Link Disability Magazine February-March 2022 by The Intermedia Group

February/March 2022 | Volume 32 Issue 1 linkonline.com.au $9.95AUD / $11.50NZ

Ita Buttrose The driving force behind the new National Assistance Card

Image Credit: Adam Hollingworth

In this issue:

Meet Ken Haley and his hair-raising adventures/Commonly asked AT prescription questions/ Vision impaired musicians headline major event/ Accommodation & Home Suppor t

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Inside

From the Editor

06-08

Cover Story Ita Buttrose promoting National Assistance Card

Australian gift of mobility for children in Morocco

Ken Haley: conquering new frontiers from his wheelchair

30-31

Keep to the script when it comes to Pressure & Seating

Tiffany Heddes calls time on a 17-year business

Vision impaired musicians taking centre stage

40-55:

Accommodation & Home Support linkonline.com.au

Publisher

Simon Cooper

Editor

Kymberly Martin kymberly@intermedia.com.au

Contributor

Caitlin Maynard maynardcaitlin@gmail.com

Advertising

Michelle Stevens mstevens@intermedia.com.au 0419 822 717

Design

Sarah Vella

Prepress

Tony Willson

Production Manager Jacqui Cooper

To subscribe visit www.intermedia.com.au P: 1800 651 422 or E: subscriptions@intermedia.com.au www.linkonline.com.au Link is published six times a year by Interpoint Events Pty Ltd. ABN: 9810 451 2469 A: 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 P: +61 2 9660 2113 F: +61 2 9660 4419 Reprints from Link are permitted only with the permission of the publisher. In all cases, reprints must be acknowledged as follows: ‘Reprinted with permission from Link Magazine’, and must include the author’s byline. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. The Intermedia Group takes its Corporate and Social Responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests. The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100% biodegradable.

From the Editor

ike the New Year, Link is starting off with a bang! This issue begins with a story about the new National Assistance Card which is being launched nationally and exclusively via Link. Read how to access the card, which will be promoted by ABC chair Ita Buttrose, who has added it to her impressive list of community commitments. If you have the yen to travel read our interview with author Ken Haley whose adventures might change your mind. He took off during Covid and tells us a few things that are not in his travel memoir, The One That Got Away, a copy of which we have to give away. Another intrepid traveller is our contributor Caitlin Maynard who flew to the US for Christmas. She has some

useful advice for those travelling overseas in a wheelchair. There are two organisations in Western Australia providing wheelchairs to children in Morocco… yes Morocco. Another inspiring story to kick off 2022. We certainly need them! Special Needs Solutions is a business that is familiar to many in the pediatric sector. Its founder Tiffany Heddes, recently bid farewell to the company she ran for 17 years. She was a pioneer in sourcing assistive technology equipment for children and told Link about some of the challenges she faced and why she made the decision to leave. Kymberly Martin | Editor kymberly@intermedia.com.au

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February/March 2022

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FOCUS ON ABILITY

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Link to...Cover Story

National Assistance Card assisting people living with brain injury The National Assistance Card, designed to help people with brain injury remain independent, has been officially launched. ABC chair Ita Buttrose, who cared for her father after his dementia diagnosis, spoke to Kymberly Martin about the impact this condition had on his life and how the National Assistance Card could have helped him in the many stressful situations he encountered in the community.

Photo courtesy of Macular Disease Foundation Australia

unique initiative from the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania (BIAT), the National Assistance Card (NAC) was launched in Tasmania in 2021. Funded by the Department of Social Services, the NAC is an expansion of the Tasmanian Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Identification Card.

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Ita Buttrose, triathlete Alexa Leary (Move For Lex) and actor/singer Michael Cormick have been appointed National Assistance Card ambassadors. “It is not always easy to recognise that a person has a brain injury,” Buttrose said. “There may be a slow reaction

in a situation where someone cannot immediately remember what to do. She said the National Assistance Card gives people with brain injury reassurance, this ultimately helping them to maintain their independence. In her father’s case, because he lived

COVER STORY

alone at home, it would have given the family greater reassurance too.

when it is needed and reduces anxiety for those with brain injury.”

“People with brain injury often act differently and the response from people in the community is usually to ignore it. The National Assistance Card offers a simple solution to this as it communicates their condition to those around the person who may be struggling.

Buttrose's father, who had macular degeneration and hearing loss to contend with in addition to dementia, did not want to go into a nursing home. “As a family, we would do our best to keep him at home, which we did until he died ten days before his ninetieth birthday, several years after his initial diagnosis with dementia.”

“One of the main benefits of the Card is the focus on assistance, not disability. It is a simple and practical solution to understanding the behavioural effects that can occur resulting from a brain injury." “At some stage in most people’s lives, they will need some support, and this is especially true of people with brain injury. There is no reason not to ask for aid and the Card assists them to do just that.” In circumstances where there may be hesitancy, such as the checkout with a credit card or cash transaction, showing the National Assistance Card would enable either the checkout assistant or someone in the queue to offer help, she said. “The Card can provide assistance

Speaking about his dementia, Buttrose said on one occasion he became agitated at his local bank where he announced he had no money. However, if her father had produced a card showing he needed guidance, then the bank would have been able to deal with this matter on his behalf. At the time, it was necessary for Buttrose to contact the bank and the pharmacy, which her father visited regularly, and ask them to phone her if necessary. Having a National Assistance Card would most likely have avoided this happening. “There were times when my father was perfectly lucid, while at other times, he would suddenly become agitated and confused. Dementia is definitely an invisible disease, even though it is a major cause of disability and dependency among older people. I believe the National Assistance Card would help demystify dementia’s invisibility and encourage people to “see” the person behind the diagnosis. When someone is confused in public, Dementia Australia encourages people to stop and ask themselves “could it be dementia?” and consider ways to assist. Having the National Assistance

Card would enable a person with dementia to connect with others and feel more positive.” Buttrose said she would do “whatever is needed to promote and encourage uptake of the Card.” She first became aware of the National Assistance Card while attending an event at the Royal Hobart Hospital early in 2021 and was approached by Brain Injury Association of Tasmania Executive Officer Deborah Byrne to promote it. “I could see the advantages of the card immediately,” she said. Her involvement in health and community services also includes patrons for Dementia Australia and the Macular Disease Foundation and a spokesperson for osteoporosis. “I believe life is not just for taking but also giving. If you can devote some time to helping others, it’s rewarding. Helping others enriches your life and makes you grow as a human being. None of us know when we might need a helping hand. “I always hope that should this happen to me someone would put themselves in my shoes and ask how they could help me. My mother raised my brothers and I to volunteer - as children, she had us selling Legacy buttons in Sydney’s CBD, manning fete stalls for The Spastic Centre Mosman (now the Cerebral Palsy Alliance), collecting coins at RPA Hospital fundraisers at Bondi Beach’s Pavilion. I am glad she did. The work I do in the community is an important part of my life.” linkonline.com.au

Link to...Cover Story

Brain Injury Association of Tasmania (BIAT) Executive Officer Deborah Byrne believes as more people with brain injury apply for and use the Card, community awareness and understanding of brain injury will increase. “It will also provide peace of mind for families and carers,” she said. BIAT is working with police in all states and territories to ensure they are aware of, and informed about, the National Assistance Card. While the Card will initially be available to people in Australia living with brain injury, BIAT hope it will become available to all people in Australia living with disability and/or other health conditions. More than 700,000 Australians live with a brain injury. The National Assistance Card costs $44 (inc GST) and a replacement Card is $22 (inc GST). This cost covers Card production and contributes to the production of accompanying codesigned information and education resources. It is important people are aware the National Assistance Card is a community service and not a legal document and that it explains the impacts of a cardholder’s brain injury; it does not make a cardholder exempt from the law.

