Mental health and intellectual disability: recent papers and presentations from 3DN (University of NSW)

The Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN) at the University of New South Wales is generous in sharing its work online.  Recent online publications of interest to readers of this blog include:

• Improving the Mental Health of People with an Intellectual Disability, Assoc Prof Julian Trollor, December 2013 - presentation to a Special Olympics Australia Health Symposium, held in conjunction with the opening of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle.

• Intellectual Disability Mental Health (IDMH) - Practical Guidance for Justice Health Assoc Prof Julian Trollor -  presentation to medical officers working within forensic and custodial settings: 

• Clinical Services Planning for Adults with an Intellectual Disability (ID) and Co-occurring Mental Disorders,  Sophie Mowett and Julian Trollor, September 2013 - A plan for mental health service development submitted (by invitation) to the NSW Mental Health Commission’s ‘Models of Care’ project. 'It is hoped that this paper will assist the Commission to plan for better public mental health services for people with an ID in NSW in the future.' 

• To broaden the horizon - comparing Australian and Dutch healthcare for people with ID, an inservice presentation by Dr Willemijn Hensbroek, Erasmus University. A three year Specialty training in Intellectual Disabiity Medicine has been available in the Netherlands since 2000. Dr Hensbroek is visiting 3DN as part of her traineeship.

Sign up to the 3DN Facebook page to keep up with latest news and events.

Weekend reading viewing: 14th - 15th December 2013

No Visible Strings

Kate Trump O’Connor, Down Syndrome-Autism Connection, 12th December 2013
... Autism demands adjustments, even for cherished traditions. And so we have learned to snap a few photos, to let him give Santa a quick high five, to mix in some old favorites in the pile under the tree ....

Seeing Stars - John C McGinley
Reign Magazine, Holiday 2013
Interview with John C. McGinley, actor, father of 16 year old Max (who has Down syndrome), advocate and Global Down Syndrome Foundation board member.

Happy Tears: Why I Believe in My Daughter

Amy Julia Becker, Thin Places, 10th December 2013 

I kneel down. Penny and William are both in front of me on the couch. Both look a little puzzled by my tears. I clasp their hands. “Happy tears. Happy tears,” I say ...

How I Told My 7-Year-Old Son He Has Down Syndrome

Kari Wagner-Peck, Huffington Post, 11th December 2013

... I am feeling my way here in a world that does not provide a manual for how you tell your kid they have Down syndrome ...

Telling Finn He Has Down Syndrome
Lisa Moreguess, Life asI know it, 11th December 2013
... Five years into this, I realize now that my earlier visions of a Big Serious Talk with Finn about his having Down syndrome were silly. It’s very unlikely that that’s how he’s going to learn that he has Down syndrome. What I imagine is far more likely is just that, over time, he will absorb the fact that he has Down syndrome merely by virtue of the fact that we don’t tiptoe around it ... We will answer his questions as they come up, but I can’t imagine some Big Announcement. It will happen organically ...

Breaking the Silence - Today History is Made

Dave Hingsburger, Rolling Around in my Head, 9th December 2013
... Today, in Ontario, for the first time, in any jurisdiction in the world, a government leader, the Premier of the province, will apologize to people with intellectual disabilities for the conditions in the institutions and for the lives that they had to live there. It will be an acknowledgement of a historical wrong. It will also be a very public acknowledgement that those with intellectual disabilities are a 'people' who have their own history, their own political concerns, and their own identity as a minority that suffers prejudice ...

Winning week of games

Editorial, Newcastle Herald, 8th December 2013
... On all of its levels, the Newcastle Special Olympics was a resounding success. We can all take pride in its achievements.

United Nations Human Rights Day - Speech to the 2013 ACT Human Rights Day Panel convened by the United Nations Association of Australia

Craig Wallace, On the Record, 10th December 2013
... if we get it right then we will unlock the “exciting and brilliant” future for children with disability that President Mandela imagined eighteen years ago.

