The Scene

Issue 2, 29 January 2007

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Feature

Ignition Mentoring 2007
Ignition offers young people aged between 14-16yrs with cerebral palsy the chance of a lifetime to be part of a fun and engaging mentoring program. The program matches a teenager with a mentor who has been screened and trained for the role. The mentor encourages the teenager by offering support, friendship and positive reinforcement.

The teenager and mentor meet approximately 16 times, between March and November in Sydney’s CBD. They discuss topics chosen by the young people with a small group of other mentors and mentees. There are also fun activities and outings included in the program. It takes place in a safe environment with clear boundaries to ensure that each person involved can safely get the most out of the program.

We are looking for 10 enthusiastic and committed teenagers, aged between 14-16yrs with cerebral palsy who attend mainstream schools, to be part of the program in 2007. We envisage that this program will quickly have waiting lists, so get in while you can.

Please register your interest with us by phoning the CP Helpline 1300 30 29 20.

Research

Cerebral Palsy Research: What’s Next?
Eminent CP researcher, Dr Murray Goldstein, has written a new factsheet for UCP in which he predicts some of the exciting research areas that may have major impact on prevention and treatment for people with CP in the next few years. For more than 10 years, UCP Research and Educational Foundation has documented the steady increase in knowledge about cerebral palsy - its prevention, its causes, its pathologies and treatments. Dr Goldstein says, “we have learned more about cerebral palsy and its causes and treatment in the past two decades than we learned in the previous one hundred years”.

In this new factsheet he explores: advances in methods to detect injury to the developing brain; brain plasticity; and assistive technologies for restitution of function.

View Cerebral Palsy Research: What’s Next?

Sport

Sutherland Titans FC - Soccer For Children With Special Needs
The Sutherland Titans FC was formed in 2006 and is the newest club of the Sutherland Shire Junior Soccer Football Association Inc. The aim of the club is to ensure that kids with special needs are included in the great game of Soccer. The teams play Saturday afternoons in a rooball format (i.e. smaller fields, smaller teams, unlimited interchange, no off sides, etc).

In 2006, Sutherland Titans FC had six teams. Judging by the kids who participate, the club has an exciting future. If you would like to learn more about soccer for kids with special needs email Bree Teal at soccer_stars06@yahoo.com.au or call Stewart Teal on 0424 415 225.

For further information visit www.sutherlandshirespecialdivision.info/

Riding For the Disabled Association (NSW)
Riding for the Disabled (NSW) is a fantastic voluntary organisation that offers horse riding opportunities for people with disabilities across the state.

Horse riding is a unique form of exercise and rehabilitation. The complex movement of the horse helps to improve coordination, balance, muscular development and fitness. Horse riding and horse related activities assist greatly and often dramatically in the development and restoration of personal confidence, self esteem, communication skills, leadership and trust. For people with challenging behaviour, horses offer a powerful medium for restoring a sense of personal control, which significantly improves behaviour towards family teachers and friends.

For more information about a RDA branch near you, visit u www.rdansw.org.au

Parents

Bissells.com
This website was created by parents of twins with cerebral palsy and provides a wealth of valuable information about their experiences as well as information about cerebral palsy.

To read about their experiences visit http://bissells.com

Bullying - No Way!
This site has lots of information, resources and fun things to do on the topic of bullying and its prevention. It has some great pictures and stories made by children and teenagers who have been bullied, or have seen it happen to others, as well as forums for interactive discussions.

For further information visit www.bullyingnoway.com.au

Elite Parenting
This web page was developed by Elizabeth Bruce who provides a thought-provoking outline of her doctoral study on mothers, fathers, siblings and children coming to terms with disability.

Read Mother, Father, Siblings and Children Adapting to Disability.

Contact a Family - Grandparents Factsheet - United Kingdom
The Contact a Family website provides a means for families to connect with other families who have a child with a disability. This factsheet provides useful information about the valuable role of grandparents in the life of a child with disability.

The factsheet is available at www.cafamily.org.uk/grandparents.html

[ Source: Novita Children’s Services, South Australia]

Feeding and Nutrition

Exceptional Parent Magazine - Tubefeeding
This page of the Exceptional Parent Magazine site provides practical information about issues to do with tubefeeding. For further information visit www.eparent.com/healthcare/nutrition_0.htm

Gastrostomy Information and Support Society (GISS)
The major aims of the Gastrostomy Information and Support Society (GISS) are to provide support and information to assist people who have gastrostomies, their families and carers, promote the development of adequate services and facilities for people with gastrostomies and to distribute written information about gastrostomies and the care of the gastrostomy.

For further information visit their website at www.giss.org.au

Arts

Classes at Liverpool Regional Museum for People with Disability

My World is Wearable with Kath Ellis
‘My World is Wearable’ is an accessible art making experience for all ages using everyday objects and materials found in sculpture, weaving, colour and costuming.

