Blog Post; July 2021

Mandatory Declarations

We would like to take this opportunity to remind our Registered and Ordinary members to please log in to the website and update their profiles to indicate compliance with our Code of Ethics. This is becoming more urgent as we progress our professionalisation and look forward to having funding for O&M recognised via the NDIS in Australia. Please refer to the email sent 14th July 2021 for instructions on how to update your profile.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Upcoming Conferences and CPD opportunities:

• OMAA Communities of Practice Zoom Meeting: Wed 4^th August 2021, 1pm-2.30pm AEST. These quarterly meetings are a means of staying in touch with other O&M specialists around Australasia to share resources, knowledge and experience. The August meeting will focus on O&M technology. Meeting URL: https://visionaustralia.zoom.us/j/94494168153
• VISCON 2021: 19-20 August 2021, 9am-3pm, NextSense, Sydney NSW (COVID-dependent).
• Save Sight Institute Community Information Event: Saturday 18th September 2021, approx 12-4:30pm (exact timing TBC). This event is for people living with low vision or blindness, their carers, educators and industry professionals. It will be held in-person in Sydney (COVID-dependent) and online. Zoom webinar details will be provided upon final registration. Please click here for more information and to register your interest.
• OMAA Online Symposium: 28 September 2021, 9.30am – 5pm (AEDT). This event will be hosted by NextSense Institute, and will be held online using the Zoom platform. The OMAA Symposium will contribute 6 PD hours towards COMS re-certification with ACVREP. Registrations and Call for Papers are now open.
• The 2021 Online Tactile Reading Conference was held on 28-30 April in Oslo. Recorded presentations are now available for public viewing on demand and can be accessed here.
• The next International O&M Online Symposium will be held 26-28 January, 2022. Presentation submissions are now open. Please consider applying to present at the Symposium. If you are selected to present, not only will you be sharing your knowledge with the international O&M community, but you will receive a complimentary presenter’s pass to the Symposium, as well as ACVREP credit for presenting. Read more at the International O&M Online Symposium website.

If you’re looking for other CPD opportunities, remember to check the OMAA website for suggestions. Click here for the link. 

Are you hosting or attending an upcoming CPD event? Would you like to be able to earn points towards ACVREP recertification at the same time? Click here to find out how you can register your event.

Job Vacancies

Have you looked at the Job Vacancies page on the OMAA website recently? You’ll find position vacancies listed for various agencies and locations across Australasia so remember to check it regularly. There are some new listings so it’s worth a look!

Podcasts

• These recent episodes from ‘A Step Forward’ podcast (by Allied Independence) are worth a listen:

1. Innovative Way to Create Tactile Maps Using TMAPS
2. Experiencing the World Through Soundscape

• ‘Challenge Solutions’ is an excellent podcast about the lives of three young blind adults with an irreverent take on issues that affect them in their daily lives, including O&M. A great podcast to share with your teenage and young adult clients and students! Available on Spotify or here.

 Access and Technology news

• Microsoft Soundscape App Update (Version 3.4.0) – Soundscape now supports head tracking with the Apple AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Place your phone in your pocket or bag and enjoy a hands-free Soundscape experience.  Read Microsoft Soundscape’s AppleVis App Directory entry for more information.
• Clew app update (Version 1.5.0) – gives better support for users with low vision through visualisation of route segments during navigation. Read Clew’s AppleVis App Directory entry for more information
• WeWALK app update (Version 2.7) – A new Mobility Tracking feature helps users monitor their physical activity such as step count and distance travelled. Smart cane owners will benefit from additional monitoring including the ability to track cane angle and cane swipes. Users will have access to in-app activity reports allowing them to monitor their progress over time. Read more here.
• Two pieces about the Supersense app, an object and text recognition app. One article gives a comprehensive review of the app and the other is a post about travelling with Supersense.
• An article about how IBM’s latest app helps visually impaired users stand in socially distanced lines.
• An AppleVis blog post highlights that the Be My Eyes app is among the winners in the 2021 Apple Design Awards.
• A Sydney engineer is developing a low-cost, 3D printed electrical device that acts as an artificial retina.  Read more here.
• STRAP is a new product being marketed as the world’s first total replacement of the white cane. The jury is still out on whether it can accurately detect steps and drop offs but it’s important for OMAA members to be aware of this new piece of technology.  Find out more at the STRAP website.
• An article on how the world has become more accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A positive story about Microsoft’s commitment to prioritising accessibility and narrowing the disability gap.

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