Monday, 30 November 2009
Does your son or daughter have obstructive sleep apnoea?
Down Syndrome NSW has been invited to participate in a learning unit for third year medical students from the University of Western Sydney. The students will be researching the impacts of sleep apnoea on people with Down syndrome of all ages, and the impact on everyday family life.
They need to speak with families on two occasions, during March/April 2010, for some hands-on information. The interviews/meeting can take place in your home, at you convenience.
We are interested in people with DS of all ages, and from any area, whether your son or daughter has been successfully treated for sleep apnoea or not, whether you have completed formal sleep studies or not.
If you are interested in participating, please contact us on info@dsansw.org.au – initial expressions of interest can be made before the Christmas break
The Enchanted Forest - fundraiser, 2010
Kids for Life 6th Annual Ball
The Enchanted Forest
27th March 2010
Hordern Pavilion
Go to www.kidsforlife.com.au for tickets and further details.
Down Syndrome NSW will be a beneficiary in 2010.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Good Weekend magazine
Playgrounds for everyone
All Abilities Playground
Bernie Mullane Sports Complex
Marella Avenue, Kellyville
(this one will be officially opened by Baulkham Hills Shire Council on International Day of People with Disabilities, 3rd December 2009)
Livvi's Place,
Timbrell Park, Five Dock
www.touchedbyolivia.com.au
World Down Syndrome Day Art Competition!
Entries from children and adults with Down syndrome and brothers / sisters especially encouraged.
Send drawings, paintings or artworks in whatever medium you like to events@dsansw.org.au or by post to (no stamp needed):
Down Syndrome NSW
Reply Paid 2356
North Parramatta NSW 1750
Competition closes: Friday January 29th 2010
Inquiries: Priscilla Leong 9841 4402, priscilla@dsansw.org.au
Saturday, 28 November 2009
InterACT 3 day Holiday Workshop January 2010
Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Accessible Arts
Street Dance
This workshop is open to 15 to 18 year olds of mixed abilities. Great for young people living with a disability and their friend and/or siblings. The workshop will be conducted over three days x 3 hour sessions. Spaces are strictly limited to 15.
Where: Fairfield School of Arts
What: a workshop on the latest street dance moves, culminating in a performance for family and friends
When: January 20th – 22nd, 10am to 1pm.
Price: $10 for the 3 days (Highly subsidised and cheap as chips)
Enquiries please phone: 9724 6077 or email Matt matt@pyt.com.au
To register now download, complete and return the registration form to Powerhouse Youth Theatre.
Newcastle: Up Club for kids
- The group is for primary school aged children, with Down syndrome, in the Year 3 to Year 6 age range.
- Participants need to meet the eligibility criteria of Newcastle Temporary Care Ltd. and apply to become clients of the service (if not so already)
- The programme will run on one Saturday a month during school terms
- Activities will vary from month to month and may include activities like bowling, theatre, picnics, bus trips etc. Activity ideas from parents and participants will be encouraged!
- Costs will vary depending on the monthly activity.
For further information, and to RSVP for the picnic, contact: Elizabeth Hyslop on 4957 5008 or 4956 2977 or tempcare@bigpond.com
An Afternoon of Fashion
Fashion by Leila Sweeney
3.00 pm Sunday 13th December
Walcha Sports Club
Tickets $15
For further information and tickets, contact Sonya, on 6777 2896
Friday, 27 November 2009
Free event to launch Pacific Jewel will benefit Special Olympics and the Leukaemia Foundation
This festival will be a fun, family event which will feature an amazing range of live entertainment, that includes IDOL Winners Stan Walker and Wes Carr, a visit from Santa, face-painting, aerial circus displays and fireworks!
Event: ‘South Pacific Christmas Festival’ welcoming Pacific Jewel
When: Saturday, 12 December 2009
Where: Overseas Passenger Terminal Forecourt, Circular Quay, Sydney
Time: 5pm – 9.30pm
This event will be a free public event, so make sure you tell your family and friends and get out and support this great FREE family night out!
All proceeds from the event go to Special Olympics and the Leukemia Foundation
Click here to download a flyer
Source: Special Olympics
Up, Up and Away DVD and manual launched
The package documents the Project’s progress, stages and success, and makes it available to others to implement in the broader community.
Prof Derek Armstrong, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Sydney described the DVD as ….. such an uplifting, inspiring and joyful video... the video and the young educators project just shows that people with disabilities have so much to teach society... to teach university students.
“Our young people express the need for friendship and connection ...... sincerely, ..... clearly.” Concepts such as Up, Up and Away “.... can operate so that the person at the centre can make plans, develop their skills, build friendships and get their lives going in the direction they want it to go.”
The Up, Up and Away Circles of Support Guidance Manual and DVD package is available to purchase form DS NSW for $59.95 – contact Angela Adams on 9841 4409, admin@dsansw.org.au or click here to download an order form. The DVD alone can be purchased for $22.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Australian Government to Consider New Approaches to Disability
The inquiry forms part of the Australian Government's ten year National Disability Strategy being developed with State and Territory Governments and in consultation with the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council.
The Productivity Commission inquiry will examine the feasibility, costs and benefits of replacing the current system of disability services with a new approach which provides long-term essential care and support for people with severe or profound disabilities however acquired.
