Wednesday, 2 December 2015

People with Down syndrome ... 'this is me'

2015 Sydney Inner West Youth Volunteer of the Year is Bridget Rose Kelly who volunteers with Plumtree Early Childhood Intervention Service

News from Volunteer Network, November 2015
Bridget Rose Kelly from Stanmore is a student at St Scholasticas College at Glebe and volunteers at Plumtree Early Childhood Intervention Service. Bridget has been a hardworking, reliable and devoted volunteer with Plumtree Early Childhood Intervention Service since 2013, assisting young children who have additional needs and their families.

Bridget assists with a multitude of tasks at the service, including the open playgroup on Saturdays. As Bridget is particularly artistic, she creates resources for the teachers and therapists, which include booklets, charts, augmentative and alternative communication boards, games, fine motor activities and workshop resources.

Bridget makes quality resources that are individual for each child depending on the child's needs. This gives children, staff and families access to games and activities that often take a very long time to make. With the growing demand for services and resources, Bridget’s hand-made resources assist the school to provide individualised and innovative services for children and their families in a timely manner.

In addition to volunteering at Plumtree, Bridget also volunteers at FRANS, a local disability support organisation, and continues to seek other opportunities to contribute to her local community through her invaluable volunteering.


The inspiring story of Katrina Sneath
Ryan Bridge, 3 News (NZ), 10th November 2015
Here's a story for all those students about to sit their end-of-year exams. Maybe you're procrastinating, going on Facebook, hanging out with your mates, when really what you need to do is just study.

However Katrina Sneath is one woman you would never catch mucking around when she should be studying – she's already passed NCEA level 2 with flying colours, despite having Down syndrome ...


This is me - by Lauren Potter
Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, 12th November 2015
... I started to speak up for myself and just tell the mean kids to grow up. Now, I speak up for other people too. I’m not afraid to tell people how their words hurt me. I think that if a word or phrase hurts someone’s feelings then we should care enough to use words that don’t hurt other people. When I speak up for others and care about other people, and treat people with love, I feel so much better about myself ...

New (US) TV Series Features Young Adults With Down Syndrome
Shaun Heasley, Disability Scoop, November 16, 2015
The production company behind “Keeping up with the Kardashians” and other reality television staples will debut a new documentary series following young adults with Down syndrome ...
Nathan Basha NSW Young Australian 2016 finalist 
Nathan Basha was a finalist in the 2016 NSW Australian of the Year Awards - an achievement in itself. Nathan did not win the award, but posted a gracious congratulatory message to the winner, on his Facebook page on 17th November (check it out for the photos from the event too):
Such an incredible evening last night at the NSW Australian of the Year Awards. It was a privilege to be amongst so many passionate and amazing people who are all working for and achieving social change. Congratulations to Melissa Abu-Gazaleh CEO and founder of Top Blokes Foundation NSW Young Australian of the Year, NB will be getting behind her and wishing her all the best for Young Australian of the Year, I encourage you to get behind her as well!!
Congratulations on making the finals, Nathan - we can see why you did.

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