The Scene

Issue 10, 26 June 2006

Back to The Spastic Centre

Features

Unspoken
Last year, we highlighted a theatrical production written and performed by Rebecca Clarke called ‘Unspoken’ - a moving performance about family, disability and growing up. Clarke takes the audience on a semi-autobiographical journey from the birth of her brother when she was a teenager, his diagnoses with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and scoliosis, and a fictionalized account of her teen years.

Rebecca received the Best Newcomer and Best Independent Production at the 2005 Sydney Theatre Awards, and the Sydney Morning Herald hailing the performance as, “One of those rare works that triumphantly affirms both art and life”.

Now, the multi-award winning production is embarking on a national tour to Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Mackay, Thuringowa, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Sydney and Parramatta, produced by Performing Lines, and supported by Playing Australia.

5–8 July - Waterside, Vitalstatistix, Adelaide SA
11-22 July - Tower Theatre, Malthouse, Melbourne Vic
26 July–5 August - The Loft, QUT as part of Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Qld
8–9 August - Mackay Entertainment Centre, Mackay Qld
11–12 August - Riverway Arts Centre, Thuringowa Qld
16 August - Playhouse, Gladstone Entertainment Centre, Gladstone Qld
18–19 August - Walter Reid Cultural Centre, Rockhampton Qld
30 Aug–16 September - Seymour Theatre, Sydney NSW
20-23 September - Riverside Theatre, Parramatta NSW

View more details about 'Unspoken' or contact Nina Bonacci nina@performinglines.org.au or 02 9319 0066.

General

BOTOX® & Other Therapeutic Interventions
A free information session on options for managing spasticity. Iona Novak, Research Fellow, will present and discuss:
- An introduction to BOTOX, Baclofen & Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy - medical management options for CP.
- Who benefits most?
- Side effects
- Therapy and home input that accompanies the interventions.

Locations: The Spastic Centre
Ryde - Wednesday 5 July 10am to 12 noon 3a Smalls Road
Allambie Heights - Monday 10 July 7pm to 9pm 189 Allambie Road (Head Office Boardroom)
Prairiewood - Thursday 13 July 10am to 12noon 224-244 Restwell Road.

Refreshments will be available. Childcare is available on request – minimum 5 days notice. Bookings are essential. RSVP to Penny Clarke, Community Development Unit, Phone 02 9975 8227 or email pclarke@tscnsw.org.au. Please advise Penny if you would like your name on the mailing list for future flyers.

Women's Health, Wellbeing and Pampering Day
Treat yourself in August with a women’s health and pampering day. The Spastic Centre is inviting women with a disability aged 30 and over to a day of women’s issues, including talks from the Breast Cancer Foundation and The Heart Foundation, easy cooking demonstration, yoga courses and a laughter therapy workshop.

To be held Wednesday 9 August at Forestville Senior Citizens Centre, corner of Warringah Road and Starkey St, Forestville. Phone Sophie Marmont of The Spastic Centre on 02 9972 8174 or email smarmont@tscnsw.org.au.

Traveller's Tales

Europe and New Zealand
Great tips and tales on travelling throughout Europe and New Zealand can be found on the e-bility website. Bruce Mumford, a reader with MS, shares his experiences on everything from finding power points with which recharge his wheelchair battery, to booking accommodation. Bruce travelled with his wife and two sons and discovered that, with planning and a flexible approach, the world is your oyster!

Read about Bruce's trips to Europe and to New Zealand.

Equipment

Cycles for People With Special Needs
Dean Woods from Wangaratta and his company, Dean Woods Direct, imports a range of cycles for people with special needs.

Dean’s background is in cycling and on one of his many visits overseas he came across a hand cycle that could fill a need for people with paraplegia who want to exercise without spending a lot of money on a racing hand cycle.

The Micah is designed for people 5-15 yrs. For information, visit the Micah page on the Dean Woods Direct website or call 1800 353 123.

FOSTER CARERS NEEDED

Room in Your Heart?
Centacare is looking for families to provide long term and respite foster care for children with a disability.
- Ellie is a 5 year old who enjoys playing with musical toys and rolling around on the floor. Ellie has a physical and intellectual disability and requires assistance with her daily care needs.
- Jack is a 13 year old who loves the beach and playing on his trampoline. He has an intellectual disability & needs assistance with his daily care needs.
- Jonathon is a 2 year old who enjoys playing outdoors. His health and medical needs are being assessed to ascertain his level of disability.
- Ben is a 9 year old who loves all things electronic and playing with animals. He has an intellectual disability and needs assistance with his daily care needs.

Centacare provides training, support & an ongoing tax-free allowance to foster carers. Please contact Michelle Cunningham or Nick Ludgate on 02 9793 7522.

Autism

Ageing with Autism: Impact on Families
If you are a parent of an adult with autism, and are aged 60 years or above, you are invited to participate in a research project about the impact on families of caring for an adult with autism. The purpose of the study is to find out about the experiences and needs of older parents of adults with autism so that future services and policies can be developed to best meet the needs of families of adults with autism.

Find out more about the research project on the Aspect website.