The inquiry will examine a range of options for long-term care and support including consideration of whether a no-fault social insurance approach to disability is appropriate in Australia. It will also examine if a scheme would fit with Australia's health, aged care, income support and injury insurance systems.
These are complex issues that require rigorous analysis, design and costing. The feasibility study will assess whether a long-term care and support scheme would be appropriate, practical and economically responsible in the Australian context.
The Productivity Commission will consult widely and will be assisted by an associate commissioner with specialist disability expertise. An independent panel of experts will also be established to advise the Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry. The Australian Government will appoint the associate commissioner and the independent panel of experts shortly.
The Productivity Commission will report to Government in July 2011.
Library Thursdays: Other libraries of interest
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Fun and games ..... more from Families Weekend
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Kingsdene students visit Parliament
Mark Wetherall,
Sydney Morning Herald, November 24, 2009
Just getting the six children from Sydney's Kingsdene School to question time in Canberra was a triumph over chaos.
They had come to Parliament House to make a case for the special treatment which the Government had refused to maintain.
The children are profoundly disabled. Shepherded by parents, siblings and helpers, they whooped and rambled their way through the corridors of power.
''Some of the kids behaved in ways that would emphasise the need for Kingsdene,'' said one parent, Mary Lou Carter, whose son, Nicholas, she says has developed extraordinarily well because of the school.
Read the full story here.
Feasibility study on NDIS announced
Other media:
Insurance scheme may allow lifetime care for disabled
Mark Davis, National Editor
Sydney Morning Herald, 24/11/2009
The Federal Government will consider introducing a Medicare-style national insurance scheme to provide lifetime medical treatment and care for people with serious disabilities.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced last night that the Government would conduct a feasibility study into ways to fund and deliver long-term care for severely and profoundly disabled people who needed daily help.
The Productivity Commission will be asked to examine a social insurance model, which could be funded by a levy across the whole population, to care for those born with severe disabilities and those who become disabled in accidents.
Mr Rudd said the inquiry would examine the costs and benefits of replacing the existing system of disability services with an approach that would provide long-term essential care and support, no matter how people acquired their disability.
Read the full story here.
Links to media on the announcement is gathered on the "News" page of the National Disability Insurance Scheme campaign website.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Flying high .......
The Giant Swing was breathtaking but everyone came off the swing with beaming faces and a huge sense of achievement. Many people of all ages wanted to have a go, even if they were a bit anxious. Once they were up and flying, it was an adrenaline rush and many wanted to come back for more!
DS NSW Annual Report
Our Annual Report for 2008 - 2009 is now available online here, or you can request a print copy from our office - admin@dsansw.org.au
One year of counting ......
Feel free to comment (although like any blog we've attracted the odd random, totally unrelated spam comments which have been removed), and let us know what works, and what doesn't.
Thanks for reading.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Glee, episode 9
One 19 yr old sibling of our acquaintance thought it was fantastic (she is a Glee fan - apparently known as a Gleek !) and was touched by the twist that introduced Jean. She said it was not "cheesy", and that it was respectful. Her brother who has Down syndrome was too busy to watch it.
If you missed the episode, you can catch it here.
Now that's a Circle of Support!
The event was very well organised, and will grow - the Lord Mayor of Newcastle has "adopted" it, promising ongoing support. Well done all round - a very enjoyable day.
Access All Areas Film Festival November 16 to December 3
This unique event is accessible to all with free entry to all screenings and special accessibility services for those who need them. All films will be audio-described for people with a vision impairment where on-screen action is described in between dialogue and transmitted to an individual audio receiver (provided by the festival), captioned for the hearing impaired and wheelchair accessible. Screening intros, panels and Q&A’s will be Auslan interpreted. Bookings essential for access services, please call the Festival office on 02 9281 5608 to make your booking.
Access All Areas Film Festival is a flagship event of the 2009 Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign to celebrate International Day of People with a Disability. Tickets are available from the box office 30 minutes prior to the start of the screening, subject to availability it is recommended to book in advance by calling the Festival office on 02 9281 5608.
For the full program of events, visit www.accessallareasfilmfestival.com.au.
Expert commentary on Stanford research
Thursday, 19 November 2009
UK article about Stanford research
New brain research report from Stanford
This research has revealed another potential therapeutic strategy to improve learning in a mouse model of Down syndrome. As you can read in the article ..... these findings are very promising. However, we would like to emphasize that these studies were done in a mouse model and more work is required before commencing clinical trials in humans.
But it is interesting science, from a highly regarded center, that might well be useful for people with Down syndrome in the future.
Library Thursdays: Booklets from DSA UK online
- Managing sleep problems in children with Down's syndrome
- Information on teaching numeracy and mathematics to students with Down syndrome
- Information on teaching reading to students with Down syndrome
- Notes for teachers on behaviour
- Bereavement
- Thyroid disorder among people with Down syndrome (for parents)
- Thyroid disorder among people with Down syndrome (for doctors)
- Eye problems in children with Down syndrome
- Top 20 questions about speech, language and communication for children with Down syndrome
- Down's syndrome and childhood deafness