The Scene

Issue 16, 3 October 2006

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Features

The Joey Mittiga Youth Award
The Joey Mittiga Award aims to support young people with a disability, 16-25 years, to pursue their goals and dreams. In addition to financial support, the successful applicant will be assisted to be a voice for their peers and to pursue issues about which they are passionate. The winner will enhance their knowledge, skills and talents and encourage others to participate in the life of the community.

The inspiration for the award is Joey Mittiga, whose parents, Roy and Cathy, have been long-term supporters of The Spastic Centre as founders of the Italian Affair Committee. The 2005 prizewinner was Cameron Tang, who has used the award to pursue a Masters of Business Administration.

Nominations are now open for the 2006 award. Find out more about the Joey Mittiga Award.

[Photo: Joey Mittiga and friends at the Italian Affair Committee Ball]

Perspectives in Print Calendar
'Perspectives In Print' was a very special photography exhibition that showcased the talents of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

Supported by renowned Australian photographer, Ken Duncan, a 2007 ‘Perspectives in Print’ calendar is now available to purchase at $6.65 plus $2.50 postage and handling.

For further information and to purchase a copy contact the CP Helpline on 1300 30 29 20 or visit the Perspectives in Print page.

History

Miss Australia: A Nation's Quest
The Miss Australia Quest (later Miss Australia Awards) was a major initiative of the Spastic Centres of Australia from 1954 to 2000. Many Australians have fond memories of the awards which raised funds and helped to spread awareness of the needs of people with cerebral palsy in the community. The National Museum of Australia is soon to hold a travelling exhibition celebrating the achievements of the awards, beginning in Brisbane on 5 October 2006.

The exhibition will not be coming to Sydney, but will be at the National Museum in Canberra from the second week of March 2007. Stay tuned for more details.

Parents

St Ignatius College Holiday Camp
Planning is now underway for the 9th Annual Ignatian Children's Holiday Camp, a four-day residential camp for children with disabilities. Hosted by St Ignatius College, Riverview, organisers are inviting applications from families with children who would benefit from participation. The camp is four days of care, friendship and entertainment for the children. It also provides families of the children some respite, as senior students volunteer to take on the role of carers.

The Camp is held at Saint Ignatius College from 13 to 16 December 2006. For further information contact either Heather Cloudsdale or Tina Brayan on 02 9882 8302.

Novita Children’s Services Factsheets
Novita is a major service provider for children with disabilities in South Australia. The Novita website has a excellent range of factsheets, including:
- Siblings Concerns and How to Help
- Ideas to Encourage Communication Development
- Play: Challenges and Solutions for Children with Physical Disability

Saliva Control in Children
Excessive drooling is frequently a major problem in children with cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and other neurological impairments. In young people with cerebral palsy, the incidence of severe drooling has been reported to be as high as 37%. In addition to the social implications for both the child and the parents, excessive drooling can cause significant skin irritation and require frequent changes of clothes and bibs.

The Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne have a great little booklet with clear explanations of the causes and interventions for severe drooling. View and download Saliva Control in Children from their website.

Health

Facing the Evidence - Part Two
The second of the two part series of the importance of evidence in medicine, ‘Facing the Evidence’ is now available to read and download on the ABC website. In this report, the patient advocates argues that we all have a role in supporting the change to evidence based health care, so we get the care we need and not treatment that is ineffective or potentially dangerous. Patient advocates explain how to ask your doctor or health professional for evidence about your proposed treatment.

To read transcript or download the audio version of Facing the Evidence Part Two.

Emergencies - When to Call an Ambulance
In a medical emergency, calling for an ambulance could mean the difference between life and death. However, people sometimes hesitate to call because they are not sure if the situation qualifies as an emergency. If in doubt, always call triple zero (000). The Better Health Channel has a factsheet When to Call an Ambulance which takes you through some simple guidelines on how to make the judgment if an ambulance is needed.

To read the factsheet on the Better Health Channel website.

Technology

ICT Access for People with Disabilities in UN Charter
Access to ICT (Information Communications Technology) for people with disabilities has been installed as one of the clauses in the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, which was recently adopted by the United Nations."

"To enable persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life," the convention says, "States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.

"These measures, which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia … information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services."

The convention, under discussion for three years, now goes to an editing stage to ensure the language is consistent with other UN conventions. It will then be put to the nations of the UN for ratification.

Read the full article on the website of Computerworld NZ.

Arts

The Awakenings Festival - Sponsored Travel
The Awakenings Festival, Australia’s only regional disability arts festival, has received funding from the Department of Family and Community Services to bring people with disabilities from interstate to Horsham Victoria, 13 to 22 October. Artists, performers, comedians and others are invited to submit an expression of interest to be part of the fun. Support your travel, accommodation and petrol costs!

For further information or expressions of interest contact Denise Leembruggen, Festival Director on 03 5362 4006 or email denisel@wimmera.unitingcare.org.au

Therapies

New Speech Pathology Service Opening
The state-of-the-art Macquarie University Speech Clinic is now open, providing speech pathology services to both children and adults with communication disorders. The clinic is a teaching and research unit of the Macquarie University Master of Speech and Language Pathology program. Students will see clients for assessment and intervention services, under the direct supervision of expert clinicians and academic staff engaged in clinical research.

Treatment will be provided for the following disorders for children and adults:
- delayed speech and language development
- dyspraxia
- learning and reading difficulties
- stuttering
- voice disorders
- speech difficulties after stroke/other neurological events
- Parkinson’s disease
- Motor Neurone disease.

Services provided:
- full assessments
- individual and group treatments (throughout the year - including school holidays)
- school visits
- nursing home consultations
- educational seminars for schools/preschools/nursing homes
- public information sessions on normal communication development, communication problems and their management.

Times of operation are weekdays 9am to 5pm and till 8pm on certain days and Saturdays. A medical referral is not required. A fee scale applies to visits, potential clients should discuss at time of booking.

For further information and to make a booking phone 02 98501450. The clinic is located on Sydney’s north side, at 299 Lane Cove Road, North Ryde.

PDF (print-friendly version) of this issue of The Scene.

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.