National Disability Services (NDS) is interested to meet with disability service providers to learn of their experiences working with Aboriginal communities as part of the NDS Aboriginal Resources and Pathways Project.  

The project will identify and promote effective ways for disability services to attract and provide services for Aboriginal people with a disability, their families and carers. The project focuses on Sydney Metro, Illawarra, Shoalhaven and the Far South Coast of NSW, which are the Eora, Tharawal and Yuin Aboriginal Nations. 

Local networks of disability services and Aboriginal communities will be established to support disability services connect with Aboriginal people with a disability and their families and carers. Their experiences will inform the development of online resources to assist all services connect with Aboriginal communities.

Source: NDS NSW Aboriginal Resources and Pathways Project

A total of 687 submissions were received during the consultations held in June and July 2009.

The consultations sought feedback about a new Australian Disability Parking Scheme that will be implemented by 2011.

National Consultations about the Harmonisation of Disability Parking Permit Schemes in Australia Summary Report has now been released.

Go now to: Disability Parking Permit Schemes

Care Leavers Of Australia Network - CLAN is a self funding organisation.

CLAN is run by volunteers offering a support system to meet the needs of care leavers - former state wards, foster children or home children - or those who have someone close to them who was raised in a home or institution.

Go now to: CLAN - Care Leavers Australia Network - Care Leavers Australia Network

Peanut allergy is a very common and even potentially fatal food allergies. It is an immune system response to the peanut protein, causing the release of histamine chemicals. Recent studies show that over the last five to ten years there has been an increase in peanut allergies, mainly in children.

No definite answers are readily available, but one theory is that children are exposed to peanuts too early. Another well based reason is that our immune systems are not as functional as before, seeing that we live in a much cleaner environment and we aren’t exposed to as bacteria (which can help make your immune system more tough).

Peanut allergy symptoms have various effects on the body. These include hives, itchy red skin, congested runny nose, pain in stomach, nausea, swelling of airways, and shock (blood pressure drops). In serious cases, there will be large blockage of airways, resulting in possible death. Some allergies have been known to be outgrown, but this rarely happens with peanuts. No matter how minor an allergic reaction, you always want to be on the lookout, larger and more serious reactions are quite possible.

The only thing that can be done is prevention. Avoid use of peanut based substances and products. This means no peanut butter, roasted peanuts, salted peanuts, peanuts in candy, or any other peanut based product.

With people who known they may have severe allergic reactions, they should always carry a self-injectable form of adrenaline that could become their lifeline during an allergic attack. Like with all allergic reactions, they must be carefully dealt with care and be foreseen in the future.

Source: Peanut Information and Uses

This register provides details of some individuals and organisations who can prepare information in a range of formats that are accessible to people with disabilities. The names and contact details for providers are listed by state/territory under the categories below.

Audio Cassette: This format is useful for people who have difficulty with printed material because they are blind or vision impaired, have reduced manual dexterity or have an intellectual disability and/or low literacy skills.

Large Print: This format is useful for people with a vision impairment and can also help people with an intellectual disability.

Braille: Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read by touch by people who are blind or vision impaired. It provides users with ease of reference and allows them to read and retain information. Some providers listed in the register also prepare material such as graphs, charts and diagrams in tactile formats which are raised line diagrams. Further information on who can provide tactile formats is included with the providers' details.

Easy English: This format consists of information that is summarised and expressed in short sentences that each convey a single idea or concept. Ideas and information are expressed without jargon and in clear terms. Most providers in this category can also include illustrations.

Illustrations: Pictorial material can help people understand and remember the written word. It includes pictographs, picture stories, and photo stories.

Culture and Recreation News is the half-yearly newsletter of the National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics (NCCRS). The newsletter highlights developments in arts and cultural heritage, and sports and recreation statistics, and provides relevant information for researchers, policy makers, service providers and others with an interest in this field.