'2013 Formals' album

A gallery of photos from this year's school formals (Year 6, Year 10, Year 12) is growing on our Facebook page - thank you for sharing.  You are welcome to post yours to share with followers and visitors.

And do drop by to see them.

New national arts funding

New funding for artists with disabilities
Gina Farley, Arts Hub, 3rd December 2013
Australia Council for the Arts has announced three new initiatives that will better integrate and help artists with disabilities.

To mark International Day of People with Disability, the Australia Council has committed $300,000 to support a new Artists with Disabilities Program.

CEO Tony Grybowski said the Program would enable artists with disabilities to produce, present and tour their work through new grants opportunities. Grybowski said, ‘Individuals and groups who identify as having a disability can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for development and up to $20,000 for arts projects.’

The pilot program will be launched in the first half of 2014, supported through the new Unfunded Excellence funding for 2013/14.  ... read more

'The Mermaid and the Smoo'

The story of Josie, a sixteen year old Sydney student who has Down syndrome, who was not invited to her public high school's Year 10 formal, and her family's response, released on video, has spread widely online this week, stimulating a good deal of discussion.  You might have followed it from our Facebook page.

There has been some robust discussion about whose responsibility it was to ensure that all students were included, and why some were not.

The school has released a response, published by here, by Mamamia yesterday.

Creative radical activists, The Bolshy Divas, based in Western Australia, have produced The Mermaid and the Smoo, 'a little bolshy book about inclusion' prompted by the incident.

You can read it online, and/or download a.pdf version to print out and share. Links to Josie's story and the video her mother made are also provided.

You might think that this story is a story about special schools.

It is not. 

It is a story about inclusion, and how there are no choices for people with disability. Universal design means flooding our schools and public buildings with support, so that everyone can join in. Together we are better.

Who are the Bolshy Divas?

We're disability activists in the style of feminist masked avengers, exposing and discussing discrimination, unmet need and issues which affect people with disability and their families. 

Bolshy Divas use humour, art and passion to talk about the overlooked, the unfair and the subtext behind real issues which affect Australians with disability. 

There are no requirements to be a Bolshy Diva, just owning a desire to bring about change, a sense of humour and a tonne of 'bolshiness' - enough guts to talk about the issues openly and honestly. We could be anyone - we are everywhere. We rank amongst the almost four million people with disability, plus their families. We are strong. We are Bolshy Divas.

bolshydivas.weebly.com 

Madison Pedler, Vice-Captain, 2014

Last night, Madison Pedler was appointed vice- captain of her Sydney primary school  for 2014, after being voted in by the student body. She attends the local mainstream public school (with more than 550 students).

During the election process last month, along with all the other candidates, Madison delivered a speech to the other students - it was short and simple enough for her to read, and it was on a screen behind her just in case she needed the extra support. It's a wonderful example of inclusion working beautifully when all the right supports and attitudes are in place.

Congratulations Madison, and to your school.

DS Hunter Region Christmas Picnic

Newcastle was a very busy place to be last week. The Special Olympics first Asia Pacific Games were warmly welcomed by the city, where the athletes and their supporters were celebrated all week long.

Then 55 people from 16 families enjoyed the Down Syndrome Hunter region Christmas Picnic Day at the beautiful Foreshore Park on Newcastle's waterfront last weekend, in perfect weather. Those with Down syndrome attending ranged in age from 3 month to 22 years. People travelled from all over the Hunter - from as far away as Singleton, Taree, Kurri Kurri, Port Stephens - and even further afield from Coolah. They were so caught up with making connections and enjoying the day and the company that not too many photos were taken - a great sign for future events!

Georgie-Rose (11), Megan (11) and Abby (10)  enjoyed getting together at the picnic

Thanks to all involved in organising the event, and to those who came.

Tuesday Chatter: Down Syndrome NSW on Facebook today

On our Facebook page today:

Tuesday chatter today is all about education. 

