The Scene

Issue 19, 27 November 2006

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Features

Transition of Care from Ageing Parents – Research Project
You're invited to participate in an important new research project that will offer valuable insights into the experiences of brothers and sisters of people with cerebral palsy (CP) who have ageing parents or carers.

'The transition of care from ageing parents: achieving flexible relationships between adults with cerebral palsy, their siblings and service providers' is a research project coordinated by Associate Professor Susan Balandin, Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn, and Ms Angela Dew from The University of Sydney.

You’re invited to be part of this project if:
- You have CP, or you are the brother or sister of someone with CP
AND
- You have parents/carers over the age of 60.

The aim is to better understand the role that adult siblings play in the care of their brother or sister with CP as their parents get older, and how adults with CP view their adult sibling’s role in their lives.

If you choose to participate you would be involved in a maximum of four face-to-face interviews, lasting for approximately 1½ hours, in a place that suits you. Interviews would be tape recorded with your permission.

During these interviews you will be asked to discuss your perceptions and experiences of being an adult sibling with or without CP, the roles you play in the life of your sibling with or without a disability now, and how you see that role changing in the future. The information gathered will help services like The Spastic Centre to better support families and people with CP as their parents/carers age.

If you are interested in finding out more about the research please call Angela Dew from the University of Sydney on 02 9351 9050 [or email a.dew@fhs.usyd.edu.au], Susan Balandin from the University of Sydney on 02 9351 9334 or Iona Novak from the Spastic Centre on 02 9972 8148.

Visit the Transition of Care web page to download information sheets and consent form.

International Day of People with a Disability
Three more events to celebrate the International Day of People with a Disability…

Funability Day in Burwood - An interactive program for children and young people with a disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Display of artworks, opportunities to play different musical instruments, participate in Bollywood dancing, belly dancing and other fun events. Funability will be held at Woodstock Community Centre, 22 Church Street, Burwood on Monday 4 December 2006 from 10am to 1pm. For further information contact Stephen, Nelly or Myra on 02 9569 1288, 02 9911 9858 or email epdp@idx.com.au

IDEAS Disability Expo in Albury - A major Disability Expo on Friday 1 December which will bring the latest technology, equipment and services available to people in the south west of NSW. The day will be held at the Mirambeena Centre, 19 Martha Mews, Lavington, Albury. A number of workshops will also be held on Thursday 30 November for people with disabilities, parents, carers and service providers. For more information about the Expo, call the staff at IDEAS on 1800 029 904, email ideas@ideas.org.au or visit the website www.ideas.org.au

Club Wild Workshop at Campbelltown - Choose from three workshops:
- African drumming and dance – Tuesday to Thursday 28 to 30 November from 10am to 3pm. 25 places at $30 each. Prepare an original performance for the Club Wild Dance Party.
- DJ Workshop - Tuesday to Thursday 28 to 30 November from 10am to 3pm. 25 places at $30 each. Use DJ CD decks, choose a set list and perform at the Club Wild dance party event on Friday 1 December.
- Techies Day – Friday 1 December from 10am to 4pm and 6.30 to 10pm. Learn about audio, lighting, video, and stage management with the Arts Centre's professional technical production team, and help set up and run the Club Wild show on Friday 1 December. Cost $10.

The workshop will be held at the Campbelltown Arts Centre, corner of Camden and Appin Roads, Campbelltown. Bookings are essential email artscentre@campbelltown.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 4645 4100.

Out & About

Festival of Sydney
The 2007 Sydney Festival program has been released, with two notable productions…

The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom – Theatre Royal - Australia's high mandarin of satire, John Clarke, joins Neil Armfield and composer Alan John to stage a children's musical for non-serious adults. A sprawling visual feast with a cast of Company B's finest and a flock of kids, Snugglepot & Cuddlepie will recreate May Gibbs' iconic world in all its squawking, brawny splendour. Suitable for 6 years and over.

Small Metal Objects [Back to Basic Theatre] – A production that unfolds amid the high volume pedestrian traffic of Sydney's bustling Customs House Square. On a raised seating bank with individual sets of headphones, the audience is wired in to an intensely personal drama being played out somewhere in the crowd. Performed by an ensemble cast of five people with intellectual disabilities, the drama explores the theme of respect in society.