Go now to: 4147.4.55.001 -  Culture and Recreation News, Sep 2009

Autism is a puzzling disorder. It is difficult to understand the behaviour of people with autism, and the world is confusing for the child who suffers from it. Autism affects approximately one in 1,000 Australians. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls.

Autism is a developmental disability thought to be a brain disorder. A person with autism has difficulties in some areas of their development, but other areas may be unaffected. The areas most affected are communication, social interaction and behaviour.

Signs of autism
Communication is difficult. People with autism often have difficulty understanding the meaning and purpose of body language and the spoken and written word. They may misunderstand words, interpret them literally or not understood at all. Other people’s feelings and emotions can also be difficult to understand.

Social interaction is confusing
Social interaction is an essential part of life for most people. People with autism find being sociable difficult, scary and confusing. Some people appear to withdraw and become isolated; others try very hard to be sociable but never seem to get it right. People with autism can find friendships difficult.

Behaviours linked with autism
Difficulties with communication and social interaction produce a range of behaviours that have become linked with autism. These may include:

• Speech - absent, delayed or abnormal patterns.
• Play - isolated, repetitive, unimaginative, destructive and obsessive.
• Body movements - stereotypical behaviour (such as flapping and toe walking) and other behaviours that may cause self-injury (such as hand biting).
• Obsessional behaviour - with favourite topics, objects, places, people or activities.
• Rituals - rituals and routines bring some order to chaos and confusion. A change to routine can be very difficult to cope with.
• Tantrums - can be a way to express extreme confusion and/or frustration.
• Sensory sensitivities - to certain sounds, colours, tastes, smells and textures.
  

Thousands of Victorians support people with a disability to enjoy living and participating in work, leisure and local community activities.

Disability Services Division is offering scholarships and study tour awards to encourage current and future disability sector employees to develop their knowledge and skills.

Life long learning and professional development are hallmarks of the Victorian disability sector workforce.

Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia is a voluntary and non-profit organisation consisting of people with TS, their families, health and education professionals and other interested and concerned people. The association disseminates educational materials in the fields of health care, education and welfare service, provides telephone counseling and operates support groups. We support parent advocacy and other services to help families cope with problems that may occur with TS. The association regularly publishes a newsletter and organises workshops. The Association keeps a register of doctors who are experienced in diagnosing and treating TS. We continue to work towards better treatments and improving the overall quality of life for people with TS.

Source: Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia

The Spastic Centre needs help from the community if it’s to recover from the disastrous fire which destroyed its Head Office at Allambie Heights.

‘The fire has devastated our nerve centre. It’s been a terrible blow for The Spastic Centre family’, said CEO Rob White. ‘We’re very grateful though that no one was killed or injured, and that our 35 residents living onsite are safe.’

For over 60 years The Spastic Centre has helped build futures for people with cerebral palsy (CP). It provides therapy, services, education and equipment for children and adults with CP.

‘The Spastic Centre needs help to rebuild. The community helped us build the first time. Now we urgently need the community to help us rebuild, so that we can deliver the best possible care for people with CP’, said Rob White.

Donations can be made at any branch of the Commonwealth Bank or call the Donation Hotline 1300 850 538 or donate online at The Spastic Centre Online Donation Page

Source: The Spastic Centre: Devastating fire hits The Spastic Centre

The Disability Services Commission, established in December 1993 under the Disability Services Act 1993 (WA), is the State Government agency responsible for advancing opportunities, community participation and quality of life for people with disabilities.  The Commission provides a range of direct services and support and also funds non-government agencies to provide services to people with disabilities, their families and carers.