Nelson Mandela said 

"EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD." 

What is the most powerful piece of information you would share to educate the community about Down Syndrome.

Add your thoughts as a comment to today's Facebook status.

Tee Up for Down Syndrome: 26th February 2014

• Click here for a detailed flyer including information about registration packages (temas and individuals), prizes, sponsorships and to download the registration form

SO Asia Pacific Games - farewells

From the Champions Daily, 8th December 2013 (published by Special Olympics Australia):

Three of our bocce boys gathered together yesterday to share their
final goodbyes at the Athlete Village: (L-R) Jim Aarsse (QLD),
Clark Hampton (QLD) and Cameron Chance (NSW).
Photo: Sharon Nixon, Special Olympics Australia.

Congratulations to the athletes, and to Special Olympics Australia on staging and participating in the first ever ASia Pacific Games in Newcastle last week.  The closing ceremony was held on Saturday.  Team Australia took out more than 700 medals!

Our thanks to SO Australia for their permission to share their photos throughout the week - the communications team did a fabulous job of keeping us informed through the Champions Daily and hundreds of images posted in their Flickr group. You can see all of the galleries here.

• SPECIAL OLYMPICS: ‘Take a bow, Newcastle’, Helen Gregory, Newcastle Herald, 8th December 2013 - more photos and links to earlier galleries.

If you have photos and stories from the Games that you would like to share here, please email blogeditor@dsansw.org.au

News and commentary on the NDIS (12)

ABC Hobart interview on the future of the NDIS
Mornings, ABC Radio Hobart, Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Transcript of Leon Compton's interview with Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews in Hobart.

NDIA Strategic Plan 2013 - 2016

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Board has developed a draft 2013-16 Strategic Plan that outlines the vision, mission and goals for the NDIA to ensure we build and manage a world leading National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for all Australians. 

The Strategic Plan has been developed by the NDIA Board in close consultation with the NDIA’s management team and Independent Advisory Council. The Strategic Plan will be reviewed by the NDIA Board annually and will be aligned with the NDIA’s Corporate Plan and Statement of Intent.

It sets out the goals for the NDIS for the next three years. You may wish to review the Strategic Plan and leave your feedback.

National Disability and Carers Alliance Newsletter, 3rd December 2103
In this issue

Blog: Lessons from the launch
Case study: Getting to grips with the NDIS
Launch site Q&A with Disability Alliance Hunter
Launch site case study: Carer
Results: NDIS survey
Launch site case study: service provider
Minister gives NDIS "early report card"
Forum: Getting to Grips with the NDIS

Attitudes and evidence will underpin disability reform

Craig Wallace, Open Forum, 3rd December 2013
There still remain a lot of barriers in our urban landscape for people with a disability. Craig Wallace would like to see a national survey on community attitudes towards disability to give us solid evidence about what these attitudes are and what could leverage change ...

NDIS cost structure still a challenge: disability organisations

ABC News, 4th December 2013

Organisations involved in the roll-out of the Newcastle launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) say getting the cost structure right is still the main challenge ...

Mal Brough appointed to chair NDIS committee

Sunshine Coast Daily, 4th December 2013
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has appointed Member for Fisher Mal Brough to Chair the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield said the committee will serve as a symbol of unity.

"(It will) also provide a forum where questions of design and implementation can be posed in a way that is not seen to be partisan'" he said ...

National Disability Scheme forum: Q & A

Ian Kirkwood, Newcastle Herald, 5th December 2013,

The state government has answered more than 50 questions about the shake-up of disability services in NSW after Wednesday’s forum in Newcastle ...


'Teething problems' emerge in NDIS rollout

ABC News, 5th December 2013
Early feedback on the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the Barwon region is suggesting the scheme has teething problems. The Barwon region, which includes Geelong, the Surf Coast and Colac, is one of the first NDIS rollout sites.

