Christy Lynch event 14th May 2012 cancelled

Unfortunately, the event with Christy Lynch scheduled for Monday 14th May has been cancelled.

Please forward to anyone you know who planned to attend.

Easy English Course: Blacktown, June

This two day course presented by Scope for NSW Council on Intellectual Disability will provide essential skills to develop written information for people with limited literacy skills. In this interactive course you will have many opportunities to practice your new skills with the expert support from the trainer.

21st and 22nd June 2012
Max Webber Library Blacktown  NSW   2148
Further information and registration details can be found on the Scope website.

NSW Government supports disability services industry reform

Media release from NSW Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, 9th May 2012:

The NSW Government has allocated up to $6.75 million to support disability service providers which are introducing industry reform.

Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, said today's allocation will enable service providers to access a range of supports including expert advice and financial support.

... read on for the full text of the media release.

Library Thursday: new online resources

1. The 8 May issue of IDEAS E News is now available here.

Contents:
Rethinking Employment Support for People with Disability
Arts Access Australia - Art Prize
Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies - Youth Disability
Easy English Course
Webinars on School Inclusion for Students with Disability
Development Opportunity for Artists with Disability
National Disability Research and Development Grants
ATSA Daily Living Expo
Stolen Generation Commemorative Flower


2. DSA (UK) Research Symposium - abstracts
The Down's Syndrome Association's (DSA) first ever Research Symposium took place on 2nd and 3rd May 2012 in London. The Symposium was a great success and it is hoped that it will be repeated in the future. The abstract for each paper presented is available to be downloaded here.

Hearing voices: the movement for change in disability care and support

Jenny Macklin, Minister for Disability Reform writes about the budget and the NDIS for Ramp Up.

Webinars on School Inclusion for Students with Disability: Family Advocacy NSW

This series of webinars will be presented by Dr Bob Jackson, for Family Advocacy.


Access information about school inclusion for students with disability via one of 6 webinars - from the comfort of home.  The webinars will be useful for family members of a student with developmental disability exploring the possibilities of an inclusive and successful mainstream school education.

Topic 1:
The why and how of school inclusion will explore research about the benefits of inclusion, what good inclusion involves and how schools and families can work in partnership. The materials will be relevant for families of students of all ages.

Topic 2:
Getting ready for school is suited to families with a son or daughter about to start school who want hints for planning and would benefit from an understanding of how students with disability are supported in mainstream schools.

Topic 3:
Getting ready for high school is intended for families who have a son or daughter who is approaching high school and who want to gain a sense of the transition process, planning and what inclusion at high school looks like.

Each webinar will be between 90 minutes and 2 hours and can be accessed by computer and/or phone. You will also have hard copy materials sent to you by post.

Webinars are free but to ensure that webinars can be interactive, participant numbers will be limited to 12 and you must register to take part.

When will webinars take place?

Webinar 1: The why and how of school inclusion
16 May 2012 - 11.30am - 1.30pm
17 May 2012 - 6.30 - 8.30pm

Webinar 2: Getting ready for school
6 June - 11.30am - 1.30pm
7 June - 6.30 - 8.30pm

Webinar 3: Getting ready for high school
13 June - 11.30am - 1.30pm
14 June - 6.30 - 8.30pm

Family Advocacy hopes that webinar will give more people access to information. If you are interested but new to webinars, don’t worry. You will be sent clear instructions well in advance of the webinar.


Further details here, from Family Advocacy 


Contact details:
Phone (02) 9869 0866 or 1800 620 588 (free call for NSW non metro callers)
Email: workshops@family-advocacy.com
www.family-advocacy.com

National Disability Insurance Scheme: the 2012 budget

Last night's national budget included funding of the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme for Australia.


From Every Australian Counts, immediately following the Treasurer's budget speech: 


Here's the media release from the Government - with the breakdown on the funds, but the highlights are:

"The Government’s commitment includes:

- $342.5 million over three years from July next year for individually funded packages for people with significant and permanent disability.

- $154.8 million over three years from July next year to employ Local Area Coordinators to provide an individualised approach to delivering care and support to people with a disability.

- $58.6 million over three years from July next year to assess the needs of people with a disability in the launch locations.

- $122.6 million over four years to start preparing the disability sector for the new way of delivering disability services. Building the capacity of disability organisations to adjust to an NDIS is critical to success, particularly in the launch locations in the first stage of roll out.

- $240.3 million over four years to build and operate an NDIS information technology system.

- $53 million over four years to establish a new National Disability Launch Transition Agency to coordinate implementation and manage the delivery of care and support to people with a disability and their carers in launch locations from 2013–14."

