Hunter Disability eNews
15 MARCH 2004
phone: (02) 4927 0111 or e-mail: infoline@dash.org.au or web: www.dash.org.au
Welcome to the DASH Disability Infoline eNews. We aim to distribute the latest news relevant to the Hunter disability sector. To be added to or removed from our e-mailing list, simply send your name and e-mail address and request to infoline@dash.org.au . For contributions to eNews, e-mail any information to infoline@dash.org.au
WHAT’S IN THIS EDITION:
15 MARCH – 21 MARCH 2004 BRAIN AWARENESS WEEK
28 MARCH – 3 APRIL 2004 MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK
HUNTER HAPPENINGS
WELLBEING EXPO
WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING
FREE EPILEPSY EDUCATION SESSIONS
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AUSTRALIA TRAINING
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION OF NSW SEEKS VOLUNTEER VISITORS
MULTIPLE DISABILITY AND LIFE SATISFACTION: DEAFBLINDNESS AND SOCIAL PROCESS
DSaRI PREVIOUS SEMINARS
RESEARCH
SUMMARY REPORT OF HIGH SUPPORT NEEDS PROJECT RELEASED
COLOUR VISION IN ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
FEWER COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND LESS ACCESS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
MEETING THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
PROVISION OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA
POLICY DOCUMENTS
INPUT INTO MENTAL HEALTH ACT
DRAFT UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
ACCI NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT POLICY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
JOB SEEKER STREAMING UNDER REVIEW
CLASSIFIEDS
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE (MND) AWARENESS WEEK
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE SUPPORT GROUP
SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY PRESENTS INTEGRATED DANCE CLASSES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK TO AUDIO-ENABLE ATM NETWORK
GLOBAL INCLUSION BENCHMARK
BEST BUDDIES AUSTRALIA
HUNTER HAPPENINGS
WELLBEING EXPO
Final year Bachelor of Business (Marketing) students from the University of Newcastle and staff of the Hunter Residences have organised a "Wellbeing Expo" for people with an intellectual disability, their advocates and carers. An invitation is extended to people across the Hunter Valley to join them at the Stockton Centre on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd of March between 10:30am and 2:30pm. Themes of the Expo include general health and fitness, mobility, exercise, movement and nutrition. A variety of community based service providers will be on hand to provide information and advice. Live music, face painting, dance performances and food tastings will add to the enjoyment of the day. Well known local identity Ms Sue Cruickshank will open the Expo on Sunday the 21st at 11:00am. For more details contact Peter Milsom on Tel: (02) 4928 0848 or email: Peter.Milsom@community.nsw.gov.au.
WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING
FREE EPILEPSY EDUCATION SESSIONS
The Epilepsy Association is offering FREE information and training during March and April. Information covered could include issues such as: “duty of care” and the latest information on seizure management. The sessions will be tailored to meet your educational needs. Contact Lisa Todd RN Epilepsy Educator on Tel: 1300 366 162 or email: ltodd@epilepsy.org.au.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AUSTRALIA TRAINING
Community Connections Australia Training is running a three day course for staff in "The Positive Approach To Challenging Behaviours: Advanced" on March 29-31, 9.30am-4.30pm. They are also holding a four day "Introduction to Management" course May 31 to June 3, 9.30am-4.30pm. Both courses will be held at the Balmain Tigers Leagues Club on Victoria Street, Rozelle. The cost of the courses will be $143 per person per day (GST included). The cost includes participant workbooks, morning and afternoon tea vouchers in the club's Kitchen Cafe, lunch at membership prices and certificates. Currently there are 6 seats remaining in "Challenging Behaviours: Advanced" and 10 in "Introduction to Management". If you or any of your staff are interested in attending please contact Marie Mete on email: mmete@ccoz.org.au.
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION OF NSW SEEKS VOLUNTEER VISITORS
The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association of NSW is seeking people who would be interested in becoming Volunteer Visitors to a person with MND. They may be able to help the person with MND by assisting with such activities as: reading or writing, doing hair or makeup, organising photos, recording their life story, sending letters or emails. Sometimes all that is needed is to be there for the person and listen to what they have to say. Spending time with a person with Motor Neurone Disease cannot be underestimated, and can do a great deal towards improving the quality of life of all involved. An orientation and education program for people wishing to become Volunteer Visitors will commence on Monday 5th April. If you are interested in giving a little of your time each week to improve the quality of life of a person with MND, please contact Christina Jason, MNDA NSW Family Support Northern NSW Regional Advisor, Tel: (02) 4952 4492 or Carol Birks, MNDA NSW Family Support Manager, Tel: (02) 9743 5872.
