April 13, 2017
Lyndel Wischer is an arts curator and the judge for submissions to Vision Australia’s 2018 large print calendar. She believes that art can enrich life and provide enjoyment for people not matter their circumstance.
Lyndel speaks with Stella about how people with a vision impairment can approach art for the first time and what type of painting or drawing might be suitable for the calendar.
Also on the program, David Dopel CEO of the film distribution company Demand Film discussing up-coming titles of interest to the blindness and low vision community.
April 6, 2017
This week, Stella chats to Paul Mugambi, a Kenyan student and activist who is in the third month of a two-year scholarship at Australia National University in Canberra. He speaks about what life is like in Kenya for a person is blind - where poverty, misunderstanding from the general public about what blindness is and a lack of basic human rights can take its toll.
Paul began his career in advocacy and policy by chance after a university professor complained that his braille machine was too noisy. Paul spoke up and has never looked back.
He is proud of all of his affirmative action achievements but thinks his greatest legacy is establishing the first sports and activity club for students with disability. Until that time, students with disability were excluded from all sports and activities.
Also on the program, Michael Simpson, General Manager of Client Services at Vision Australia, discusses the upcoming print disability review and how you can get involved.
March 29, 2017
Stella speaks with Chris Edwards manager of Inclusion at Vision Australia about the new Careers in Focus initiative, a Linkedin group designed to bring together people who are blind or have low vision to assist and mentor each other on how to take that next step in their career.
Also on the program, Quality Living coordinator Cameron Algie highlights some of the positive transformation stories he has encountered within the groups and Frances Keyland brings us another Reader Recommended.
March 23, 2017
It's technology and young people on this week's Talking Vision.
David Woodbridge joins the show to explain Vision Australia's Adaptive Technology Help Desk, while Jack Missen from radio network SYN discusses the issues facing Australia’s young people in the lead up to National Youth Week, 31 March – 9 April.
March 16, 2017
The Australian Network on Disability (AND) is a national, membership based organisation that supports organisations to advance the inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of business.
It recently held its quarterly member forum and Vildana Praljak and Kate Begley from Vision Australia’s Advocacy and Engagement team attended. They report back on the discussions and presentations that took place and the relevancy to the blindness and low vision community.
Also on the program, Jamie Kelly from Vision Australia’s library service discusses the many ways people can access the wealth of reading material from the library.
March 7, 2017
Talking Vision celebrates and International Women’s Day, 8th March, a day that both celebrates women’s achievements and highlights ongoing concerns and the discrimination women face.
Composer and Songwriter Donna Dyson was awarded APRA ASA Songwriter of the year (2016) for her song Spirit of Australia (co-written with Damien Leith). Donna began song writing only three years ago after losing her vision through a stroke. She talks with Stella about her song writing process and the excitement of winning this most prestigious award.
Also on the program, Beth Tonnisen is a member of Vision Australia’s Telelink Women’s Group. She talks about how she enjoys being part of the all-female monthly telephone support group whose members encourage and inspire each other by sharing ideas, knowledge and experiences.
And, France Keyland presents a specially themed Reader Recommended.
February 16, 2017
This week, Stella interviews Bryan Bashin, the CEO of The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, based in San Francisco.
Bryan tells Stella his compelling story about his early working life in journalism, “coming out of the closet” as a blind person, and the career path that led him to the top of The Lighthouse, northern California’s largest and most prominent agency for people with blindness and low vision.
He also discusses the blind-positive philosophy of The Lighthouse, and his hopes for the future of the blind and low vision community around the world.
Also on the program, Frances Keyland presents a special Reader Recommended for Library Lovers Day with a vignette on the joy and pleasure that a library can offer.
