Studio 1

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

“What has the NDIS ever done for us” 

Our choir of angels give their thoughts on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.   

While everyone agrees that it has been, at the very least, useful – many have issues with the bureaucratic hoops that many have to go through, and some of the limitations.   

Meanwhile some also have found work within the framework of the NDIS   

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

A special thank you to: Simon; Anthony; Maddy; Alex; Tim; Sarnya; Josh and Tory 

Sky’s the Limit Disability Services: https://www.stlds.com.au/ (facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skysthelimit.disabilityservices/ 

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

“Eyewear” 

Sam talks to four people with a Vision Impairment about their experiences with eyewear, and the choice to either use contact lenses; or in one case nothing.   

Carolyn also shares her experience with Lense Implant Surgery.   

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

A special thank you to: Tim; Heidi; Sarnya and Carolyn.   

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

“Book Week: With Leslie Heagney from Braille House” 

Lizzie and Sam talk about their favorite books, and the ways they read them.   

Lizzie talks to With Leslie Heagney, from Braille House, about the Dickinson Memorial Literary Competition; Book Week; Braille literacy and Braille House in general. 

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

Braille House Dickinson Memorial Literary Competition: https://www.braillehouse.org.au/education/dickinson-memorial-literary-competition-2025?srsltid=AfmBOoprEu486pZoaFdkkkRGgb5TC-Joq84hCzJ7ZtLa27pOk3MmEaff  

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

“Mobility: Or, How to find Coffee” 

Lizzie and Sam are out on the streets again... well maybe not literally.   

The Choir of Angels is asked how they handle mobility – not just the puppy or the stick - but the apps and software available to stop us from getting hopelessly lost.  

And we find a startling truth; guide dogs have learned to find coffee! 

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

Thank you to: Alex; Maddie; Lily; Josh; Tory; Shaun and Anthony.

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

“50 years of Blind Citizens Australia Part 1 – David Blyth and Bill Jolley” 

It is June 1975: flares are in fashion; the Captain & Tennille are at number 1 on the charts with “Love will keep us together” and the organisation that will one day be called “Blind Citizens Australia” holds its first convention.   

Lizzie and Sam catch up with two men who were there from the start. David and Bill talk about how and why the then “Blind Citizens Foundation” was formed; the people who helped to shape it; and some of the achievements that have affected all our lives over the last 50 years. 

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

Thank you to: David and Bill.  Extra thanks to Deb and the board and staff of BCA for helping to make this possible.   

Learn more about BCA's first 50 years and beyond here: https://www.bca.org.au/bcas-rich-50-year-history/ 

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

"When I Grow Up, with Belinda Wilson"

What are you going to do when you grow up?    

Do the expectations, positive or negative, of family; friends and our support network in general affect what we do with our lives?    

Lizzie and Sam are joined by Vision Australia’s own Belinda Wilson to talk about learned helplessness and how the expectations, or lack of expectations from significant people in the lives of people with a disability can impact an entire lifestyle.   

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

"Work!” 

What do you do for a living?  This is often the start of a conversation; however, the workforce creates challenges for People with a Vision Impairment.   

Lizzie and Sam talk to six Blind and Vision Impaired people about their empierces looking for work and navigating a workplace environment. 

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

Thank you to: Anthony, Emma, Lily; Shaun; Maddy and Alex   

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

"Taxi II: Another Ride?” 

With the much-vaunted changes to the 13 Cabs app, has it really made any difference? 

Lizzie and Sam are joined by Kelly Schulz from knowable me to pick apart reality from spin; good intentions from pragmatism; and ask where we go from here? 

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

A special thanks to Kelly Schulz (Knowable Me: https://knowable.me/) 

Extra special thanks to Emma Myers from Powerd Media for letting us use her interview (find the article here: https://powerd.media/news/taxi-service-enforces-zero-tolerance-on-drivers-refusing-assistance-animals 

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

"Is Ignorance Bliss?” 

We ask, is ignorance bliss, or simply another form of discrimination?   

Six of our friends talk about how they have been discriminated against or singled out in sometimes strange but often subtle ways - usually by people who believe they are doing the right thing. 

We also have a call to action from our listeners.  Next week we are looking into the updates to the 13 Cabs app, and we want Dog Guide users to test it out.   

What can you do?    

1. If you haven’t already, install the 13 Cabs App. 

1. In the options declare you are an Assistance Dog user. 

1. Book a taxi and take a ride (doesn’t matter how far or where)  

1. Let us know how things worked out.   

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

A special Thank you to Alex; Anthony; Lily; Steven; Emma and Heidi. 

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Eastham and Sam Rickard present Studio 1 - Vision Australia Radio’s weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view. 

On this week’s show 

"Into the Mailbag” 

Did you know we have an email address?  Well naturally we mention it a few times during the show.  This week, to celebrate Studio 1’s renewal for the next three years, Lizzie and Sam read a few of the emails sent in the last year or so and respond to some of the comments.   

Studio 1 welcomes any input from our listeners. If you have any experience or thoughts about issues covered in this episode or believe there is something we should be talking about. 

EMAIL: [email protected] or leave comment on the station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VARadioNetwork 

Thank you everyone who has written us in the last five years and here's to at least three more.

This program was made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at https://cbf.org.au/ 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.