More details: Australian Government media release on funding of the NDIS, 8th May 2012

Every Australian Counts media release on 2012 budget:

The Every Australian Counts campaign welcomes tonight’s historic announcement that $1 billion will be allocated over the next four years towards the launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The Budget allocation includes $342.5 million over three years for individualised packages for people with a disability and their families.



Every Australian Counts National Campaign Director John Della Bosca said: “Every night around Australia aging carers go to bed worried about what will happen to their son or daughter with a disability when they can no longer provide care and support.


“I know tonight they will sleep a little easier knowing the NDIS is on its way.”


“Tonight the Commonwealth has laid some strong foundations to make the NDIS real. The scheme is being launched sooner than we expected. For 20,000 people with a disability around the nation help is finally on its way,” Mr Della Bosca said.


“In a tight fiscal environment, committing $1 billion to disability reform represents an historic improvement and a positive change for Australians living with disability.


“For too long, disability has been in the too hard basket. The waiting lists for equipment, the lack of respite care and the underfunding of services has been a national disgrace. Today we start to right that wrong.
“The plan outlined tonight relies heavily on cooperation between the Federal, State and Territory governments. I know that State Ministers around the country support the NDIS. They want to see it become a reality. So we look forward to everyone sitting around the table and working out how to make the NDIS a reality.


“Our Every Australian Counts campaign supporters have built a strong disability movement. Our supporters have worked tirelessly to put the NDIS on the political agenda and to keep it there.


“Tonight’s announcement is a tribute to their hard work. Tonight they know that their voices have finally been heard.”


How will the NDIS work? Video from Every Australian Counts, 8th May 2012


Other responses:


Disability representative organisations Australian Federation of Disability Organisations and People with Disability Australia welcome funds for NDIS


Australian Council of Social Services: "... ACOSS is also pleased to see funding set aside in this year's budget to launch a national disability insurance scheme a year ahead of schedule. This is long overdue and great news for the great many people in Australia with disability, and their families and carers."


Stephen Lunn, writing for The Australian
Elizabeth Manning on The Conversation

• Full transcript of Treasurer Wayne Swan's Budget speech and this year's Budget papers is at www.budget.gov.au.

Mothers Day gallery - photos welcome

You remembered that Mothers Day is this coming Sunday, right?

If you'd like to contribute a photo for our Mothers Day gallery, please email it to blogeditor@dsansw.org.au before Friday 11th.

No names or caption will be posted. Just photos of Mums with their sons and daughters who have Down syndrome, that will speak for themselves (of course others can be in the photos too).

Thanks!

New dance and performance classes

Lisa Stein has qualification and experience as a dance teacher and in working with people with disabilities.  She is offering dance classes for people with disabilities in two modes:

1. Lisa will come to a day service each week to teach dancing for 1 hour
2. Class  at St.Clair Neighbourhood Centre Saturdays 12-1pm

Discussion evening with Christy Lynch: Sydney, 14th May

UNFORTUNATELY THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

(posted 6.25 pm Friday 11th May 2012).

Christy Lynch is recognised internationally for his pioneering work in achieving integrated employment for individuals with a disability. The evening will cover an overview of the open labour market employment model with support for people with intellectual disabilities.

7:00pm – 9:30pm, Monday 14^th May 2012

Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club

117 Ryedale Road, West Ryde

Enquiries: 

Down Syndrome NSW on 9841 4411 or email workshops@dsansw.org.au

Click here to download a flyer and registration form

or register online here.

Clinical research and information sharing at Adult Down Syndrome Centre

The Adult Down Syndrome Centre in Chicago has been a major source of health information and expertise for more than 20 years - its directors are the authors of the highly regarded and popular books, Mental wellness in adults with Down syndrome and  The guide to good health -  for teens and adults with Down syndrome (both available for members to borrow from our library).

Reflections on their role in research has prompted this explanation of how they are currently using their clinic experience to contribute to knowledge and good practice in health care for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. Links to other research centres and projects are provided.

from the Adult Down Syndrome Centre web page

Speech and Language Therapy for Adults with Down Syndrome: article

Speech and language therapist Jill Petersen's article was published online this week by the Down Syndrome Research Foundation, in Vancouver.

She focuses on using strengths to help reduce challenges.

Two families: three people with Down syndrome

Two families, one in the US, one in the UK talk about living with a person with Down syndrome, over two generations:

Living well with Down syndrome 

Washington Post columnist George Will shares the story of his son Jon, who turns 40 on May 4.

... Down syndrome did not alter the trajectory of his life; Jon was Jon from conception on ...

Photo essay format
Column format

Has anything changed? One family, two stories
Dimensions (UK) Family Consultant, Liz Wilson, looks back at the life of her 48 year old brother and her 15 year old daughter who have Down Syndrome but experienced different challenges in very different times.
Click here for the article.