These, and all the Festival events, can be found at www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Parents

Online Social Networking – Children with Learning Disabilities
Social networking on the Internet has become increasingly popular amongst children and teenagers. Online socialising offers many benefits, particularly for children with communication impairments. Yet there are also risks – which are magnified in those with learning difficulties. Reports of those dangers and incidents have been a hot topic in the media.

A good article on the SchwabLearning website, When Kids Network Online, explores these issues and discusses the measures that parents can take to maintain their child’s safety and privacy.

Holiday Accommodation

Lucy’s Lodge at Daylesford, Victoria
Lucy was a little girl with severe cerebral palsy and epilepsy. When she passed away, her mother Anne decided to use all the specialised equipment to set up bed and breakfast style accommodation in her home in Daylesford, Victoria. This area is renowned for its galleries, gourmet food, mineral springs, festivals and markets.

Lucy's Lodge is located at 5 Stanbridge Street, Daylesford (Victoria).

Visit Lucy's Lodge website at www.lucyslodge.com.au for more information on the accommodation or contact Anne Huxtable on 03 5348 1925 or info@lucyslodge.com.au.

[ Source: Disability News Infoxchange Australia]

Students

Online Support for Isolated Students
A new online service is available to isolated students of the TAFE NSW Western Institute, particularly those with disabilities. Student Support Services Online provides direct email contact to counsellors, librarians and trainers, which reduces the need for students to be on-campus. Specific topics on the online support service include information about assistive technology, direct links to support agencies, basic computer skills, Internet use, catalogue and database searching and research skills. The Australian Flexible Learning Framework has funded the initiative.

Mmore information about the Inclusive e-Learning (Disabilities) Project.

Service Providers

Disability Services OHS Website
The nation’s first website dedicated to occupational health and safety in the disability services sector is now available. ACROD NSW, in partnership with WorkCover NSW and the NSW Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care (DADHC) developed the site as part of the year long Disability Services Occupational Health and Safety Project (DSOP). It addresses three key risk areas for the disability services section: violence; manual handling; and work conducted in the community and in the homes of service users.

Each risk area section contains a factsheet, case studies and practice examples provided by ACROD members from across NSW. Each document in every section provides comprehensive linkages to authoritative information sources at key points throughout the text. This approach provides one-stop reference point for organisations seeking OHS information.

The DSOP website isl www.acrodnsw.net/DSOP/index.html

Classifieds

AMDi Tech/Talk 8 Recordable Voice Output Device
The Tech/Talk 8 is an extremely robust device but its light weight and the carry strap make it very portable. Good battery life with 4 AA batteries.
- Record & playback up to 64 messages on 8 levels with 8 messages per level.
- Four seconds per message.
- Eight 2.5 inch x 2.5 inch message cells compatible with Mayer-Johnson BoardMaker.
- Light touch membrane switch pad provides consistent ease of activation.
- Simple rotary on/off volume control and a level select switch.
- Built in speaker and recording with jacks for optional external inputs or outputs.

The device is in excellent condition, very little use, no wear and tear - $800 ono.

Phone Dianne Robinson on 02 9894 0045 or email dianne_robinson@hotmail.com.

Forearm Support Walker
Heavy duty 'Walking Tutor', fully adjustable, padded forearm supports, epoxy coated grey steel frame, folds for transport & storage.

Available with glides, castors or wheels on the rear and wheels on the front. Very good condition - $300 ono.

Phone Dianne Robinson on 02 9894 0045 or email dianne_robinson@hotmail.com.

Technology [Advertisement]

ChatPC-M3
The new ChatPC-M3 is a portable hand-held Speech Generating Device (SGD) for those who prefer a discreet communication aid. Based on a Pocket PC, this compact device features a touch screen with brilliant colour dynamic display and excellent speech quality. The ChatPC-M3 can be customised to suit young children or adults and is an ideal assessment tool for therapists. Complete with PC Editing software, the ChatPC-M3 is a versatile communication device with all the style and features of mainstream technology. Priced from $4041.

For further information on ChatPC-M3 visit www.technability.com.au

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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.