The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Please note the following urgent change of date and time regarding the Disability and Ageing Expo, Mount Gambier which was to be held Friday 23 March 2012.

Through circumstances outside our control, it has been necessary to change the date of the Disability and Ageing Expo to Friday 1 June 2012.

We sincerely hope that this will not cause you any inconvenience and encourage you to attend at the new date in June 2012.

Registrations can be made at http://exporeg.dirc.webfactional.com/.

Registrations for exhibitors will now close on 1 May 2012.

Further, taking into account the valuable feedback from Sponsors and Exhibitors from the Disability and Ageing Expo 2010, we have decided to implement a number of changes:

• In response to comments regarding the entertainment and music being too loud, the event will only have soft acoustic background music.
• In response to concerns about the event being too long, this year the Expo will be open from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm.
• Several other positive inclusions to the day will be in the format of a number of workshops of interest to both people with disabilities and people who are ageing. These will be publicised closer to the event.
• Several exhibitors also requested the provision of an area to sit and have a coffee and something to eat. We are working to provide this.

The venue is relatively large and we aim to make it as welcoming and friendly as possible.

There is still the need for additional sponsorship support for this event. We sincerely encourage you to consider being a sponsor and ask that you contact us to discuss this if you feel your organisation or business would be in a position to provide support to this worthy event. If you have not already received a Sponsorship Prospectus, we would be happy to send one to you. Alternatively, if the sponsorship levels in the prospectus do not meet your needs, we can discuss other options for supporting the Expo financially.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding these changes, please contact Events Coordinator Jennie Liebich on 0400929873 or at jennie@dircsa.org.au on Thursdays and Fridays.

‘The Mix’ sessions will be on the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1pm–4pm and are for people who are musically quite confident and have been coming to The JMG for some time.

‘The Jam’ sessions will be on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month and are for people who are just starting to attend The JMG or are less musically confident. The Jam will be from 1pm–3pm as a group session, with 3pm–4pm available for The JMG Music Director, Robert Petchell, to spend time with individuals – teaching some guitar chords etc.

Prospect Town Hall, 126 Prospect Rd, Prospect

For more info call Robert 0402 429 197 or rpetchell@optusnet.com.au or www.facebook.com/events/350010388350460.

22-29 February 2012

Disability & Arts Transition Team (DATT), supported by funding from Arts SA, brings UK audio describer Willie Elliott back to Adelaide to present training for local performers, writers, theatre-makers and arts organisations.

Renowned professional audio describer Willie Elliot will run professional audio description training. Willie has extensive experience in all aspects of audio description, including theatre, opera, dance, circus, visual arts, architecture, live events, TV, film and online.

Audio Description captures the visual elements of a theatre piece; painting or environment that a blind or vision impaired person might otherwise miss, describing them in clear, vivid language. Through a small radio receiver, the patron receives a spoken description of visual elements by a trained audio describer.

Royal Society for the Blind, 230 Pirie St, Adelaide

For more info call (08) 8231 0900 or datt@cansa.net.au.

The latest edition of the Disability and Arts Transition Team’s eNews newsletter is now available.

Read it here.

The Disability and Arts Transition Team announces two new skill development opportunities for Deaf and disabled artists and arts-workers who want to increase their understanding of grant writing and project resourcing.

Funding Opportunities for Disabled Artists

Wednesday 15 February 2012,

11.00am to 1.30pm

Hetzel Lecture Theatre, Mortlock Building
State Library of South Australia, Corner of North Tce and Kintore Ave, ADELAIDE

A free workshop for Disabled artists, arts workers and Disability organisations on current funding opportunities (Richard Llewellyn Arts & Disability Trust, Arts SA, Australia Council, local government). CAN SA facilitator Carmel Batson leads participants through the basics of clearly outlining your ideas and how to tackle a project budget. Special guest Clare Tizard from Arts SA explains the Richard Llewellyn Arts & Disability Trust funding program.

Business Skills for Creative People – Develop Funds and Resources

Thursday (16th) and Friday (17th) February 2012

Hetzel Lecture Theatre, Mortlock Building
State Library of South Australia, Corner of North Tce and Kintore Ave, ADELAIDE

Course Cost: $25 (normally $150)

Expand your skills in seeking funding and managing resources to support your project dreams. The training will offer participants the opportunity to earn qualifications in the module Develop Funds and Resources (CVFAS03B) within the Course in Business Skills for Creative People (Code 40594SA), a nationally recognized course for people who volunteer and work in the arts, cultural and community sector in Australia. The workshop is hands-on, practical and designed to be relevant to participants.

If you are a disabled artist, arts worker, volunteer, someone who works within communities or someone who would like to, this course is for you.

If you are interested in taking part in either of these two training opportunity, contact DATT by email datt@cansa.net.au or phone (08) 8231 0900 for more information and to register.

Further details are available in the flyer.

The online Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for participation on a mental health Consumer Reference Group (CRG) is now open.

The CRG will provide advice to an existing well-established non-government body, which will be responsible for establishing the infrastructure of the new national mental health consumer organisation. It is intended these auspice arrangements will be in place for about two years to assist the new organisation to transition into independence with strong and sustainable foundations. The Government is currently giving consideration to a non-government body to undertake this auspicing role, and will be announced in the coming months.

