Healthier Lives in the Hunter Forum - 9th March 2011

NSW CID is holding a forum on strategies for improving the health of people with intellectual disability in Newcastle and Hunter Regions.

Date: Wednesday 9th March 2011

Time: 9am – 3pm

Venue: Newcastle City Hall

The day is for:

• family members and carers
• people with intellectual disability
• service providers

Program details, contacts and registration forms are available from the NSW CID website here, in standard or Easy English.

Easy English Courses 2011: February and May

IDEAS and NSW CID have invited Scope Communication and Resource Centre (Victoria) to offer a two day training course in NSW that will provide you with these valuable skills!

We are often told “too many words — not enough pictures” by members and users of our services!
Are you interested in learning how to produce Easy English documents for people you work with?

Details are on the IDEAS blog, (Monday 7th February 2011, under the heading Easy English Courses, 2011

Stepping up for Down syndrome: Perry Gilsenan, Scrapheap Adventurer

Perry Gilsenan, founder of the Scrapheap Adventure Ride fund-raiser for Down Syndrome NSW spoke with Carol Duncan on ABC Radio Newcastle this afternoon, about the Ride, his love of motor bikes and the outback, about his daughter Grace, and about his own Life after losing both of his legs in a train accident at 12.

You can hear the 8.30 minute interview here.

Get "on your bike" for Down syndrome - Scrapheap Adventure media release

New web addresses for Down Syndrome Education International and USA

Down Syndrome Education International has updated its web address (previouisly www.downsed.org).

The international service, based in Portsmouth, UK is now at www.dseinternational.org

and the USA office is at www.dseusa.org

All of their excellent range of information and services are the same.

Catching up with Dave .....

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you'll have seen many reference to Dave Hingburger's work, including his daily blog, Rolling Around in My Head.  It's always worth reading, makes you think, sometimes makes you laugh, sometimes stirs you up, but in case you haven't been keeping up over the last few weeks (holidays, floods, cyclones, heat waves might have distracted you), here are four of the best from the last month.  No real previews, but two of them are about people with Down syndrome, and two are not - but they are all relevant.  If you like them, tell Dave via the comments page - he reads them all.

• Old man and see
• AA - again
• I'm down with that
• What happened to 2?

Good luck to James and Mark: Cole Classic, Sunday 6th February

James Caruso and Mark Owen are swimming in the Cole Classic ocean race  at Manly this Sunday.  They are raising funds for Down Syndrome NSW while they do it.

Links to their Everyday Hero pages are here.

Enjoy, good luck, and our very grateful thanks to you both.

(Makaton) Key Word signing group: Wauchope NSW

All welcome, come along with no experience or lots of experience,

You will learn up to 30-40 words each get together  - we sign and sing, Shop and Sign, sign and play games,

First meeting for 2011:
Wednesday 16th February 2011
5.30 pm to 7.00 pm
3 Enterprise Place Wauchope NSW (D & D pool shop)

Feel free to pass information on to friends, family, staff, teachers aides, grandparents,  schools etc
Please email or text confirmation for numbers- please include your personal email address so you don't miss any communications.

Contact: Julie Langeveld  on 0402 729 319 or 6585 3844 or julielangeveld@gmail.com
(note new email address)

Team MOG supporting Down Syndrome NSW through Tuff Truck Challenge, 2011

TEAM MOG* consisting of Geoff Thompson (Thommo) and Owen Griffis with assistance from staff members at Thompson (Taree) Motor Body Builders Pty. Ltd., friends and local businesses is once again entering Tuff Truck Challenge 2011 to be held at Milbrodale NSW on 8th/9th/10th April, 2011.

 

1. The crew at Thommo’s still love everything to do with trucks!

 

2. Any prize/sponsorship money will be donated to Down Syndrome NSW.

Thommo’s middle grandson, Flynn, was diagnosed with Down syndrome a few weeks a^er his birth in March, 2007. The support received from Down Syndrome NSW has been invaluable since then and Flynn’s family would like to assist them with their fundraising efforts in appreciation of this and to help ensure that other families are able to access that same support if and when needed.

One of the things Down Syndrome NSW do is to initiate or support sign language classes. In an effort to ease Flynn’s frustration due to delayed vocalisation he has been learning sign language and it is awe-inspiring to see his confidence in that medium.

 

All costs associated with participation by Team MOG in this event e.g. entry fee, fuel etc. will be totally covered by Team MOG themselves so that every cent raised through sponsorship will go straight to Down Syndrome NSW.

