$250,000 for swimming lessons for children with disability in NSW

The Rainbow Club Australia will soon be helping to change the lives of many more children, with news it has received significant Government funding towards teaching children with disabilities how to swim.

The announcement was made by NSW Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, who said that $250,000 would be invested in the Rainbow Club, a charity that has been providing swimming lessons for young people with disabilities and helping them find their independence through recreational activities for more than 20 years.

Alexandra Finley, President of Rainbow Club Australia, said the organisation was delighted by the news.

“Our goal is to ensure that as many children as possible have the opportunity to learn and build on their skills in the water, so we are absolutely thrilled that the NSW Government has provided us with such a generous grant.

“While we already have over 500 children learning to swim with us, we also have at least 100 children on our waiting lists at clubs throughout New South Wales.

“The funding will not only help to reduce our waiting lists, but will also go a long way towards assisting us in establishing clubs across the state over time – particularly in those areas where children don’t have access to swimming lessons tailored for their needs,” she said.

Rainbow Club patron and Paralympic gold medallist Louise Sauvage was similarly enthusiastic about the news.

“I started swimming at the age of three. I know firsthand the difference it can make to the lives of kids with a disability – the health benefits and social interaction truly can change a young life.

“I am currently in London as Assistant Coach with the Australian wheelchair track and road team, and right now I am witnessing the impact of sport on the lives of individuals with a disability at the highest level.

“You never know the Rainbow Club’s programs could be creating some of our future Australian Paralympians,“ she said.

Ms. Finley emphasised the importance of ongoing fundraising to keep up with growing demand for the services offered by the organization.

“While we are extremely grateful for this one off grant, we also want to be able to ensure a sustainable future for the Rainbow Club Australia.

“The grant will go a long way towards helping us achieve this, but we are also dependent on a regular stream of funding to set us up for future success,” she said.

The Rainbow Club facilitates swimming lessons for children with disabilities, supporting 16 local clubs across NSW that meet on a weekly basis.  Approximately 500 children are presently learning to swim with the Rainbow Club and many more have benefited from their experience with the Rainbow Club since its inception.

For more information about the clubs visit: www.rainbowclubaust.com.au

Source: Rainbow Club Australia

Resolutions and Declaration by Persons with Down Syndrome - 11th WDSC, South Africa, August 2012

From Down Syndrome International:


11th World Down Syndrome Congress Resolutions

WE, THE DELEGATES OF THE 11TH WORLD DOWN SYNDROME CONGRESS: Advancing Inclusion of Persons with Down Syndrome, assembled here in Cape Town, South Africa from the 14th – 18th August 2012, hereby reaffirm our commitment to the promotion, protection and implementation of the human rights of individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disability.

We recognise that a fundamental shift has taken place at international policy level with the adoption and entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), signalling a move away from practices that segregate people with disabilities to an approach that seeks to promote their inclusion in all sectors of society in respect of human rights.

Read on for the detailed resolutions, here.

• The next (12th) World Down Syndrome Congress will be held in Chennai, India, in 2015

Legends of Hip Hop: this Saturday, Olympic Park

The Legends of Hip Hop (an initiative of Sydney Creative Movement) are performing Saturday 15th September at the Australian Dance Festival: Celebration of Diversity at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre.

Tickets are $10 on the door and all money goes to the Butterfly Foundation. Doors open 4:00pm so be there to support this unique crew of amazing dancers

• Sydney Creative Movement's Legends of Hip Hop page:

In 2011 an Accessible Dance Hip Hop class was established to address the specific needs and interests of a number of dancers with a disability. The class focused on technique and performance skills and a gradually tight knit performance crew emerged. The dancers decided to name themselves “The Legends of Hip Hop” and premiered their performance at The Accessible Dance Showcase, 2011. 

