The Scene

Issue 20, 11 December 2006

Back to The Spastic Centre

Feature

‘Thinking Outside the Chair’ - Innovation, Creativity and Collaboration
The Future of Disability Services

The 2007 National Conference of CP Australia will be held on Thursday May 24 and Friday May 25, 2007 at Jupiters Casino Gold Coast, Queensland. The conference is a biennial event that brings together clients, staff and management of disability organisations from across Australia to share information, consider national and international research, trends, network, and share ideas and experiences.

The conference will focus on innovative and creative solutions from both the service user and service provider perspective. The conference will run concurrent sessions with particular focus on innovation, as it relates to research, service delivery and empowering people with a disability to meaningfully participate in the community. For further information visit the CP Australia Conference 2007 website.

History

Audrie McLeod's Diary
In 1938, co-founder of The Spastic Centre, Audrie McLeod began a diary for her baby daughter, Jennifer Gay McLeod. This remarkable manuscript tracks Audrie’s emotional journey from the wonderment of the first few weeks to her growing concerns for her baby Jennifer. It is a journey with which many parents will identify, even today.

Jennifer was diagnosed with cerebral palsy sometime after Audrie concluded the diary. She and Neil (Mac) McLeod went onto establish The Spastic Centre in January 1945.

Our thanks to Dr Robin Way, Audrie and Neil’s second daughter, for allowing us to publish Audrie McLeod's diary for Jennifer.

Parents

Lime Taxis
Lime Taxis is a fleet of wheelchair accessible taxis that are now operating on Sydney's north side, city and Eastern Suburbs. The fleet uses the Mercedes-Benz Vitoare, which can carry one person in a wheelchair and up to three additional passengers.

Passengers with disclosed disabilities will be given priority booking. There are currently 20 vehicles in the fleet with an additional 20 by mid December 2006, and 90 vehicles operating across Sydney by March 2007. Travellers with disabilities are urged to register to ensure that any special requirements are logged in the Lime Taxi database for future journeys.

For further information visit the Lime taxi website or phone 1355 463.

Summer

FreeWheelers - Beach Wheelchairs
Several local councils and surf clubs have the Freewheeler wheelchair for loan this summer. This specially designed wheelchair has soft pneumatic balloon tyres that roll easily over sand and low waves, when pushed by a carer. They are suited to anyone with mobility difficulties aged 6 years and over.

Northern (Sydney) Beaches
For a free booking, contact:
- Manly Council – Ellen Turley on phone 9976 1562, fax 9976 1466, email ellen.turley@manlycouncil.nsw.gov.au.. Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.
- Mosman Council – Dragana Marinkov on phone 9978 4128, fax 9978 4137,
email d.marinkov@mosman.nsw.gov.au . Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm.
- Pittwater Council – Fiona Winter on phone 9970 1170, fax 9970 1197,
or email fiona_winter@pittwater.nsw.gov.au . Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm or Friday 8am to 5pm.

For Newport Surf Life Saving Club and Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club bookings contact
- Warringah Council - Customer Service desk on phone 9942 2111. Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. For use at Collaroy beach.

Central Coast
Life Without Barriers (Central Coast), in partnership with Gosford City Council, now have all terrain wheelchairs available for use at the following locations: Terrigal Beach, Wamberal Beach, North Avoca Beach, Avoca Beach, Copacabana Beach, McMasters Beach, Ocean Beach and Umina Beach.

To book one of the wheelchairs, please contact the following:
- Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Gosford City Council Lifeguard Services on 02 4385 8106
- Saturday and Sunday contact the individual Surf Life Saving Club

Further enquiries: Leanne Reading, Life Without Barriers, phone 02 4353 0126

[Source: Warringah Disability Information Service and IDEAS Disability E-news]

Collaroy Beach - Rock Pool and the Liberty Swing
A popular northern beach, Collaroy attracts visitors from across Sydney over summer. Facilities for people with mobility disabilities include access ramps into the larger and wading pools and a grab rail along the pool cliff side. The submersible wheelchair and MLAK key for the accessible toilet are available from the Lifeguard Room at the NE corner of nearby Collaroy Surf Club building. The Freewheeler beach wheelchair is also available.

There are wheelchair accessible paths to the Surf Club, toilet, pool showers and paths around the pool, with wider disabled parking spaces near the enclosed children’s playground. The Liberty Swing for wheelchair users (use with MLAK key) is nearby. There is ramp access to the beach south of the pool. Accessible buses travel along on Pittwater Road and there are a number of accessible cafes in the vicinity.

[Source: Warringah Disability Information Service]

Holiday Ideas
Living in Sydney and not sure what to do these holidays? The Spastic Centre’s Recreation Co-ordinator (Adult Resource Program) has put together these accessible holiday ideas for the adventurous – including day trips and fun ideas to do at home.

Web

Blog Challenge - Change Your World
Jenny Kapp is a freelance journalist, with CP, who has her own communications business called HandyKapp. Her blob (web log) is called The Handy Blog. Over the holidays, she has set us 'Handy's 90 Day Challenge',

Please join her - pick a small task that you think could change your world (or someone else's) and do it each day until 20 January 2007. You can alert your fellow Challengers of your quest by leaving a message at The Handy Blog. Everyone who enters will receive either a limited edition Handy's 90 Day Challenge' coffee mug or a t-shirt and she is planning an online celebration at the end of it all. More information at the HandyKapp website www.handykapp.com

If you're not keen on throwing your hat into the ring this time around, don't worry. The 2nd 'Handy's 90 Day Challenge' starts on 21 January 2007. Jenny is planning a People's Choice Award, snap polls, celebrity challenges and a competition to guess the title of her (as yet unwritten) novel.