A new program was launched yesterday, with funding from the Victorian Government, called 'LEAD Barwon'. It aims to train people using the NDIS to share their views on the rollout ...

Weekend reading and viewing: 7th - 8th December 2013

Photo: Special Olympics Australia

Josie is a Champion!
Champions Daily, Special Olympics Australia, for the Asia Pacific Games 2013, 6th december 2013
Josie McLean from Collaroy began bowling at the age of 10 and is the first person in her family of five brothers and sisters to be selected to represent Australia. In addition to tenpin bowling, Josie is also loves hip-hop dancing, gymnastics and swimming. Josie won a bronze medal in her singles game and is looking forward to achieving more great results later this week. Her favourite moments at the Games has been attending the Opening Ceremony and competing in front of her family.

• Special Olympics Australia photo galleries from the Asia Pacific Games 2013

Is your child a runner?

Paul (Emily's Dad), Orange Juice Flavour Sky, 1st December 2013
... Emily was a runner. Now when I say she was a runner please don’t fall into the trap of thinking this is a good thing ... Cast from your mind any thought of Emily wearing a running vest with a Bupa London Marathon number on the front. This is not the kind of runner I mean. No, Emily was a runner – at any given time, without any notice she could shoot off in any direction like a wayward rocket on a windy fireworks night ...

Making Music Despite Disability

WKBW News, 4th December 2013
... Meet Sujeet Desai, an accomplished musician who has played all over the world, with some of the best musicians on the planet, compiling countless awards ...
http://www.downsyndrome.org.au/news/International_Day_of_People_with_Disability_2013.html

Powerful video shows people with disabilities reacting to mannequins created in their image

Daily Life, 5th December 2013

Swiss disability advocacy organisation, Pro Infirmis, has released a video as part of a campaign for International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In the film we see mannequins re-shaped to mirror the bodies of Athlete Urs Kolly, who lost his lower right leg in an accident, ‘Miss Handicap 2010,’ Jasmine Rechsteiner, and blogger Nadja Schmid, who has ongenital spinal muscular atrophy, among other people.

Watching their reactions when the figures are unveiled is incredibly moving ...

Don't diss our Disability Day

Craig Wallace, Ramp Up, 2nd December 2013 (updated 3rd December)

Happy International Day of People with Disability! Craig Wallace says if an IDPwD event is not quite to your liking, there is still much to respect and celebrate ...

IDPwD: what's to celebrate?
Todd Winther Ramp Up 2nd December 2013
... This rather cynical 'differently abled person' fails to see the logic in such self congratulatory landmarks. Is it to commend the broader public for being tolerant of people with a disability? They are not. Is it to celebrate various people with a disability for coming together to achieve common goals? They are not common. Is it to celebrate the achievements of disability policy? They do not exist ...

Attitudes and evidence will underpin disability reform

Craig Wallace, Open Forum, 3rd December 2013
There still remain a lot of barriers in our urban landscape for people with a disability. Craig Wallace would like to see a national survey on community attitudes towards disability to give us solid evidence about what these attitudes are and what could leverage change ...

Let's give tireless passion a rest
Leah Hobson Ramp Up 4 Dec 2013

People often talk about their passion to work for causes involving people with disability. Generally speaking, passion can be an incredibly good thing. ... But passion can also be dangerously complicated ...

Australian and International messages and statements on International Day of People with Disability 2013

International Day of People with Disability was celebrated earlier this week, on 3rd December, but events always begin in the days leading up to, and continue well beyond 3rd. These are some of the formal statements and messages released for the occasion in 2013.

Message on the International Day for Persons with DisabilitiesStatement attributable to the President of the General Assembly of the United NationsUnited Nations, New York, 3 December 2013

Over 1 billion persons throughout our world are disabled. On this International Day, the global community has come together to promote awareness and mobilize support for the inclusion, at all levels, of all persons with disabilities. 