National Assistance Card ambassador, Alexa Leary. Once an aspiring triathlete, Lex lives with brain injury as the result of a devastating road cycling accident last year. Lex and her family created the Move For Lex movement, which raises funds for the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. For more information about Lex’s story, visit moveforlex.com About the National Assistance Card The National Assistance Card is a personalised card to assist people living with brain injury in the community. The Card carries key information about the cardholder, their brain injury, related difficulties and ways they can be assisted. The National Assistance Card can be used in any emergency or everyday situation where a cardholder needs assistance or support.

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Not only does the Card include the name and phone number of a nominated contact person and the Police Assistance Line phone number it also includes a QR Code. Cardholders have the option of adding additional information, written or via video, to their QR Code about the impacts of their brain injury, other disability, or health condition and/or how people in the community can assist them.

The National Assistance Card, part of the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania’s RRRR Program, is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Go to www.dss.gov.au for more information. The National Assistance Card and further information are available online at www.nationalassistancecard.com.au, or you can scan the QR code below:

Mable is a website where people living with disability can find and connect directly with independent support workers. By joining Mable, you’re able to: Choose your independent support worker from over 10,000 people offering care and support services.

Choose which services you need from the wide range people offer through the website.

Choose when you receive those services so you can fit the support to your schedule.

Choose with confidence knowing all workers have the relevant Police and reference checks.

www.mable.com.a u Scan the QR code to learn more, or visit mable.com.au

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Art and artists: How artists who experience disability celebrate humanity. By Dr Olivia Karaolis

Anxiety - an acrylic painting on canvas depicting a gathering of organic shapes of light blue, beige, red and brown twisting and binding with each other on a mottled dark blue background

hiannon Pegler, an artist who experiences disability has been named artist in residence at the Newington Armory at Sydney Olympic Park. This residency has been made possible through Accessible Arts in partnership with Sydney Olympic Park Authority and the first residency that Sydney Olympic Park Authority offered exclusively for artists with disability. Residencies are a highly sought opportunities for artists to create and showcase their work. Pegler’s work explores what is beneath the surface - to encourage the viewer to look beyond the surface, her process involves collecting natural objects and examining them under a microscope before she translates them onto the canvas. Her recent work “Anxiety” makes connections with organic shapes to express powerful feelings through

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the body and make connections between the body and the mind. It is a piece many can relate to, anxiety, as with other powerful feelings can be hard to understand, a powerful emotion that can overwhelm us. Art can help make sense of our experiences, to make the unfamiliar less strange and bring about new ways of making meaning of our feelings and ourselves. We realise that these feelings are shared and through the creative arts, we share them with others, through a painting, a film, theatre and music. It is why art is so important. It is why having artwork, by artists with disability recognised is so important. Art connects us and helps us to see the things we share as part of our common humanity. The world of those that

experience disability, and those that do not experience disability, are not binary. By its nature, art is inclusive. When you look at a painting by Frieda Kahlo, Rhiannon Pegler, Keith Salmon or Chuck Close, listen to Mozart, Stevie Wonder or Sia, watch a film with Tom Cruise or theatre in New York with Alexandria Wailes, we think of their power as an artist, it shifts our perception of disability. The artists and their work are at the front and centre and not the margins. Dr Olivia Karaolis teaches at Sydney University Faculty of Education and Social Work. She was Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Early Childhood Education, Santa Monica College, California.

Hotel Etico - where holidays change lives

NEWS

Imagine a hotel knocking down barriers and shifting perceptions of people with disability.

hat’s Hotel Etico, Australia’s first social enterprise hotel creating pathways to open employment for young people with intellectual disabilities. Located in the iconic Blue Mountains, this is a hotel with heart, where visitors give-back just by checking-in. It’s also a place where former general manager, Stella Sgambellone could make a difference by supporting employees to reach their full potential. “When you've got a perceived idea of somebody's capabilities, you create boundaries, and we want to knock down those boundaries,” she said. “We want to be able to open up whatever opportunities are available so that people can flourish and to demonstrate how to do that.”

When it came to finding new team members. Hotel Etico partnered with their local MatchWorks to help build an engaged workforce. “We seek to partner and engage with other organisations who have the same values that we do, and prior to kicking off our recruitment, I connected with Carlie and Anthony from MatchWorks to say this is who we are, this is what we’re about and I would love the opportunity for us to connect and work together and they were fantastic,” Sgambellone said. “So, it was MatchWorks playing a part in our recruitment process and supporting what we were trying to do.” Hospitality trainee, Georgia Davidson, said she was shocked when she heard the news that she got the job.

“I was very excited and a bit emotional as well,” she said. “It was fun to do because I wanted to be part of it, and I love to deal with a lot of stuff, like being in the Academy [of Independence], or being in the hotel… Stella is amazing.” According to Sgambellone the time investment in getting employees up-to-speed is the same for everybody. "It’s a couple of extra steps for someone with different abilities so the main thing is breaking down barriers and perceived ideas, When considering employing someone with a disability, or anybody, it's about opening up your mind to how they can add value to your organisation.” Listen to the full story via Apple podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

www.matchworks.com.au/breaking-ba rriers

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The gift of mobility Children with disability in Morocco have been given the gift of mobility thanks to two Australian organisations. By Cameron Lowe delivering them to Morocco. Before leaving Australia, they have trained personnel go over each one, making sure it’s adjusted properly for that child’s needs. “The wheelchairs are designed for all terrains,” Wheelchairs for Kids, volunteer workshop coordinator Bob Sheridan said. “And are adjustable for postural support and also adjusted to suit a growing child.” The wheelchairs are assembled in Morocco by Red Goes Faster volunteers. The unique point to these volunteers is that they are Moroccan locals, rather than having volunteers from Australia travel over to assemble the wheelchairs.

ed Goes Faster, in conjunction with Wheelchairs for Kids, are providing children with disability in Morocco with wheelchairs. Once forced to remain indoors due to lack of accessibility and social stigma, they can now live a happier, more accessible life. A registered Australian charity, Red Goes Faster aims to continue giving children with disability in Morocco mobility. Co-founded by Michelle Hank in 2015, Red Goes Faster has sent over 1,140 wheelchairs to Morocco since its inception. Hank was inspired to start Red Goes Faster after working at a school for the visually impaired in Marrakesh, Morocco. It is here that she came across some students who also had a physical disability. Now living in Adelaide, Hank had lived in Morocco for over 20 years.

