Focal Point on Vison Australia Radio

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On FOCAL POINT: 

• Casey Hyde: Author of The Naughtiest Guide Dog: The Hungriest Guide Dog, sharing the story behind her book, using AI for accessibility, and launching a charity for retired guide dogs.

• Robert Simms: Leader of the Greens in the South Australian Upper House, discussing proposed legislation around smart glasses and changes to the NDIS.

• Mira Kim (CEO of the Béla Music Foundation) and Helen Shapiro (Artistic Director) discussing their international music competitions and initiatives for blind and visually impaired musicians - highlighting the 2026 competition details and the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall.

• Phil Vandepeer: Co-founder and co-presenter of Focal Point, sharing thoughts on the societal and legislative impacts of smart glasses on people with vision impairment.

Resources

• Béla Music Foundation: https://www.bellamf.org/ 

• Casey Hyde Contact: [email protected] (for book orders)

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On FOCAL POINT:

• Mark Gardiner (Founder & CEO, MPC Markets): Automated driving technology is rapidly evolving with extensive data collection from providers like Waymo, Tesla, and Uber.. 

• Philip Martin (Adelaide City Councillor) Acknowledges privacy and misuse concerns raised nationally (e.g., eSafety Commissioner reports), while emphasizing that smart glasses remain a vital tool for vision-impaired users. Banning them outright is not proposed; rather, finding balanced usage regulation is key.  Also has news and opinions on E-Scooters

• Andrew Lund & Samantha Bamford (Melbourne Airport) Major road and terminal layout changes take effect Tuesday, October 6.

• Emma J. Hawkins & Lisa Prout (Performers & Co-producers on "Exhibit") A 60-minute physical theatre and dance performance combining black humor and personal storytelling to explore societal perceptions of short-stature women. September 30 – October 4 at La Mama Courthouse (Melbourne Fringe Festival).  Audio Described & Auslan Interpreted Show: Saturday, October 3 at 7:30 PM.Tactile Tour: Saturday, October 3 at 6:30 PM (includes tactile access to handmade tapestries and unique costumes).

Resources

• Bookings for Exhibit: https://www.lamama.com.au/whats-on/melbourne-fringe-festival-2026/exhibit 

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On FOCAL POINT:

• 01:55 – Dr. Anne-Marie Witherow Medical doctor, researcher, and advocate for dual-sensory impairment. She discusses co-authoring a new Usher syndrome textbook designed for healthcare and social care professionals alongside Emma Boswell and Emily Shepherd, as well as recent NDIS town hall discussions regarding deafblindness.

• 16:25 – Rachael (Marketing Dept, Beyond Blindness) Shares updates from Beyond Blindness, including an upcoming disability employment workshop, a guided visit to the Australian Space Discovery Centre, and expanding local "pocket groups" across South Australia.

• 29:12 – Mark Grey (Chair, Vision Australia) Shares his personal journey with sudden vision loss and details Vision Australia’s advocacy efforts in Canberra regarding NDIS legislative changes, aged care transitions, and tailored support services.

Resources

UsherKids Australia: https://usherkidsaustralia.com/ 

Beyond Blindness: https://beyondblindness.org.au/  Phone: (08) 8367 6088 Social Media: Facebook (@beyondblindness) and Instagram (@beyondblindness)

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On FOCAL POINT:

• Nicole Holmes (Blindness Products Consultant, Pacific Vision Australia)

  • Discusses her role providing product support and training for assistive technology, upcoming devices like the BrailleSense 7 (running Android 15 with integrated Google Gemini access and a magnetic QWERTY keyboard option)

• Hen Vaughn (Access2Arts)

  • Previews upcoming audio-described arts and cultural events, including the 12-week Audio Description Training course starting in mid-January, State Theatre Company's production of The Heartbreak Choir, guided audio-described tours for the Monet in Fine Print exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia, and details on the Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition.

• Bridget Jolley (Women’s Empowerment Officer, Women with Disabilities Victoria)

  • Details the launch of The Inclusive Lens, a 6-part podcast series created by young women and gender-diverse people with disabilities exploring media representation across news, social media, publishing, gaming, and television.