MULTIPLE DISABILITY AND LIFE SATISFACTION: DEAFBLINDNESS AND SOCIAL PROCESS
The Disability Studies and Research Institute (DSaRI) in conjunction with the School of Social Work, University of NSW (UNSW) is hosting a seminar on Friday 19th March from 11.30am - 1.30pm on “Multiple Disability and Life Satisfaction: DeafBlindness and Social Process”. A light lunch is provided - $10 (waged), $5 (unwaged) or by contribution on the day. The venue is Committee Room 3, Chancellery Building. The Chancellery Building is located at UNSW (access off High Street, Gate 9), Kensington, Sydney. There is wheelchair access at the front of the building. To view a map of the campus go to: http://www.unsw.edu.au/maps/kensington.html. Map reference is C22. Please advise by Friday 12th March if you wish to attend as numbers are limited. Contact Gem Mathieu on Tel: (02) 9319 6622 or Fax: (02) 9318 1372 or email: gemm@dsari.org.au. Some disabled parking is available. Please notify Gem Mathieu of your vehicle registration number if you would like a space reserved. DSaRI provides support to individuals who wish to attend. If you have particular access requirements, including communication and information support, please contact DSaRI to discuss your individual needs. The speakers will be Gordon Lyons and Julie Schneider. Gordon is a part-time lecturer in special education at the University of Newcastle and part-time guardian with the NSW Office of the Public Guardian. He will discuss the findings of his recently submitted PhD dissertation 'Life satisfaction for children with profound multiple disabilities : Finding eudamonia'. Gordon's research concludes that children with profound multiple disability experience a life satisfaction which can be identified and explained and that the processes by which others 'come to know' the children and learn about this life satisfaction, are explainable. Julie Schneider is a PhD candidate in the School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences at the University of Sydney. She will be presenting on her research experiences to date. She uses Carol Thomas' framework to explore the social processes inherent in the lives of adults who have acquired DeafBlindness. Thomas' (1999) psychosocial conceptualisation of disability provides a theoretical lens in the research. The usefulness of this framework in the inductive-deductive process of interpreting the data will be discussed. Impairment effects, psycho-emotional dimensions of disability and disabilism, while evident in participants' lives, do not present as distinct experiences, rather they merge in a dynamic process whereby participants struggle to live with a sense of different-ness. Discussion, feedback and ideas will be welcomed.
DSaRI PREVIOUS SEMINARS
In February, Ronnit Redman, lecturer in the Faculty of Law at UNSW, presented a seminar on “Conversations in law and disability”. Ronnit has been a legal adviser with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. She was recently awarded the Law faculty's 2004 research fellowship to pursue two projects - a project about legal constructions of disability and a joint project about refugees. Ronnit is on the management committee of the Australian Human Rights Centre and the managing editor of the Human Rights Defender. Her article 'Burning down the house: conversations in law and disability' has been published in the Australian Journal of Communication, vol 30(3) 2003. She discusses her findings: "When the law encounters disability what does it say? How does the law understand, frame and interpret disability?”. One such encounter is the case of Purvis v the State of NSW recently before the High Court of Australia. This paper focuses on several legal 'conversations' in the Purvis case as the decision of the High Court carries enormous weight in the law and for the construction of 'disability' more generally." Ronnit's paper can be accessed: www.dsari.org.au/Sems_04/RRedman_Feb04.doc. (NB. You will be asked for authorisation, but if you press cancel, the article will appear.)
