The Scene

Issue 10, 28 May 2007

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Feature

Perspectives in Print 2007
You’re invited to be part of the 2007 Perspectives in Print. This photographic exhibition showcases the creative talents of adults and children with disabilities. The theme this year is 'the world through my eyes'. All selected entries will be exhibited as part of CP Week 2007 celebrations on Tuesday 7 August 2007. The venue is yet to be confirmed.

Workshop
This year, Ken Duncan will also reveal some 'tricks of the trade' in a special photography workshop on Saturday 16 June, 9am - 2pm (including light lunch) at McLeod House - The Spastic Centre, 189 Allambie Road, Allambie Heights. RSVP by Wednesday 14 June 2007 to Mish Turner – phone 02 9972 8159.

More details about Perspectives in Print...

Taking Care of Your Back
Are you at risk of back pain or injury? The Spastic Centre is offering a free presentation for parents on how to minimize the chances of injuring your back by explaining how your spine works, how to monitor the environment around you and by demonstrating how to lift and transfer something or someone safely.

This presentation will be held at the Ryde office on 12 June from 10am–12pm, Prairiewood on 14 June from 10am–12pm and at Allambie Heights on 19 June from 7am–9pm. For more details view the Back Care Information Session flyer or contact Penny Clarke on 02 9975 8227 or pclarke@tscnsw.org.au

Parents

Post School Information Sessions
If you are a parent or carer of a child 16 years or older, attendance at this information session could provide you with valuable information about post school opportunities. Representatives from Transition to Work Service Providers, Community Participation Service Providers, Business Services, TAFE and Centrelink will be there to explain and discuss opportunities that are available for your child after they finish school.

The information will cover opportunities available in the Northern Beaches, Baulkham Hills, Ryde and Hornsby areas and will be presented from 4pm–5.30pm on 2 August at the Clarke Road School in Hornsby and on 9 August at the Arranoubai School, Frenchs Forest. For more information about the sessions and some suggested questions to ask, view the Post School Information Sessions flyer or call Eileen Lyons or Belinda Crane on 02 9416 1087.

Arts

Twelfth Night
Recreation Rendezvous Inc. is an organisation on the Lower North Shore of Sydney that provides support to adults with disabilities, living in the area, to access and be included in community recreation activities of their choice. The services include developing personal recreation plans, helping to reach these goals and assisting in finding any necessary information. These services are available to people aged from 18–65 with medium to high support needs. To find out more visit www.recrend.org.au.

One of Recreation Rendezvous’ current projects is the production of Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’, performed by 16 adults with disabilities, adapted and directed by Caroline Downs. It is being performed at 180 Longueville Road, Lane Cove from 18–22 July with prices starting from $8 per adult and $4 per child. For more information about Twelfth Night, phone Recreation Rendezvous on 02 9420 8555.

Accessible Program at the Sydney Film Festival
Throughout June, Accessible Arts, with the Sydney Film Festival, will be screening a series of films about people with a disability. These include Autism Every Day, a moving film about the life of eight families with children who have autism, and Blindsight the awe-inspiring journey of blind Tibetan teens who climb Mount Everest. Hear and Now, winner of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award for Documentary, follows a couple’s decision to undergo cochlear implant surgery after 65 years. Braindamajdd Take II follows filmmaker Paul Nadlers amazing take on traumatic brain injury.

All sessions are wheelchair accessible and other sessions will be audio-described or close captioned, and introductions and Questions and Answers will be Auslan interpreted. There are 12 films in total during the festival, some of which are first time screenings.

The Sydney Film Festival runs from 8–24 June 2007. View full details about the accessible program on the Sydney Film Festival website.

Sport

Sailors with DisABILITIES
Sailors with disABILITIES is a group committed to changing society's perception of people with disabilities by offering harbour sailing, ocean racing, youth programs and an inshore and coastal training program to anyone with a disability. They sail in Sydney every Saturday from 9.30am–12.30pm or 1pm–4pm. The boat can hold up to 14 people at a time and which can include five wheelchairs.

If you are interested in joining up you can call 02 9144 3898 or find more information at www.sailorswithdisabilities.com

Access

Handy's Access All Areas
Do you know of a great accessible pub or club, anywhere across Australia? Share this with others in a new section on the Handy Blog – Handy’s Access All Areas. You have until 30 June to contribute.

Go to http://handykapp.bigblog.com.au then scroll down and click on, 'Handy's Access All Areas' in the 'Blog Categories' box on the right hand side of the screen. Choose, 'Leave a Comment'.

Education

Teaching Students with Sensory Impairments
Now available on the web are two free handbooks on teaching students with sensory impairments. The handbooks are the result of a collaborative effort among educators from Australia, New Zealand and the United states who wanted to provide a freely available resource for teachers to help include those with hearing or vision impairments in mainstream classrooms. The books include strategies on inclusion, interventions, teaching and activities. The handbooks would also be useful for parents, carers and therapists who look after those with sensory impairments.

