The Scene

Issue 5, 19 March 2007

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Feature

Strategic Plan - Please Share Your Thoughts and Ideas
A message from Rob White, CEO, The Spastic Centre

In July 2004, The Spastic Centre started its journey on our current three year Strategic Plan. Since this time, the plan has provided us with guidance and direction and has resulted in our organisation achieving some tremendous outcomes.

In February 2007, we started another journey - this one intended on taking us through a planning process with key stakeholders so that we are ready to launch our next Strategic Plan in July 2007.

An important part of this journey is to take time to pause and listen to your ideas and suggestions. We have created an online form to make it easier to share your thoughts about the direction of the organisation. This information will be collated along with other feedback and discussed with our Board to assist us with shaping our future direction.

Find the form at www.thespasticcentre.com.au/strategicplan/

Volunteers Needed

Disability Awareness Program for Primary Schools
Volunteers are needed for a successful new disability awareness program for students in Years 5 and 6, offered by The Spastic Centre. The program, Just Like You, aims to help students to understand what it is like to live with a disability. The students learn about different types of disabilities, communicating with people with various disabilities, using appropriate language, etc.

The program is made up of two 90-minute sessions, which are presented one or two weeks apart. Each student is given a booklet of activity sheets. During the sessions there is lots of discussion, brain-storming and hands-on activities. The response from the students so far has been extremely positive.

We would like to deliver in as many schools as possible, and so we are recruiting more volunteer presenters. If you are interested in being involved in this new initiative, or know of anyone else who is, please contact Carole Price at The Spastic Centre on 02 9975 8273. You will be provided with training and all information needed to run the program.

Multicultural

Kidscount
The new Kidscount parenting website has parenting information in 16 languages (Amharic, Dari, Khmer, Swahili, Arabic, Dinka, Macedonian, Tigrinya, Chinese, English, Somali, Turkish, Croatian, Farsi, Spanish and Vietnamese) in both audio and print formats. www.kidscount.com.au is part of the Every Child is Important Program, funded by the federal Department of Families, Communities and Indigenous Affairs.

Holiday Happenings (in the Hunter)

Wheely Big Circus Day
Be a clown, a magician, train an animal, have a laugh, juggle or be in the big parade with your friends … at the Stuart Centre, Croudace Bay (Lake Macquarie) on Thusday 19 April 2007, from 10am–1pm.

Children need to wear casual clothes – party food is provided. Please RSVP on 02 4946 9199 by 4 April 2007. Please let us know if you or your child has any special food needs.

Mum and Dad are welcome to have a coffee break and chat with other parents but please be back by 12 noon for the big parade! Download the Circus Day flyer.

Robokid!
Invent your own robots, make them dance, play football, have battles with other robots, make silly noises and have lots of fun and make new friends. It’s easy!

Peter, a Robo-inventer from LEGO is here to help you at the Stuart Centre, Croudace Bay on Wednesday 18 April 2007, from 10am–1pm. Parents are invited to attend a Robot show-and-tell at 12.30 pm and lunch will be provided afterwards.

Please RSVP to 02 4946 9199 by 4 April. Please let us know if you have any special food requirements. Download the Robokid flyer.

 

Nepean Special needs Junior Soccer Program
The Nepean District Soccer Football Association (NDSFA) is proud to announce the introduction of the Nepean Special Needs Junior Soccer Program. The program is looking for interested boys and girls aged 5–16 years. The district covers the area from Blacktown to Wentworth Falls and from Warragamba to Kurrajong. The program starts on 24 March 2007 at Jamison Park 8, at 9am.

The club is now taking registrations - $60, which includes shorts, socks, shin pads and a ball. For further details, please contact Dennis Malzard on 0431691136 or e-mail on dma02942@bigpond.net.au

Young People

Stride
The Stride Foundation is a non-profit, non-government organisation dedicated to helping improve the physical, mental and social well being of young people and their communities. Stride has been working to help young people for over 19 years in Victoria and across Australia. The website is full of resources, testimonials, school and community programs. Young people can also contact Stride directly, to talk through any personal issues.

The site is www.stride.org.au

Holidays

Uki Guesthouse
Overlooking Mount Warning in northern NSW, Uki Guesthouse welcomes everyone, but most especially people with disability and wheelchair users. The Guesthouse has been designed with accessibility in mind including the accommodation, pool and outdoor entertainment areas. The onsite manager is also a registered nurse and can provide light assistance with activities of daily living such as showering, dressing, dining and retiring, as well as medications if needed.

