The Scene is The Spastic Centre's free fortnightly e-newsletter.
It features news, events, issues, links and contacts for people living with cerebral palsy, their families and service providers.
Subscribe to The Scene
The Spastic Centre Professional Development Calendar
The Spastic Centre supports the ongoing growth and development of staff working in the disability sector and offers a wide range of workshops each year through its Professional Development Calendar.
With courses for professionals, service providers, educators, clients, carers and families, the calendar includes topics from Makaton to Seating and Positioning, or Environmental Modifications.
View the Calendar online or contact Erin Casey, T: 02 9479 7237 or ecasey@tscnsw.org.au
Sports
Know Your Rights Under the DDA
Discrimination happens when a person with a disability is treated less fairly than a person without a disability. What does this mean?Who is covered? What is harassment? What about the workplace? How do you make or resolve a complaint? A small booklet that answers these and other questions is available from the Human Rights and equal Opportunity Commission on 02 9284 9600.
Visit www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/publications.html to order booklets and posters in 16 community languages.
Parents
Families Supporting Families Operation Adaption Guide
‘Operation Adaption: A parent to parent guide for you and your child with additional needs’ is the newest publication of Families Supporting Families. Here parents of children with disability share information, ideas, personal experiences and tips about home, school, transport, funding, respite, services, leisure and other life activities. This guide has been produced without copyright as a gift from FSF to all families with children with special needs, their service providers and schools.
The guide is free to use, just be sure to credit Families Supporting Families so they can develop the guide further in the future www.e-bility.com/fsf
[
Source: www.e-bility.com – February 2008 newsletter]
Resources
Free Large and/or Additional Cursors and Pointers for your Computer 
If you have or know someone with visual or perceptual difficulties, various options exist for cursor enlargement and visibility. On your computer, go to Windows Control Panel, select Personalize then Mouse Pointers or go straight to the Mouse folder and change your options there. Other options are available from several websites that offer free downloadable icons, including animated, coloured, large, I-beams or circles.
These websites are the ACE Centre in the UK or from www.philip-henderson.co.uk
[
Source: Ability Technology – Summer 2008 newsletter]
Free Telstra Directory Assistance Number 1223
Telstra replaced its 12456 directory assistance number with the Sensis 1234 directory service number which costs 40c to call the number, then 4c a second.
Free directory assistance is available on 1223.
Dinner is Served – Food & Fluid Through a Tube: Enteral Nutrition Explained
Dinner is Served has been developed by the Australian Government and Disability Enterprises in order to assist support workers, individuals and families to become competent and confident in supporting people who require enteral nutrition. Through the workbook, CD-Rom and DVD this resource will assist in training people how to safely administer nutrients via a gastrostomy tube.
Costs start from $30 for carers and individuals. To find out more or to order this resource visit www.cnet.ngo.net.au/images/stories/tubeflyer.pdf
Conferences.. Workshops.. Forums..
Behaviour Support Workshops Calendar (Sydney North)
Hosted by the Department of Disability, Ageing and Home Care plus a number of service providers in Sydney’s North, a new training calendar is designed to be easily accessible to a variety of different people working in the area of behavior support work; from direct care staff to managers, from families to clinicians. The purpose of the workshops is to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of people working in the field of disabilities, and the variety of challenges that this work brings. View the calendar for full course and registration details.
All workshops require only a gold coin donation to attend. If, in the future, you have any ideas on topics you would like to see presented, a topic you are interested in presenting yourself or the enthusiasm to help the working group continue to run this workshop calendar, send an email to Ken Ferris at kenneth.ferris@dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Technology
Wave Trackball
For computer users who prefer to work alone, or in small groups, WAVE is an affordable trackball for plug-and-play access to any classroom or home computer. Specifically designed to assist those with motor skill difficulty, the WAVE features an oversized trackball with free-running movement that requires only the slightest touch to control.
Colour-coded buttons allow for left and right clicks, as well as drag lock, giving users the ability to ‘lock on’ to a screen object so it can be dragged without continuously pressing a button. Robust and ergonomic, WAVE is the latest in computer access technologies. Available also in a wireless version.
To find out more visit www.technability.com.au
Chrysler Grand Voyager For Sale
The Grand Voyager is a 2004 RG 4thG MY04 LX model, navy in colour and is 4 door 7 seat wagon. Extras include built-in DVD player to entertain the kids and reverse camera screen for added safety. It's a top of the range people mover in excellent condition. Very low mileage (52,000) and fully serviced. Registration expires August 2008. Beautiful to drive and has been professionally detailed inside and outside. Selling for $37,000 or nearest offer.
If you are Interested or would like more information please contact James on 0438 787798
Mercedes Vito Van For Sale 
The Mercedes Vito Van is a 2001 model, automatic, white in colour with air-conditioning, power steering, tinted windows, stereo radio/cassette/CD player. Wheelchair access via rear hydraulic hoist, modified by Accessible Transit, RTA Approved. The van has 4 seats (driver’s seat, 3 passenger seats), plus 1 wheelchair passenger who sits up the front of vehicle next to driver. The van has low mileage with 75 000 kms, takes unleaded fuel. The car is in excellent condition and is mechanically A1!
Selling for $39 000, located in Oatley. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Stellios on 0409 462 672.
(Picture not actual vehicle – image is approx. make and model)
PDF (print-friendly version) of this issue of The Scene.
What would you like to see in "The Scene"? Email Robyn Cummins Managerof Information Services 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.