Service Providers

Domestic Violence
‘Domestic Violence and Children with Disabilities: Working Towards Enhancing Social Work Practice’
Eileen Baldry, Joan Bratel, Jan Breckenridge. Australian Social Work, Volume 59, Number 2 / June 2006.

Globally, domestic violence is now recognised as one of the most entrenched and pervasive forms of violence in society. Nevertheless, internationally and in Australia, the occurrence of domestic and other forms of violence in families affecting children with a disability is poorly understood.

Researchers from the University of NSW have been working with The Spastic Centre to examine this issue and the results have just been published in the journal, Australian Social Work. Through the use of case studies, practice issues with families where domestic violence affects a child with a disability are drawn out for social workers to consider and it is hoped that these considerations are designed to enhance practice in the field.

Conferences .. Workshops .. Forums (Service Providers)

Understanding Sensory Processing in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
5 July 2006, Ashfield, Sydney

Building Blocks® Early Intervention Service presents a workshop which focuses on developing an understanding of sensory processing and the implications of sensory processing difficulties within the home, school, pre-school and therapy environments. The workshop will be held on 5 July 2006 at Ashfield Wests Club, 115 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield. The cost is $140 per person and registration starts at 8.30am.

Presenters are Tanya Braham, Occupational Therapist, & Amy Olley, Occupational Therapist, Building Blocks® Early Intervention Service. More details.

Macaw Training
11-12 July, Canberra

Tracey Bode from ZYGO Australia will be in Canberra in July to provide Macaw training and an overview on speech generating devices available from ZYGO Australia.

The workshop will be held at The Spastic Centre, Mt Rogers Community Centre, 55 Crofts Crescent, Spence (Curley St Entrance) on 11 and 12 July 2005 from 10.30am to 4.30pm. The 12 July is a repeat of day 1 and is offered as an alternative day so there is a choice for attendance, it is not intended that participants will attend both days. For further information see attached flyer or contact Lisa Hanley on lhanley@tscnsw.org.au or call 02 6258 8723.

Paediatric Research Seminar – 'Creating a Future for Children And Families'
21 July, Westmead, Sydney

The Nursing and Allied Health Research Committee presents 'Creating a Future for Children And Families' on 21 July 2006 from 8.15am to 4.30pm at the Children’s Hospital Westmead.

Key speakers include, Dr. Jennifer Fereday who will share some of her current research to highlight the successes as well as the challenges of research with children and Dr. Christine Chapparo, who will present her qualitative research with children, entitled, ‘Hearing the voices of children in research’.

More details about the Paediatric Research Seminar.

SPOT on DD Conference 2006 – Across The Lifespan
3-4 August 2006, Haymarket, Sydney

Speech Pathologists, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists on Developmental Disability are holding their conference ‘Across the Lifespan’ on 3 and 4 August 2006 at Carlton Crest Hotel, Haymarket.

The conference participants will reflect on how services and policies are changing for people with disabilities and how client’s future needs will be addressed, incorporating research, evidence based practice and evaluation of previous practices. More details about ‘Across the Lifespan’.

For Sale

Child’s Wheelchair
Purple Knix child's wheelchair for sale $350.

Seat depth 32cm. Seat width 28.5cm. Backrest 21cm. Seat to Footplate 21cm. 16" wheels. For further details contact Rhonda Poetschka on 0421 450 775 or 02 9344 9134.

2005 Honda Jazz with Modifications
This silver grey 2005 Honda Jazz has wheelchair access via a folding ramp and has done 7,000 km. Can be returned to a 4 seater care and has automatic/manual plus cruise control, air-conditioning and tinted windows. All log books and invoices are available.

Asking $44,000, which includes $20,000 modification fee for, disabled access.

For further information contact Lois on 02 4628 1539 preferably before 9am or after 5.30pm.

Humphrey Stander
Humphrey Stander (standing frame) for sale $1900 ONO. Retails $3130.

Imported from England and recommended by physiotherapists. This stander is in excellent condition and has been at the child's school and well looked after. Humphrey is a prone/upright stander with a wide range of adjustments making him suitable for children with almost any level of ability in standing. Humphrey can be horizontal to allow children to be transferred to him in a lying position or hoisted on for ease. A simple gas spring mechanism operated from a foot brake alters the angle of Humphrey.

Humphrey offers a continuous range of standing positions from horizontal through prone to upright and also offers a number of very special features.

Pick up Penrith NSW. For further information contact Karla Tremethick on 0425 810 936

For further information on the product visit the Jenx (manufacturers) website

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What would you like to see in "The Scene"? Email Robyn Cummins Information Manager at The Spastic Centre if you would like to contribute any ideas, advise of any future events or know of any websites that might be of interest to others.

Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in items of The Scene are the individual opinions of the respective authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Spastic Centre or the editors. Products and companies featured in The Scene are not necessarily endorsed by The Spastic Centre. The Scene is intended to be informative only and should not be relied on as medical or other technical advice on any matter. The Spastic Centre and editor take no responsibility for the information published in this newsletter or any person's actions in reliance on that information.