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One of Red Goes Faster’s programs is to empower children with disability in Morocco. Many children with disability in the country were left indoors due to a lack of small wheelchairs available in the country. When moved, they’ve often been carried on their mother’s back, and as with many of the areas particularly in regional Morocco, accessibility is very limited. “We approach schools in regional Morocco,” Hank said. “We teach them how to make ramps for the kids to be able to go to school. Not only do they get the gift of mobility but can also get an education.” Getting these wheelchairs over would have been difficult without the aid of Wheelchairs for Kids. Based in Perth, Wheelchairs for Kids is a volunteer organisation that locally builds and flatpacks these wheelchairs, before

A Wheelchairs for Kids occupational therapist travels to Morocco for a two-week program to teach these volunteers how to assemble the wheelchairs. Michelle Hank has seen the benefits of her work of the Moroccan community firsthand. One of these is that of a child in Marrakesh with brittle bone disease. He was ecstatic after receiving his wheelchair and now likes to travel to the local general store and talk with people. Australians can donate to Red Goes Faster and Wheelchairs for Kids. Being a small organisation, all donations to Red Goes Faster goes straight to the people and delivering the wheelchairs to them. A $200 donation to Wheelchair for Kids will give the gift of mobility to children with disability. Go to: www.redgoesfaster.org and https://wheelchairsforkids.org

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NDSP Plan Managers Bursary Program Assisting participants reach their goals.

arly in 2021 NDSP Plan Managers announced they would be awarding two $1,500 bursaries to people with a disability in Queensland to help them start a micro-business, enter employment, undertake an apprenticeship or study at high school, university or TAFE. After receiving 27 high quality applications, NDSP CEO Graham Oades increased the number of bursaries to be awarded to three, shortlisted to six finalists by the threeperson judging panel. The panel comprised Angela Boyd director of Pyxis Australia, Tammie Usher from Jigsaw and 2021 Queensland Australian of the Year Dr Dinesh Palipana. After much deliberation the panel decided on three successful applicants. All applications impressed the panel with their creativity and ambition with each deserving of the $1,500 award.

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The three bursaries were awarded to, John, Chantel and Willow who all had amazing applications and aspirations of starting their own micro-businesses or undertaking further studies. John will use the bursary to start up his own company specialising in making custom metal and wood products such as, furniture and tools. The bursary will help cover business set up costs John will encounter such as software, business training and other start-up costs. Chantel is a former Australian Paralympic athlete winning gold in the Women’s Freestyle S7 event at the 2004 Athens Games. Chantel will be using the bursary to further pursue her development as a swimming instructor, adding teacher of babies, adolescents, adults, competitive teams as well as, culturally and linguistic diverse clients. This will build on her accreditation as a swim teacher of people of different abilities

and help her give people the important skill of learning to swim. Willow is a school leaver of 2021 and will be starting her own small arts business specialising in designing and making clay products with a sensory and tactile focus. The bursary will allow her to express her creativity while, also gaining independence through running her own business. Judge, Angela Boyd was excited about the program describing it as ‘an innovative program which provides solutions’ while Tammie Usher, had this message to the finalists, "you should be proud of yourselves, keep going and be proud of who you are". NDSP Plan Managers are excited to see where the successful applicants go in the future and what they achieve. Follow NDSP Plan Managers on Facebook and Instagram for updates on how the successful applicants are travelling in achieving their goals.

NEWS

Confronting sensory challenges with ease and great Vibes! Sensory and emotional regulation come hand in hand with living life to the fullest.

hilst it can often feel like everything around you is out of control, there are things you can do to make your surroundings more comfortable. Disability writer Layne spoke about a personal discovery and experience with disability and more specifically, sensory challenges. “Over the past six months, my support worker and I have figured out that I’ve got a little sensory overload when it comes to loud noises. I didn’t know about this until my very first nightclub experience at Metro’s in Fremantle. Every month they set aside a night for people with disability to experience what it is like in a nightclub, but I didn’t last five minutes there.

"Prior to this, I didn’t know that I had sensory issues. As a teenager I wouldn’t be invited to parties due to how they perceived people with disabilities, but if I had been invited that would have been the time that I really knew when it comes to noise, it is a big issue for me. "A couple of months ago I went to a karaoke night. I walked into the karaoke room where everyone was singing and drinking and OMG the music was so loud. I put the Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs from EveryHuman into both my ears, and they seriously made a world of difference.”

which allows you to hear sound clearly, just at a quieter volume. No sound distortion here! Sensory-friendly earphones allow you to protect your hearing health and stay comfortable in loud environments. EveryHuman has all your sensory and emotional regulation needs that are NDIS approved.

What exactly are Vibes and how do they work? They are reusable earplugs designed to lower the volume of all sounds equally from bass to treble,

Your Calm Down Formula From sensory-friendly headphones, fidgets, and weighted blankets, find all of your sensory and emotional regulation needs in one spot.

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“It takes a village” How Henry is thriving from personalised support. grandsons live with ASD. Darryl was engaged to spend time with Henry doing practical activities and has taught Henry a range of ‘life skills’ including woodwork and how to safely build a fire and use tools.

Henry with his mother and Teddy.

enry is an active 11-year-old described as “very funny” who loves outdoor activities. His mother Annabel said “he loves to break things and fix things but doesn’t always manage to fix them”. Diagnosed with ASD, Henry has experienced a lot of challenges in the public school system, leading Annabel to decide to homeschool him. Henry spends two hours a day, three days a week at PosAbility Psychology & Learning Clinic, studying essential subjects such as mathematics and English while studying on a more hands-on basis at home. One of the drawbacks of homeschooling is the lack of opportunities to socialise with his peers so Henry had become quite solitary. “He would love to have a lot of friends,” Annabel said, “but was struggling with relationships at school and being home-schooled having friendships is difficult.” Henry was mostly spending time at home with Annabel and their Labrador, Teddy. With siblings, Oliver, 15 and Eloisa, 13 at school, Annabel worried

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that Henry needed an outlet away from home. Henry’s NDIS allocated a significant proportion of his funding towards support workers, since, during Covid lockdowns, waitlists for occupational therapists and other professionals were extremely long. Annabel heard about Mable.com.au, a website that connects people with disabilities with independent support workers who can provide a range of support services. Clients or their carers can conduct searches of support worker profiles, filtering searches by skills, services offered, interests and more. “When we signed up to Mable,” Annabel said, “I was specific about the kind of person we wanted and wrote a great profile for Henry and explained what we needed. We received lots of responses, asked lots of questions, spent time looking at support worker profiles and narrowed down those with experience in working with kids with ASD.” After a face-to-face meeting, Annabel and Henry settled on Darryl, a recent migrant from South Africa whose

According to Annabel, over time, Darryl learned Henry’s behavioural signals and when to push him or when to back off. “He latched on to Henry’s interests quickly and keeps him engaged over the two-to-three-hour sessions they have together. He takes Henry fishing and bushwalking. Sometimes they bring home items from kerbside collections and fix them up and also have been demolishing the old unused chook shed.” She said Darryl has been instrumental in helping Henry to regain trust in adults, other than family and friends. “We have been working towards getting him back into school, where his previous experiences led to deep self-doubt. I believe with Darryl we are making progress.” Describing her experience with Mable, Annabel said she loves that it’s so autonomous. “I familiarised myself with the platform and found that it works well for me and even lets me save all the important documentation for the NDIS within it.” She said having access to support workers who offer their services independently has been helpful. “I can search for people who match Henry’s needs and what I’m looking for, for him.” She recommends using Mable because although it can be difficult to trust other people with your children, she said sometimes you have no choice, such as if family is not nearby. “It takes a village to raise a child and I found that there are amazing people on Mable who genuinely care to help your child thrive.” Go to: mable.com.au