For more information, view www.e-bility.com/uki/

Technology

Tech Venture with TASC: Technology solutions for computer Access, Seating and Communication
The Spastic Centre’s technology service, TASC, will be holding a series of information session for parents of young children taking their first steps into the adventurous world of technology. Discover how technology can help a child to play, move, communicate and explore their world.

- Ryde Centre, 33a Smalls Rd, Ryde - Tuesday 3 April 2007, 10am-12noon.
- Allambie Heights, 189 Allambie Rd, Allambie Heights - Tuesday 17 April 2007, 7pm–9pm.
- Fairfield City Marconi Centre, 224 Restwell Rd, Prairiewood - Thursday 26 April 2007, 10am–12noon.

To RSVP, or for more information, phone Penny Clarke on 02 9972 8227 or email pclarke@tscnsw.org.au

2007 Technology and Equipment Seminar (Hunter)
A seminar on technology and equipment on Monday 30 April 2007, from 9am at the Stuart Centre, Croudace Bay. Workshops on ‘Communication’, ‘Fun, Leisure and the Environment’ and School – I can participate’ which will all include equipment demonstrations and give practical ideas and solutions to problems such as using switches, the latest in mounting systems, using robotics and communication software for the laptop.

Afternoon seminars have limited positions available, so you’ll need to get in quick! Registration and payment of $25 needs to be in by Friday 20 April.

For more information contact either Jenny Kidd or Cheryl Jones on 4946 9199

Service Providers

ABS QuickMaps
QuickMaps gives you fast and easy access to thematic maps of 2001 Census data for a specific region, completely free of charge. With over half a million maps from which to choose, service providers can easily map the most important demographic characteristics of a region.

All maps can be downloaded as PDF or as an image file.

Click on the link to map your community www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/Home/census/

Conferences .. Workshops .. Forums (Service Providers)

Accessible Arts’ Disability Awareness and Access Training
Accessible Arts offers training for people working in the arts field that focuses on issues associated with legal responsibilities in the arts, the role of artists and art educators in providing access to arts, and checklists on simple ways of improving venue access.

Questions such as: What are different types of disabilities? Is there an understanding in society of issues of disclosure affecting people people with disabilities? How can individuals and front of house staff better serve the disability community? – are all addressed.

The next session is Wednesday 27 March 2007. Registration is due Tuesday 20 March 2007. The training will be held at the Accessible Arts Training Room, Pier 4, The Wharf, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay for a cost of $66.

For further information visit www.arts.net.au and go to the training page.

TABISS Conference 2007
7 April 2007

TABISS (Training and Behavioural Intervention Support Service) is offering a Clinical Practice Forum on 7 April 2007, which will include a presentation on attachment issues in people with an intellectual disability, as well as an opportunity for case discussions / studies around this issue. The presentation will include:

- Brief overview of attachment patterns in people with a developmental delay / intellectual disability.
- Exploration of attachment issues for clients in out-of-home settings.
- Various considerations when creating BIS plans for this group of clients.
- Various considerations when training workers in these settings.

The conference will be run at B2, 11 Hudson Avenue, Castle Hill, NSW from 10am–1pm (Morning tea is provided) and will be presented by Anders Hansson (Senior Clinical Consultant, SBIS, DADHC).

For more information contact Jessica Radovan on 1300 668 123 or email jradovan@interactiondisability.com

Housing and Support for People with Disability Conference: Good news stories and new directions
3 May 2007

Shelter NSW and MDAA are co-hosting a one day conference on housing and support for people with disability, on 31 May 2007 at the Avillion Hotel in Sydney. Confirmed speakers include Chris Glennen, Eddie Bartnick, Trudy Van Dam, Belinda Epstein-Frisch, Simone Finch, and Joseph Connellan. The focus is on good news stories and new directions. Planning is well advanced so for details see the web page for this event on the Shelter NSW website.

For more information visit www.shelternsw.org.au/docs/fly07sem-about.html

Classifieds

For Sale - Mogo Wheelchair (Northern Beaches)
Mogo manual wheelchair, lightweight, with detachable wheels and an adjustable handle. It is in good condition, just serviced and would suit a child up to 12 years of age.

$750 ono.

Contact Clare, phone 02 9948 1776 or 0414 825 688.

For Sale - Magician El. Easystand
Only used for 6 months, in great condition, blue and Black in colour and includes owners manual and tools. Goes from sitting to standing easily and includes a tilt tray.

Original Cost $4800. Asking price $2000 ono.

Please contact Rachael, phone 0429 515 513.

Wanted to Purchase - Lightweight Manual Wheelchair
Second-hand lightweight manual wheelchair. Need one that would suit medium size man.

Northern Beaches Sydney. Phone John 02 9452 4337 or email jmorgan@tscnsw.org.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.