Saturday 4th January is World Braille Day.
Braille has allowed the blind and visually impaired individuals in our society, independent access to reading materials that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to enjoy.
What is it?
World Braille day is celebrated on the 4th January because it is Louis Braille’s birthday, the inventor of Braille. Louis Braille was a French man who lived from 1809 to 1852, the Braille systems was derived from a Napoleonic war era system of “night writing”, that allowed coded messages to be read in low light conditions. Braille simplified the systems to allow a blind person to read the code quickly. The English language version was developed by the early 20th Century. Braille is the system of touch reading and writing for blind persons, which uses raised dots represent the letters of the alphabet. Braille is read by moving your hand from left to right along the line. Reading of braille requires both hands and the index fingers generally do the reading. The average time for a braille reading is 125 words per minute.
Braille gives blind individuals the opportunity to access a wide range of reading materials, and important documents.
Why do we celebrate?
World Braille day is a reminder of how important it is for all individuals to have access to the same literacy material, whether they are blind, visually impaired or not. The United Nations deem literacy as a basic human right.
Celebrating this day helps bring awareness back to those who require braille, and how important it is that individuals are given this option from any business that produces a document, from a bank to a utility company. Many company’s do provide an alternative print for those people who are visually disabled, all you must do, is ask. Some people avoid asking as they feel like a burden, this shouldn’t be the case and documents should be provided free of charge.
How to learn Braille
If you would like to learn Braille then courses are provided through Vision Australia.
Courses in grade 1 and grade2 are offered through face to face sessions at the following locations in Victoria (Melbourne – Kensington), NSW (Sydney – Parramatta and Coffs Harbour) Courses are run throughout the year and can be done individually or in small groups. You would be required to attend for one or two hours, once or twice a week, depending on your requirements. For more information, please contact the Braille training team on 1300 847 666 or by emailing info@visionaustralia.org.
Local Community
Local community groups are a great way to meet people who are bling or have low vision. Vision Australia have many support groups in the Central Coast and Hunter regions.
Gosford Walkers
Date: Every Saturday at 8.45am for 9am walk
Location: Meet in front of Central Coast Leagues Club
Contact: Carol on phone 0478 420 326 or email carolbourne1944@gmail.com
The Saturday Lunch Club
Date: First Saturday of every second month, 12pm (January, March, May, July, September, November)
Location: The Gallipoli Legion Club, 3/5 Beaumont St, Hamilton
Contact: Bruce on email brucem58@hotmail.com or phone 0417 737 395
ConnectAbility have the facilities and amenities to help get you in touch with your local community. If travelling is a problem, we can assist in local transportation to get you out in your community and attending local events. ConnectAbility have trained staff who will be able to develop a program or systems to make life easier and how to help individuals to become as independent as possible. For more information you can visit the NDIS website or contact ConnectAbility to find out how they can help.
More group information can be found on their website.
Frequently Asked questions about the NDIS Price Guide
Q. When does the new Price Guide take affect?
- The updated NDIS Price Guide and Support Catalogue 2019-20 is effective from July 2019. The NDIA updates the Price Guide and Support Catalogue annually for 01 July implementation. On occasion, there are exceptional circumstances that warrant separate reviews and updates.
Q. Why does the NDIA conduct annual price control reviews?
- An important part of the NDIA’s role as market steward is ensuring the right balance between providers operating in a viable, competitive market and NDIS participants obtaining reasonable value for their money. This is in line with the NDIA’s purpose to improve economic and social outcomes for NDIS participants, while aspiring to facilitate a growing and competitive market with innovative supports for people with disability
Prices are updated to respond to market trends and changes in costs annually. The Annual Price Review is undertaken by the NDIS in the lead up to the new financial year, to identify price changes, any new prices are outlined in an updated price guide and support catalogue.
Q. Where can I find the current price limits?
- Current price limits are published on the Price guides and information page of the NDIS website.
Q. How will the latest changes affect service bookings?
- Existing service bookings will remain in place. Before any increase can be applied, providers will need to renegotiate prices with participants.
More information about service bookings from 1 July 2019 is available on the Provider Toolkit.
Q Why doesn’t the Price Guide and Support Catalogue list prices for all supports?
- Not all supports are subject to price controls. The NDIS Price Guide is to be used in conjunction with the NDIS Support Catalogue 2019–20 which has a comprehensive list of support line items and price limits, and where they apply. See the Price guides and information page on the NDIS website.
For more information about NDIS frequently asked questions visit: https://providertoolkit.ndis.gov.au/frequently-asked-questions