 

You can support Team MOG by sponsoring their entry.

 

Every donation towards sponsorship over $2.00 is tax deductible.

Every donation towards sponsorship $500.00 or over entitles that individual, family or business to free signage on the MOG cab for the duration of the competition.

 

Cheques can be made out to Down Syndrome Association of NSW.

 

EFT can be made:
BSB:  062 315   Account Number:  00901136   Account name: Down Syndrome Association of NSW

 

Credit card donations can be made through the following link: http://TeamMog.downsyndromensw.org.au

 

Can you please email bthompson@tsn.cc   fax 6551 0823 or phone 6552 5856 your donation details so Team MOG can ensure that all sponsors receive your tax deductible receipts etc.

* Unimog – Acronym from the German full name UNIversal‐MOtor‐Gerat. The Unimog is widely regarded as one of the most capable 4WD vehicles ever produced. Due to their off road capabilities Unimogs can be found in Jungles,Mountains and Deserts as Military vehicles, fire fighting vehicles, agricultural use, expedition campers and even in Tuff Truck competitions or trials.

Behaviour and Down syndrome: parent talk online now

Dr David Stein, Devlopmental psychologist, Children's Hospital Boston talks to a parent audience about behaviour and children with Down syndrome, recorded as part of the Allan Crocker Speaker series in December 2010.

Playing to their strengths - at school: for teachers and school personnel

Playing to their strengths - at school

is a workshop identifying the learning and communication strengths of people with Down syndrome, to provide appropriate support in school environments: classrooms, playground and activities.  It is designed for teachers and school personnel.

Thursday 17th March 2011, 9.30 am - 3.00 pm

Rydges Hotel, Rosehill

$99 per person (DS NSW members); $132 per person (non-members)

Morning tea and lunch and GST are included

Prior registration is essential

Enquiries: Down Syndrome NSW on 9841 4401 or email workshops@dsansw.org.au

Click here to download a brochure and registration form

Registrations close 11th March 2011

Playing to their strengths - at home
is a workshop  identifying the learning and communication strengths of people with Down syndrome, to provide appropriate support at home and in the community.  It is designed for parents and family carers.

Saturday19th March 2011, 10.00 am - 3.00 pm

Rydges Hotel, Rosehill

$44 per person (adult siblings are welcome to attend at no charge)

Morning tea and lunch and GST are included

Prior registration is essential

Enquiries: Down Syndrome NSW on 9841 4401 or email workshops@dsansw.org.au

Click here to download a brochure and registration form

Registrations close 14th March 2011

This event is part funded by NSW Health under the NSW Carers Program

Short and Sweet Theatre Festival, Sydney: you can support Gerard

Gerard O'Dwyer performed in the play Beautiful as part of  Crash Test Drama, a script development competition.  He and Ashley (the other actor) won their heat, picking up best script from both the judges and audience vote. They then went onto the Crash Test Drama Grand Final in early December. The play did not gain a place, however, it was invited to perform as part of the Short and Sweet Theatre Festival which is held annually in Sydney. It is known as the largest short play festival in the world!

It would be great if others can support Gerard by coming along to this play.

Click here for more information about Short and Sweet Theatre Festival.

For all tickets go this link.  The play Gerard is in is called Beautiful, and is in Week 8, 23rd to 27th February.

Best wishes, Gerard.

Gerard and Maria back on TV: carecarers campaign

The carecareers TV campaign resumes today on various channels including SBS, Channel 9 and Channel 10 in metro NSW, and on Channel 7 and Channel 10 in regional NSW. The campaign will also have profile on those networks’ various digital offerings including Go! ONE, 7TWO, 7MATE and 11.

Watch out for sightings of Gerard O'Dwyer and Maria Short - the longer version of their story is featured here on the carecareers website.

A late update on Gerard and Maria (12/2/2011): the carecareers blog features a Gerard and Maria page!

Billy Schulz is "an old, old man" - he says

We've blogged about Billy Schulz (Grown Man Now) before, and just wanted to let you know that Billy is celebrating a birthday.  His brother Tom has made him a video tribute that goes beyond the usual collage, and Billy gives some clues to his age this birthday.

You can also follow Billy, his mother Dr Jane Schulz and Grown Man Now thoughts and happenings on Facebook.

You Tube: interview with Guy and Esme and family members

Some video of a recent interview newly married Guy and Esme gave on UK TV show This Morning can now be found linked from the post about their wedding.

