'Representing the Deafblind Community in Victoria'

Posts from the ‘Uncategorized’ category

Deafblind Tips 12 – travel water bottles

Hello, it’s Heather here with Deafblind Tips 12: travel water bottles.

In my experience using a water bottle with a screw-top lid, the lid can fall and roll away. This happens to me all the time! It happened recently on the train. Luckily, another passenger picked it up for me. This got me thinking, and I now use a rubber band to secure the lid to my wrist. I’ll show you.

[Heather holds up a travel water bottle, secures the rubber band to her wrist and unscrews the lid, which dangles safely from Heather’s wrist like a bracelet. She takes a sip of water, fastens the lid back on and releases the rubber band from around her wrist.]

Cheers! Much better now, saved by the rubber band. Phew!

  • By Heather Lawson.

DBV Cafe – Deafblind services in Norway

At DBV Café 19th April, guest speaker Eli Raanes talked about Deafblind support services and interpreting in Norway. Eli is an interpreter herself, and she is in Australia to research deafblind communication. In Norway, some things are different. There is one role for interpreting and guiding. Every Norwegian Sign Language interpreter is expected to be able to work with deafblind signers, including guiding, using tactile signs, visual frame, deafblind fingerspelling and haptics.

Access to community is good, with rails and tactile dots on the ground, but the ground can be covered in snow, slippery and mountainous, so guides are important for deafblind mobility. There is no NDIS – instead, the government funds services directly.

After Eli’s presentation and Q & A, there was an Easter hat competition, and we celebrated DBV member David Wise’s 70th Birthday. Happy Birthday David!

Click for photos

Member story – Robert & photography

Hello,

My name is Robert Lokmer .

I love taking photos! The bright LCD display on my camera makes it hard to see, so I changed the background to a black colour. I use the Zoom function to make the image closer. I’ll show you.

I enjoy taking photos at Deafblind Victoria activities, such as the DBV Café, craft group, and the recreation program.

I upload the photos to my computer and Facebook using the cloud.

Bye!

DBV Connect is supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Go to www.dss.gov.au for more information.  

Deafblind Victoria Special General Meeting (SGM)

Special Announcement to DBV Members.

The Deafblind Victoria committee wants DBV to register as a charity with the federal government. This can help us raise money, and donations to DBV will be tax deductible.
 
The government will agree to register DBV as a charity with tax deductible donations, only if we make two small changes to our DBV rules or “constitution”. To change our constitution, the members must be asked to vote yes or no. There will be a short meeting to vote on this at DBV café in May. You are invited! We will explain in Auslan at the meeting. Let me know if you have any questions. 

When​: May 17th., Time: 12:00pm 
 
Where​: 4th Floor meeting room Hayden Smith Meeting Room:  Interpreters provided.  This will be a short meeting. No other items will be raised.  
Agenda and Proxy voting form will be provided nearer to the meeting date.  

Click for proposed changes to the constitution

Deafblind World workshop for Auslan Community

CONNECT WITH THE DEAFBLIND COMMUNITY

Deafblind Victoria presents a training workshop, run by people who are deafblind to raise awareness for the Auslan community in Victoria, including Deaf, hearing, CODAs and Auslan students.

Topics include: integrating activities, deafblind communication, technology, barriers & access, demonstration of guiding and more.

When: Saturday, 22nd April 2023.

Time: 10am to 1pm (arrive at 9:45am for registration & payment).

Morning tea provided.

Where: Level 4, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Limit: 30 participants

RSVP: deafblindworld@gmail.com by Thursday, 13th April. Please include your communication preferences in your RSVP.

Auslan Interpreters provided.

Cost: $25 full price, $15 concession. Pay on the day with cash or bank transfer.

Any questions? Please feel free to email us on deafblindworld@gmail.com.

Video above has the workshop information in Auslan. In the video, Heather is a deafblind woman with brown/grey shoulder length hair, blue eyes and a fringe. She is wearing a mauve V-neck t-shirt, sitting in front of a charcoal grey wall.

LendLease – Deafblind World

On the 25th of May, staff from Lendlease attended a Deafblind World workshop. LendLease is a construction company involved in the Metro tunnel project near Ross House, where DBV is located. Steven Weir from LendLease arranged for some of their staff to come and learn about deafblind accessibility in building design, and when projects are under construction. He said the LendLease team found the workshop brilliant and “full of great ways we can improve our places and spaces to help to provide a better experience for those who are DeafBlind”. Thanks Steven! We really appreciate you taking the time to work with us.

Click for photo gallery

Craft group – card making and beanie making

Kathy and Rodney learn to make beanies

On Wednesday 13th of April, DBV had our monthly craft activity day. DBV members Debbie and Kathy taught the group how to make beautiful art cards.

We also had art therapist Kim visiting from Camberwell Community Centre to show the group how to knit their own beanies.

Enjoy the gallery of photos below. We look forward to seeing you all at the next DBV craft day on May 11th when DBV visit ArtVo.

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Craft group – Southbank and National Gallery

DBV members Richard and Debbie with communication guides, engaging with Aboriginal art at NGV.

On the 9th of March, 13 Deafblind Victoria members attended our monthly craft group activity.

We took a trip to Southbank for lunch, followed by a trip to the National Gallery of Victoria to explore their Exhibition called “Marking Time: Indigenous Art”.

Enjoy the photos taken by DBV members on the day.

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DBV Xmas party

On the 1st of December, Deafblind Victoria held a Xmas party at the Richmond Rowing Club in Melbourne CBD.

24 DBV members celebrated with commguides, volunteers and interpreters; 58 people in total.

There were dress-ups with Santa Claus and his little helper making a guest appearance by Daryl Harrison and Sharon. Presents were handed out by Trudy and Paola. Speeches, raffle door prizes and pizza lunch were also provided.

DBV wishes to thank everyone for joining us to celebrate Xmas! Enjoy the photos.

The Deafblind Community – Growing Together project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Go to www.dss.gov.au for more information.