Better Start, Early Days: free workshops for families

We invite you to reserve your place at Down Syndrome NSW's 'Better Start, Early Days' workshops.

The workshops have been developed to support parents of babies with Down syndrome and to provide information to families about the Department of Social Services/ Better Start' initiative. The workshops will cover necessary information about the initiative and discuss strategies to navigate the disability landscape.

Workshop 1: Better Start Early Days Support - for families with a recent Down syndrome diagnosis

Workshop 2: Better Start Early Days Support - for families with children aged between 18 months to four years.

Workshop schedule:

Northmead          Saturday 24th May 2014

Turramurra         Friday 6th June 2014

Wollongong        Wednesday 11th June 2014

Campbelltown    Tuesday 17th June 2014

Northmead          Friday 27th June 2014

Times:

Workshop 1:     9.30 am - midday

Workshop 2:     1.30 pm - 4 pm

Venue details will be forwarded once registration is received.

There is no cost to attend.

Book now: phone Down Syndrome NSW on 02 9841 4444 or email Sarah at sarah.escherne@dsansw.org.au

Please advise any dietary requirements as morning and afternoon tea will be provided.

Babies and toddlers are welcome. Please advise when registering the age of your child, if attending.

The workshops are a great opportunity for new parents to meet other families and get some valuable information about services available. The sessions are relaxed and quite informal, to allow for sharing experiences and learning from others.

• Flyer

“Apparently if you demean people with disability in French, then it doesn't count” ...

Last week, a US cosmetic pressure bowed to pressure from advocates to remove from sale a lipstick they had sensitively named 'Celebutard'.  This week it's a T shirt  on sale in Adelaide ... honestly, you could not make this stuff up! This media release from Down Syndrome Australia ends with a very apt quote from Ruth Faragher:

Down Syndrome Australia is calling on clothing companies Globalize and Art of Aztec to finally do the right thing and remove from sale their offensive tee-shirts.

Globalize have defended their tee-shirts and tops emblazoned with the word “Retarde” despite calls for their removal from stores.

“Apparently if you demean people with disability in French, then it doesn't count,” said Down Syndrome Australia CEO Catherine McAlpine.

“Here are some other French words for consideration; 'intimider' and 'petite brute'. A quick translation will tell you they mean the same thing - bully.”

Ms McAlpine says the word is commonly used in Australia to demean and devalue people with an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment, including people with Down syndrome. She said people with Down syndrome and their families find the term offensive and hurtful.

“It is cowardice to suggest that 'Retarde' has no meaning beyond the literal translation. It is covert bullying of the worst kind to pretend that this is just another fashion statement. People with intellectual disability, including people with Down syndrome, deserve much better,” she said.

“We have consigned many derogatory terms to the rubbish bin of history – but for some reason we have been slow to do so with this word,” she said. “Time to start now.”

As Ruth Faragher, a rather chic young lady with Down syndrome says; “No friends of mine would even think of buying this rubbish. I think the t-shirts are bloody awful, if you'll excuse my French …”


This report of the retailers' and designers' response to a protest in Adelaide today indicates that we have some way to go:

• Fashion label angers disabled,  Caroline Winter, PM (ABC radio), 18th November 2013
• Petition: Globalize: Stop selling demeaning "retarde" t-shirts
• 19/11/2013 (5.00 pm) - the Globalise Facebook page says 'We believe we have sold out, but to be clear we have told our stores to remove any remaining units of the ‘Retarde’ Tank off the shop floor. We have also asked the designers to take any remaining units back, however they are refusing to do so.' Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes spoke with the business owner today.
• Globalize clothing chain takes remaining few 'retarde' shirts off shelves following public outrage, Lauren Novak, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, 19th november 2013

Register now for Step UP! for Down syndrome 2013: Sydney - Wagga Wagga - Illawarra

Online registration for Step UP! for Down syndrome is NOW OPEN

We have set an ambitious national online fundraising target of $200,000 and we hope we can count on your help and participation again to assist us in reaching this goal.

Step UP! for Down syndrome is shaping up to be bigger and better this year with participation from every Australian State and Territory and the opportunity for national sponsorship. Please find your ‘Save the Date’ card with all the details.

This year, registering to attend the event and creating a Step UP! page are both part of the one simple online process. 

Information about Step UP! for Down syndrome has been sent to all Down Syndrome NSW members - it can be reviewed here.