Disabled people make up the largest and most disadvantaged minority in the world --nearly 15 percent of the world's population. The majority of disabled persons across the globe are from developing countries. Many of them live in poverty, face discrimination, and are denied basic opportunities for growth. 

On September 23 2013, under my leadership, the United Nations General Assembly convened the historic first-ever High-level Meeting on Disability and Development, and adopted a landmark outcome document aimed at creating a fully disabled-inclusive society as a part of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. 

This year under the theme “Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all,” the international community is calling for a global effort to make physical environments, transportation and information accessible to everyone and to change attitudes that fuel stigmatization and discrimination. What the global community needs now are tools for action and change, in order to realize an inclusive society where everyone’s rights are protected and equal opportunities are supported. 

I call on all Member States to move forward in this direction. The new landmark outcome document sets the vision beyond the Millennium Development Goals target date and underscores the need for disability-inclusive development strategies in the post-2015 setting. We must take aim at breaking down barriers and creating opportunities so that all human beings can live their lives to the fullest.

International Day of People with Disability 2013

Down Syndrome Australia, 3rd December 2013

Down Syndrome Australia today celebrates International Day of People with Disability together with our friends and colleagues around the globe. International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations sanctioned day that aims to promote understanding of disability and recognition of the dignity, rights and wellbeing of people with disability ...

International Day of People with a Disability turns 21
Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Assistant Minister for Social Services, 3rd December 2013

... This year is a significant milestone for International Day of People with Disability—marking 21 years of promoting an understanding of people with disability. 

International Day of People with Disability is a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the contributions made by Australians with disability. It’s also a good time to reflect on the important achievements that have been made to improve economic and social participation for people with disability in Australia. 

Today serves as a reminder of what still needs to be done to ensure Australians with disability have access to opportunities to fully participate in social and economic life ...

Transcript and video of speech for International Day of People with Disability, at the Australian National Museum
Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes, 4th December 2013

... As people with disability, we're not heroes and we're not victims. We're agents of our own destiny ...

The NSW Government released some significant policy documents on International Day of People with Disability:

NSW Reveals Latest Disability Services Policy
Pro Bono News Australia, 5th December 2013

The Ready Together policy will prepare NSW for the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by July 2018 and “reaffirms” the State's $2 billion commitment to transition to an individual model of support, according to the NSW Government

The policy includes the NSW Government National Disability Insurance Scheme (NSW Enabling) Bill, which provides for the transfer of the employment and entitlements of public sector disability services employees in connection with the Federal Government’s NDIS to another public sector agency or to a non-government sector employer. 

Also part of the plan is the Disability Inclusion Bill, which will protect the rights of people with disability and promotes community inclusion ... read more here

• Ready Together can be downloaded in several different formats here.

Bike riding clinics: January, St George/Sutherland

David Chan, Acting Senior Physiotherapist, Department of Family and Community Services (Ageing, Disability and Homecare) has asked that we help circulate this invitation for kids and teens to attend a bike clinic in January.  Please contact David directly if you are interested:

Add caption

This January holidays I will be running a week-long learn to ride clinic for children to learn how to ride a standard two wheel bicycle.

The clinic is aimed at children from about 7 to 15 years old with either Down syndrome or autism, and preferably who live in the St George and Sutherland shires (although there can be some flexibility with this).

The clinic will provide tips and techniques to help develop the skills to be able to ride a bicycle, and an opportunity to practice with support.

The two weeks that the clinic will be on are: 

January 6th to 10th at Moorefield Girls High School, Kogarah

January 13th to 17th at Caringbah High School, Caringbah.

The clinics will last for one hour, and will be from either 9am-10am, or 10am-11am.

If you already have a bicycle, please bring it along. If you don’t have one, please contact me as I have several bikes that may be suitable to borrow for the week. However you must bring along a helmet for your child.

For more information or to sign up for a week of the clinic, please email me at

David.Chan3@facs.nsw.gov.au or call me on 9566 5000

(email is easier as I am often out of the office). 

