WARRINGAH DISABILITY NEWSLETTER No 229 - 14/05/10

Hello!

The newsletter starts with a bush dance and discobility, a new paper studio, art works at Sunnyfield, several large festivals (VividLIVE, Biennale, Sydney Writers), and a call for Deaf actors to make a film promoting the National Relay Service.  Carers are invited to a Wellness day, the Life House Project and the Father/Grandfathers’ day.  There are vacancies in In-Home Respite and for CALD people who require case management.  Fundraising involves the Biggest Morning Tea, Sex and the City 2, and the community development grants.

Resources include information on revision of the National Standards for Disability Services, support groups for mental health, the Carers (Recognition) Bill 2010 and www.d4d.com.au.  Your participation is invited regarding the revision of National Standards, pedestrian access and mobility in Warringah, and World MS day.

Workshops and meetings involve carers of people with mental illness, family law, bullying and racism, knowing your rights, energy, glaucoma, clients from refugee-like backgrounds, the first GLADNET online seminar, role of fathers, computer assistive technology, and several courses at Northside Community Forum.  Conferences deal with schizophrenia, caring, intellectual disability and mental health.  There is a DVD launch on the devolution from institutions to homes.  There are also two paid positions.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome, as always!

Regards, Marjorie Janz, Disability Information Officer, Warringah Council.

Phone 9942 2686, fax 9942 2371.  Also janzm@warringah.nsw.gov.au.  

Trudy VanDam and Self Managed Funding/Care

We are most fortunate that Trudy VanDam has agreed to come to the June Auxiliary meeting to talk about Self Managed Care and Funding and to answer any and all questions on this most important subject. Trudy was for many years the CEO of Hornsby Challenge and in the mid 80s set about “de-institutionalising” accommodation and care by moving all their people into community living situations.

There are two important papers that you can read that explain her views; the first called "Beyond Group Homes" (published in 1995) and the second published in 2010 called "A Self directed approach - what does the literature say?".

Two important extracts:-
"A service system offering only group homes still congregates people rather than paying attention to them as individuals and an effect of this congregation is that people are still segregated because service practices such as rigid routines inhibit individual involvement in the community.
People may be accessing some community services, but their behaviour is rigidly organised around staffing availability and rosters, staff control of facilities, routines and the service's preconception of desirable activities for the residents. " (1995).
and:-
“When self-directed services are introduced with the right kind of support for people and their choices translate into how money is spent, they deliver huge pay-offs: people get personalised solutions that give them a better quality of life, allow them to participate more in society and form strong relationships at lower cost than traditional service solutions that often isolate and leave them feeling dependent”(2010).

Please read and consider how we can all push for Self Managed Care sooner rather than later. Come along to the June Auxiliary meeting and say your piece.

The 21-year-old champion of disabled rights

21-year-old Kelly Vincent is the youngest woman ever elected to an Australian parliament. Ms Vincent has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and was elected on a disability platform. Her election to South Australian parliament has caused celebration around the country among disability advocates.
A transcript of the 7.30 report and a video clip can be found here http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2895522.htm.

JULIA FARR'S TELL US LIVING WITH DISABILITY SURVEY UPDATE

Thank you to those who have already completed our Tell Us Living with Disability Survey. Please note that the survey remains open for people wishing to participate. We set an initial cut-off date of 7 May 2010 so that we could isolate the data collected to that point for a policy submission we are working on. The submission is to the Federal government's Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee Inquiry into planning options and services for people ageing with disability.

Again we stress that the survey remains open. We are currently in correspondence with key government officials across the states and territories to seek their support for the circulation of the survey. Because of this we expect the survey will remain open until the end of July.

However, if you haven't already completed the survey, don't wait until July. Do it now while it's on your mind. This is an independent survey run by an independent agency, and it represents an impor tant opportunity for people living with disability to record their views, and with the knowledge that the survey results will be used to push for helpful change.

Your participation in the survey is voluntary - you don't have to be involved if you don't want to.

You have the option of completing the survey in one of four ways:
1. ON LINE SURVEY
. Complete the survey online by clicking on the following link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JFA_Living_with_Disability_Survey; OR
. Complete the survey online by accessing the Julia Farr Association - tell us Living with Disability Survey link on our webpage www.juliafarr.org.au;

2. HARD COPY VERSION OF SURVEY
. If you require a hard copy of the survey please contact Alicia Fidock on 8373 8311 and she will send you the survey including a reply paid envelope.

3. ELECTRONIC VERSION OF SURVEY
. The electronic version of the survey enables you to enter your responses u sing the computer and saving the completed survey on a CD. If you require an electronic version of the survey please contact Alicia Fidock on 8373 8311 and she will send you a CD version of the survey and a reply paid envelope.

4. Contacting the Julia Farr Association by phone on 1300 857 327 and giving the survey responses verbally over the phone.

This survey is important. As well as your own participation, do please forward this email to other members of the disability community in Australia who might like to be involved in telling us about what key issues are important to them. We know this might mean that some people might get multiple copies of this email, but better to run the risk of receiving several emails rather than receiving none.

