The Scene

Issue 13, 16 July 2007

Back to The Spastic Centre

Feature

Cerebral Palsy: A Positive Future
A new DVD on cerebral palsy has been produced by the Adelaide Children, Youth and Women’s Health service, in conjunction with Novita Children’s Services. The centrepiece of the DVD is a 57-minute documentary, which looks at, and reflects on, the experiences of four children, each of whom have a different presentation of cerebral palsy. The documentary also includes interviews with medical and allied health specialists covering a range of topics, including: adjustment to disability; early intervention; physical management; the team approach; Botulinum Toxin A; orthopaedic care; occupational therapy; education; communication; mealtime management; nutrition; alternative therapies; and support.

In addition to the documentary, more detailed text-based information can be accessed via the DVD menu. This includes contacts for Australian services and more information on the types of cerebral palsy, fixed contractures, surgical and medical management, nutrition, equipment and aids.

The DVD sells for $22. Download an order form from the Novita Children's Services website. (PDF)

Arts

Arts Activated Conference
26-27 September, Sydney Conservatorium of Music

A reminder about the Arts Activated Conference - a celebration for all those passionate about people with disabilities and their active inclusion and participation in the arts. It will be an opportunity to participate in seminars and practical workshops in dance, theatre, visual arts, audience development and community cultural development and to acknowledge, share and network with other practitioners and administrators. Come and be inspired by innovative and groundbreaking programs, ideas and facilitators in the beautiful surroundings of the Sydney Conservatorium.

For more information you can visit the Arts Activated Conference website or contact Accessible Arts on 02 9251 6499 or email kmercer@aarts.net.au.

Information Sessions

Vehicle Modifications
Are you interested in learning how to modify your vehicle? Accessible Transit Specialists, a company that provides vehicle, van and bus conversions for the disability industry and aged care, are sending Dick Jones to provide us with information about the best way to plan for a vehicle conversion, choosing a vehicle that best suits your needs and discussing the many ways of modifying a vehicle.

The information session will be held three different locations:
- Ryde, Tuesday 14 August, 10am - 12noon - 3a Smalls Road, Ryde (next to Dept of Education & Training)
- Allambie Heights, Thursday 16 August, 7pm - 9pm - 189 Allambie Road, Allambie Heights (Head Office Boardroom)
- Prairiewood, Wednesday 22 August, 10am - 12noon - 224-244 Restwell Road, Prairiewood.

Refreshments are available and childcare is available upon request – please give five days notice. Bookings are essential, please phone Penny Clarke on 02 9975 8227 or email pclarke@tscnsw.org.au

Parents

Families in Partnership Co-operative
Families in Partnership Co-operative, in the Macarthur region, focuses on advocacy, providing information and resources as well as creating links and developing awareness within the local community.

Its new website offers information about current projects, a general information and referral service, access to support groups, a comprehensive links page and free downloadable fact sheets which cover topics such as; Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, ‘Ten Commandments’ of Children with Special Needs and Communicating with Someone who has a Disability. Their website can be found at www.fip.org.au.

Out & About

Nepean Disabilities Social Group
A fortnightly social group for people with disabilities and their carers in Penrith. You are invited to come along for a chat and to make new friends. Every week will be different with games, craft or guest speakers. People with high support needs will need to bring their carer with them. The group meets on the first and third Monday of every month, 10am - 2pm at the Senior Citizens Centre, Station Street Penrith. There will be a one off charge of $12 per year for Insurance, and a cost of $2 per social day.

For more information contact Anne Stratton on 0421 517735 or Kevin Finlayson on 0402 670717 or email Kevin at kevin1952@bigpond.com.au.

Behaviour

Tactile Defensiveness
‘Don't touch me! - Working through tactile defensiveness’ by Cathy Haarstad, Disability Solutions.

Children with disabilities may have difficulties tolerating normal types of touch and movements such as their hair being brushed or clothing being itchy and scratchy. This response to touch is called tactile defensiveness and the article explains what tactile defensiveness is, the different types of touch, the impact it can have on family life, how to respond to tactile defensive behaviours, strategies to decrease sensitivity, teaching desired behaviour and how to explain this behaviour to others.

View the article on Tactile Defensiveness on the Disability Solutions website.

