Thanks to IMB, the best thing since braille comes to the ACT
24 July 2010
Young client Griffith Spence demonstrates the benefits of DAISY technology to IMB's Paul Elliott and Michael Brannon.
For most people, newspaper headlines, specialty magazines and page-turning novels are a part of everyday life. But with less than 5% of the world's printed words available in alternate formats, the inability to access everyday information - especially for education and employment - is the greatest barrier to full participation in life for people who are blind or have low vision.
i-access®
i-access® is the most innovative technological development in the lives of people with vision loss since the advent of braille almost 200 years ago. Vision Australia's i-access® project's purpose is to replace outdated and soon to be obsolete cassette-based talking-book equipment and publications with new digital technology. Known as DAISY, this technology converts text into an audio format that can be accessed using specialist playback devices.
IMB Community Foundation steps up to the challenge
Recently, the IMB Community Foundation presented Vision Australia with $22,500 to provide 50 people who are blind or have low vision, living in the ACT, with a DAISY playback device, free of charge. This will enable them to independently access information for daily living, education, training, employment and recreation.
Michael Brannon, IMB General Manager Sales and Marketing, attended Vision Australia's Morning of Celebration at our Canberra centre to officially present the community grant.
"Each year the IMB Community Foundation funds community-initiated projects and we are all so proud to be able to contribute to the invaluable work of Vision Australia," said Brannon.
In opening the celebration, Gerard Menses, Vision Australia Chief Executive Officer, said it was important to take the time out to celebrate the achievements of members of the living partnership, including donors, business people, educators, clients, volunteers and Government.
"Vision Australia is continually working to expand, refine and enhance our range of services to meet the needs of the growing number of Australians who are blind or have low vision," said Mr Menses.
"The grant from IMB will help bridge the information divide between the sighted community and those with vision loss. It will go a long way to improving the quality of life and independence of our clients living in the ACT," he said.
IMB has 41 branches in the ACT, New South Wales South Coast, Illawarra, Sydney and Melbourne. They established the IMB Community Foundation to give financial assistance to community-initiated projects in the areas in which they operate. This year, the IMB Community Foundation has pledged more than $385,000 to local community projects.
Since its inception in 2000, the IMB Community Foundation has provided more than $5 million in funding to 253 worthwhile community services.
Find out more
- For further information about IMB and their Community Foundation visit www.imb.com.au.
- For further information about Vision Australia's Information Library Service, i-access® and the revolutionary DAISY playback devices call 1300 84 74 66.