Somazone
Somazone is a website for young people, hosted by the Australian Drug Foundation, which has proven a huge hit across Australia. Somazone offers visitors an anonymous and professional Q&A service that provides clear, unbiased, non-judgmental answers to any questions they may have about drugs, sex, sexual health, mental health issues, harassment/abuse, relationships, body image and eating disorders. The answers are provided by a panel of health professionals, but its extra value lies in the fact other young people are also free to add their comments about the issue and circumstances of each posting.

The combination of peer support and expert opinion could be the secret to its success. Find it at www.somazone.com.au.

Health

Complementary Therapies
Complementary therapies such as massage have been practiced as a healing tradition in many cultures for thousands of years. Modern studies show that massage can successfully treat a range of disorders, including back pain, anxiety and high blood pressure.

A range of factsheets on various complementary therapies can be found on the Better Health Channel website.

Access

New Guideline For Making Payphones More Accessible For People With Disabilities
A new industry guideline to ensure that payphones are accessible for people with disabilities has been developed by Communications Alliance and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).

The guideline states that payphones should be installed so they can be more easily accessed by people with wheelchairs or other mobility aids; they should have features including volume control so that people with hearing impairments can use the phone; and they should have other features such as keys that are recessed or concave, with clear lettering and/or numbering that allows easy use for people with vision impairments or other physical disabilities. The guideline can be viewed and downloaded from the Communications Alliance website.

Multicultural

Launch of the NESB and Disability Clearinghouse
Access to information in multiple languages has just become easier with the new Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) clearinghouse. This web page brings together information in community languages about disability, community services, rights and other related areas. View it at www.mdaa.org.au/clearing/

Service Providers

ACROD Rename - National Disability Services
ACROD, the Australian industry association for disability services is changing its name to National Disability Services Limited (NDS). The association believes that the re-branding process will deliver a new name and a clearer sense of ACROD’s purpose and core values. Further information will be provided with the implementation of the new brand. www.acrod.org.au

Employment

myQuiz
myQuiz is a series of multimedia learning tools, accessible from the myfuture website. The series has been developed to assist career practitioners engage young people in career development and planning. You play the myQuiz activities to help you learn about what you need to do when looking for a job or exploring your favourite career ideas.

For further information visit www.myfuture.edu.au/articles/redirect.asp?articleID=2055

[ Source: Disability Education and Employment News]

Conferences .. Workshops .. Forums (Clients and Families)

FamilyCare Workshops 2007
In 2007, FamilyCare is again offering a series of workshops around NSW to provide participants with an understanding of the personal and family challenges typically associated with managing a person’s disability, providing care and living a family life. The workshops encourage parents and siblings to objectively assess their circumstances and to identify short and long-term caring strategies. The workshops remind parents, carers and professionals that they are more effective if they understand the overall needs of a family providing lifelong care.

The 2007 calendar can be viewed on the FamilyCare website. For more information about the workshops, email admin@familycare.org.au.

Conferences .. Workshops .. Forums (Service Providers)

Literacy for Students with Complex Communication Needs
The Disability Initiative and the Discipline of Speech Pathology present ‘Literacy for Students with Complex Communication Needs’. This two-day workshop will be held on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 February 2006 from 9.30am to 4.30pm, at Room B020 Cumberland Campus, The University of Sydney. The workshop is for teachers, speech-language pathologists and parents. The cost for both days is $350 (if register on or before Friday 2 February). Concessions available for full-time students and parents of children with complex communication needs.

The presenter, Sally Clendon is a Research Associate in the Disability Initiative in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney where she is involved in research and helps to coordinate Graduate Programs in Developmental Disability. For further information and to download registration form, see see the posting on the CommunityNET website.

Innovative Communication Programming Online Courses 2007
Innovative Communication Programming are conducting a number of online courses in 2007.

Courses include Augmentative and Alternative Assessment of Intentional and Symbolic Communicators, Using AAC to Develop Emotions and Problem Solving and Participation Through Communication Guide For People Who Are Pre-Intentional.

For further information about these and other courses ICP run, visit www.e-bility.com/talktogether/training.php

Great Gift Idea

Talking Photo Album - Special Offer
The Talking Photo Album is the ideal gift this Christmas. Simply add your own photographs, drawings or symbols to create a 24 page talking flip book. With 10 seconds of recording time per page, the Talking Photo Album can be used as an interactive storyteller, conversation book, classroom teaching aid or personal biography.

As a special offer to subscribers of The Scene - if you call Technability before the 20th December and purchase a Talking Photo Album, they will take 10% of the usual retail price of $54.00. A great stocking filler so call Technability on 02 9975 8240 to ask about this special offer.

Classifieds

Miniwalk Walking Support
The Miniwalk Walking Support has anti tippers and has had very little use.

It is suitable for a child aged 4 to 7 years.

Cost $2820 but will sell for $1500.

The vendors are in Bangalee (North Nowra).

For further information contact Laurie or Debbie on 02 4422 4722.

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.