See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On FOCAL POINT:

• Tori Bemold – App developer who created Crumbcade, an accessible match-three game designed for both blind/visually impaired and sighted players using AI.

• Kristy Stichter – Musician who shares her experience starting out with tap dancing as a person with low vision/blindness, along with her thoughts on tools like the Mountbatten Tutor and Meta glasses.

• Donna Wallace Campbell – Chief Growth Officer at VisAbility / Guide Dogs WA, discussing the 75th-anniversary history of Guide Dogs in Western Australia and their upcoming community events.

• Phil Vandepeer – Co-founder and co-presenter of Focal Point, sharing commentary on political news, social media, and accessibility in broadcasting.

Resources:

• Equal4all Games / Crumbcade (Tori Bemold)

  • Website: crumbcade.com | equal4all.net

  • Contact Email: support@crumbcade.com

• VisAbility & Guide Dogs WA (Donna Wallace Campbell)

  • Website: visability.com.au | guidedogswa.com.au

  • Phone: (08) 9311 8202 (General Enquiries) | (08) 9311 8230 (Client Experience Team)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On FOCAL POINT:

• Professor Peter McCluskey AO – Ophthalmologist from Sydney University (speaking about juvenile idiopathic arthritis and its impact on vision/eye inflammation).

• Rachael – Marketing representative from Beyond Blindness (discussing upcoming combined tours, events, and activities).

• Sven Bluemell – Commissioner for the Victorian Electoral Commission (speaking about accessible voting options for the Victorian state election).

• Brooke Carter – President of Goalball Victoria (reporting on the outcome of the recently concluded Goalball Nationals).

Resources:

• humanware.com (Humanware)

• 02 9686 2600 (Humanware Australia)

• jaffa.org.au (Juvenile Arthritis Foundation Australia)

• beyondblindness.org.au (Beyond Blindness)

• 08 8367 6088 (Beyond Blindness - Campbelltown Main Office)

• vec.vic.gov.au (Victorian Electoral Commission)

• 13 18 32 (Victorian Electoral Commission - General Enquiries)
• 135 723 (Victorian Electoral Commission - Telephone Assisted Voting Registration)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On FOCAL POINT:

• Clayton Pereira – Australian youth team Goalball player debuting at the IBSA Youth World Championships in Kazakhstan.

• Dhruv Sharma – Ambassador for the upcoming Outlook AI event.

• David Woodbridge – Technology expert from Humanware; presenting updates on the BrailleNote Touch/Evolve devices (specifically the new QWERTY keyboard version).

• Adam Bloomfield – Representative from Crime Stoppers Victoria discussing pet theft and prevention.

Resources:

Crimestoppers Victoria:

• Website: Crime Stoppers Victoria

• Email: admin@crimestoppersvic.com.au

• Phone: 1800 333 000 (Crime reporting) / 03 7035 9119 (Administration)

Humanware:

• Website: HumanWare Support & Contact

• Email: support@humanware.com / info@humanware.com

• Phone:

  • Australia: +61 2 9686 2600

  • Toll-Free (US/Canada): 1-888-723-7273

Outlook AI Conference:

• Date & Time: Thursday, November 12, 2026 (Full-day event)

• For more information go to: https://theoutlook.io/events/outlook-ai

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On FOCAL POINT:

• Carlie Towns is just back from making it to the Everest base camp - a physical, emotional and spiritual experience, connecting with her late father Ched.
• Alex Marcocci, from Crime Stoppers Victoria, alerted us to their current campaign, 'Illegal Firewood, The Cost is Wild' encouraging all to check that their firewood has been
  legally sourced and report suspicious activity.
• Jacky Hudson has been selected for Australia to go to Glasgow playing lawn bowls at the Commonwealth Games.
• Ben Harrington (Training officer from Traveller's Aid) and Ethan Ward (industrial Design Student at Monash University) sharing their partnership, making travel even more accessible, and enjoyable with innovative and imaginative ideas and initiatives.

Resources:

Carlie's Fundraising page: https://chuffed.org/project/carliedoeseverest

Crimestoppers Vic: http://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On FOCAL POINT:

• Emily Walter, National Spokesperson for the 2026 Census - 11th August, had all the relevant news on the census including it being available in large print, braille, just request it, you can do the census in braille,
• Hen Vaughan has just taken the role of audio description coordinator at Access 2 Arts. Hen invited all to the free audio-described City Lights Tour 14th July.
• Amelia Aberasturi and Eloy Mason are excited about The Open Curtain Presents - part of the Darwin Fringe Festival - an inclusive; accessible and amazing community project that was just an idea in November. 24th and 25th July at the Browns Mart Studio,
• Nicholas Gleeson, author, adventurer, athlete has just Launched a podcast, with some creative friends, Nick is just back from reconnecting with nature, Humaning with a Difference, inspiring and heartfelt, focusing on living life with a vision impairment while exploring the broader message that "difference" is a strength,

Resources:

Census: http://www.census.gov.au

Illuminate Adelaide: https://www.illuminateadelaide.com/

Access 2 Arts: http://www.access2arts.org.au

The Open Curtain: https://darwinfringe.org.au/organiser/the-open-curtain

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On FOCAL POINT:

• Angela Sosnowski, Low Vision Consultant (SA/WA/NT) for Quantum RLV, introduced the - just released - MirrorPad Pro. This is anew addition to the range of desktop magnifiers, combining powerful magnification with the ability to mirror your phone and control your Android smartphone, directly onscreen.
• Rachel, from Marketing at Beyond Blindness, updated events; activities - including walking groups; pub lunches; tandem cycling; and a social group at Glenelg; as well as an invitation for young people studying music or art to apply for the Trevor Frost Award, with a $3,000 reward,
• Maureen O'Reilly, from the Vision Australia Library, spoke about hearing highly acclaimed playwright Jane Harrison, who has written "Rainbow's End" great for those year 12 students in Vic. NSW, and Qld studying the play. Maureen also invited all to come along to "Meet the Librarian" and access to some excellent guests from Melbourne Writers Week.
• Professor Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services and from the University of Qld, has concerns that many older people in particular may be underestimating the seriousness of RSV, Respiratory syncytial virus.

Resources:

Quantum RLV: http://www.quantumrlv.com.au

Beyond Blindness: http://www.beyondblindness.org.au

Vision Australia Library: https://visionaustralia.org/services/library

RSV Wise: http://www.rsvwise.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.