 The Disability Services Commission has published Challenging behaviour tip sheets on:

• Positive Behaviour Support 
• Positive Behaviour Support Model
• What is a Behaviour Support Plan? 
• 'Jims' Behaviour Support Plan
• Triple A Tactics
• How to help someone cooperate 
• Gaining Cooperation 2
• Lets get engaged
• Providing Physical Assistance
• Prompting
• Routines and why they are important Routines - How to write them 
• What are Challenging Behaviours?
• Reactive strategies
• Crisis management
• Risk assessment plan
• Risk Assessment Plan sample 
• Writing a Risk Management Plan 
• Things you should never do
• Self care 1 - Taking care of yourself
• Self Care 2 - Serious Incidents
• What is Autism?
• Autism - The triad of impairments
• Epilepsy
• Epilepsy 2 - Diagnosis and treatment
• Epilepsy 3 - Are seizures dangerous? 
• Epilepsy 4 - What is a seizure? 
• Faecal incontinence 1 - Poo Problems?
• Faecal incontinence 2 - What to do
• Urinary incontinence 1 - Wee problems? 
• Urinary incontinence 2 What to do
• Mental Illness (MI)
• Intellectual Disability (ID) and MI 
• ID & MI working together
• Report writing
• Characteristics of a good report 
• Stages of report writing 
• Shift reports

Source: Challenging behaviour tip sheets  - Disability WA - The website of the Disability Services Commission

Together, let us create a culture of prevention

Child abuse, especially sexual abuse, is a universal and alarming problem and increased attention and efficient protection skills and prevention measures are necessary at family-, local-, national- and international level.

After a long tradition of silence, sexual child abuse is being more and more denounced and becoming a public and political topic.

We would like to wish our visitors and the general community a very Merry Christmas and a spectacular 2010.

Thank you for your support in 2009 and we look forward to 2010.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season.

During this time we will highlight 2009 "INREVIEW".

John Demartini believes that your hierarchy of values dictates your destiny.

So, how do you discover your hierarchy? Here is Demartini’s suggestion; answer these questions:

1. How do you fill your space? Look around you, what is there? What is important?
2. How do you spend your time? What do you do - and what do you put off doing?
3. How do you spend your energy?
4. How do you spend your money? What can you always afford - and what is a struggle?
5. What do you think about most?
6. What are you visualising and dreaming about?
7. What are you affirming in your mind? What can you learn from your internal dialogue?
8. What do you talk about most?
9. What do you react to? What are your hot buttons? What would cause you to respond with enthusiasm or negatively when someone speaks?
10. What would be your top five goals?

In order to improve your motivation, find a link between what you want and your highest values.

To motivate someone else, discover their highest values and then create a link with what you want them to do.

Source: CorporateCoach  Blog Archive  Discovering your hierarchy of values

In issue 148 of of disAbility e-news

• Paralympians to act as champions of diversity
• Review of the National Disability Services Standards - progress so far
• Small grants for small rural communities
• Disability Services Standards posters and easy English booklets are now available on the FaHCSIA website
• 45th ASSID Australasian Conference, Brisbane
• Australian Disability Enterprises website email addresses.

• Scheduling of your Quality Assurance Recertification Audits - what you need to know
• 'CRN is not unique' error message when entering a new Client record
• FOFMS changes - February 2010.

Go now to: disAbility e-news | Issue 148, Monday 22 February 2010

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent messages. People write short updates, often called “tweets”  of 140 characters or fewer. These messages are posted to your profile or your blog, sent to your followers, and are searchable on Twitter search. Finally thinking of testing out Twitter ?

Check out these Free Twitter tools and resources. 

Go now to: AYEYA | Blog devoted to the Internet

The Australian Community Sector Survey is the only annual survey of the community services and welfare sector in Australia. If you are a non-government or not-for-profit organisation providing sevices you can complete the survey online or download the survey.

Source: A C O S S Website

October is beyondblue's Anxiety and Depression Awareness Month. Beyondblue state that research showed higher community awareness of anxiety and depression over the past 10 years.

The associated stigma is still high resulting in people not requesting help. Statistics show that more than two million adults in Australia have an anxiety disorder such as post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic and social phobia.

Go now to beyondblue

This website details the diverse range of quality products and services offered by Australian Disability Enterprises.

Potential customers can find an Enterprise based on product or service type, location, keyword or name, and can also request a quote for a unique job through the ‘log a job’ section of the website.