“You’ll love our dance because we are a unique crew with the best dancers who work very hard. One day we’ll tour the world”

• See more, including photos of the Legends of Hip Hop, at Sydney Creative Movement on Facebook
• Sydney Creative Movement's Dancers with Disability web page

(Note: The Merry Makers are  also performing at the Celebration of Diversity Open Stage)

Facebook Q & A this week, on the NDIS

Every Australian Counts Campaign Facebook Q and A session  

Thursday 13th September 2012 at 10am (Eastern Time)

www.facebook.com/everyaustraliancounts

Log on this Thursday and send in your questions to John Della Bosca and the team about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the launch sites, the campaign and the DisabiliTEA.

Reversing the disability disadvantage in education: commentary on the Gonski review and students with special needs

Opinion: Stephanie Gotlib (Executive Officer, Children with Disability Australia)
Canberra Times, September 10, 2012

Cultural change is vital to including children with a disability,

Last week, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the fundamentals of the Gonski Report would be accepted. Schools will receive a base level of funding per student and there will be additional money to support those with higher needs - such as students who have a disability or those who live in remote or low SES areas.

This shift to include funding for higher needs as a core component of a new system, rather than an add-on or temporary program, is what makes the Gonski solution potentially so powerful.

It is designed to minimise the impact of a child's background on their performance - something we have, until now, sadly failed to do.


Read the full text at The Canberra Times website, here.

Positive Directions: Resourcing Families workshop, regional NSW

See the previous post for information about Family Advocacy events scheduled for the 10th October in Coffs harbour and 16th October in Nowra :

About the Workshop:
Many families have said that they would like their son or daughter with disability to enjoy the same good, ordinary, opportunities as their other children but that they find this hard to achieve.

This workshop considers why this is so and explores strategies for helping a person with disability to have a good life as part of their community. These strategies are:

• having a positive vision for the future
• working not just for community presence but also community participation and relationships and
• assisting people to develop and sustain positive roles in their community by ‘looking the part’ and ‘acting the part’.

With NSW Government policy changing to enable people with disability and their families to have more control over their lives, now is a great time to be inspired!

• Flier

Resourcing Families is an initiative of Family Advocacy NSW

Making a Difference: Family Advocacy workshop, Coffs Harbour and Nowra

Family Advocacy workshops coming up in regional NSW. See the next post for information about Resourcing Families events scheduled for the 11th October in Coffs harbour and 17th October in Nowra :

Making a Difference
Family and friends are often called upon to speak or act on behalf of people with disability. The formal term for speaking or acting on behalf of another person is advocacy. 

Making a Difference is a workshop specifically for families and friends of people with developmental disability who would like to gain and develop their advocacy skills. The workshop will explore what advocacy is and why it is needed. It will also provide you with practical hints and tips to increase your confidence and success when you speak or act on behalf of a person with disability.

10 October 2012

Coffs Harbour

16 October 2012
Nowra

Registrations close 27th September 2012

• Flier

For all enquiries, contact Family Advocacy on (02) 9869 0866 or 1800 620 588 or by email at workshops@family-advocacy.com

Weekend reading and viewing 8th - 9th September

Embarassed, Sterling Lynk, DS Group Therapy, 4th September 2012

Joining vs. Being Joined, Joan Medlen, Practical Wisdom, 18th August 2012

Meet the toddler who shouldn't be alive, Kerry Warren, Women's Weekly (online edition) 5th September, 2012

DSAQ Guide to Apps 2nd Edition, Down Syndrome Association of Queensland, February 2012

Embrace and celebrate the Paralympic spotlight, Stella Young Ramp Up, 3rd September 2012 (other articles by Stella Young, from London)

Insight: Breaking Point, SBS1 (TV), 4th September 2012 

Relinquishing my son into care, Pam Rogers, Daily Life, 4th September. Pam Rogers and her family appeared on the SBS Insight program listed above.

Glee fans (Gleeks?) in your household might like to see the recent series of photos on the Down Syndrome in the Arts and Media Facebook page - the actors who play Jean (Sue Sylvester's sister who died in the last series) and Becky meet a new cast member who will also play a character who has Down syndrome.

Siblings, young people and disability study: University of NSW, recruiting now

The Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW has launched a website inviting young people with disabilities and their siblings to participate in a new research project, the Siblings, young people and disability study.Detailed information about the study, its aims, how it will be conducted, who can take part (and how), and the relevant ethics approvals and consent documents are available from the website.

