A local charity that uses the latest technology to provide educational services to hearing or vision impaired children in rural and regional areas will receive over $4,500 in funding from Optus, as part of the Optus Connecting Communities Grant Program.

The financial support will help the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC), based at North Rocks, install specialist videoconferencing equipment into the homes of families on its RIDBC Teleschool service.

"Using videoconferencing equipment, as well as fax, mail, email and phone, RIDBC Teleschool provides high quality education and support in 'real time' to families who may otherwise not have access to the specialist services they need," Jan North, Manager of Children's Services at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, said.

"RIDBC Teleschool's highly trained staff work to equip these families with the knowledge and skills they need to help their child on an everyday basis," Jan North said.

"Optus is proud to assist this important connection. Providing resources to the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children will help ensure children and families in rural and regional areas across Australia receive regular high quality education and support," Jann Kohlman, Optus Group Manager, Sponsorship and Community Programs said.

This year, Optus awarded close to $150,000 to 31 Australian not-for-profit organisations, as part of its annual Optus Connecting Communities Grants Program. The funding, of up to $5,000 per project, will help reduce social isolation for those in need and reconnect disengaged youth in the community. It is an essential part of Optus' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children was nominated by an Optus employee, as staff were also strongly encouraged to apply on behalf of not-for-profit organisations.

"I am delighted Optus staff nominated so many worthy projects for support. Optus employees are involved in many community organisations in their own personal lives and Optus is proud to support the communities in which we live and work," Ms Kohlman said.

In addition to the Community Grants Program, Optus supports 13 charity partners nationally, including Mission Australia, World Vision, Youth off the Streets and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Kids Helpline and The Starlight Children's Foundation.

Media contacts:
Tracy Woodley
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 5302

Alissa Crawford
Public Relations Officer, the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
Tel: (02) 9872 0304
Mob: 0409 409 962

About The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is Australia's largest independent special educator and will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2010. More than 850 children and their families receive regular support from the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. This includes children with additional disabilities. The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children also provides hearing and vision screening to thousands more children each year and it relies heavily on community support to be able to continue to make a difference in children's lives.