RESEARCH
SUMMARY REPORT OF HIGH SUPPORT NEEDS PROJECT RELEASED
Recommendations to improve the opportunities of people with high support needs for economic and social participation are contained in a summary report released by the National Disability Administrators. A Reference Group of representatives from consumer and service provider peak bodies, including ACROD, formulated the recommendations. The summary report, which Disability Ministers have now agreed to publish, briefly outlines findings from the High Support Needs Project. The Report is called: ‘To Take Part - Economic and Social Participation for Australians with High Support Needs’. The Project, which undertook research aimed at improving access to employment assistance for people with high support needs and the interface between employment services and day option programs, experienced substantial delays because of disagreements between governments about the interpretation of data. The delays meant that 2000-01 data were the latest with which the Project worked, and that the Project has not proceeded beyond its first stage. The summary report, however, does include a section outlining initiatives implemented by jurisdictions since 2001. The Project has influenced the focus on improving the interface between Commonwealth and State service systems (and the access to both employment assistance and day options) that is a feature of the bilateral agreements negotiated as part of the CSTDA. Earlier draft documents from the Project that ran to hundreds of pages have not been published. The summary report amounts to a dozen pages only. The Reference Group's recommendations cover a range of areas, including the need for: consistent and higher quality data (and public reporting of relevant performance indicators); research into innovative funding and service models, and a cost-benefit analysis of options for people with high support needs; improved engagement of the education sector (including the VET system) in the preparation of students with a disability for employment; improved means to identify support needs, especially at the point of transition from school to work; incorporation of the presumption of the ability and the potential to work in relevant program development and assessment systems; a fluid interface between service systems administered by the Commonwealth and by States/Territories and monitoring of the interaction of income support and taxation systems in creating disincentives to work. The summary report can be read on ACROD's web-site: www.acrod.org.au under “What's New.” [SOURCE: ACROD NEWS February 2004]
COLOUR VISION IN ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
The School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales is conducting a study on colour vision in adults with Down syndrome. They are assessing colour vision using an objective test, in adults with and without Down syndrome, aged between 18 and 30. All tests are conducted at the University's Kensington campus by a registered optometrist, and take about one hour to complete. They are currently trying to raise awareness of their study among potential participants. So if you think you might be interested in participating, and would like to hear more, contact Catherine Suttle on Tel: (02) 9385 4620.
FEWER COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND LESS ACCESS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
People with a disability or long-term health condition have less access than other people to informal social supports, according to the General Social Survey, published in December by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The survey was conducted in 2002 and involved a sample of 15,500 people. The survey asked respondents whether they had a 'disability or long-term health condition', distinguishing between core activity restriction and schooling/employment restriction only. Asked about the sources of support available to them during a time of crisis: 53% of respondents with a core activity limitation said that they could draw on a friend for support, compared with 71% of people without a disability. Fewer people with a core activity limitation also said that they could call on the support of a family member or a work colleague. However, slightly more believed that they could call on the support of a neighbour, and significantly more said that they would be able to get assistance from a community organisation or a government service. In another measure of community involvement, the proportion of people who had undertaken voluntary work in the last 12 months was lower among people with a core activity limitation than those without a disability or long-term health condition. But a higher proportion of the former group had undertaken voluntary work in welfare and community services (13% compared with 10%). There was a marked difference in terms of access to transport and use of information technology. Among people aged over 65 years, only 59% with a core activity limitation said that they could easily get to the places they needed, whereas 89% of people without a disability said this. 35% of people with a core activity restriction had used a computer at home in the last 12 months, compared with 55% of all people. A higher proportion of Tasmanians reported having a core activity restriction (16.6%) than any other State. The national average was 12.5%. Results from the ABS 2003 Survey of Ageing, Disability and Carers (last conducted in 1998) are expected in mid 2004. For more information go to the ABS web-site: www.abs.gov.au. [SOURCE: General Social Survey: Summary results, Australia, ABS Cat No 4159.0.]
MEETING THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
General practitioners (GPs) from the Australian state of Victoria and support people were surveyed about their concerns and priorities for meeting the health care needs of people with developmental disabilities. Despite the poor response rate (22% and 27%), sampling adequacy was obtained, and the tools were found to have construct validity. According to the results, GPs had concerns about the assessment and management of people with developmental disability and tended to rely on support people. They knew about many services in their communities, but were less likely to know about non-medical, and government and non-government disability services. Support people reported concerns about health care service providers' lack of knowledge, family stress during periods of hospitalisation, and, particularly for rural respondents, the need to travel to access services. There were relatively few differences in responses from metropolitan versus non-metropolitan respondents, which may be explained by the relative accessibility of Victorian rural towns when compared with other Australian states. [SOURCE: Iacono, T, Davis, R, Humphreys, J & Chandler, N. (2003) GP and support people's concerns and priorities for meeting the health care needs of individuals with developmental disabilities: a metropolitan and non-metropolitan comparison. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28 (4), 353-368.]
PROVISION OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA
National data on the provision of services to Australians with a disability under the Commonwealth/State Disability Agreement (CSDA) have been gathered since 1995 using the Minimum Data Set (MDS). This paper analyses MDS data on residential services for people with intellectual disability between 1995 and 1999. Notable national trends include: (a) a steady growth in the number of recipients of CSDA-funded residential services; (b) a slow but consistent decline in the proportion of people housed in large residentials; (c) a gradual increase in the number of people served in community group homes; and (d) a more rapid growth in outreach/drop-in services such as semi-independent living. Population-adjusted comparisons with residential provision for people with intellectual disability in England and the USA showed that these countries provided between 22 and 71% more places per person than Australia. There appears to be an urgent need in Australia to increase the provision of residential services to people with intellectual disability. [SOURCE: Stancliffe, R.J. (2002) Provision of residential services for people with intellectual disability in Australia: an international comparison. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 27 (2), 117-124.]