The researchers are particularly aware of the need to support people with intellectual disabilities and communication disorders who wish to take part.  An 'Easy Info' page is provided. This information is from the 'Who can take part?' page:

Who can take part?

• People both with and without disabilities can take part.

You can take part if you fill all of the points below:

• You have a brother or sister.
• Either you or your brother or sister have a disability.
• We want to hear from people with all different types of disabilities, but also want to make sure that people who have often been left out of research can take part. If you have a disability that affects speech or an intellectual disability, we will work with you to find the best way for you to take part.
• Both you and your brother or sister are aged 16 to 25.
• You live in Australia.
• Depending on where in Australia you live, there are different ways to take part

Siblings, young people and disability study website

More good information from the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic

The Adult Down Syndrome Clinic blog and Facebook page have been very active this week, posting health, research and other news and information.

On the health front, these posts stand out as important for people with Down syndrome and those who care for them wherever you live.  These links are to the blog posts.  The same information was posted on the Facebook page, making it highly accessible worldwide - we recommend subscribing to one or the other:

Testicular cancer in men with Down syndrome (3rd September 2012)

Decline in skills in young people with Down syndrome (3rd September 2012)

Depo-provera for women with Down syndrome (7th September 2012)

The directors of the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic, located in suburban Chicago, Dr Brian Chicoine and Dr Dennis McGuire are the co-authors of the highly respected books, Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome and The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome - both can be borrowed by Down Syndrome NSW members from our library.

Disabilitea 2012: Friday 26th October, nationwide

A new Every Australian Counts event to maintain community support and understanding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme:

• All details from the Every Australian Counts campaign, here.  

Let us know if you are holding a Disabilitea 2012, and we can help spread the word.

Billy Schulz 1956 - 2012, 'Ambassador of goodness'

We came to know about Billy Schulz, and his mother, Dr Jane Schulz and their advocacy for people with Down syndrome, through their book, Grown Man Now, and their website of the same name.  Both are very valuable resources for those interested in the experience of growing older with Down syndrome, and Billy generously allowed us to use his picture in our own work.

We were very sorry to learn that Billy died peacefully after an illness, at the age of 56, earlier this week, .  A tribute to him, a brief summary of his story and another beautiful photograph are currently on the Grown Man Now blog, under the title The Saddest Post in the Whole Wide World, reading in part, "... Billy was a beloved and influential member of his family, and an ambassador of goodness wherever he went. His cheerfulness and optimism contributed to the communities in which he worked and worshipped."

We extend our sympathy to Billy's mother, Jane, and his family. Billy's legacy will live on through their work, supporting many other families around the world.

News releases from NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care

Recent NSW Government media releases about services for people with disabilities:

31 August 2012 - Easing the pressure on families and carers: $3 million investment in flexible respite

• Breakdown of the distribution of places and funding increases by ADHC regions

29 August 2012 - Supporting people with disability to live independently

29 August 2012 - Construction begins on new housing project for young people living in aged care

• All ADHC media releases

Teen Time: respite and after school care, Hills disitrict

This program is provided by North West Disability Services, located in Bauklham Hills (North Western Sydney) - other Teen Time Programs are available across NSW:

Teen Time Respite Service

Teen Times aims to provide respite for working and studying carers in the form of after school care and school holiday programs.

The features of Teen Time – After School and Vacation Support for Working Parents programs include:

1. Provision of a planned program of social, recreational and developmental after school and vacation activities based on individual needs;
2. Provision of a safe and secure environment;
3. Provision of appropriately qualified staff; and
4. Ability to provide support to a range of students with varying levels of need including complex and multiple support needs.

Eligibility

This program has an early intervention approach targeting secondary aged students in Years 7 – 12 with a disability and moderate to high support needs as assessed by ADHC. It will assist parents/carers;

• Whose employment or ability to seek employment would be at risk without such a program and/or 
• Who are undertaking vocational study or intending to study in order to gain employment

Further information: North West Disability Services Teen Time web page

• For information about the availability of Teen Time programs in your region, contact your ADHC regions Intake and Referral service.