The NDIS is worth the investment – here’s why

Elizabeth Manning's analysis and commentary on the National Disability Insurance Scheme is published by The Conversation today.

Ms Manning is a lecturer in economics at Deakin University in Victoria, and the mother of a daughter with cerebral palsy.  Her conclusion to this article:

Under the NDIS, the cost burden faced by individuals living with a disability and their families could be spread thinly across the entire population. Everyone would then effectively be insured against some of the financial burden of unexpectedly acquiring a significant disability.


I hope next week’s budget delivers for families like mine who are counting on a properly funded and well-structured NDIS.

'Out of the Blue' exhibition: 4 works by Fraser Pollock

'Out of the Blue' will feature paintings, drawings, photography and sculpture from a dozen artists who are pretty edgy and really prepared to push through to make work that is often difficult to put into any fixed category. 

One of the artists is Fraser Pollock who ... 'has four fantastic drawings with a beautiful dynamic of line,and a great spatial feel. He just gets better and better.' Peter Fay, curator

The Sheffer Gallery (38 Lander Street, Darlington 2008) 

2 - 12 May with the opening drinks on Sat 5th from 2 - 6pm. 

The Gallery is opened Wed - Sat, 11 - 6pm. 

Shave a Bunny for Down syndrome!

Here's a really fun fundraiser for Down Syndrome NSW, with three South Sydney Rabbitohs -  a DS NSW event in collaboration with Souths Cares!

On Thursday 7th June, Matt King, Dave Tyrrell and Chris McQueen of the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be shaving their heads live on Channel Nine's NRL Footy Show, and they are asking YOU to sponsor them!

DS NSW Shave a Bunny web page - watch the video about why Matt, Dave and Chris are supporting Down Syndrome NSW, and sign up for sponsorship.

Shave a Bunny Facebook page - "like' the page to help spread the word and join in the fun.

For all inquiries about the Shave a Bunny campaign and Down Syndrome NSW, please contact jesschalker@gmail.com

Media on NDIS following nation-wide rallies

Attention in the media has turned to how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will be implemented following Monday's 'Make It Real' rallies across Australia, and the Prime Ministers' commitment. Here are some examples:

7:30 ABC TV (Monday 30th April) 


NDIS is important, let's take the time to get it right (Opinion piece on ABC's The Drum, by Stella Young)


Macklin reassures treasurers on NDIS (Sydney Morning Herald today)  


Designing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Minister's media release 1st May 2012)  

Melbourne rally - photo: The Drum

And video from rallies is also appearing online:

Dougie Herd tells Australia why we need an NDIS at the Sydney Rally 

Tim McCallum sings your the voice at Make it Real Rally  

Paula Kluth's '30 tips in 30 days': for teachers

Now that school is in for Term 2, kids are more settled in to new classes, and teachers will better know their strengths and where support is needed ...  this a good time to pass on the link to Paula Kluth's series of '30 tips in 30 days'.

The tips focus on the needs of students with autism, but plenty of these effective strategies and reminders will support many with Down syndrome too, and their teachers.

Currently at 28 of the planned '30 Tips', the series is an excellent, concise and practical archive that teachers will appreciate.  Just enter 'tip' into the search box and the whole series will come up (in reverse order).

DSE International reading trial

From Down Syndrome Education International News this week:

A landmark research study has shown that a targeted teaching intervention accelerates progress in reading and language development for children with Down syndrome. The primary results of the study are now available online, ahead of publication in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. The study was the first large controlled trial of an intervention designed for children with Down syndrome and was led by researchers at Down Syndrome Education International working with colleagues at the Centre for Reading and Language at the University of York, UK. DSE will be publishing a handbook and other resources, and providing training and support services, to help teachers successfully implement the new reading and language intervention.


Read DSE International's full news report here.


Image: DSE International News

Citation:
Kelly Burgoyne, et al, Efficacy of a reading and language intervention for children with Down syndrome: a randomized controlled trial, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
Article first published online: 26 APR 2012 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02557.x


The full text of the research paper is available online here.

NDIS funding and timeframe announced at Sydney 'Make It Real' rally today

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced, at the Make it Real rally in Sydney today, that funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme would be included in the May 2012 budget, and the time-frame for implementation would be advanced by one year from the Productivity Commission's suggestion.

The venue estimated that 8000 people attended the Sydney event.  Rallies are also being held in Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth today.

ABC News video and report of the Sydney rally are here.

Further news and images from rallies around the national are being posted posted by the Every Australian Counts campaign.

(Photo: Every Australian Counts)

This little girl sat in the front row with the Prime Minister and the NSW Premier, and danced while Tim McCallum sang 'You're the Voice' at the close of the proceedings.

Minister's Media release  on NDIS 30th April 2012.