Wonsie works wonders Wonsie started over 10 years ago, for the main purpose of finding a solution to prevent faecal smearing by a young boy named Zac who has autism.

he Sydney-based garment brand is known for producing a specialty range of large sized bodysuits which help families with special needs across the world. The size of their range starts where most brands finish, going all the way up to an XL adult, which means there’s a size to fit everyone. Wonsie’s range of soft cotton bodysuits are comfortable, breathable and great for preventing undressing and nappy access. The Basic range is ideal for everyday wear, coming in a variety of sleeve lengths with easy access to nappy changing. Back zip styles are designed to deter the serial un-dresser and can also double as

a pyjama at night. Wonsie also boasts bodysuits with tummy openings to allow access for tube feeding. Wonsie is excited about their newest offering, a zip back swimsuit in sizes for older kids up to large adult. These are designed to prevents unwanted undressing in public and access to incontinence products, in a comfortable, fun surf-suit style which also offers high UV protection. The perfect solution for the beach, pool or waterpark. Wonsie is Australian owned and a registered NDIS provider, offering worldwide shipping.

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Have wheelchair. Will travel. Many of Ken Haley’s travel exploits came dangerously close to killing him…he told Kymberly Martin about some of them. What attracts you to these danger zones – is there a war correspondent lurking there somewhere? Not particularly. I’ve interrogated myself on this point over the years and concluded that if I wanted to be a war correspondent, I am the type of person who would have volunteered for a specific theatre. No, my practice of choosing an entire region to visit, rather than just one or two countries, means that at the outset of my travel planning all countries in that region are on the table. Only on closer inspection do I exclude any, and the main reason for choosing not to go somewhere is that it’s either in a war or undergoing civil strife that looks likely to degenerate into war.

Trepid traveller: Hoisted aboard a pitching craft by the sturdy hands of fishermen standing at the end of a ramshackle pier, the author makes his way across Samana Bay, in the north of the Dominican Republic.

cathartic ‘event’ in Ken Haley’s life was triggered during the invasion of Kuwait, while he was working as a sub-editor in Bahrain. With everyone braced for the impending military attack by the triumphant forces of Saddam Hussein, tensions rose to such a pitch Haley suffered a panic attack. After several months of extreme disorientation, insomnia and night terrors, the classic ‘nervous breakdown’, he tried to take his life by pushing himself off a fourthstorey window ledge in East Melbourne in March 1991, fracturing his spine… What did you do before becoming a journalist? I enrolled at Toorak Teachers’ College,

February/March 2022

where in my third and final year I became student president and, around the same time, felt a loss of commitment to the notion of a career in the classroom. Journalism had been my first love, so I became a vagrant for a few months, hitch-hiking to Adelaide, getting a gig as a piano player in a city pub, and enrolling in an Arts degree at Flinders University, where I lasted five days, until one of the 193 cadet-journalism job applications I initiated in an unheralded assault on newspapers the length and breadth of the country bore fruit. (Two editors said yes – one in Scottsdale, Tasmania the other in Camperdown, Victoria. I chose the one in my home state.)

I am not attracted by chaos but want to visit as many countries as I can, but I do take the long view that putting myself too clearly in harm’s way (ie: bullets), is likely to end up defeating my objective! Had I made it to Central America last year, I was planning to avoid the most dangerous parts of Mexico, skirt around Honduras and El Salvador and put Nicaragua in the ‘decide later’ category depending on whether it stabilised or became too unsafe. Often ‘off the beaten track’ doesn’t include just those countries with a poor reputation, in the Caribbean, for example, Haiti, but those that are not ‘hostile territory’ for Westerners, just less publicised, (e.g. Grenada and the Dominican Republic). Do ever choose a destination where you can relax in tranquil luxury? I don’t have the money, or much inclination, to holiday in idle luxury. Occasionally, on a journey where several nights have been spent at a spartan youth hostel, I have ‘lucked into’ luxury as I once did in a 15thcentury chateau in central France, where the dining room was hung with Gobelin tapestries. But that is the exception as the chateau was. It was

PROFILE

Cool Santiago: The author meets a sociable Cuban senior, at the ‘ice-cream palace’ in Santiago de Cuba, the only local accommodation on offer and when the proprietors halved their nightly rate from €140 to €70 euro, I relented, and allowed my toes to be tickled by crisp fresh linen.

of a hotel where I was staying and threatened to bust down the door. The frightened son of the hotelier refused to give them a room key, and they eventually went away.

parks of Kenya to the Adriatic coast of Slovenia. In Asia, I have a particular fondness for the atmospheric West Lake of Hangzhou, best enjoyed on a day of drizzling mist.

Your most terrifying travel experience? The strongest contender would be when a police superintendent in the Gabonese border town of Coco Beach arrested me because my travel papers appeared not to be in order. I was kept five days in a cell, forced to witness my only cellmate taken out and tortured, then taken to the capital, Libreville, and thrown into a dungeon filled with 200 desperate-looking inmates. Next day I was released into the custody of the British High Commissioner, but up to that point I had no reason to believe this little adventure was going to end well.

Advice/tips/what to avoid - for people with disability wanting to travel? Whatever your disability, if you haven’t been overseas since its onset and are worried it will all be too hard, make your first destination somewhere that the physical amenities, be they ramps, better-hearing technologies or guard rails, are most likely to be on tap. Gaining confidence, not destroying it, is a good first step.

What is left on your travel bucket list? Central and South America; the Pacific islands; Cambodia and North Korea.

More immediately scary was the time in Liberia when two policemen who had seen me at a café taking notes one afternoon hauled me in for an interrogation. After their boss was satisfied I wasn’t a spy and let me go, the officers came round, drunk and angry, late at night to the shack

I hope this doesn’t sound harsh, but I avoid other people with a disability wanting to travel. Travel agents and transport operators sometimes want you to share the same space because they think you ‘belong together’. This tends to result in a travel experience seen through someone else’s eyes. Your favourite travel spot? There are so many, from the game

Something we should know about you that no one else does? When I’m reading, if I come to a word I don’t know, I am more likely to underline it than go to a dictionary, telling myself that when I’m 80-something I’ll go back through everything I’ve read and finally look up their meaning. In more sober moments, I realise this is just an elaborate excuse born of laziness and have been known to weaken and look it up anyway. Would you like to go into the draw to win a copy of his book ‘The One That Got Away’ – Travelling in the time of Covid? Send your contact details to: kymberly@intermedia.com. au by February 28, 2022. linkonline.com.au

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Jasper’s story – where life is a beach! Jasper is a young boy with lots of character and a cheeky smile.

