at the AMC2010 conference will offer instructors the
opportunity to develop similar workshops to be conducted in their own regions. The
workshop will outline the structure of the workshop, the resources required and how
to take a client from fully supervised travel in unfamiliar areas using a tactile map to
a solo in three days.
It is intended that the workshop will give the instructors the opportunity to:
• Explore a variety of materials which can be used as tactile maps
• Make their own maps using readily available material
• Learn the common symbols used in tactile mapping
• Develop confidence in the use of tactile maps
• Engage with professional made maps

• Develop an understanding of using the map (orienting the map with the
physical environment etc)
• Develop confidence in the way the workshop is structured (full instructor
support to solo in three days)
• Part of the workshop will be a sharing of ideas between participants -
Participants are strongly encouraged to bring tactile map making resources
that they are aware of or have used successfully.
“MINIGUIDE WORKSHOP” - for those without previous experience
in miniguide instruction.
Presented by: Jeremy Hill, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT.
MAX: 16 participants
Morning workshop 9am-12.30pm
Afternoon workshop 1.30pm - 5pm
A “hands-on” opportunity to learn about the electronic travel aid, the Miniguide,
which 10 years down the track has proven to be a reliable and versatile aid for a
large variety of clients. The workshop will include the client focused development of
the Miniguide, how it works, how to program it and practical use of the aid to travel
around different environments. The presentation will include examples of how the
Miniguide has been used to assist clients using long canes, wheeled walkers and
wheelchairs, stroke related vision loss, children and guide dog users. Each
participant will also be provided with an instructor’s training manual.
“TRICKS OF THE TRADE WORKSHOP”
Presented by: Ross Still, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
MAX: 15 active participants.
Morning Workshop 9am - 12.30pm
Afternoon workshop 1.30pm - 5pm
This workshop is a forum for the sharing of ideas. Present your innovative ideas and
learn great new ideas from others. Each participant must present at least two
(preferably three) special “Tricks of the Trade” which assist them in their role as
O&M or Guide Dog instructor. These might be techniques for teaching O&M or GD
handling skills, time management tricks, ways of structuring the working week,
techniques for evaluating client outcomes/programs, in fact any ideas or skills which
may be beneficial for other O&M or Guide Dog instructors.
Each participant will have ten minutes to present their ideas.

“MINIGUIDE WORKSHOP” - for those without previous experience
in miniguide instruction.
Presented by: Jeremy Hill, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT.
MAX: 16 participants
Morning workshop 9am-12.30pm
Afternoon workshop 1.30pm - 5pm
A “hands-on” opportunity to learn about the electronic travel aid, the Miniguide,
which 10 years down the track has proven to be a reliable and versatile aid for a
large variety of clients. The workshop will include the client focused development of
the Miniguide, how it works, how to program it and practical use of the aid to travel
around different environments. The presentation will include examples of how the
Miniguide has been used to assist clients using long canes, wheeled walkers and
wheelchairs, stroke related vision loss, children and guide dog users. Each
participant will also be provided with an instructor’s training manual.
“TRICKS OF THE TRADE WORKSHOP”
Presented by: Ross Still, Regional Manager, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
MAX: 15 active participants.
Morning Workshop 9am - 12.30pm
Afternoon workshop 1.30pm - 5pm
This workshop is a forum for the sharing of ideas. Present your innovative ideas and
learn great new ideas from others. Each participant must present at least two
(preferably three) special “Tricks of the Trade” which assist them in their role as
O&M or Guide Dog instructor. These might be techniques for teaching O&M or GD
handling skills, time management tricks, ways of structuring the working week,
techniques for evaluating client outcomes/programs, in fact any ideas or skills which
may be beneficial for other O&M or Guide Dog instructors.
Each participant will have ten minutes to present their ideas.
“ACCESS AND WAYFINDING FOR PEOPLE WITH IMPAIRED
VISION”
Presented by:
• Bashir Ebrahim OAM, Client Services Manager, Guide Dogs
Queensland
• Peter Skjott, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Guide Dogs
SA.NT

• Brian J Kidd, AM, LFRAIA, M.Arch, Past Chair of ACROD
Committee on Access and Mobility (1984-94)
• Mark Relf, Access Consultant and member of Standards
Australia ME-64 committee for the development of standards on
access
• Jane Bryce, Community Education Coordinator, Guide Dogs
NSW/ACT
Max: 100 participants
Afternoon Workshop 1:30pm to 5pm
This workshop will look at the various Standards and legislation associated with
access as well as unpacking the vast area of wayfinding for people with impaired
vision. Design features to improve accessibility for people with impaired vision will
also be covered.
“ACTIVE LEARNING WORKSHOP”
Presented by: Angela Harrison and Fiona Holmes, O&M
Instructors, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Max: 30 participants.
Afternoon Workshop 1.30pm - 5pm
Active Learning helps children form an understanding of the world around them.
The session aims to examine the needs of children who are not yet mobile and
those with multiple disabilities. This includes encouraging children to move and
explore their environment, enabling children to use their senses to learn about their
surroundings and the development of spatial awareness.
The session covers the main concepts of active learning, such as object selection,
practise and comparison, not interrupting a child when they are exploring something,
slowing down and increasing wait time and letting children have control over their
own hands. It also gives alternative strategies for presenting objects to a child and
ways to avoid being the “Good Fairy”. The session covers research by Dr Lilli
Nielsen and outlines different perceptualising aids that can be used when working
with young children.
Delegates are reminded that Workshops will incur an additional cost.
The price of the Workshops is on a cost recovery basis only, covering the
costs of venue hire, catering and resources required.
All presenters are unpaid volunteers, mostly peers working in the industry.