To access and download the workbooks go to www.trinity.edu/org/sensoryimpairments

Footwear

Socks for AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthoses)
The purpose of the AFO sock is to provide a knee length, smooth, firm fitting, good wearing, and absorbent sock with a low tendency to crease inside an orthotic. Thicker elastane, mercerised cotton for absorbency and linked toes work together to stop creasing. The overall material mix includes 95% cotton, 3% nylon and 2% lycra so they are comfortable and practical.

AFO socks for children and adults are now stocked my GOmobilit. Phone them on 02 9975 8202 or email rtapp@tscnsw.org.au for sizes and prices.

Money

Model Trust and Deed Booklet
Two new booklets have been designed to provide guidance to families who wish to set up a special disability trust. The deed contains both compulsory clauses that are required to satisfy the requirements for accessing social security concessions, and non-compulsory clauses that provide options for the person with severe disability and their family.

The booklets can be downloaded from the Special Disability Trusts page of the Department of Familes Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA) website, or phone 1800 050 009.

Technology

Switch Gaming
Switch Gaming is a means of playing computer or Playstation games using a switch interface. Switches are an accessible way of using computers, a keyboard or joypad alternative, often consisting of one, two or three buttons of various shapes and sizes. Switch Gaming is all about making video games more playable for those finding standard controllers too hard to use. With the right set-up, it is possible to connect specialised controls to most games machines using a switch interface.

These 'specialised controls' include switches which can be operated by different parts of the body, and which can also be shared out amongst a team of gamers working the same game.

If you use a switch interface to access your computer and are into a bit of gaming - or think you might want to be - then the BBC’s Ouch website has collected together some top tips, suggested games, accessibility gear, technological information, websites and message boards you can visit to help you in your quest to become the ultimate games master! To view their guide, go to www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/closeup/switchgaming_guideto.shtml

[Source – e-bility]

Talking Symbols Notepad
The affordable Talking Symbols Notepad was developed to help engineer environments that promote learning in every corner. Record a 10-second message, add a matching symbol and mount it on any surface using Velcro® or the notepad’s internal magnet. Now you’re ready to make language ’visible’ with motivational messages, assignments, instructions, reminders and more. Sold in packs of three.

For pricing, visit www.technability.com.au

National Relay Service
The National Relay Service (NRS) offers phone solutions to people who have a speech or vision impairment. The telephone operators of NRS can act as a relay between someone who is hearing impaired and the other person on the line. The service has now been extended to the Internet so callers can use their computer and keyboard, or a 3G mobile phone, to make free calls to the service. NRS has released an introductory brochure on the new service.

Find out more about all the NRS services at www.relayservice.com.au

Health

Transition Care
The Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce (GMCT) has developed a specialty service network called Transition Care for Young People with Chronic Illnesses/Disabilities. The network has been developed to help young people move successfully from child to adult services. Their website provides factsheets, check lists and references to help the process as well as collecting data on current transition programs and service gaps to help improve the system in the future.

The website also has a section where you can have your own say by adding in your own personal stories. Find it at www.health.nsw.gov.au/gmct/transition/index.html

Conferences... Workshops... Seminars

Centre for Developmental Disability Services (CDDS)
The CDDS is a part of Sydney University and aims to create and disseminate knowledge about developmental disabilities. Two workshops on dysphagia will be offered in July:

Dysphagia Intervention Workshop
‘Birth to 21’: The management of Dysphagia in Infants, Toddlers, Older Children, School-age and Young People, will have a clinical focus on intervention in children and adults, covering topics that represent current areas of concern and interest in the field of disability and dysphagia management. The course will be run on 4-5 July 2007 in room B030 of the Faculty of Health Sciences in Sydney University from 9.15am–4.30pm both days. Cost starts from $385 per person, but group discounts are available. Lunch and refreshments provided. Download registration form.

Dysphagia Certification Workshop
Dysphagia Screening Assessment for Children and Adults with Developmental Disability: Certification Workshop. This training course certifies you to use the Dysphagia Disorders Survey (DDS), the Dysphagia Management Staging Scale (DMSS), the Choking Risk Assessment (CRA) and the Pneumonia Risk Assessment (PRA) and shows you how to use the results of these screening assessments to develop management plans. The training will be run on 6 July 2007 in the Charles Blunt Conference Room at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Ryde from 9.15am–4.30pm. Costs start at $374 per person, but group discounts apply. Lunch and refreshments are provided. Download registration form.

CDDS also offer a Graduate Program, in which you can obtain a Graduate Certificate, Masters or Honours in Developmental Disability. It can be completed online or part time at Sydney University.

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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.