[ Source: CCS Information Service, NZ, 2007]

Technology

Technability
Technability is a commercial arm of The Spastic Centre, supplying technology for communication, computer access and environmental control. Along with all its products, the Technability website has a Support Section with links to ideas and resources to assist with assistive technologies, personal stories, links to useful websites and a glossary of terms. A new Troubleshooting Section is also available, with quick links to common technical issues and ways to overcome them.

Service Providers

Cerebral Palsy - CP Australia Conference
Presentations from this year’s CP Australia conference are now available to download free of charge from the CP Australia website. The Conference theme was ‘Thinking Outside the Chair’ and featured presentations in three streams: Arts & Leisure; Service Innovation; and Research.

Find the papers on the CP Australia website.

Hey Dad Parenting Education Program for Fathers of a Child with Disability
Many fathers want to be more involved with their child but can lack confidence and the support needed to raise a child with special needs. UnitingCare Burnside has developed a Hey Dad Parenting Education Program manual, which comprises Sessions for Dads and Kids Activity Workshops. The manual will provide 18 months of material for fathers and their children before any may be repeated. It is designed for fathers to be involved in selecting what issues are most relevant to themselves and their child.

Download the Program Manual form (PDF). If you are interested in becoming a facilitator of the Hey Dad program, a two day training course is being held for facilitators on 15-16 August 2007 in Sydney from 9.30am - 4.30pm. More information (PDF).

ATSI - Interactive Ochre
For service providers working with clients from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, in conjunction with the Aboriginal Education Program of TAFESA, have developed ‘Interactive Ochre’. This interactive CD-ROM uses the tradition of storytelling to look at the impact upon Aboriginals of European settlement, Indigenous traditions, racism and working with Aboriginal people through animation, video clips, song, graphics and pictures. More than 100 Indigenous people from every state and territory in Australia were involved in the production of this unique cultural awareness e-learning resource, which can be dipped into for a few minutes or provide up to five days of in-depth training.

Priced at $400, Interactive Ochre is available from TVET Australia on 03 9832 8188, or visit the website. Once purchased, an organisation can download the CD-ROM onto its server or make additional copies, provided that the resource is not 'on-sold' or lent to another organisation.

[Source: Disability Infoxchange]

Current and Future Demand for Specialist Disability Services
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published a report on the findings of a study on levels of unmet demand for specialist disability services funded under the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement. The report gives estimates of current levels of unmet demand for accommodation and respite services, community access services, and disability employment services, and presents data and commentary relating to projected future demand and the key factors likely to influence levels of demand in coming years.

Download the report from the AIHW website.

Conferences... Workshops... Seminars (Service Providers)

‘In Tune’ - Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) Conference
5–7 November 2007 - Fremantle, Western Australia

The theme of the conference is 'Active Citizenship and Community Engagement', which reflects the aim to continue building inclusive communities where people with disabilities can engage and participate as much as anyone else. The keynote speakers will be: Eddie Bartnik, Disability Services Commission, Western Australia; Ruth Cromer, actor and advocate; Professor Hyung Shik Kim, Professor of Social Policy, Chung-ang University, Korea and Dr Levan Lim, Early Childhood and Special Needs Education Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

The conference will cost $473 for member and $550 for members. Visit the conference website www.strongercommunities.curtin.edu.au/assid2007/index.htm for more details and to register online.

Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference
12–15 May 2008 - Marriot Hotel, Surfers Paradise

The Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference focuses on technologies to support people with disabilities and/or learning difficulties. The conference will focus on how these technologies can be applied in the classroom or within disability support organisations. Keynote presenters include Dr Caroline Musselwhite, speech language pathologist and assistive technology specialist, and Kelly Fonner and Scott Marfilius, who are both consultants and trainer in the areas of assistive and educational technology.

The conference will cost: $595 for three days, $220 per day and $220 for the pre-conference workshop. Registrations are open and you can see the preliminary conference program and further details at www.spectronicsinoz.com/conference/2008/

Classifieds

Mulholland Walkabout for Sale
A family in Brewarrina, in northwestern NSW, is hoping to sell their two-year-old Mullholland walker. It is in very good condition and suitable for toddlers aged 2–6 years old. Retailing for around $4,000 new, the family are looking to sell it for only $1,500. Instruction manual is included.

If you are interested please contact the Dubbo Office of The Spastic Centre on 02 6882 1077. Th walker can be transferred to a closer Spastic Centre site for pick up, If you do not live in the Dubbo area.

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.