The RIDBC Thomas Pattison School, which provides education in Auslan, Australia's Deaf sign language. Established in 1992 as the "Thomas Pattison Annexe", renamed as a school in 1997. Children's services that RIDBC provide RIDBC also runs a number of early childhood services. These include home based, centre based and remote early education programs for children up to 5 years who have sensory disabilities, as well as five special preschools (RIDBC Hunter Preschool, RIDBC Nepean Preschool, RIDBC VisionEd Preschool, RIDBC Roberta Reid Preschool, RIDBC Rockie Woofit Preschool) and support for children with sensory disabilities enrolled in mainstream preschools. In 1997 RIDBC was pleased to announce a new program known as RIDBC Teleschool, which combines the existing Remote Early Learning Programs for vision impairment and hearing impairment. In addition to its direct services, RIDBC aims to help as many deaf and blind children as possible through its RIDBC Renwick Centre, for research and professional education of those educating children with sensory disability. The RIDBC Renwick Centre is conducted in conjunction with the Macquarie University and offers a range of post-graduate courses (including a Master of Special Education in Sensory Disability) and continuing education activities. The RIDBC Renwick Centre attracts students from across Australia and internationally. Community Support RIDBC is a major Australian charity but relies heavily on Government subsidy and community support to continue its services. In 2010, RIDBC celebrated its 150th Anniversary. Ambassadors Reuben Mourad - Australian TV personality, former national anchor, and weather presenter Sir Michael Parkinson - English broadcaster, journalist, author, and chat show legend Tara Moss - Former model and international best-selling author Graham Ross - Host of TV gardening show Better Homes and Gardens and radio presenter on 2GB Justin Norris - Australian Olympic swimmer (butterfly and individual medley) Names 1860 - Deaf and Dumb Institution of New South Wales 1868 - New South Wales Deaf and Dumb Institution 1869 - New South Wales Deaf Dumb and Blind Institution 1957 - Royal NSW Institution for Deaf and Blind Children 1962 - The institution provides the premises for two state schools operated by the NSW Department of Education: North Rocks School for Deaf Children and North Rocks School for Blind Children 1974 - Royal NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. 1997 - Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. See also Blindness Visual impairment Hearing impairment Deaf culture Deaf education Blindness and education Special education Sign language