A very timely blog about school and toilet training

As NSW students and their families prepare for the new school year, this blog post at Practical Wisdom: Phronesis could be very timely for those whose enrolment has been not all been about education and learning. The ever-practical Joan Medlen puts arguments about what toileting should mean to where a child goes to school firmly in their place: into the responsibility of those whose job it is to support the student.

If toilet training and school has not been an issue for you and your child, you don't need to read it.  If it has, you might well find yourself applauding.

On the other hand, the wisdom of this post is in its generalisation to other discussions about accommodating needs.

Interview with Simon McKeon, Australian of the Year

In 2011, Australians with disabilities have two very prominent advocates in the Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon and the Senior Australian of the Year, Prof Ron McCallum.  We anticipate hearing much more from both of them.

ABC Radio interviewed Simon McKeon yesterday, to mark Australia Day.  In a wide ranging discussion, he talked with  Jon Faine about his role as primary carer for his older sister who has an intellectual disability, his activism for a National Disability Insurance Scheme, and how he might use his position this year as a platform to promote the interests of people with disabilities, among his other interests. 

The interview is nearly 30 minutes (not all of it about disability), and the file is large - we recommend downloading the file to your computer before listening unless you have very fast broadband access.

• Simon McKeon's biographical note from the Australia Day Awards website

'Inspirational' couple's big wedding delights their families

Our Facebook editor has alerted us to this lovely story from the UK about the October 2010 wedding of  Guy and Esme, a couple with Down Syndrome  - look out for Esme's Dad's remarks in the comments section.

Apparently there is video online, but we have had difficulty with the links ... we'll keep trying, and if you can help, let us know.

27/01/2011 And here is some video of Guy and Esme being interviewed on UK TV show, This Morning, just a few days ago (thanks to DSA UK for the link):

Every Australian Counts: new NDIS campaign website launched

Another positive strike for advocacy for Australians with disabilities is the launch today of the new NDIS campaign website.  Here is the launch message from the NDIS team: 

Our New Campaign Launch

Thank you very much for your previous support of the campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme. To launch the next phase of our campaign, we have created a new website - Every Australian Counts.

On the website five people with a disability have shared their stories about how an NDIS could change their lives. You can also find other information about the difference an NDIS would make in the lives of people with a disability, their families and carers in this country.

People like Robert and Mary, who hope that if we had a NDIS they would no longer have to beg for services and would have a better quality of life.

On our new site, you’ll find blogs from our State Campaign Co-ordinators telling you what’s happening in the campaign in each state, and listings for news and events taking place in your area.

To launch the new site we would like all our existing supporters to visit and take the first action and sign our on line petition Count Me In. We hope you will soon be joined by many others!

The time for change has come. We ask you to take action today and make every Australian count.

Thank you,
The NDIS team

Senior Australian of the Year - Prof Ron McCallum

From the Australian of the Year Awards - 2011 website:

"The Senior Australian of the Year 2011 is equal rights campaigner Professor Ron McCallum AO of Artarmon, NSW. Professor McCallum is the first totally blind person to have been appointed to a full professorship at an Australian university. Professor McCallum was the foundation Professor in Industrial Law at the University of Sydney, and from 2002, he served five years as Dean of Law. He has fervently pursued equal rights for working people across the globe and was the inaugural President of the Australian Labour Law Association from 2001 to 2009. He is currently Chair of Radio for the Print Handicapped of New South Wales Co-operative. The organisation operates radio 2RPH, which reads out newspapers and magazines over the air for blind and other print handicapped listeners. He is also one of two Deputy Chairs of Vision Australia, and one of 12 members of the first monitoring committee for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He was appointed inaugural Rapporteur of this committee and is now the Chair. Ron has also recently been appointed to the Federal Government’s National People with Disabilities and Carers Council.

Ron is a leading light in the community for people with a disability, working for equality among all Australians."

Report of acceptance speech - Sydney Morning Herald

SBS World News Australia

Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre: respite and recreation vacancies

The Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre's Weekend Respite and Recreation program has some vacancies in their Saturday Group.


Current vacancies are available for people with a mild to moderate intellectual disability who live in the Inner West, aged 14 – 28.  The group usually which runs from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm on Saturdays.

Program participants currently engage in activities like bowling, karaoke, art, dance and drama workshops, lunching around Sydney and visiting places like galleries, museums and other activities that group members express interest in.

Enquiries, brochure and referrals: Sue Johnson, 9555 8988 extension 2

www.rozellecentre.org.au