• Brooke Carter (President, Goalball Victoria)

  • Previews the upcoming Australian Goalball Championships taking place October 1–4 at RMIT Bundoora, explaining how goalball is played, the extensive volunteer structure required to run games, and how to get involved.

Resources:

• Pacific Vision Australia: https://pacificvisionaus.com.au/ (Email: Nicole Holmes (Pacific Vision): [email protected])
• Access 2 Arts: https://access2arts.org.au/  (Email:  Audio Description Inquiries): [email protected])
• Women with Disabilities Victoria: https://wdv.org.au/  
• Goalball Victoria: https://www.goalball.org.au/ (Email: [email protected])

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On FOCAL POINT: 

• 02:48 - Daniel Mew – Developer of the Tag Everything app

• 16:16 - Zoe Kong, Gabby Campbell, and Dean Caccamo (Master’s Students in Occupational Therapy, University of Sydney)  The team shares details about their project with Dr. Anne-Marie and the Centre for Disability Research and Policy, developing a practical home modification guide designed for people living with combined hearing and vision loss.

• 29:18 - Lesley Heagney (Braille House) - Lesley outlines two major September events: the annual Braille Literacy Challenge hosted at the Queensland Tennis Centre (September 11) and the 105th Dickinson Memorial Literary Competition (closing September 18)

• 41:04 - William O'Neill (Rider & Advocate) William shares his story about participating in a 700 km tandem recumbent cycle journey (on Hase Pino bikes) from Germany to Amsterdam for the World Cycle Summit to champion cycling inclusivity for people with vision impairment.

Resources

Blind Citizens Australia (SA Catch-Up Event)

• Phone: 1800 033 660 (Ask for Kerry Skipworth)

Tag Everything App

• Website: https://tageverything.app/ 

Braille House & Dickinson Memorial Literary Competition

• Website: https://www.braillehouse.org.au/ 

• Phone: 07 3848 5257

Riding Together Charity

• Website: https://ridingtogether.org/netherlands-2026 

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On FOCAL POINT: 

• 02:13 – Cameron Algie | Author & Facilitator

  Cameron discusses the updated release of his comprehensive resource guide, "I can See Clearly Now: Understanding and Managing Blindness and Low Vision."  He explores how screen readers (like JAWS), mobile apps (like Be My Eyes), and emerging AI models (such as ChatGPT and Gemini) are changing accessibility and independence for people navigating vision loss.

• 17:23 – Suzy Hudson | Community Advocate

  Suzy relives her landmark legal fight (Along with Blind Citizens Australia) that went to the High Court over a decade ago to secure audio description on Australian free-to-air television. She shares her thoughts on recent legislative efforts to make audio description a permanent requirement across mainstream broadcast media.

• 30:28 – Emma Bennison | CEO & Advocate, Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)

  Emma breaks down the passed NDIS legislative reform package, focusing on its potential impacts on vision-impaired participants. She addresses functional capacity assessments, upcoming trial processes, appeal mechanisms, and cuts to social and community participation funding.

• 45:49 – Phil Vanderpeer | Co-Founder & Co-Presenter, Focal Point

  Phil takes a walk down memory lane, discussing the 50th anniversary of independent living units built by Blind Welfare at Cameron Avenue, Gillies Plains, in 1976. He and Peter also commemorate the origins of South Australian blind cricket and reflect on how community support structures have evolved over the decades.

Resources

Cameron Algie's official book site: https://icanseeclearlybooks.com/why-this-book-is-special/ 

Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA): https://dana.org.au/contact/

• DANA General Inquiries: [email protected]

• DANA Member Engagement: [email protected]

• DANA General Line: 1300 186 453  

• Disability Advocacy Support Helpline: 1800 643 787  

   

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On FOCAL POINT: 

• 01:50 – Robert Altamore - Advocate and proponent of Braille. Shares his experience completing the Australian Census in Braille using a Perkins Brailler, discusses the independence Braille provides over digital options, and highlights the importance of advocating for Braille literacy alongside modern assistive tech.