Feel free to pass this information on to anyone who might be interested.

Library/ resources Thursday: 5th December 2013

• The third occasional issue of Starecase - a no holds barred magazine for people with disability and by people with disability - is available to download on the ISSU platform here, or as a .pdf here.

• The Down Syndrome Research Fundation, based in Vancouver has listed its most highly recommended apps for individuals with Down syndrome, in its DSRF store - proceeds from sales generated through these links will support DSRF

• US inclusion specialist Paula Kluth is currently offering '12 days of inclusion' - a tip a day for twelve days, on differentiating the curriculum. Something to file away for the new school year for those of us in Australia.

• The December 2013 issue of Service, Support and Services - the Direct Support Workers Newsletter is on the importance of listening in communication.

All issues of Service, Support and Success can be downloaded from the Vita Community Services website here, and/or you can take out a free subscription.

• The (Federal) Department of Human Services has produced a series of short videos on aspects of eligibility and the application process for the Disability Support Pension, available online.

Images from the SO Asia Pacific Games

• A nice gallery of 8 photos from ten pin bowling at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games yesterday, published by the Maitland Mercury.  Some great studies in concentration and delight. (The names seem to be a little out of kilter, the person in Image no. 6 looks more like 'our' Josie McLean than no.7 ).

• Newcastle Sundance Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games Flickr group - a very large image gallery from volunteer photographers

• Gallery of 95 photos published by the St George and Sutherland Leader

• Alannah McKeon's gold medal celebrated by her home town

• Special Olympics Australia galleries on Flickr

Rest Day for Team Australia.  
Image courtesy of Special Olympics Australia

A very successful day in the pool for Australia today!
Congratulations all, including Lucy Dumitrescu (top left) and Brendan Foley (bottom right).

Image courtesy of Special Olympics Australia

Intellectual Disability and Dementia: workshop for professionals

Alzheimer’s Australia is holding a free one-day workshop for professional staff  who work with people with an Intellectual Disability and Dementia within community, health and allied health services.

The workshop will cover:

• The major causes, signs and symptoms of dementia, and how these present in someone who has an intellectual disability
• Barriers to diagnosis and practices that assist in overcoming these barriers
• The impact of dementia on communication and strategies that support independence and engagement
• An understanding of the behaviour changes associated with dementia and ways to work with these changes and support the person

Tuesday 10 December, 2013
Eloura Blue Mountains Disability Service, Springwood

More information: 8875 4665

• View the flyer and registration form here

Down Syndrome Hunter Region

• Down Syndrome Hunter Region on Facebook

For further information, contact Candy Connors 

Liaison and Support - Down Syndrome Hunter Region

Phone 0459 839 599;  Email dshr@dsansw.org.au 

Waltz-Sing Matildas at the SO Asia Pcific Games

Jessica Barker and Henry Hely are proud members of the Hunter music
and dance group, the Waltz-Sing Matildas, who won many hearts with their
three dance numbers during the Opening Ceremony of the
Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games on Sunday night in Newcastle.
Jessica also had a prominent solo spot that she executed brilliantly.

Thanks to Henry's mum, and DS Hunter Region for the photo 

Michael Wheatley is also a member of the Waltz-Sing Matildas.
He lead the dance performances of the Opening Ceremony, with a solo 
as a lone surfer, calling his friends to the beach 
... and he exited the stadium in fine style with a circuit in an open-top Kombi! 
You were fabulous, Michael.

Thanks to Michael's mum, and DS Hunter Region for the photo 

Good health: supporting people with intellectual disabiliity and diabetes

The incidence of diabetes is somewhat increased amongst people with Down syndrome, so the November 2013 issue of Service, Support, Success will be of interest to those supporting people with Down syndrome, either now, or to file away for possible future use.

All issues of Service, Support and Success can be downloaded from the Vita Community Services website here, and/or you can take out a free subscription.