e lives with his parents and four older siblings just 200m from the beach in the Melbourne suburb of Seaford. In many ways he is a typical 4-year-old who loves anything to do with cars and trucks, playing with balls and spending time on his iPad. Life for Jasper is more challenging than for most other kids his age because he was born with a very rare chromosomal condition called 49,XXXXY. This condition is characterised by the presence of three extra X chromosomes in males which impacts their physical and neurodevelopmental functioning. The condition is extremely rare and occurs in 1:85 000–1:100 000 male births per year. Jasper loves being outdoors, especially going on long walks and hanging out at the beach with his family. Unfortunately, he is unable to walk independently and is dependent on a stroller or

February/March 2022

wheelchair for mobility which makes beach access a challenge for Jasper and his family. His stroller was unable to go onto the sand as the wheels would instantly become stuck. So, one parent would need to stay with Jasper and his stroller, while the rest of the family played at the beach. Or, they would take the risk of leaving his expensive custom stroller on the path, and then carry Jasper onto the sand with the rest of the family. Fortunately, with the assistance of NDIS funding, this all changed recently. Astris PME were able to supply the family with an xRover, including beach wheels and bike attachment so Jasper can be included in all family activities. He can be wheeled straight from his front door and onto the sand for beach fun with the family. If they want to head out for a family bike ride, Jasper can be towed along behind a parent bike in his xRover. The additional

option of the swivel wheel means that they can also use it in shopping centres and local markets. Jasper’s parents have been thrilled with the arrival of the xRover. On their first outing they took it for a 5km walk along the beach, reporting that it ‘pushed like a dream’. They are delighted that he will have improved access to his community and be able to participate in regular family experiences. The xRover has made a massive difference to Jasper’s life. It has alleviated previous limitations of enjoying outdoor family time together and changed Jasper’s status from spectator to participant. His mother Beck said “we are so grateful for this equipment and would love for others to be able to access it too! It's a total life changer for us and most importantly Jasper”.

Trivida reinvents the wheel

MOBILITY

Making transfers from wheelchairs easy.

hought it was impossible to reinvent the wheel, we did it anyway. trivida - is the world’s first wheel that increases mobility by removing barriers. It is now possible to safely transfer from and into the wheelchair without any obstacles. The upper segment of the wheel can be easily removed so that a safe lateral transfer from the wheelchair to the external seat and vice versa is possible without any obstacles, thanks to the revolutionary triatec technology, with German engineering. In anyone’s everyday life there are countless situations where a change in position is required. For wheelchair users, their family and/or carers, these transfers from and into the wheelchair are a time-consuming and exhaustive task. Depending on individual mobility, many wheelchair users rely on help. For those users who can manage transfers

themselves, this may become more difficult with increasing age due to loss of strength or any other mobility restrictions. The detachable wheelchair wheel from trivida allows, for example, a much simpler transfer from the wheelchair to the car seat. The wheelchair can be placed parallel to the car. By removing the upper segment one can simply slide into the car from the wheelchair, the transfer can be done with minimal physical effort in comparison. This is just one of the possible advantages the trivida wheel provides to ease day to day mobility and independence. Family and friends of wheelchair users can be required to assist with transfers to and from the chair. This can build to become a permanent strain on the

back, particularly for carers over the long term. With the wheel from trivida, wheelchair users are less reliant on assistance. Depending on their level of mobility, they may even manage the transfer entirely by themselves. A great relief for loved ones and for the person in the wheelchair too. The trivida wheel can help create independence and relaxation more often. Daily transfers between wheelchair and bed, toilet or shower stool, couch, chair, stair lift or car seat require less energy and are now much easier to carry out. Even more, the innovative triatec technology guarantees complete stability, allowing the user to safely lean on their wheelchair during transfer. The wheels can be mounted to most manual wheelchairs. An incredibly simple design with minimum components, to guarantee easy operation with maximum safety and a long life.

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Why do they call Linds Rehabilitation Equipment - “The Wheelchair People”?

inds Rehabilitation Equipment, a family-owned and operated business founded in 1965, is a long-established supplier of quality mobility and rehabilitation products to the healthcare industry. The origins of the business go back to early last century, importing and distributing walking sticks from England and Europe. The company later expanded into wheelchairs, seating and other rehabilitation equipment following an earlier expansion into walking aids and frames. Over the last couple of decades, Linds has specialised in providing solutions for customised wheelchairs for individuals, rather than off the shelf items. Although their workshop is equipped to do customisations to most manual and power wheelchairs it keeps products in stock to speed up the delivery process for some consumers. Linds mission is to assist their clientele to pursue and achieve as active a lifestyle as possible through provision of quality leading rehabilitation products and superior service. The team has expanded to include three senior occupational therapists, providing specialist consultancy and product knowledge services to support consumer and prescribing allied health teams navigate the ever-expanding market of rehabilitation equipment. Its wheelchair technician team have over 60 years combined experience working in the industry.

February/March 2022

Linds Rehab aim is to build a community of support, where consumers feel welcome to come back for configuration reviews, repairs and modifications, as well as new prescriptions. Linds operates from two locations in Melbourne, and since 2020, from a location within metropolitan Perth. The company prides itself on its inclusive team approach, ensuring processes are followed to capture the consumers choice, the prescribing therapists’ therapeutic goals and the technicians’ vision for a strong, reliable build. Linds has collaborated with many third-party models over its 55 years of operations. The inception of the NDIS allowed Linds to review the global market, ensuring the products available in Australia are world class, well-built and offer endless solutions to ensure mobility and functional goals can be met. Linds Rehab has extensive global partnerships, distributing products in Australia from Motion Composites, NXT, CG Air, Seating Dynamics, Amylior, PDG, Active Controls and TrackMaster. Motion Composites are renowned for perfecting the Carbon Fibre molding technique, resulting in lightweight, adjustable, strong and reliable manual wheelchairs. NXT Back Supports offer pelvic or thoracic shapes having posterior, posterior lateral and posterior deep lateral supports. The full or scapula cut-out shapes are designed to provide excellent support and comfort while enhancing the user’s natural range of motion.

CG Air is a true reinvention of the air cushion. Through material and manufacturing innovations, CG Air has tackled hygiene issues, stability and maintenance and positioning concerns that have plagued other cushions, without compromising on pressure management. Seating Dynamics is the industry leader in creating innovative components for wheelchairs, using the most advanced technology to add movement, durability and functionality to most wheelchairs. Amylior carries the renowned Amysystems brand featuring the Alltrack power wheelchair range designed to improve the lives of people with reduced mobility and ease them into life’s everyday challenges with a newfound freedom. PDG offer a comprehensive selection of unique manual wheelchairs with the ability to customise any product, no matter how basic or complex the requirements with a focus on adaptability, durability, and dependability. Active Controls offer diversity in adaptive drive controllers for power wheelchairs with the option for a true centre mount drive position and the TrackMaster wheelchair is the one, maneuvering over and through mud, snow, sand and rocks. Linds is the one-stop-shop for choice and control over your next wheelchair prescription.