• 15:32 – Rachel (Beyond Blindness) - Marketing representative at Beyond Blindness. Discusses upcoming Apple accessibility workshops in Adelaide, Android support sessions, local "pocket group" social meetups, expansion plans into Port Augusta, and the $2,000 Trevor Frost Award scholarship for young artists with vision impairments.

• 29:50 – Rebecca Young - CEO of Access2Arts. Discusses audio-described local theater performances (e.g., State Theatre Company's Chalk / Commentary), inclusive programs at festivals like Illuminate Adelaide and SALA, and shares insights on proposed federal audio description legislation and the drawbacks of using AI voices over professional human describers.

• 42:01 – Maureen O'Reilly - Representative from the Vision Australia Library. Highlights upcoming virtual events including the "Meet the Narrator" Q&A session with guest Paul Wentford, archived technology webinars, and a 5-week course on how to write compelling news stories.

Resources

• Blind Citizens Australia (SA Branch Catch-up)

  • Phone: 1800 033 660  

  • Website: https://www.bca.org.au/ 

• Beyond Blindness

  • Phone: (08) 8367 6088  

  • Port Augusta Group Contact (Jen): 0403 451 817

  • Website: https://beyondblindness.org.au/ 

• Access2Arts

  • Phone: (08) 8463 1689  

    Website: https://access2arts.org.au/ 

• Vision Australia Library

  • Phone: 1300 654 656  

  • Website: https://visionaustralia.org/services/library 

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On FOCAL POINT:

• Kerryn Harvey is an Author and Para Tri-athlete who has just launched her new book "Mostly Ups."  Kerryn contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh eating infection, after falling off a bike.  She chatted about her life and resilience.
• Eliza Lovell, Community Arts Project Officer, invited all to SALA - Live Audio Description Tour.  Saturday 15th August 2pm, and an Ekphrastic poetry event -
  Saturday 22nd August 2026 Time: 2.30pm - 5pm  Where? Brookside Cellars Community Arts Centre - 17 Moore Street, Tranmere, SA, bookings are essential. email: [email protected]
• Fiona Hodson, senior pain management clinician with Chronic Pain Australia, spoke about the Launch of Strong Australia 14th August 14th - inaugural National Strength Day - and how being a bit stronger can help with falls prevention; balance independence and a better quality of life. Fiona also talked about a petition on change.org to have chronic pain "coded" for Medicare purposes. 
• Jeramy Hope, CEO for Specialist Disability Accommodation Alliance, shared his experience appearing at the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee hearing into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment. 

Resources: 

Keryn Harvey: https://www.kerrynharvey.com

Painlink: https://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/painlink/

Pain Changer: https://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/painchanger/

Live-Up: https://www.liveup.org.au/

SDA Alliance: http://www.sdaalliance.org.au 

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On FOCAL POINT:

• Andrew Webster, Chair, and Robyn McKenzie, Board Member of Blind Citizens Australia talking about the NDIS legislation campaign; and Senate hearing - encouraged members to contact their local federal members and Senators.
• Karina Morata, Team Leader Employment Services at See Differently, spoke about her role and how you may be supported to find and stay in employment.
• Romina Cavallo, GHD Associate BGL Engagement; Communication and Change, from 10th August feedback will be taken regarding the noise sharing plan for the works at Melbourne Airport. This includes in-person; webinars; via email. Contact details available in the podcast notes under "Resources:
• Gaurav (Gary) Hairiya and John Leone invited all to come'n'try Swish, a form of table tennis for people who are blind or have low vision. The come'n'try day will be Geelong, Friday from 1 pm, and also other days at Kooyong, Keilor. 

Resources:

Blind Citizens Australia: https://www.bca.org.au

How to contact your Local Senator: https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contacting_Senators_and_Members 

See Differently Employment Services: https://seedifferently.org.au/low-vision-services/employment-services/ 

Feedback on Melbourne Noise-Sharing Plan: email: [email protected]  Web: https://www.melbourneairportprojectshub.com.au/ 

Swish Com'n'try day: call Gary on  0466 190 333 

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