POLICY DOCUMENTS
INPUT INTO MENTAL HEALTH ACT
The NSW Minister for Health recently released the first discussion paper to assist people who want to take part in a major review of the Mental Health Act. It is an important step in improving carer involvement in the treatment of people with mental illness in NSW. The review will focus on two areas of the Act and occur in two stages: information sharing with carers and execution of the Act in the care of people with mental illness, including the forensic system. The review of the Act was prompted by calls from mental health consumers, their families and health professionals and was a key recommendation of the Select Committee Inquiry into Mental Health Services in NSW. Submissions close April 30th. Anyone interested in finding out more about the review and discussion paper should contact NSW Health on Tel: (02) 9391 9000 or visit the website: www.health.nsw.gov.au.
DRAFT UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The Federal Government’s Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, recently announced Australia has provided a written contribution for inclusion in a draft text for negotiation of a Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. It stresses the importance of taking appropriate measures to provide an environment that enables people with disabilities to access their fundamental human rights. The full-text of the Australian Government’s position can be read at: www.ag.gov.au/publications. The Working Group established by the UN Ad Hoc Committee is currently considering the Convention's draft text. The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 24 May to 4 June 2004. Australian elected chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Australia's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Mike Smith, who was a Vice-Chair of the Commission in 2003, has been elected Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights for 2004. To read the media release from the Minister for Foreign Affairs go to: www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2004/fa006_04.html.
ACCI NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT POLICY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
During 2003 the Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) seconded a staff member to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) to assist in the development of ACCI’s national employment policy for people with disabilities. Now finalised, the policy is said to “provide a nationally consistent employer position on a range of issues that influence the participation of people with disabilities in employment”. The policy and action plan include principles and future directions, and will see ACCI focus on increased employment of people with disabilities over the next two years. FaCS will continue to work with ACCI to implement strategies that aim to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. For more information go to: www.acci.asn.au/employmentMain.htm. [SOURCE: FaCS newsletter - Issue 12 2004]
JOB SEEKER STREAMING UNDER REVIEW
A review has commenced into the new arrangements, introduced last April, to stream job seekers into Job Network, Rehabilitation or a Disability Employment Service. A trial was conducted early in 2003 before full introduction of the arrangements, but the sample was tiny (only 205 people, 76 of whom were assessed as not ready for referral to any of the above options and only 19 of whom were referred to a Disability Employment Service). The report of the trial: Findings of the Disability Employment Indicator Streaming Process (November 2003) is available on the FaCS web-site: www.facs.gov.au. [SOURCE: ACROD NEWS February 2004]
CLASSIFIEDS
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE (MND) AWARENESS WEEK
MND is a rapidly progressive and fatal disorder that affects the nerve cells that control the muscles used in voluntary movement. The early symptoms include stumbling, weakened grip, hoarse voice, slurred speech, cramps and muscle wasting. This leads in time to progressive paralysis. It does not usually directly affect the senses, the bladder, the bowels, the intellect or the memory. Most people with MND remain mentally alert throughout the disease. It generally occurs in people over 40, with the average age of onset around 55. Unfortunately, no-one has discovered what causes MND, or how to cure it. In Australia, one person dies from MND every day, ie. more than 370 deaths per year. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is 2-3 years. Professor Stephen Hawking, the internationally acclaimed theoretical physicist and author of the best-seller “A Brief history of time” is exceptional. He has lived with the disease for over 35 years. For further information or support, phone freecall: 1800 777 175. [SOURCE: IDEAS Inc E-news Issue 1, 2004.]
MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE SUPPORT GROUP
The Motor Neurone Disease Association of New South Wales (MND Association NSW) is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to meet the needs of people living with MND, their carers and families by facilitating the provision of care, promoting independence and improving their quality of life. MND support groups are an integral part of the MND Association. There are currently 10 MND support groups in NSW including one in Newcastle and one on the Central Coast. Another group is about to begin in Raymond Terrace for people living in the Port Stephens and Great Lakes regions. These support groups are instrumental in providing gatherings for people with MND and their families and friends to meet and provide informal and friendly support to each other. The Newcastle Motor Neurone Disease Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at the Warners Bay Community Centre, Sweet St, Warners Bay. For further information contact Alistair Fyfe, Tel: (02) 4747 1983.
SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY PRESENTS INTEGRATED DANCE CLASSES
Sydney Dance Company is presenting Integrated Dance Classes on Sundays from noon - 1.45pm, at Sydney Dance Company Studios, The Wharf, Pier 4 Hickson Rd, The Rocks. (Wheelchair access is through the entrance driveway.) Cost is $16 per class or 12 classes for $160. Carers may participate free of charge. Integrated Dance is a form of dance suitable for people with and without disabilities. It is a great chance to exercise, meet people and learn movement to music in a creative and fun environment. Classes are for adults (16 years and over) and are conducted at Open level, meaning that the class is suitable for students of all standards. All classes are run on a casual basis so there is no need to book. However if you'd like further information about the classes please contact Kristy on 02 9258 4813 (weekday afternoons) or e-mail: KristyM@sydneydance.com.au.
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK TO AUDIO-ENABLE ATM NETWORK
The National Australia Bank advises that it will progressively audio-enable its ATM network to assist people who are blind, vision impaired and elderly. This follows an extensive pilot run in conjunction with the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. Sixty-four of National's ATMs were audio-enabled by November 2003 and half will follow by May this year. In the future all new ATMs installed by the National will be audio-enabled. For a list of audio ATM locations, please refer to the ATM locator on the National's web site http://www.national.com.au.
GLOBAL INCLUSION BENCHMARK
The Global Inclusion Benchmark was recently announced in the United Kingdom. The sponsors are: The Employers' Forum on Disability and disability insurer, UnumProvident. The Forum works closely with disabled people, government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier for business to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers Its members represent over 380 major organisations that currently employ more than 20 per cent of the UK workforce. UnumProvident is a UK leading provider of group income protection insurance. The Benchmark, piloted last year, examines how companies communicate their commitment to disabled people in their social reports, providing an insight into the extent to which some of the world's leading corporations now address disability. The Benchmark identifies ten key areas where companies should comment on disability within their social reports. Sixty-eight social reports were analysed with quality assurance by the group, AccountAbility (www.accountability.org.uk). The findings show that of the reports examined: 9% of leading companies reported on disability as part of their CSR strategy; 33% of companies demonstrate a commitment to disabled people in their social reports compared to only 20% of reports last year; 66% include disability in their equal opportunities or diversity policy; 59% report on programmes to improve recruitment, retention and career development prospects for disabled people; 40% of companies report on what they have done to improve their products and services for disabled customers and 22% of companies report that they are listening to the concerns of their disabled stakeholders - employees, customers, community members and suppliers. The top five companies, ranked on the Employers' Forum on Disability Global Inclusion Benchmark criteria are: BT; Centrica; The Co-operative Bank; Abbey National and CIS Co-operative Insurance. For more information go to: www.employers-forum.co.uk/www/press15.htm or email: caroline.leon@employers-forum.co.uk
BEST BUDDIES AUSTRALIA
The NSW Centre for Intellectual Disability (NSWCID) is involved in a new project entitled “Best Buddies”. Best Buddies was originally founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in the United States in 1989. It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disability by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendship. The project was developed to try to meet the needs of people with intellectual disability who may have difficulty making and maintaining friendships, due to spending their lives in a service oriented environment that segregates and isolates them from the broader community. They aim to educate school students, corporate and community citizens and employers about the needs and abilities of people with intellectual disability. The Best Buddies Australia program is being developed in consultation with Anthony K. Shriver's friend and fellow voluntary board member of Best Buddies International, Alexander Dessauer, who met with CID representatives in Sydney in October 2003. NSWCID states “The program works by linking a person with intellectual disability with a peer of around the same age without a disability who lives nearby. Chapters are set up in secondary schools and universities. The program has a very hip feel to it and very much avoids the 'charity model' and the perception of people with disability as a burden that is sometimes pervasive in people's thinking. There are countless reports in the Best Buddies literature of people without a disability expressing the positive impact the 'buddy relationship' has had in their lives.” For more information go to: www.bestbuddies.org or visit the NSWCID website: www.nswcid.org.au. [SOURCE: NSWCID Newsletter February 2004]
NB The Disability Infoline eNews passes on information received and does not guarantee or endorse the services or events publicised in its e-News. The Disability Infoline is a non-profit organisation staffed by volunteers. Evadne Lewis (Editor) Mark Hemmings, Bronwyne Chapman & Robert Mackey (Information Officers), Mark Grierson (Coordinator) , Disability Advocacy Service Hunter (DASH) Inc. Suite 3 Level 1 408 King St, Newcastle West, NSW 2302
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