The Scene

Issue 5, 6 Junel 2008

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Feature

Advanced Biomechanical Rehabilitation (ABR)
A number of families have asked us for more information about Advanced Biomechanical Rehabilitation (ABR - www.blyum.com ). Some families who receive services from The Spastic Centre also undertake ABR. To use the approach, parents receive training in how to apply/deliver this rehabilitation option to their child.

The McMahon family who live in the Central West of NSW feel that ABR has made a great deal of difference to the physical ability of their daughter Kirrily (photo on right). ABR was developed by a Russian mathematician, Leonid Blyum, and is a method of structural correction of musculoskeletal deformities.

ABR is a hands-on application performed by parents in conjunction with the ABR machine, following tuition and assessment of their child at an ABR clinic. The child is a passive recipient. There are ABR clinics in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and Singapore, with a NSW satellite clinic established by Australian parents in 2007. The cost of assessment, training and support services is (Euro) 1998 per clinic.

“The goal of ABR is to restore proper tone to the smooth muscles which in a cascade effect restores proportions and alignment of the skeleton. Once this is done, the muscle tone is normalized and the arms and legs have a normal range of mobility, so the children can develop their movements in normal spontaneous ways.” [Leonid Blyum]. Most parents who have engaged in ABR feel strongly that their child has benefited.

The Spastic Centre does not currently provide ABR, as there is no scientific research published to either prove or disprove its efficacy. Should this evidence become available, The Spastic Centre would review its service offerings.

Some broad considerations for parents are outlined in the factsheet ‘Sorting Through the Treatment Maze’. These include cost, time and impact on other family members.

Like many families, the McMahons wanted to do all they could to increase Kirrily’s ease of movement and capacity for greater independent function, and avoid surgery. Before embarking on ABR, they gained anecdotal evidence of the types of changes ABR had achieved in children with physical disabilities from families throughout the world, who were trained in delivering ABR to their children.

The McMahon family invite anyone interested in discussing their experience of ABR to email them on jencus@bigpond.com.au or through http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABRPacific/

Behaviour and Resilience

Seminars on Behaviour Management and Building Resilience for Children with Special Needs
These free sessions offer parents and service providers an opportunity to share their own experience along with tips, advice and suggestions from professionals. The seminars focus on supporting children aged 0–6 years with a disability.

Behaviour management – topics include:
- Understanding the common triggers and causes of challenging behaviour
- Planning ahead to prevent difficulties from occurring
- Helping children to learn new skills and behaviour
- Strategies for managing problem behaviours when they occur.

Wednesday 11 June 2008 at Seymour Centre – HACC Room, 55 Seymour Street, Bathurst. Parents from 10am to12 noon and Service Providers from 3pm to 5pm.

Building resilience – topics include:
- Helping children learn more about their feelings and how to talk about them
- Helping children learn new coping skills and behaviours
- Fostering life skills to help children confidently manage stressful situations.

Tuesday 17 June at The Castle Hill RSL Club, 77 Castle Hill Street, Castle Hill. Parents from 6pm to 8pm.

Thursday 26th June at The Rules Club, Cnr Fernleigh & Glenfield Roads, Wagga Wagga. Service providers from 1pm to 3pm. Parents from 6pm – 8pm.

Other programs will be running throughout the state. For more information, contact Alissa Griffiths on 02 9479 7225 or agriffiths@tscnsw.org.au.

Sports

Toyota Paralympic Talent Search Program
The Toyota Paralympic Talent Search Program is an initiative of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC). Its main aim is to identify people with physical disabilities or vision impairments who display the athletic potential to one day make it to Paralympic level competition. It is only open to people with disabilities which would enable them to participate in events currently on the Paralympic Games schedule. This includes but is not limited to amputees, people with cerebral palsy, limb deficiencies, people in wheelchairs and people with a vision impairment.

Each Talent Search Day involves a series of testing including general measurements as well as sport specific tests. Coaches from the targeted sports are involved in the testing process and are ultimately the ‘talent spotters’. This is just the first step in the process of identifying people with disabilities who display the potential to make a future Australian Paralympic team. All participants are provided with information and guidance to help them become involved in physical activity at any level they wish to pursue.

The remaining NSW Toyota Paralympic Talent Search Days for 2008 are:
- Sydney – 22 June
- Coffs Harbour – 10 August
- Tamworth – 15 November
- Sydney – 29 November

For further Information and downloads, visit the Talent Search page on the Australian Paralympic website.

[ Source: Global eGazette]

Games

Priory Woods
The website of the Priory Woods school in the UK has a great range of online games and free downloadable resources for children with mobility impairments and their parents.

From colouring-in to build-your-own story and switch games, the site has something for everyone.

Find it at www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk

Health

NSW Government to introduce Companion Card for Carers
People in NSW who have a severe or profound disability will now be able to take a carer on public transport or to a range of sporting, entertainment and other events for the price of a single ticket. The NSW Government will provide the card to people who always or usually require the assistance of a carer in their daily lives, with eligibility based on the needs of the person with disability.

View the media release about the NSW Companion card.

Service Providers

‘Be My Family’ for Children with Special Needs
‘Be my Family’ is a project that maximizes recruitment of permanent and temporary carers for children with special needs in New South Wales. The project is jointly funded by member agencies and the Department of Community Services, and auspiced by the NSW Committee on Adoption and Permanent Care Inc. All children who are described as having a physical, intellectual, medical or emotional needs (or combination of these) are prescribed specialised care and support. This support can be long-term foster care, adoption (often with continuing involvement with the child's family up to four times a year) and temporary foster care for children whose families are in short term crisis, or respite and weekend care.

For information, contact Elisa Elwin, Project Officer, 80 Beatrice St, Balgowlah Heights NSW 2093. Phone and fax 02 9949 8414 or email bmfamily@tpg.com.au View the latest Be My Family newsletter.

NSW Attorney General’s Department ‘Capacity Toolkit’
The NSW Attorney General’s Department has recently launched two new publications: A [legal] Capacity Fact sheet, and The Capacity Toolkit. The Capacity Toolkit aims to assist people in correctly identifying whether an individual has the capacity to make their own legal, medical, financial and personal decisions. This is important since an incorrect assessment could deny the fundamental human right to autonomous decision-making or ‘self-determination’. For further information or to order copies of the toolkit, visit the Diversity Services section on the Lawlink website.

[ Source: Disability Education and Employment News: No. 5, Vol 4]

SpeechBite
SpeechBite is a new, free internet based resource designed to assist speech pathologists and clinicians in evidence based clinical decision making. The site is a database which provides open access to a catalogue of best interventions and treatment efficacy across the scope of Speech Pathology practice. This is an evidence based practice initiative between The University of Sydney and Speech Pathology Australia.

View the resources at www.speechbite.com

Conferences.. Workshops.. Forums..

Community Services Sector Training
The Community Education Team of the Community Services Division of the Ombudsman offers a series of training workshops in city and country areas each year. Workshops cover topics such as complaint handling and resolution skills. Each one day workshop available through the training calendar costs $148.50 (incl.GST) and includes morning tea and lunch. Every participant receives a workbook, resource package and certificate of attendance.

For more information and the registration form visit the Ombudsman's website.

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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.