Performers at Osaka's Big Stage - Deafblind International

Subhead Country News hereAustraliaMike SteerNational DeafBlind Conference2010 & Deafness Sector Summit2010Reports for both these events are availableon the Australian Deaf-Blind Council’s (ADBC)website at http://www.deafblind.org.au/reports.aspProductivity Commission-Inquiryinto Disability Care & SupportADBC’s Committee Working Group wrotea submission for this Inquiry that wassubmitted at the beginning of June. It isavailable at http://www.deafblind.org.au/reports.asp. ADBC President Sven Toppappeared at a Productivity CommissionHearing on 21July 2010 in Sydney.Senate Inquiry on Hearing HealthADBC is pleased to announce that one ofthe recommendations it strongly supported,i.e. the funding of speech processorreplacements in cochlear implant for adults,is a recommendation that the Inquiry hasproposed to the Federal Government. It ishoped that the government will take up thechallenge and adopt the recommendation aspolicy.Let’s ConnectTraining sessions for people withdeafblindness, and professionals workingwith people with deafblindness were held inMay and June in Melbourne. They were wellattended and received positive feedback.These training sessions were held again inSydney in July and in Brisbane in Septemberand October.Deafblindness Training in WesternAustraliaSenses Foundation in Western Australiahosted a training event in May with Paul Hartand Megan Mann from Sense in the UK. Thetwo modules delivered were Dual SensoryImpairment 1 and Communication 1 from theaccredited Deafblind Studies course in the UK.Forty-five participants from across Australiaand New Zealand took part and the feedbackwas positive. Senses are currently exploringopportunities for future training events. Forfurther information contact elvira.edwards@senses.asn.auAustralian CommunicationsConsumer Action Network(ACCAN) – GrantAble Australia has been successful inreceiving a grant from ACCAN to researchthe telecommunications options currentlyavailable to deafblind Australians. Theproject titled “Research and practicaltelecommunication solutions for deafblindAustralians” will employ a research officer tosurvey deafblind people about the differenttypes of telecommunication devices theyuse i.e. TTY, MSN, fax etc. The new researchproject will also develop a website to displaythe different types of telecommunicationdevices that are currently available todeafblind people. The new project willbegin in August and will take place over a 6month period. For more information pleasecontact Emely McCord at emely.mccord@ableaustralia.org.auDay on the BayAble Australia’s day on the bay is planned togo ahead in either November or Decemberthis year. With a wide variety of boating andother activities on offer on that day, it is theperfect opportunity for deafblind peopleto come along and try something new. Thedate is pending. For more information pleasecontact Emely McCord at emely.mccord@ableaustralia.org.auAustralian Federal BudgetThe 2010-11 Commonwealth budget containsa number of measures aimed at Australianswith disabilities, including those who aredeafblind. These measures totalled more thanA$20 billion, and include:l $12.9 billion on the national DisabilitySupport Pensionl $5.1 billion on payments to carers (majorityto carers of people with disability)l $310 million on Australian DisabilityEnterprisesl $14 million on young carersl $1.2 billion on improved DisabilityEmployment Services28 • DbI Review • Jan u a r y – Ju n e 2011