Download a PDF version of this flyer here.

They are looking for carers between the ages of 18 and 70 to volunteer for the study.

For full details click here.

They are looking for people over 18 years who have experienced difficulty finding and / or maintaining housing AND have one or more of the following disabilities:

• sensory
• physical disability
• mild intellectual disabilities
• acquired brain injury

Participants will be interviewed for between 45-60 minutes.

Full details on the study can be found here.

An information sheet for participants can be found here.

These are not only for academics and interest is welcomed from professionals working in the disability field.

RSVP to Peggy.Kincaid@flinders.edu.au

Seminar 1 – Honours Research Proposal

Time: Midday – 1pm, Friday 29/4/2011

Venue: Room S254, Sturt South Wing, enter via Room S250

Presenter: Felicity Brown, Honours Candidate, Bachelor of Disability & Community Rehabilitation.

Title: Evaluation of Real Lives Real Places Demonstration Project Case Study: The Impact of Person Centred Thinking Approaches on the lives of people living with intellectual disability

Summary: In recent years Australia has seen the introduction of person centred thinking approaches across the disability sector. Minda, a large not for profit organisation that provides accommodation and support services to people with intellectual disabilities, has recently begun a journey of change to move the organisation from a traditional support approach known as a “hotel model”, to a more contemporary approach of person centred thinking and active support within a human rights framework. This change is happening through the Real Lives, Real Places Program currently underway at Minda. In order to implement the person centred thinking approaches across the organisation it is critical that Minda trials them through a Demonstration Project to evaluate the impact of introducing them on the lives of the people living with an intellectual disability supported in the homes. Felicity Brown a student of the Bachelor of Disability and Community Rehabilitation will be involved in this evaluation as her honours project. The outcomes of the research evaluating the demonstration project will influence the overall implementation of person centred thinking approaches across the rest of the organisation.

Seminar 2 – MSc Research Proposal

Time: 1pm – 2pm, Friday 29/4/2011

Venue: Room W406C, Sturt West Wing

Presenter: Fiona Redgrove, MSc Candidate

Title: Between Love and Duty: An exploration of discourses of adulthood and autonomy as they apply to young people with intellectual disabilities

Within many Western legal and cultural frameworks parents are assumed to hold jurisdiction over their children until a nominated age, such as age eighteen or twenty-one, at which time children may assume the mantle of adulthood, with its legal entitlement to exercise autonomy. However, when children have intellectual disabilities, and are perceived to have limited capacity, and equally limited potential to exercise such autonomy safely, the perception of the transition from child to independent adult may be less clearly discernible. The research around the experiences of families of people with intellectual disabilities as they transition out of school and into adult services is replete with references to the stress that is experienced during this time. This dilemma of when, or even if young people with intellectual disabilities can ethically, morally and legally assume the mantle of autonomous adulthood is the subject of this research proposal.

Seminar 3 – MSc Research Proposal

Time: Midday – 1pm, Monday May 2nd, 2011

Venue: Room N318, Sturt North Wing

Title: Gone to the Dogs: An investigation into the world of the guide dog handler. The impact that guide dog ownership has on the lives of people who are Blind or Vision Impaired

Presenter: Geraldine Lane, MSc Candidate, Disability & Community Inclusion, Flinders Clinical Effectiveness, School of Medicine

Summary: Few studies have explored the ‘real benefits’ of guide dog ownership, including the potential health, psychological and psychosocial benefits that having a faithful guide can bring for the person who is blind or vision impaired. This study will therefore examine the world of the guide dog owner; it will investigate as to whether people who are blind or vision impaired who own a service dog, will receive more frequent social interaction with other people when their dog is present. It will explore the behaviours reported by those people as to whether these encounters are more positive than when the handler does not have their dog present. It will look at the boost to confidence that a guide dog can bring to their handler as a result of, freer mobility, more positive reactions from the people they meet, (for example, friendly glances, smiles, and conversations). The research will further investigate the perceived health benefits encountered as a result of guide dog ownership, including a lessening of social isolation, reduction in blood pressure and increase in general fitness and health, to name but a few.

PRESS RELEASE

Data confirms higher rate of disability amongst migrants

The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) is the national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers throughout Australia.

‘The latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week confirms what NEDA has been evidencing for years, the rate of disability of migrants from non English speaking countries is at times more than double of the average rate of disability’ states Juan de la Torre.