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Link to...Mobility

Quantum Rehab’s Edge 3 Stretto Narrow width is only the beginning. 30.4cm of iLevel power adjustable seat height, bright LED lighting, a wide range of colours and more. “A significant amount of time was spent carefully developing the Stretto, which is designed to allow for all power positioning functions in a much narrower footprint than comparable product offerings. "We feel it will reach milestones never achieved before, especially among the paediatric power population,” Gannan said. The Edge 3 Stretto is the latest addition to the Quantum Rehab product range, which includes the Q6 Series of power bases, TRU-Balance 3 Power Positioning Systems, and Q-Logic 3 Advanced Drive Control System, as well as Stealth Products, the foremost manufacturer of positioning components. “At Quantum, consumer needs and wishes are the driving force. We’re dedicated to not just meeting medical and clinical needs, but also quality-oflife needs,” Pride Mobility Products Australia managing director, Warren Tripp said.

ou’ve been asking for a true paediatric power wheelchair and Quantum Rehab has delivered.

Perfect for navigating tight corners and small spaces, the Edge 3 Stretto is claimed to be the narrowest, most manoeuvrable power base on the market. At just 51.9cm wide with 31.5cm drive wheels, the Stretto is an ideal option for children, teenagers and petite adults to use in the home. Quantum believes the Edge 3 Stretto

February/March 2022

is the “go-to” chair for those seeking greater independence and improved accessibility. “We heard your requests for a narrow power base and the Stretto is the end result,” Quantum Rehab Australia national business development manager, Andrew Gannan said. In addition to its slender width, the Stretto is equipped with independent SRS (Smooth Ride Suspension), which offers increased shock absorption,

“We have a great passion in our company for enhancing the client experience through product innovation. It’s this passion that has driven our growth throughout Australasia over the years. We’re passionate about making a difference in people’s lives by providing cutting-edge, market-leading products, and unbeatable customer service.” Quantum Rehab is an integral member of the Pride Mobility family of brands, which includes the iconic Jazzy power chairs, Go-Go Travel Mobility, Pride Scooters and Pride Power Lift Recliners.

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Link to...Mobility

Exploring the role of neuroplasticity in therapy Great therapists are also great educators. They have a role in educating clients and clients’ families and support teams, about their condition and recommended therapy.

he NeuroRehab Allied Health Network therapy team report that one of the most common pieces of education they provide is on neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity (plasticity) is the ability of the brain to form and reorganise connections in response to learning, experience or following injury. Understanding how to tailor a therapy program to maximise the potential for plasticity is important for achieving great therapy outcomes. Six of leading researcher Niamh Tunney’s key principles to plasticity are: •

Specificity: Training must be

specific to the task that is to be achieved •

Repetition: High repetition practice is needed to remap parts of the brain

•

Intensity: High intensity has a bigger impact on motor learning

•

Timing: Training should mimic normal timing, coordination and speed of muscle activity

•

Difficulty: Difficulty levels that produce the greatest behavioural gains also produce the most plasticity

•

task. For this to happen the task must be important to the individual. Great therapists are not only incorporating these factors when pulling together a therapy program for their clients, they are also teaching people about the importance of each of these factors. Dedicated focus on the right tasks, doing them for the right period of time, and at the right speed and intensity, will help people to achieve great outcomes. Speak to your therapist about how to maximise plasticity. You can find related education sheets at https://nrah.com.au/resources.

Salience: Plasticity can only occur when attention is directed to the

We’re passionate about NeuroRehab NeuroRehab Allied Health Network is an NDIS registered provider with over 17 years of experience. We’re now servicing more clients in Geelong & surrounds. Immediate capacity for: • Physiotherapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Pathology • Neuropsychology

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wwnrah.com.au w.nrah.com.au Call 1300 13 16 19 or visit

February/March 2022

MOBILITY

To Dock or not to Dock? That is the question

In today’s world the biggest concern we have is safety, whether that be in the food we eat or how we restrain a wheelchair in our modified vehicles.

hich is why Freedom Motors Australia are always researching and acquiring the safest products to complement it's wheelchair accessible vehicles. Freedom Motors have partnered with Dahl Engineering, and are now exclusively using the revolutionary Dahl Docking Systems which includes the Dahl MKII and the Dahl VarioDock to it's extensive list of products. Both docking systems have over 90 different wheelchairs that have undergone extensive testing including crash testing. Both can withstand a load of more than 200kg plus passenger which is said to be a leap ahead of any other dock on the market.

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The Dahl Docking System has the pin located in the dock and only a small plate affixed to the underneath of your wheelchair unlike other systems which have a pin on the bottom of your chair. The Dahl MKII is a fixed system where the Dahl VarioDock is the first of its kind and electronically adjustable with a lock down feature.

Give one of our friendly mobility consultants a call and discuss if your vehicle and wheelchair are compatible with the Dahl Docking System. You won’t be disappointed. We deliver Freedom you choose the destination.

Freedom Motors believe you will be pleasantly surprised at both the aesthetically appealing look and incredible ability of these docking systems. They are claimed to be the safest on the market so if you are considering a docking system we highly recommend the Dahl Docking System.

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Commonly asked Assistive Technology prescription questions series: Part 3 What’s a 24/7hr Posture Positioning Pressure & Seating system? By Dr Rachael Elliott Schmidt

It's complicated

ENGAGING SPECIALIST 24/7HR POSTURE POSITIONING PRESSURE & SEATING SERVICES

Where do I start?

Consumer team's outcome & goals

24-hour Posture, Positioning, Pressure & (wheelchair) Seating (24/7hr PPPw-S) system describes a combination of sleep-positioning systems and supportive seating wheeled mobility systems. 24/7hr PPPw-S systems address complex night-time positioning/pressure-care issues and safe wheelchair activity (selfdrive or attendant assist). Selecting appropriate sleep-positioning systems and supportive wheeled mobility seating for complex needs is daunting. Fortunately, select Posture & Seating

February/March 2022

Vendor expertise & service protocol

teams specialise in customising 24/7hr PPPw-S systems that combine assistive technology with strategies to optimise healthy night-time positioning for improved breathing, digestion and pressure-care and stable sitting posture at rest and when mobilising. Yes, it’s complicated. Lengthy service interventions can overwhelm consumers and carers, challenge prescribing Assistive Technology Practitioners (ATP) and specialist 24/7hr PPPw-S services. To assist reducing some stress the

What can I expect?

following is aimed to educate novice stakeholders. The stakeholder groups Three distinct stakeholder groups: firstly, the consumer team comprises the person using the 24/7hr PPPw-S system, their family and care supports. The service team consist of prescribing ATP (e.g., OT/Physio) and specialist 24/7hr PPPw-S services (e.g., specialist seating teams and expert vendors). Finally, the funder agents fund/ subsidise technology and service procurement.

MOBILITY

Optimal procurement requires clinical and vendor expertise, timely technology access and adequate funding.

status, clarifies consumer and carer needs/wants/frustrations and lists anticipated goals (essential and desired). Individual consumer expectations and carer’s goals are measured separately, to ensure comprehensive 24/7hr PPPw-S system satisfaction are measured.