Caring, Working, Living: Carers NSW 2013 Biennial Conference

The Carers NSW 2013 Biennial Conference aims to bring together health professionals, disability and other service providers, government representatives and employers, and provides an opportunity to explore practice and ideas, research and initiatives in carer support under the following streams:

Caring: increasing opportunities for carers to exercise informed choices and to negotiate the shifting policy landscape

Working: achieving workplace arrangements that work for working carers

Living: sustaining carers’ own health and wellbeing in a caring context.

Conference information is available via www.carersnsw.asn.au/conf2013

For conference enquiries contact the conference coordinator at Carers NSW on 02 9280 4744 or email conference@carersnsw.asn.au

Call for abstracts open. Submissions close 14 September 2012

Registrations from October 2012

Early bird registrations close 31 December 2012

The Right Foot Project: contemporary dance workshop

DirtyFeet is excited to present The Right Foot Project - contemporary dance workshops for people with and without disabilities. The workshops are led by experienced dance maker Sarah-Vyne Vassallo and will develop a small creative dance work over two days. Dancers will explore new devised movement within a collaborative environment. 

When: Saturday 22 and 29 September

Time: 10am-1.30pm Both days. Sharing 29 September 1pm.

Where: Redfern Town Hall. 73 Pitt St Redfern.

Access: Open to all levels of ability 12-26 ys. Suitable for low to moderate support needs.

Workshops are FREE but registration is essential. You can register by emailing sarah@dirtyfeet.com.au

The workshops are supported by the Ian Potter Foundation, the City of Sydney and Accessible Arts.

At DirtyFeet we like to give back to the community. DirtyFeet’s Community Outreach program provides opportunities to those who might not otherwise have access to dance. We believe in the positive impact dance has on people’s lives- it is a creative way to improve health and fitness, encourage self-expression and build confidence. 

Fact Posters: 41 positive messages about people with Down syndrome

Should you be in need of a little uplifting, or if you simply just enjoy good photography and design supporting an understanding of people with Down syndrome, visit Down Syndrome Association for Families in Lincoln, Nebraska's series of Fact Posters. They can be  viewed in the Facebook albums of the photographers, Images for a Lifetime:

• 2012 DSAF Fact Posters (41 images)
• 2011 DSAF Fact Posters (85 images)

Recap of events for September

Without Words Week, 3rd - 9th September

Supported Living Fund Round 2 applications close  7th September (not 27th as previously posted)

Key Word Sign Workshop, Blaxland  8th September

Interschools Equestrian Carnival, Camden  8th September

Trauma informed Positive Behaviour Support and Complex Behaviour Workshop, Camperdown  10th September

Down Syndrome NSW Special General Meeting  13th September

Nepean Disability Expo  14th - 15th September

Facilitating Person Centred Planning (2 day Workshop), Ryde  18 - 19th September

It's nobody's fault: parent conference Campbelltown   20th September

Living Life My Way Ambassadors and Champions Program applications close  21st September

The Right Foot Project (dance workshop), Redfern   22nd and 29th September

National Youth Disability Conference, Melbourne  24th - 25th September

Medication management in supported living settings - half day workshop, Camperdown  27th September

Focus on Ability short film competition submissions close  28th September

DSE International conferences, UK  September - October

Fathers Day 2012

Thank you to our families for sharing these beautiful photos - Happy Fathers Day!

• Parents know sweet sorrow - Watching a child leave is never easy, Paul Daugherty, News Cincinnati, 20th August, 2012
• Things I've taught my Daddy, Tom Bachofner, The Future's Rosie, 6th August 2012

Nepean Disability Expo 2012

People with disability are facing a time of opportunity and real choice as well as some uncertainty about what might be possible or available. This Expo is a place where people with disability, carers, case workers, teachers, workers and students can get the information and connections they need to make decisions about their future options.

The Expo Committee has taken on board the feedback from previous years and integrated your ideas to make the Expo bigger and better than before.

14-15 September 2012
Exhibition Marquee, Penrith Panthers 

• Check the Expo website for all details