Quote requests will be forwarded to relevant Enterprises, providing them with an opportunity to bid for new work.

Go now to: Australian Disability Enterprises

A duty of care is a duty to take reasonable care of a person. A Disability Suppport Worker has a duty of care to anyone who is reasonably likely to be affected by their work activities.

These are likely to include the person with a disability that they are the support worker for, the families and carers of clients other support workers and the general community when working within a community environment.

A duty of care is breached if a person behaves unreasonably, fails to act (which can also be unreasonable in a particular situation). A duty of care can be breached either by action or inaction.

Source: Disability Work

Community Resource Unit’s Education and Development Program is one of the ways in which CRU works for change in the lives of people with disabilities and their families. CRU’s educational program is deliberately aimed at engaging with values as well as developing knowledge and skills.

As part of our ongoing commitment to change, we are planning our 2008 Education Program. To inform CRU’s planning process, we would welcome your thoughts on educational events which would be relevant to your needs, and the needs of your region. We are interested in the topics that would be relevant as well the formats that might meet your needs.

Community Resource Unit would appreciate your response. Your feedback not only assists CRU in its planning and its commitment to meeting the Disability Services Quality Standards, but also ensures that we continue to provide relevant and potent support to people across the disability sector: people with disabilities, their families and allies, community members and workers.

Source: Community Resource Unit Inc. CRU Events Calendar 2008

Speaker Presentations are now available to view and download.

Go now to: Accommodation | Annual Disability Employment Network Conference

A further 1,000 carers of young people with a severe or profound disability will have access to respite support as part of a $6 million Federal Budget 2007-08 initiative.

The Minister for Community Services, Senator the Hon. Nigel Scullion,  announced the Australian Government would expand the Respite Support for Carers of Young People with a Severe and Profound Disability Program.

The expansion of this program will provide immediate and short-term respite support to a further 1,000 carers in addition to the 5,000 carers already assisted by the program each year, Senator Scullion said.

The programme assists carers of people with a disability who are aged under 30 years and carers who are experiencing significant stress in caring for a person with a disability under 65 years of age.

These carers will be able to access overnight or weekend respite care to significantly reduce the stress of the carer.

From time to time, carers need to take a break from their role and by providing respite support they are able to focus on their needs.

Todays announcement will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of families who have a younger family member with a severe or profound disability, Senator Scullion said.

Respite Support for Carers of Young People with Severe and Profound Disabilities - continuation and expansion of funding

Source: Minister for Community Services Respite support for carers

SudokuFacts.com allows you to play sudoku online for free.

Sudoku is a japanese puzzle game that demands both strategy and logic.

A sudoku consists of a 9x9 grid that contain small subgrids of 3x3 elements each.

Depending on the difficulty of the puzzle, a small or large number of cells will already contain digits.

In order to solve a sudoku, the numbers of 1 to 9 have to be inserted into every subgrid in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates only one instance of each digit.

Play Sudoku Online For Free at SudokuFacts.com

Welfare Rights Centre spokesman Michael Raper says many NGOs who advocate on behalf of the poor or disadvantaged fear that the Government will remove their tax-exempt status or stop funding them.

For the Government to curb their funding, cut their funding in some cases, take away their tax status if theyre speaking out too much is undermining our democracy and is the flaw that Im trying to point out, he said.

He has told the conference at the University of New South Wales that the Government has a responsibility to fund the advocacy roles of NGOs because they are a vital part of democracy.

A number of organisations have self-censored, they no longer speak out, he said.

They think that they dont want to put their funding at risk.

Theyd rather keep a little bit of their funding and do some of the work at least.

Building the capacity of human rights leaders and their organisations.

The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) has pioneered a model of human rights capacity-building linked to higher education. It consists of a combination of training in practical skills, deepening academic knowledge, and developing international networks of contacts.

The focus of Human Rights Advocates Program is both on strengthening the skills of individual human rights defenders and providing the tools to build sustainable organisations with the resources to benefit disadvantaged communities.