The process Its complex, so it’s helpful to know stakeholders’ role and processes. The consumer and family/care support role initiates the service need. They articulate what is required: i.e., consumer’s night-time and daytime positional, pressure-care issues, posture/seating, and mobility issues and desires. These establish consumer team’s wants/needs and desires over a 24hr period at rest, work, and play. These inform the primary assessment process.

The specialist seating and expert vendor services provide intervention strategies, sleep-systems and wheelchair-seating technology expertise. Some services build one-off 24/7hr PPPw-S systems, others assemble commercial components into prototypes. Manufacturing bespoke 24/7hr PPPw-S prototypes require numerous appointments (assessment and fittings) interspersed with periodic prototype trials to ensure personal fitfor-purpose. Assembling commercial adjustable systems (sleep and/or wheelchair seating systems) combines assessment with fitting to expedite prototype trial. System adjustability inherent within commercial system

The ATP role is initial assessmentprescription, secondary specialist service referrals and the funding application. The ATP assessment identifies posture, seating and mobility performance capacity/

allows easy adjustment over time, as needed. Prototype trials ensure targeted postural-seating-mobility goals are achieved, at home and within one’s community. Effective trial evaluations document successful and disappointing outcomes (goals achieved/not and why). Photography assists recall and illuminate outcome results. Transparent outcome measurers promote timely funding requests. Each funding agent operates its own AT procurement protocol. Timely funding success relies on clear funding application. Complex 24/7hr PPPw-S system/s’ funding takes time. Being prepared Seeking appropriate 24/7hr Posture, Positioning, Pressure and Seating solutions requires team collaboration and time for stakeholder exchange. Success hinges on making informed team decisions. Don’t rush the process.

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Link to...ATSA

ATSA Independent Living Expo Returns to Brisbane and Sydney in 2022.

“A

t the beginning of 2021 we didn’t know if we would be able to hold one ATSA independent Living Expo event, let alone three,” ATSA executive officer, David Sinclair said at the close of the Canberra event in November. This followed ATSA Independent Living Expo’s in Melbourne and Perth held in May, with both events delayed from 2020, due to the pandemic. The Canberra event was also delayed four weeks because of ACT lockdowns, but the change affected few of the more than 60 exhibitors on the show floor for the two days. “It was the held at Exhibition Park, (EPIC), which allowed for wide aisle that were important for safe social distancing, with plenty of easy parking and purpose-built seminar rooms,” Sinclair said. The event welcomed a number of new exhibitors including Bedshed, COTA ACT, Eyes for Canberra, Lifestyle Solutions, Meridian ACT, Momentum Sports & Rehabilitation Service, Nurse Next Door, PolySpine, RoboFit, Scope Home Access and Vera Living. “A number of new products were also released at the show and it was great to see such innovation happening ” ATSA sales manager, Allison Miller said. Planning is now well underway for the 2022 events with Brisbane all but sold out and Sydney more than 85 per cent sold as this issue went to press.

February/March 2021

There are many new exhibitors involved with both events and several presentations submitted who have not previously been involved with the event. The program will have a few surprises when it is released early in 2022 and bookings for the sessions will be in demand. These presentations are always well attended and are a drawcard for the event. What’s new in 2022? • Refreshed website and a new logo • More social media activity • New seminar sessions A first for ATSA To recognise and celebrate the 20 years of ATSA, our founders, members and industry leaders will hold a Gala Dinner in Sydney on May 25, 2022. Join colleagues and peers for a night to

remember at Accor Stadium in Olympic Park. Tickets are selling fast with table and single ticket options available. Attendee feedback If you haven’t attended an ATSA Independent Living Expo previously take a look at some recent feedback from the Canberra event: “Thanks for an absolutely fabulous two days. As a consumer I learnt lots and now have some great new pieces of AT on order. I was also able to gain wonderful information that I’m now going to collate and share with members in the support group I volunteer with for my disability, FND (functional neurological disorder).” “So glad I made the 3.5hr trip to Canberra to attend. I first attended in 2019 and found it to be an invaluable experience. I am almost certain I will be back to attend many more expos in the future. Thank you again to all involved in making these expos happen, especially during these challenging times.” “It was terrific and so nice to get our AT community together.” “Loved it all as usual with a good variety of stands and easy to navigate in 3-wheel (small) electric scooter.” “It was great to see all the new stuff that is out there in one place especially as a new graduate.

ATSA

"I was comfortable being able to ask all the questions about different products.” “The ATSA expo was definitely worthwhile to gain knowledge about new AT products and I found all the seminars I attended informative to improve clinical OT practices.” “Thank you for continuing to provide this expo, I thoroughly enjoy attending and have done so for many years, and it is a fantastic opportunity for therapists to keep up-to-date with current equipment. I also enjoy attending the

information sessions and found them relevant and informative.”

ATSA Independent Living Expo Sydney – 25-26 May 2022

“Always look forward going to ATSA, wealth of information, products, education and networking. It was a great event and loved every minute I was there.”

Visit www.atsaindependentlivingexpo. com.au for more details and to register.

“Thank you again-love ATSA! Am an OT of 35+ years and it’s my favourite event.” Save the dates and register early ATSA Independent Living Expo Brisbane - 11-12 May 2022

Interested in exhibiting or booking to attend the Gala Dinner? Please email: Allison.miller@atsa.org.au or call: 02 4646 1453 Interested in volunteering? Email: events@atsa.org.au Follow us on Facebook and Instagram – ATSAexpo to stay up-to-date with all that is happening at the shows.

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Australia's foremost assistive technology event

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Using technology to enable choice and control for participants People want to be involved in decisions about their healthcare. With more choice and control, people can receive personalised services and experience better quality care and improved wellbeing. With Lumary, not only can providers deliver quality client support, but workers can provide information transparently to participants, empowering them to make betterinformed decisions and achieve meaningful outcomes. Personalised care Personalised healthcare acknowledges individuals as the experts in their care and gives people greater choice and control over the support they receive. To achieve this, providers need to work closely with clients to create customised goals and monitor their progress. Tracking and measuring outcomes can become a real challenge without the right software. Using NDIS software like Lumary, providers can create client goals and assign tasks with easy access to all the case notes, files, photos and related information.

or NDIS providers, enabling more choice and control means delivering services that provide participants with the information, care and support they need to achieve the outcomes that matter most to them. According to Lumary, a healthcare platform provider and technology service partner for the disability and aged care industry in Australia, with the right software solution in place, disability providers can readily keep up with the current demands and facilitate greater choice and control for their clients. Maximum transparency Transparency in healthcare is critical to driving better client experiences and improvements in the care delivered. It reinforces inclusiveness and

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collaboration, promotes trust and leads to informed decision making. NDIS providers should adopt a tech solution that best supports their organisation to give clients easier access to information and enable more choice and control. Lumary’s care management platform does this in many ways. Its software has a built-in community portal. This portal allows clients to request services, adjust appointment times and view budget balances, invoice history and client statements. The intuitive design of Lumary’s platform means that each user can effortlessly create and manage their reports and dashboards according to their needs.