Step UP! will be held in three locations in NSW this October: SYDNEY Sunday 13th October 9.00-9.30am for 10am start Meet: First Fleet Park, Circular Quay Finish: Milson Park, North Sydney WAGGA WAGGA Sunday 20th October  10.30am for 11am start Meet: The Botanic Gardens Finish: Wagga Music Bowl ILLAWARRA Sunday 27th October 9.45am for 10am start Meet: Stuart Park, Wollongong Foreshore walk and return If you have any questions about this year’s event, please do not hesitate to call Down Syndrome NSW on 9841 4404 or email us stepup@dsansw.org.au Thank you again. We look forward to seeing you there! Copyright © 2013 Down Syndrome NSW, All rights reserved.

Step Up for Down Syndrome

Thank you again for your participation and support of Buddy Walk and Step Up and Walk last year! Thanks to your incredible online fundraising efforts, over $125,000 was raised in total to support the participating State & Territory Down syndrome associations. Without your support, this would not have been possible.

In 2013 we are hoping to smash that figure by launching a new national fundraising event – Step UP! for Down syndrome.

Step UP! for Down syndrome is a new event developed by Down Syndrome Australia, the national voice for people with Down syndrome and their families, together with its eight members – the State & Territory Down syndrome associations.

Together we have set an ambitious national online fundraising target of $200,000 and we hope we can count on your help and participation again to assist us in reaching this goal.

Already Step UP! for Down syndrome is shaping to be bigger and better this year with participation from every Australian State and Territory and the opportunity for national sponsorship. Please find attached your ‘Save the Date’ card with all the details.

We will be in touch regarding some exciting prizes for the top Step UP! fundraisers and the biggest teams!

The online registration and Step UP! for Down syndrome 2013 website have been launched.  This year, registering to attend the event and creating a Step UP! page are both part of the one simple online process.

Step UP! for Down syndrome will be held in the following NSW locations:

Sydney: Sunday 13th October
Wagga Wagga: Sunday 20th October 
Illawarra: Sunday 27th October

More details can be found on our Step UP! for Down syndrome website.

If you have any questions about this year’s event, please do not hesitate to phone (02) 9841 4404 or email stepup@dsansw.org.au

Thank you again. We look forward to seeing you there!

Matthew Kelly
President, Down Syndrome NSW

Angus Graham
Chair, Down Syndrome Australia

Responses to the Leader of the Opposition on an NDIS

Leader of the federal opposition, Tony Abbott spoke at the National Press Club on Tuesday (31st January 2012) about his party's priorities should they win government at the next election.  He included the National Disability Insurance Scheme as an 'aspiration' that would have to wait until the budget was in surplus.  The response from people with disabilities and their families has been swift and strong (see comments on the Every Australian Counts Facebook page, for example).

Stella Young, editor of Ramp Up suggests a way for Mr Abbott to experience in a small way, the lives of people with disabilities who are unsupported, just as he proposes to do with Aboriginal communities.  She argues that the NDIS is not a luxury to be saved up for, but a necessity, right now, and that an NDIS will support the economy through increased employment reduced welfare payments.

In all the commentary, the federal government does not escape criticism for the slowness of its response to the Productivity Commission's report release in August 2011, and the lack of an absolute commitment to implement the NDIS it recommends in an acceptable time frame.

The immediate response from Every Australian Counts has been seen as too conciliatory by some commenters, although it does end more strongly:  

“Aspiration and in principle commitments from all political parties are welcome and provide some hope but what the disability community wants is real action, fixed timelines and a guarantee on how the scheme will be funded ”.

Emergency First Aid for Carers Course (Hunter)

The Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre (Hunter) is offering an Emergency First Aid for Carers Course. The Course is presented by St John Ambulance and is designed to meet the needs of those caring for someone who is frail aged and/or disabled.

The course is free of cost to carers registered with CRCC and alternate carers are also eligible to attend.

NOTE: we cannot offer the option of pre-learning – this course will be two full days, both of which must be completed to attain your Certificate.

The course will be offered at two venues:

Venue 1:   St John Ambulance Training Rooms, 1b Court Street, Adamstown

                   23^rd and  24^th February, 2012  – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Venue 2:   Maitland - Venue to be advised

                   7^th and 8^th March, 2012 – 8.30am to 4.30pm

Respite can be arranged via CRCC – please phone approximately one week before the course to arrange.

If you would like to enrol for either of the courses, please complete the slip from this flyer and return it by 10^th February, 2012


Enquiries:  CRCC Hunter 1800 052 555