The author of this paper outlines four key elements of HRAP that could be incorporated into other capacity-building programmes that focus on the development of individual leaders.

WHO Photo Contest - Images of Health and Disability 2003

After the successful launch of the WHO Photo Contest in 2002 in conjunction with the release of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF),  the World Health Organization (WHO) invites photographers around the world to participate in an international photo contest-"Images of Health and Disability 2003"

Photos can be submitted until 31 December 2003 in three categories: (1) Colour photographs, (2) Black and white photographs, (3) Digital photographs.

The prizes in each category reach from 100 to 1.500 US-Dollars.

Samaritans is one of Australia’s largest regional welfare organisations. With over 530 employees and 520 volunteers, Samaritans provides a range of services for children, youth, families and those with disabilities.

Every week, Samaritans provides assistance to 250 families experiencing disadvantage in our local community. Samaritans provides food and utility vouchers, clothing and referrals but our staff are seeing a growing number of people experiencing homelessness.

Go now to: Samaritans - Home     

A user name and valid email address is required to enter Disability Strategies.

Your Disability Strategies password will be sent to the email address you provide. After you log in with the password provided, you may change your password by clicking on "Your Account" to the left under the Main Menu, then click on "Your Info".

Notice: Account preferences are cookie based.

Register Now! It's Free!

We don't sell or give your personal information to others.

Psychiatrists Propose Revisions to Diagnosis Manual: Health experts are taking a fresh look at how some mental illnesses are diagnosed. Planned revisions to the field of psychiatry's primary manual would be the first in a decade.

Watch the video and read the transcript at Psychiatrists Propose Revisions to Diagnosis Manual | PBS NewsHour | Feb. 10, 2010 | PBS

Rudely Interrupted are one of Australia's truly unique indie rock acts. 5 out of the 6 members share a range of both physical and intellectual disabilities (Blindness, Deafness, Aspergers, Autism and Down Syndrome) but most importantly, a common interest in self expression through music.

ABC1 is screening the premier of the rock documentary titled "Rudely Interrupted" Thursday December 3rd 9:30pm. The fly on the wall rocumentary follows the band from pubs and clubs around Melbourne to the United Nations and beyond. A huge congratulations to director and producer Ben and Susie Jones and all at Quail TV for all their efforts and belief in the band and project. 
 

Go now to: Home | Rudely Interrupted

Nominations for the inaugural National Disability Awards, coinciding with the International Day of People with Disability, are now open.

The awards will recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions and achievements made by people with a disability to the community, and by individuals to the disability sector.

There are five award categories:

• Community Contribution Award: A person with a disability who has made a significant contribution to the community.
• Young Community Contribution Award: For a 12 to 25-year-old with a disability who has made a significant contribution to the community.
• Inclusion Award: A person who has significantly contributed to improving the lives of people with disability.
• Go Getter Award: A 12 to 25-year-old who has significantly contributed to improving the lives of people with disability.
• Personal Achievement Award: A person with a disability or the carer of a person with a disability who has overcome adversity to achieve personal goals.

People are encouraged to nominate themselves or someone they know for the award. Achievements at all levels, whether it be local, regional, state or national, will be considered and recognised.

Nominations close on Friday 20 July and the awards will be presented at an awards ceremony in Canberra on Monday 3 December, International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD).

For more information, visit the IDPWD website, or call 1800 677 427.

• ACE National Network
• National Disability Services
• Australian Association of the Deaf
• Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
• Blind Citizens Australia
• Brain Injury Australia
• Carers Association of Australia
• Deafness Forum of Australia
• National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS
• National Council on Intellectual Disability
• National Disability Advisory Council
• National Ethnic Disability Alliance
• Physical Disability Council of Australia
• Women With Disabilities (Australia)

ALL Australians need a no-fault insurance scheme for everyone who has, or aquires a significant disability.

A National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) would be a landmark social and economic reform, transforming the lives of Australians with disabilities and their families.

