The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Web2Care is a new tool developed to assist people in managing self-directed care and personal budgets. The web based tool integrates planning, budgeting, employment of support workers, financial management and reporting functions in a format applicable to adults and children in disability who are directly managing a support package.

Expressions of interest are now invited from consumers with a chronic illness or mental illness, and consumers/families in aged care, in trialling the tool in self-managing a support budget in chronic illness, mental illness and aged care.

A presentation on the tool can be found here.

For more information contact Vern Hughes on 0425 722 890 or vern@partnerships.org.au.

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Microsoft Auditorium
Level 2, Westpac House, 91 King William Street, Adelaide

Registration: 9am for 9.30am start

For registration and $30 online payment, go to www.informationeconomy.sa.gov.au/dii

Event program and presenters

Digital Proficiency 9.30am – 11am

• Andrew Mahar, Executive Director, Infoxchange Australia
• Paul Clark, Manager of Citizenship and Community Affairs, Microsoft Australia

Digital Inclusion 11.20am – 1pm

• Andrew Mahar, Executive Director, Infoxchange Australia

Lunch and networking 1pm – 1.30pm

• Lunch is included in registration fee

Event synopsis

Digital proficiency and productivity gains

NGO ICT landscape – What does it mean to be a digitally proficient community service organisation?

Digital proficiency is the capacity of an organisation to engage with digital technology and communications. A digitally proficient organisation uses technology to improve the operation of its systems, reduce bureaucracy, enhance knowledge management, increase its networks and better support its staff, clients and its community.

‘Ten things you need to know on how to develop an ICT plan and use it to achieve your organisational goals.’

Digital Inclusion Initiative

Digital Inclusion describes the activities and projects that aim to achieve a more inclusive information society. It is about ensuring access to current information and communication technology, irrespective of an individual’s social, economic and cultural situation.

‘Infoxchange aims to share the social and economic gains, and modeling tool used to measure economic benefits of the digital inclusion programs targeting disadvantaged communities.’

The Digital Inclusion Initiative (DII) in Victoria, for example, provides access to computer hardware and software, affordable internet and user support for public housing residents in several locations, based on the notion that access to computers and the internet is critical to social and economic inclusion.

The economic benefits of the first project in Atherton Gardens Estate, Fitzroy, have been quantified by A.T. Kearney at $5.9million over five years. The benefits of the second project, established in August 2008 in Collingwood Public Housing Estate, are projected to be $5.8million by 2013.

A discussion of the DII project in Collingwood will provide an opportunity for your organisation to understand how to protect knowledge and develop web 2.0 based best practice targeting the most disadvantaged communities.

Sponsored by:

The South Australian Government | Infoxchange Australia

You can view the flyer here.

Dr Denise Wood, researcher and senior lecturer in the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages at the University of South Australia, was recently announced as the winner of the inaugural Telstra-Telecommunications Journal of Australia Christopher Newell Prize for Disability and Telecommunications.

Do Wood’s paper was entitled “Communicating in Virtual Worlds through an Accessible Web 2.0 Solution”.

The Christopher Newell Prize is awarded for the best original paper which demonstrates the tangible benefits that an innovative use of telecommunications technology can deliver in assisting individuals with disabilities.

Full details here.

The prize will be awarded again next year. Details on the rules of the competition can be found here.

A client at the Guide Dogs Association of S.A & NT Inc wishes to access a computer. This client has both a vision impairment and a significant physical disability and is unable to use a key board. Hardware and Information Technology are available to support this process in the form of Jaws and Dragon Naturally Speaking and these programs will be used in combination with J Talk to facilitate the combination. Even with the Associations knowledge and experience there is still some unknown territory here so they are hoping there might be someone out there who has already tackled some or all of the issues.

If you as an individual with a disability, or an organization, or a technical wizard, have already triumphed over some or all of these problems contact the Guide Dogs Association of SA & NT Inc by one of these methods:

Telephone 8203 8333 Tollfree: 1800 738 855 Fax: 82038332 TTY: 8203 8391 or Email: clients@guidedogs.org.au to share your insight.
Please address your responses to Christine Flynn or Simon Wong. A lively and stimulating conversation here on the topic would also be very welcome.