Performers at Osaka's Big Stage - Deafblind International

Country Newsl $1.04 billion in payments to States andTerritories through the National DisabilityAgreementGovernment in its press releasesacknowledged that there is still much more tobe done in disability, but that more support ison the way. The National Disability Strategy,to be released before the end of the year, isaimed at removing more of the barriers thatare still faced by people with disability.Government Review of Funding forSchools.In April this year, the former Minister forEducation, now Prime Minister Julia Gillard,announced that a review of school fundingarrangements will commence in 2010 andconclude in 2011. This is the first time since1973 that funding arrangements for allschools will be reviewed. The review intendsto draw on the best available evidence fromAustralia and around the world. Its aim is tobe fair and transparent and not advantageone system over another. All Australians withan interest in school funding, and particularlyto funding for students with disabilities, willbe given the opportunity to contribute andbuild the strongest possible platform forlong-term investment and improvementsin educational outcomes beyond 2012. Thereview will examine all funding to all schools.Government intends that its process will betransparent, open and consultative.Improved Accessibility in CinemasAustralians who are blind or vision impairedand people with deafness or hearingimpairment will be able to enjoy improvedaccess to cinemas thanks to a landmarkagreement to provide captioning andaudio description services in Australia.The Australian Human Rights Commissionannounced on 17 July that agreement hadbeen reached between representatives fromthe disability sector and major cinema chains.By 2014, Hoyts, Village Cinemas, EventCinemas and Reading International haveagreed to provide captioning and audiodescription at every session in each of the 132cinema complexes they operate throughoutAustralia and in multiple screens in the largercomplexes – where currently only 12 screensprovide captioning at three sessions perweek, nationwide.Connecting Up Australia (operators of theDonorTec program) are joining forces withthe Community’s ‘Communities in Control’conference to host a blockbuster non-profitevent week in Melbourne. ‘Communities inControl’ will be held on 30 to 31 May 2011and be immediately followed at the samevenue by ‘Connecting Up 2011’ on June 1and 2. For more information please see http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/Tax Help for People with Blindnessor Vision ImpairmentVision Australia has joined with theAustralian Taxation Office in a key initiativeto provide trained volunteers to help peoplewith blindness or vision impairment completestraightforward tax affairs. Services areavailable through Vision Australia offices inNSW, Victoria and Queensland. The Tax Officealso provides free audio CD, e-text, Braille andlarge print versions of the TaxPack every year.E-tax online is also now available for peoplewho prefer to lodge their tax online. Moreinformation available at: http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/pathway.asp?pc=001/002/014Testing the Safety of HybridVehiclesGuide Dogs Queensland is helping the RACQueensland to test the safety issues of hybridvehicles for people with sensory disabilities.It is a matter of critical concern that peoplewith blindness or vision impairment maybe placed at risk when crossing roads dueto the fact that hybrid vehicles are quieterthan vehicles with petrol or diesel engines.For more information please see: http://www.guidedogsqld.com.au/page/About_Us/News_and_Events/Guide_Dogs_Queensland_News_and_Events/Guide_Dogs_Queensland_welcomes_study_on_safety_of_hybrid_cars_-_20_May_2010/The Australian Childhood VisionImpairment RegisterThe Australian Childhood Vision ImpairmentRegister is sponsored by the Royal Institutefor Deaf and Blind Children, in partnershipwith children, families, teachers, healthprofessionals and low vision serviceAustraliacontinuedJan u a r y – Ju n e 2011 • DbI Review • 29