Yooralla in conjunction with Guest speaker Bruce Bonyhady are offering a FREE community information session.

Go now to: National Disability Insurance Scheme Community Information Sessions

The Productivity Commission this week released its draft report on the contribution of the Australian Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector, which contributes 4.1 per cent of Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year and employs eight per cent of Australia's workforce.

The report makes many recommendations, including a streamlining of national regulations to assist with registering & endorsing tax concession status or incorporating associations, the establishment of an Information Development Plan to gather better data on the sector, expanding Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status to encourage greater fundraising, provision of business support services to improve management of NFPs, and the creation of a Federal Office for NFP Sector Engagement to encourage reform.

The NSW Child Death Review Team (CDRT) is an independent panel of experts that examines information about child deaths in NSW to prevent or reduce these deaths.

The CDRT Annual Report 2008 provides information about the 601 child deaths in NSW in 2008.

Go now to: Child Death Review Team - NSW Commission for Children and Young People

The Australian Paralympic Team won a record 26 Gold Medals in Athens. The Australian team finished with 100 medals, behind China, Britain, Canada and the United States. Come and cheer our 2004 Paralympic Team at the National Welcome Home Parade on Wednesday 13 October. For Parade information, visit Events in New South Wales

The Winter Paralympic Games is a huge opportunity for Australia to claim golden glory.

Highlights of competition from the 2006 Paralympic Games held in Turin, Italy. Coverage will feature extended highlights of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as performances from Australia's leading disabled winter athletes.

Australia will field a very strong Alpine team with several athletes expected to be in medal contention. Leading the charge is Michael Milton who won an historic four gold medals in four different Alpine events four years ago in Salt Lake City and is now the fastest disabled skier in the world, recently clocking over 200km an hour in the French Alps.

New faces are also emerging with sit skier Shannon Dallas, and world championship event winners Cameron Rahles-Rahbula and Toby Kane rated highly internationally.

Source: ABC TV Online

In 2000, ACROD NSW, the Aged & Community Services Association of NSW & ACT (ACS) and Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) formed the Industry Group on People Ageing with Disability, to address issues of concern regarding people with disability who are ageing. The group represents the aged care, community care and disability service industries and aims to improve the quality of care provided to people who are ageing with disability.

 What is ProxyIt4u?

ProxyIt4u is a fast web based proxy will allows its users to browse the web anonymously. This proxy service will enhance your web experience, letting you: bypass work filters, school filters, firewalls and much more.

You can now easily bypass restricted sites. ProxyIt4u is the easiest way to bypass filters at school or work to browse any website. ProxyIt4u will bypass many filters and let you surf the internet anonymously, this is the most secure way to browse the web.

ProxyIt4u.info

ProxyIt4u.net

ProxyIt4u.com

Medicines are central to managing arthritis and osteoporosis, to improve musculoskeletal functions, slow disease progression and reduce pain and inflammation. Pharmaceutical innovations over the last several years have improved the efficacy and diversity of medicines available to manage these conditions. However, the adoption of new and more effective drugs is often costly.

This report provides information on what medicines Australians are using to manage their musculoskeletal problems, how much do these medicines cost them and trends in the prescription of newer medicines.

Go now to: Medication use for arthritis and osteoporosis (AIHW)

The Blueprint Family Support Project provides information, support and advocacy to families who are caring for a child with complex disabilities and fragile health conditions in their family home. The project is based in Leura NSW but its services cover the Nepean area (Hawkesbury, Penrith, Blue Mountains).

Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and a Self-Advocacy Resource Unit - July Newsletter
Disability Services Division, Department of Human Services

Progress So Far

In May the project team finalised work plans with Disability Services Division, Department of Human Services. There are several information sources which will contribute to the final recommendations about the Resource Units:

A profile of advocacy and self advocacy organisations In Victoria

A review of research literature about the best ways to resource advocacy and self advocacy, including practical examples from Australia and overseas.

Consultations with a range of individuals and organisations interested in advocacy and self advocacy for people with disabilities.