De la Torre notes, the figures indicate an Australian average rate of disability of 18.9 per cent, however for people born in Italy and Greece, the rate is 45.5 and 45.7 per cent respectively.’

‘Not even a year ago, NEDA launched its report What does the data say to illustrate the higher incidence of disability among migrants and also the earlier onset of disability among migrants’ he says.

Sibylle Kaczorek notes ‘NEDA has been advocating for better data collection, analysis and reporting with successive Governments and the ABS for years. Finally, we are proven correct with our own analysis in what is only the beginning of reporting on disability data with a break down of ethnicity.’

‘The timing could not be better’ adds Kaczorek, ‘given the Government’s new commitment to Multiculturalism and the release of the Productivity Commission’s first report on Disability Care and Support, these latest figures can no longer be ignored.’

‘NEDA will be advocating strongly for the need of a dedicated strategy for people from non English speaking background as part of the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme. The first report is too weak in its recommendations when it comes to people from NESB with disability. The latest data confirms NEDA’s call for free interpreting services and dedicated advocacy services.’

NEDA’s Patron for 2011 Professor Ron McCallum, Senior Australian of the Year 2011 and the Chair of the UN Committee of Experts on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) will be highlighting the urgent need for improvement in service access and service delivery for people from NESB with disability.

Prof McCallum notes, ‘NEDA’s work has been given new legitimacy and relevance with the latest ABS data. In line with the spirit of multiculturalism and the rights enshrined in the CRPD, the Australian Government has a clear mandate to guarantee that the higher rate of disability among its ethnic migrants is investigated, addressed and serviced in a cultural informed and competent way.’

Juan de la Torre is the President, Sibylle Kaczorek is the Executive Officer of NEDA. The National Ethnic Disability Alliance is the national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers throughout Australia.

NEDA is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) to provide policy advice to the Australian Government and other agencies on national issues affecting people from NESB with disability, their families and carers.

4 March 2011

CONTACT for INTERVIEWS
Prof Ron McCallum 0411 880 228, Juan de la Torre 0427 480 671, Sibylle Kaczorek 0407 878 933

Website: www.neda.org.au Email: office@neda.org.au

What is involved?

Your child would be allocated at random to either an exercise group or an arts/social group.

The exercise group participants will be teamed up with a student mentor. This will be a physiotherapy student who will exercise with your child at a local gym, twice a week for 10 weeks for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. The days and times of training will be decided in consultation with you.

The arts/social group participants will also be teamed up with a student mentor. This will be a physiotherapy student who will meet with your child at your home or a community venue, once a week for 10 weeks for approximately 90 minutes. The days and times of these sessions will be decided in consultation with you.

The strength of your child will be measured before they start the program, after it finishes and again 3 months after the program.

How much will it cost?

The researchers will cover the cost of both programs and will contribute a small amount towards the cost of travel associated with the project.

Who will be taking part?

Young people with Down Syndrome aged 14-22 years and physiotherapy students.

Who is organising this study?

Dr Nora Shields and Prof Nick Taylor are research physiotherapists working for La Trobe University. Elin Wee is a physiotherapist who is the research officer in this project. They are working together with Down Syndrome Victoria to run this project.

Further Information

If you are interested in taking part or have any further questions contact Elin Wee on (03) 9479 5258 or e.wee@latrobe.edu.au

Children and adolescents aged between 10 and 15 years are sought to participate in a doctoral research project investigating the influences of social and cognitive skills on behaviour. This study will involve participants being presented with a range of different interesting tasks and activities. This study will also involve parents/guardians completing a questionnaire about their child’s behaviour.

Further Information

Miss Laura Smith
School of Psychology
Deakin University, Burwood Campus.
221 Burwood Highway (Building W).
Burwood, 3125 VIC

lsmi@deakin.edu.au
0413 119 231

Grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded to successful applicants for research projects to be undertaken in 2011.

Applications opened on 4 February 2010 and close on 29 April 2010.

For more information please see the C7CRF Media Release or the C7CRF Web Site.

Mr. Evans is seeking volunteers to participate in a short interview on the above subject. Any information provided in the interview will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Please view Mr. Evans’ Letter of Introduction and a Participant Information Sheet for the interview.

For further information please contact Brian Matthews, Senior Lecturer, Department of Disability Studies.

Disability Studies
Flinders Clinical Effectiveness
School of Medicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
Sturt Buildings
GPO Box 2100
Adelaide SA 5001

Ph: 8201 3448
Email: Brian.Matthews@flinders.edu.au