The CRG will be comprised of members with a diverse range of experience, skills, knowledge and backgrounds; and who have a commitment to a shared vision leading to improved quality of life, social justice and inclusion for people with mental illness in Australia.

The Department of Health and Ageing is coordinating Expressions of Interest for the CRG through an on-line process. For the purposes of this process, the term ‘mental health consumer’ is used, and is defined as follows: “a person with a lived experience of mental health problems / mental illness”).

Information about the role of the CRG and how to apply is available at www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth.

Expressions of interest can be submitted until Monday 4pm AEDT 20 February 2012.

This 2 day workshop is being held in Port Augusta from 23-24 March 2012 by SAFE in Oz.

The workshop aims to give participants an insight into the headspace of one who self-abuses in order to better understand their ‘real’ world and experiences; focussing specifically on their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Throughout the workshop participants are encouraged to employ strength based practice, in collaboration with their clients, as a means to discovering a myriad of healthier alternative behaviours to use in response to their inner trauma.

As self-abuse does not impact solely on the physical aspect of an individual’s life, the workshop links self-abuse to its impact on the, mind, spirit and social aspects of life and explores the related long term effects.

Also discussed will be the connection between self-abuse and suicide, BPD [Borderline Personality Disorder], mental illness, sexual assault, domestic violence and adolescence.

The presentation mode for the workshop is both interactive and activity based and includes ‘real’ case studies, PowerPoint presentation and DVD.

Each workshop participant is provided with a SAFE in Oz brochure, pen and presentation folder. The folder includes a workbook for each day which contains a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, activity pages and additional subject related reference material.

The activity sheets include strategies and tools for use with clients, while the reference material acts to enhance understanding and give insight into related topics.

Further information.

Registration Form.

The Music Works returns for 2012 on Tuesday February 7th.

Where: The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, 59 Port Road, Hindmarsh

Time: 10.30am to 2pm

Admission: $6

Full details in the flyer.

The topic couples and conflict is the first Bower Place workshop for 2012

Changing Communication between Couples in Conflict

Malcolm Robinson & Catherine Sanders

13th February 2012

Many practitioners working with couples find that dealing with highly conflictual relationships challenges their skill and ability to remain fair, balanced and effective. This is particularly so when the therapist comes from a family which was either conflict avoidant or too readily engaged in dispute. The risk of becoming overwhelmed or loosing neutrality is high.

This workshop will present a systemic view of couple conflict which locates the difficulties within a broader frame, inclusive of current family, family of origin and the wider system. It will review literature on couple communication styles and the significance of the match between them and the relevance of family of origin styles and the predictable pattern of communication as relationships deteriorate. It will aim to provide the practitioner with a perspective which allows both clients and worker to step back and view the situation more objectively and in doing so opening avenues for change. Questions of emotional and physical abuse, rejection and fairness will be explored as will innovative ways to open space in the relationship to allow reparation and forgiveness to appear.

The workshop aims to provide both a systemic understanding of couple conflict as reflected in the current literature and practical strategies to support change. DVD and clinical case material will be used to demonstrate and explore the conceptual and practical skills required for this work.

To register for this workshop click here.

Professional Learning Series – February 2012

Upcoming programs during February. All programs are presented in the training room at Autism SA, 262 Marion Road, Netley.

Setting Students with an ASD up for Success in 2012
Monday 6 February 9:30am – 4:00pm (lunch provided)

Supporting Students with an ASD for SSOs/ESOs
Tuesday 7 February & Monday 20 February 9:30am – 4:00pm (lunch provided)

ASD: An Introduction
Wednesday 8 February 9:30am – 12:30pm

Understanding Sensory Integration
Monday 13 February 9:30am – 4:00pm (lunch provided)

Enhancing Communication using Visual Supports for Students with an ASD
Tuesday 14 February 9:30am – 4:00pm (lunch provided)

Complex Case Management for Students with an ASD
Wednesday 15 February 9:30am – 12:30pm

iPads & Apps for Children with Special Needs
Tuesday 21 February 9:30am – 12:30pm

The Power of Peers: Raising Awareness of the Autism Spectrum in the Classroom
Tuesday 28 February 9:30am – 12:30pm

For further information on the Professional Learning Series, please contact the Education and Training Officer on (08) 8462 0638.

Autism SA Family Workshops – February and March 2012

The following Family Workshops will take place at the Autism SA office (262 Marion Road, Netley) for a fee of $15 per family that will be collected on the night. To make a booking or for more information about these or other workshops please call 1300 288 476.

An introduction to Autism for families with a new diagnosis
‘An introduction to Autism’ discusses some of the common characteristics of Autism, possible causes and helpful strategies.
Dates: Monday 6th February Time: 7pm-9pm

An introduction to Asperger syndrome for families with a new diagnosis (up to 13yrs)
Focused on families of younger children with Asperger syndrome, this session describes the characteristics, possible causes and helpful strategies.
Dates: Monday 20th February Time: 7pm-9pm

An introduction to Asperger syndrome for families with a new diagnosis (13yrs+)
Focused on families of older children and also individuals with Asperger syndrome, this session describes the characteristics, possible causes and helpful strategies.
Dates: Monday 5th March Time: 7pm-9pm