Julian Gardner (Office of the Public Advocate), Jenni Coady (Equal Opportunity Commission ) and Rhonda Galbally (Disability Advisory Council of Victoria) will provide advice throughout the project.

In June the project started by looking at how advocacy is organised, managed and undertaken in Victoria by finding out how current disability advocacy and self-advocacy organisations work. The project team looked at how disability advocacy and self advocacy organisations are funded, managed, staffed, what sort of work is done, what resources they have, who they work with, what training advocates and self- advocates have and how the organisations and their Boards/ Committees manage their work.

Next the project team looked at the literature on advocacy and self-advocacy to find out what research has found out about making disability advocacy and self-advocacy work better. The team looked at other organisations in Australia and overseas. Many of the issues are common to Victoria/ Australia and other like countries and have persisted over many years. These issues are summarised in the consultation papers for comment and feedback.

In July the consultations phase of the project has been planned to occur over late July and all of August. Consultation papers have been prepared explaining the issues so far for the development of the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and Self-Advocacy Resource Unit. These papers are being widely circulated. Meetings are planned with the project team and peak organisations, groups and networks. There are individual meetings with the self advocacy organisations.

Eidos is an independent thinktank and research institute designed to encourage discussion and create new ideas about education, labour market and social public policy. Eidos' partners include policy-makers, universities, companies and public service providers, with more than 300 career researchers involved.

All research reports can be downloaded from the Eidos website along with the latest news and upcoming events. Visitors can view Eidos' YouTube channel and bookmarked items, plus subscribe to regular email updates of Eidos' activities, while members are able to access the Eidos Project Centre and Research Seeker.

Source: Eidos

On this day in 1954, the Salk polio vaccine field trials, involving 1.8 million children, begin at the Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, Virginia. Children in the United States, Canada and Finland participated in the trials, which used for the first time the now-standard double-blind method, whereby neither the patient nor attending doctor knew if the inoculation was the vaccine or a placebo. On April 12, 1955, researchers announced the vaccine was safe and effective and it quickly became a standard part of childhood immunizations in America. In the ensuing decades, polio vaccines would all but wipe out the highly contagious disease in the Western Hemisphere.

Polio, known officially as poliomyelitis, is an infectious disease that has existed since ancient times and is caused by a virus. It occurs most commonly in children and can result in paralysis. The disease reached epidemic proportions throughout the first half of the 20th century. During the 1940s and 1950s, polio was associated with the iron lung, a large metal tank designed to help polio victims suffering from respiratory paralysis breathe.

President Franklin Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio in 1921 at the age of 39 and was left paralyzed from the waist down and forced to use leg braces and a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In 1938, Roosevelt helped found the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, later renamed the March of Dimes. The organization was responsible for funding much of the research concerning the disease, including the Salk vaccine trials.

A commitment to training is a commitment to personal, professional, organisational and community development through continual improvement.

At Infoxchange Training you can explore by category the specific training courses currently on offer through their training calendar and proceed to the On-line Registration Service when you decide which course you want.

Go now to: Training Courses

Funding and operation of the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement - 8 February 2007

Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs’ report on Funding and operation of the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare study – Current and future demand for specialist disability services - 8 June 2007

This publication reports the findings of a study the AIHW was commissioned to undertake on levels of unmet demand for specialist disability services funded under the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement. It gives estimates of current levels of unmet demand for accommodation and respite services, community access services, and disability employment services, and presents data and commentary relating to projected future demand and the key factors likely to influence levels of demand in coming years.

Authored by AIHW. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare study – Current and future demand for specialist disability services

Source: disabilityALLIANCE
 

We are celebrating volunteers in our community by giving them a chance to receive some fantastic holiday breaks and donate $5000 to their charity!

They could be your next-door neighbour, a friend, or a fellow volunteer who selflessly gives their time for a charity or not-for-profit organisation.

If you know someone in NSW or the ACT who deserves recognition, nominate them today.