In 2007, ‘My World is Wearable’ explores the craft of making and designing jewellery. The purpose of the workshops is for students to share ideas and develop skills in making simple jewellery pieces using various materials including paper, paints, textiles, beads, memory wire, clasps, eye and ear pins. Learn to make your own special pieces that express your newly developed jewellery making skills, your creativity and personality!

The workshops are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10am to 12 noon at the Liverpool Regional Museum and the cost is $5 per session per student.

Pinchpot with Natalie Valiente
Natalie Valiente is an experienced ceramicist and tutor who will guide you through all the basic pinchpot techniques. The workshops aim to build confidence and techniques in hand working, pinching, glazing and decorating clay art. Learn to make bowls, mugs, vases, jars, teapots, tea sets and pinchpot animals. Projects will be determined by the class from various teacher selections. Individual expression is encouraged!

The workshops are open to all ages on the first Friday of every month from 10am to 12 noon and 1pm to 3pm at the Clayhouse and the cost is $5 per session per student.

For more information on either of the two workshops, please contact Ivana Pepic on 02 9824 1121 or email pepic@casulapowerhouse.com or visit their website at www.casulapowerhouse.com.

Classes in Art, Music, Drama at the Manly Warringah Community College
The Manly Warringah Community College will be conducting classes for young people (aged 15 years and over) and adults, with physical or intellectual disabilities. ‘Painting and Drawing’, including abstract will be held on Mondays from 5pm to 6.30pm during term. ‘Drama and Music’ encourages imagination and self-expression by doing voice work, drama exercises and short performance pieces with experienced coach. Classes will be held on Mondays from 9.30am to 11.30am or 12 noon to 2pm. Phone Craig on 0407 016 196.

Accessible classes will be held at the Annex of Narrabeen High School, Pittwater Rd (200 m north of Garden St), North Narrabeen 2101. Accessible buses on Pittwater Road. The cost is $52 for 8 sessions.

For further information phone 02 9970 1000, email enquiries@mwcc.nsw.edu.au, or visit their website at www.mwcc.nsw.edu.au

[Source: Warringah Disability Information Service]

Education

Tertiary Study for Older People
These web pages are designed for mature age people with disabilities and/or medical conditions who are considering tertiary education at TAFE, university or Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). The site provides information on all aspects of tertiary study. It also includes a number of interactive features to assist you find out more about tertiary study, contact the correct people and ask the right questions.

For further information visit www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/maturestudy

[Source: Disability Education and Employment News]

Money

No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS®)
In the last issue of The Scene we told you about a No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS®) operating on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Thanks to one of our readers, we can now share with you that there are NILS® programs available throughout NSW.

A typical NILS® loan is around $600 - $1000 - for a washing machine, fridge or medical appliance. They are designed for low-income households, which often face a major problem if they need to buy an essential household item, but don't have savings and can't get affordable credit. The loans are repaid over 12 to15 months and the money is lent out again to other people in the community. NILS® are run by local community groups such Neighbourhood Centres or charities.

For more information visit www.nilsnsw.org.au

Holidays

Matching Houses
An international house swap website makes it possible for people with similar disability to organise house swaps between people living in the same or different countries of the world. Matching Houses have 567 members in 38 countries from Albania to United States with houses to swap.

For further information visit www.matchinghouses.com

Conferences .. Workshops .. Forums (Service Providers)

Literacy for Students with Complex Communication Needs
Sally Clendon, Ph.D. will be conducting Literacy for Students with Complex Communication Needs workshop on 9 and 10 February 2007 at the Cumberland Campus at the University of Sydney. The workshop will cover:
- Traditional versus contemporary models of literacy.
- Important elements of a comprehensive reading assessment.
- Strategies and technologies for promoting literacy skills at home and school.
- Useful resources for parents and teachers.

This workshop is suitable for people working with children with complex communication needs (teachers, speech pathologists), family members, administrators (education, disability services) and students of health sciences or education.

More information and registration form...

Communicating with People with Lifelong Disability and Complex Communication Needs: AAC Across the Lifespan
Bronwyn Hemsley, B.Ap.Sc and Susan Balandin, Ph.D. will be conducting the workshop ‘Communicating with People with Lifelong Disability and Complex Communication Needs: AAC Across the Lifespan’ on 16 March 2007 at the Cumberland Campus at the University of Sydney.

The workshop will cover:
- functional communication and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
- specific issues related to assessment and intervention strategies used with individuals with complex and multiple disabilities
- the main principles of augmentative and alternative communication
- advantages and disadvantages of different types of AAC systems
- family and environmental considerations related to communication intervention and assessment.

This workshop is suitable for health professionals, people working with people with lifelong disability and complex communication needs, family members, direct support staff, disability service administrators / accommodation managers / training officers and students in the health sciences or education.

More information and registration form...

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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.