If you need assistance completing the survey or have any further questions please contact Alicia Fidock on 8373 8311 or aliciaf@juliafarr.org.au

WARRINGAH DISABILITY NEWSLETTER No 228 - 30/04/10

The newsletter starts with a reminder about weekend wheelchair rugby and basketball, discobility at Yoyos, Paralympic talent search, events at Sailability, and Stephen Wiltshire’s amazing art show/demonstration.  Carers are invited to events dealing with needs of children aged 0-5, mental illness, suicide alertness, effective communication, parenting seminars, dementia support, grandparenting.  There is also pampering, a free retreat, competitions for young carers and the mental health support group.  Fundraising involves a trivia night for the Variety Club, MS Readathon and MS Mega Swim, and a long list of special days and weeks for specific disabilities:  epilepsy, deafness, cancer, motor neurone, asthma, ME, schizophrenia, macular degeneration.

Resources include affordable software for kids with special needs, a guide to wills and estates, transition from the teens to adult life, an accommodation group, a television documentary about children with autism becoming adults.  Your participation is invited regarding young men and technology, the rights of people with disabilities, two fun autism events.

Workshops and meetings involve parenting, person centred approach, money management, working with refugee clients, anxiety disorders, self-abuse, leadership.  There are also courses at Northside Community Forum, IFP, People with Disability, Marte Meo.  Conferences deal with advocacy, accommodation and volunteering, and the Northern Region Disability Network meets again next week.  There are also two paid positions, and farewell to Judy Brain with welcome to Kate Skinner at DARTS.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome, as always!

Regards, Marjorie Janz, Disability Information Officer, Warringah Council.

Phone 9942 2686, fax 9942 2371, email janzm@warringah.nsw.gov.au.  

WARRINGAH DISABILITY NEWSLETTER No 227 - 16/04/10

Hello!
The newsletter starts with a reminder about weekend soccer for kids, and the Kids Big Fun Day Out, a dance class, Special Olympics national games, wheelchair rugby and basketball, access to the 17th Biennale of Sydney, the Sydney Writers’ Festival and MCA art. The Rainbow Room has a special session, and carers are invited to events dealing with positive behaviour, violence, health, needs of children aged 0-5, realistic behaviour management. There are also sessions on borderline personality disorder, dementia and a brunch for working carers of someone aged 65+. Fundraising involves the Pink & Blue Ball for VCFS, Woolworth grants and special prices for computers.

You are invited to write your story on 1000voices.edu.au, walk to end prejudice, sign a petition, look at options for people ageing with a disability, and donate goods for Kaddy’s stall. Resources include vacancies at CALM (lawnmowing), an article on adult siblings of a person with a disability, the working carers website, accessible Melbourne maps, the NRS and the DEP programs, captioning on YouTube, and employment services at Pioneer Clubhouse.

Workshops and meetings involve falls prevention, anger management training, attachment theory relating to grief, compulsive hoarding, treatment for children and adolescents with intellectual and mental health issues, environment for someone with ASD, dementia behaviours, early childhood intervention, community living. Several sessions focus on person-centred practice: creating the life you want, living our visions, the I-CAN assessment tool. Conferences focus on employment for people with disabilities, the CJD and prion disease, and policies and politics regarding families.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome, as always!

Regards, Marjorie Janz, Disability Information Officer, Warringah Council.
Phone 9942 2686, fax 9942 2371. Also janzm@warringah.nsw.gov.au.

Workshops, Seminars & Enquiries

Margie Payne reports that "Mark Clayton provides some information which should be of much interest to our members" - and it certainly is.

22-23 April: A seminar at Stamford Grand North Ryde called "Conversations, Connections, Communities" which is a shorter version of one attended recently by Neale Parnaby for 4 days in Lismore.
"If you are interested in knowing more about Person Centred Practices, then join Sunnyfield for the Person Centred conversation of a lifetime. This Seminar will give you the opportunity to hear four international leaders speak on Person Centred Practices".
Click here to download a copy of the flyer and registration form.

4 May: family ADVOCACY have Jeff Strully presenting "Creating the life you want" from 9.30 to 2.30 pm at the Epping Club. "What happens to people with developmental disability once their parents are very elderly or have died? Who will be in their life? Will extended family step in and take over? Can families count on the NSW State government? Will a service provider organisation be the answer?"
Jeff will share the story of Jay Nolan Community Services—a service organisation that supports people with autism and other developmental disability to live full, rich lives in the community. Eighteen years ago, the organisation changed the way services were provided from very traditional group living to personalised and customised supports.
The presentation will assist families and workers to think through their own planning and priorities, the relationship between families, people with disability and services, the role of services, and how people with disability could be better supported. In Jeff’s experience, the financial side of planning for the future is much easier than the quality of life side, so more focus and energy must be directed to the quality question as it is this that creates a life worth living.
Click here for the registration form.

June 2010: The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public enquiry into a long-term disability care and support scheme. There are many questions about how to improve current arrangements. The Commission welcomes the views of all people and organisations. There is an information paper here and you can see more here http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/terms-of-reference.
Do you want to make a personal submission? should the Auxiliary? should Sunnyfield? What should we say??

Thanks to Margie.