In this podcast, Peter Greco speaks to Nathan Stocking, from Seeing Hands (https://seeinghands.org/) with news on dictionaries that are accessible on braille displays and now available in a number of languages. You can access the dictionaries here: https://projects.seeinghands.org/dictionary/.

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Get ready to unleash your creativity! In this episode, Vision Australia Radio’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Jason Gipps, chats with Scott Steensma from the Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival 2025. They delve into the festival’s highlights, including the much-anticipated Microfiction Competition.

Are you part of the Brimbank community or a Vision Australia Radio listener? This is your chance to shine! Submit a microfiction story (up to 200 words) inspired by the phrase “No-one chooses for us” and compete for incredible prizes, including book vouchers from The Sun Bookshop in Yarraville. Entry is free, as are all events at the year's festival.

Award-winning author T.R. Napper will judge the entries, with categories for youth (10-18) and adults (19+). Entries close at midnight on February 2, 2025, so don’t wait! Tune in to learn more about this exciting opportunity to celebrate local talent and storytelling.

Key Dates:

• Competition Opens: January 1, 2025
• Entries Close: February 2, 2025
• Winners Announced: March 21, 2025 (with readings on Vision Australia Radio!)

Ready to write your story? Dive in now!

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Peter Greco catches up with Tony Doyle who has recently published his collection of poems, Vistas and Visions of a Blind Man. These poems will entertain, challenge, amuse and perhaps even shock you. Some of them take a critical look at modern life, recent cultural changes and possible future scenarios. Tony also had his voice generated via Artificial Intelligence to read a few of his poems as part of an International Day for People With Disabilities celebration.

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Sam speaks with Keith McVilly, member of the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria, who are currently conducting public consultation on disability registration standards which is open for input and feedback until 13 December.

To find out more about the consultation make sure to check out the interview here or you can head to the Victorian Disability Worker Commission website

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In the lead up to the Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight on December 24, Sam caught up with two audio description users, Janene and Michael, who followed the 2023 Carols live at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl assisted by audio description devices available at the venue. 

Hear about their experiences with audio description both at the Carols and elsewhere in the theatre and on TV, and find out how you can book a ticket for this year's Carols By Candlelight with audio description as well as details of the Vision Australia Radio simulcast which is back again in 2024.

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Neville Houghton has spent 60 years as a CPA and member of the Australian Society of Certified Public Accountants and today offers financial advice to Vision Australia Radio listeners.

This week Neville wraps up his finance tips for the year.

Please note that advice within this podcast is of a general nature only and individual circumstances will mean different results for individual people. Neville provides points of contact within this podcast but we highly encourage you make an informed decision before contacting a financial planner and making an informed decision before committing to any products or services from any individual, business or organization at any time.
Neville can be reached on 0452 596 855 during business hours.

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After losing his vision as a young man Ian Clements wasn't sure what to do next, but an interest in social work and mentoring sparked a new career running a series of talks and workshops for boys and young men in the Hunter Valley region as part of the Top Blokes Foundation.

Hear from Ian as he catches up with Sam on Talking Vision to chat about his journey to where he is today, and messages for people out there experiencing vision loss and struggles with employment as a job seeker with a disability.

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With December 3, 2024 being International Day of People With Disability, Peter Greco chats with Casey Andrew who has won Best Producer in the Focus On Ability Film Festival for "Against The Odds”.

More info: Focus on Ability - Against The Odds

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Sam is joined on Talking Vision by blind endurance athlete, motivational speaker and all around thrill seeker Ben Pettingill.

Ben's goal for 2024 is to run 3,249km with the goal to have the tough conversations around mental health and bust the stigma that remains among men in Australia to ask for help when they need it.

To follow the latest updates you can keep in touch with Ben on the 3249 Blind web page.

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Sam Colley is joined by father and son inventors Peter and Rohan Rickards.

Along with Vision Australia's Kathy Letch, Peter and Rohan joined Talking Vision to tell us about Sensaball, their adaptable multi-directional white cane tip designed to give improved feedback, reduce friction and vibration and interact more intuitively across different surfaces.

Sensaball is still in the Kickstarter stage but if you'd like to find out more or make a donation you can head to the Sensaball website to keep updated.

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