Award Categories

1. Community Volunteer Award (25-59 years old)
2. Seniors Volunteer Award (60+ years old)
3. Environmental Volunteer Award (25-59 years old)
4. Young Volunteer Award (17-24 years old)

4 runners-up Awards (1 per category)

On behalf of each winner, we will also donate $5000 to their charity, to help continue their valuable work.

Nominees do not have to be NRMA Members, but they must volunteer for a registered charity or organisation with Deductible Gift Recipient status.

Entries close Friday, 30 May 2008 and winners will be announced in July 2008.

For any other queries please call 02 8222 2112.

Source: Helping People Awards 2008 - NRMA Motoring & Services

The Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) provides parking concessions to people with mobility disabilities.

Changes made to the scheme in September 2003 help to protect the interests of legitimate users and prevent the fraudulent use of MPS cards. 

All applications for new or renewal MPS cards must be signed by a medical doctor. Doctors are aware that the fraudulent use of MPS cards disadvantage the people the scheme is designed to help, and will not sign the medical certificate unless you genuinely meet the requirements.

Note: When applying for an Individual MPS card, the medical certificate will only be valid for up to six months from the date the medical practitioner signed the form. The medical certificate for a Temporary MPS card will only be valid for a three-month period starting from the date the medical practitioner signs the medical certificate.

Changes to the scheme on 18 May 2009 require MPS applicants who hold a NSW driver licence to have their medical fitness to drive assessed if the RTA has not been notified of any medical condition of their licence.

The RTA issues a licence-style card that includes the cardholder’s photograph, and other security features such as a hologram and a 'ghost' photo image. Proof of identity is required to ensure only eligible people receive a card.

Go now to: Mobility Parking Scheme

Women’s Legal Services (WLS) NSW is a community legal centre providing women with a range of free community legal services, including legal advice and information, education, training and resources across metropolitan and regional areas of New South Wales.

Women’s Legal Services NSW provides a free service for all women in the community, particularly for those who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

Casework, Community Legal Education (CLE) and law reform is provided by Women’s Legal Services NSW through their programs:

• Free legal advice over the phone
• Free face to face advice services in western Sydney and regional NSW - see our outreach services
• Community Legal Education and publications

• Free Indigenous women’s legal contact line
• Community Legal Education and publications

• Free legal advice line over the phone
• Legal representation
• Community Legal Education and publications

• Appropriate training programs for the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Schemes (WDVCAS)
• Relevant & comprehensive resources for the WDVCAS
• Coordination & facilitation of the WDVCAS Network

• Free Indigenous women’s legal contact line
• Legal representation
• Community Legal Education and community development

• Free Indigenous women’s legal contact line
• Legal representation
• Community Legal Education and community development

 Source: Women’s Legal Services (WLS) NSW

The Working Carers Support Gateway website is a new resource providing news, information and support to help working carers to achieve balance in their work and home life.

• Workchoices Workplace Tool Box
• Indigenous Tool Box
• Equipment Reviews
• Book Reviews
• Tech Tips
• Free E-Newsletter

Source: The Working Carers Support Gateway - HOME

The journey of a unique rock band, whose members all have physical or intellectual disabilities, takes them from the Melbourne pub scene to the stage of the United Nations building, New York.

Rudely Interrupted are a motley crew of six, including their manager, Rohan Brooks who are intrinsically funny with an infectious love of performing.

They made rock ‘n’ roll history as the first band to play at the United Nations for International Disability Day. Most of them have never been outside their home state of Victoria and so the journey is daunting and exciting.

Their devoted fans at home know and love their infectious indie music that they produce with challenges like blindness, deafness, Aspergers, autism and Down syndrome.

But for this film, the focus is not Rudley Interrupted’s disabilities, but their amazing journey on the road as their adventure takes them to concerts in five cities across two continents.

It looks into these extraordinary individuals and how they cope with the pressures of living closely with each other and facing pressure and circumstances that would undo a professional outfit.

Source: - ABC1 Television Guide