Lumary also allows support workers to manage service agreements, care plans and budgets, and accurately record notes, assessments and alerts so they can build personal profiles for each client. The software’s scheduling and rostering tools enable providers to manage their participants’ individual needs and build rosters according to client preferences and needs. Without reliable, user-friendly and accessible information, it will be more difficult to make meaningful informed choices. With the right software, providers can optimise their operations, achieve greater transparency and provide more personalised care for their clients.

www.lumary.com

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It’s goodbye from Tiffany Heddes Tiffany Heddes ran Special Needs Solutions for 17 years. In October 2021, she sold her business to Think Mobility. She spoke to Link about how the company shaped her life in many ways.

iffany Heddes wanted to make life easier for families by providing the correct assistive technology equipment for their child to achieve to the best of their ability. The business was born from sourcing suitable AT equipment for her son and recognising there were no paediatric suppliers in Queensland at the time. “Initially I began the business as a hobby and believed if I could make the journey easier for one other parent then I would be happy, but my personal journey was not easy. In the first year of business in 2004 I helped 20 families, in 2021 myself and my team helped 1200 families, beyond what I could have ever imagined. “There were many challenges along the way, not unusual when operating your own business and having to deal with various government agencies and constant red tape.” Heddes was big on education running education seminars for therapy centres, universities, government agencies, GPs, nurses and parents/carers. “Education is a challenge, there are so many unknowns in the disability industry, and I always encouraged parents and carers to be proactive, do their research, know their therapists capabilities and make sure all parties were on the same page. Parents must be their child’s biggest advocate. “I have met many inspiring families and it is those inspirational families that take the ‘bull by the horns’ and accept the challenge of raising a child with a disability,” she said. Asked what products really helped to change lives and she nominates two chairs.

February/March 2022

The Jenx Giraffe Chair was a colourful tilt-in-space supportive seating system, and one of the first products she sourced for her son. “It was a versatile, non- medical, supportive seating system to assist children with different disabilities but is no longer available.” Another more recent favourite is the Rifton Activity Chair, a floor to bench height seating system, very inclusive, easy to use and adjust that allows children to sit up and interact with their peers on the same level. “I was always drawn to fun, functional and colourful equipment and there have been so many wonderful advances in paediatric equipment over the past five years. It is an exciting space to watch. As to why the decision to leave…she became a grandmother last year and

her grandson is growing up fast. “I felt it was time for me and my family and 17 years is a long time to be in business, particularly in an industry that pulls at your heart strings every day. “It has been an emotional rollercoaster and to be honest working under the NDIS model, as an individual company, was becoming increasingly difficult. “The paediatric industry is a tight knit community, and we all support each other. At the end of the day, it is all about the children having a quality of life no matter what adversities they may face.” And what next for Tiffany Heddes? “Sleep, chill and enjoy time with my precious family and be present in the moment and continue my charity work for Variety Children’s Charity.”

Talking Laundry

NDIS

Living with disability invariably means adapting.

any of life’s routines can still prove difficult, however, with dedication, the right assistive technology, and a willingness to do things differently, you can reduce the impact disability has on your life. Take laundry for instance. It can be challenging just getting your laundry out of the washing machine and into the tumble dryer. Regardless, people often prefer doing their own laundry because it gives them independence and a sense of achievement. Caleb Crowden, a 21-year-old from Adelaide claims to enjoy laundry days now he’s discovered a Mrs Peggs Handy Line. Caleb, who was born with cerebral palsy, got a portable clothesline when it was recommended by his case manager. “Being so reliant on the tumble dryer really frustrated me, my power bills were expensive,

and I didn’t know there was a better alternative,” he said. "I ordered the Easy 8 Handy Line, a collapsible laundry basket and special pegs as a bundle funded through my NDIS plan. There was no hassle when it came to ordering and it arrived quickly, already assembled via courier.”

clotheslines. Registered as safe equipment, lightweight, portable, and easy to use the Handy Line is a practical laundry solution that helps people living with disability to be able to do their own laundry independently.

According to Caleb, it’s the perfect height for wheelchair users and the laundry basket is less bulky than others he has used and sits comfortably on his lap. “I now dry all my washing indoors and no longer rely on tumble drying. Using the pegs have helped make significant improvements to my fine motor skills. Doing the laundry, myself is one more task which helps me to live independently.” The Easy 8 Handy Line is a lowerlevel alternative to other portable

www.mrspeggs.com.au

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Simply helping YOU to live your best life In life, we all have our own hopes and dreams, and we should be given every opportunity to achieve them. Living independently is one goal most people aspire to. Independence gives us the freedom to make our own decisions to live the life we choose. “As people become more confident in their own abilities around the home, we find they soon become eager to expand their skillset. This often leads to trying something new outside the home, in the community.” As part of their home care services, Simply Helping provides social support and assistance with community participation. Realising that the term social support can have different meanings for different people, Simply Helping adopts a person-centred approach, and will tailor services to meet individual needs. “Some people may prefer a one-on-one chat over a coffee, whilst others may want to participate in group activities to meet like-minded people, with the support of a care worker. We are there to provide as much or as little support as you need.”

imply Helping is a registered NDIS provider offering a wide range of home care services, supporting people with disability to live their best life and achieve their goals. Established in 1998 in regional Victoria, Simply Helping has the experience and foundations to support people from all walks of life, no matter their background, ability, culture or circumstance. For Simply Helping, founder and director, Angela Feery-Richards, “Supporting people to maximise their potential is more than just offering physical support. Understanding and respecting each person’s individual

February/March 2022

circumstances and background builds trust, which in turn helps promote an environment where people have the assurance to live life on their own terms and conditions. “When we first meet someone living with disability, there can be a lack of confidence in their own ability,” she said. “We believe that improving basic domestic skills can go a long way to building self-esteem.” In addition to providing support with all types of domestic chores and tasks, Simply Helping supports people to learn new skills. This may include cooking a meal, doing the laundry, or gardening.

According to Feery-Richards, living independently also means living safely and the Simply Helping team encourages people to establish a trusted network, including family members and support workers. “We have stringent processes in place when recruiting support workers. Our upmost priority is ensuring team members not only have the qualifications and training to be a support worker, but they also must possess the personal traits it takes to be successful in a caring and nurturing role,” she said. Surrounded by a trusted network and with access to a full suite of home care and supports, Simply Helping is dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. Home care services range from domestic assistance, personal care, and social support, to transport, gardening, home maintenance, pet sitting and more.

Any age. Any place. Simply Helping you. Personalised, flexible in-home care services

Registered NDISProvider

www.simplyhelpin g.com.au

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There are disability service providers…and then there’s Aruma Committed and skilled staff? Tick and tick.

uality disability services such as Supported Independent Living, Supported Employment, and Support Coordination? Yes, and many more. A proud history with decades of experience? Also in the bag! It’s easy to see why Aruma is one of Australia’s leading disability service providers.

Want to know more about the services Aruma offers? Aruma is one of Australia’s leading NDIS service providers. They are the trusted partner and mentor to over 5000 adults and children with a disability throughout the east coast.

But what makes them truly like no other is that they live by the words ‘You. First’. It’s a simple, and powerful, philosophy. No matter what, their customers always come first.

When it comes to accommodation, whether you’re just moving out, need a change of scenery, want a bit of extra support, or are ready to try something new, Aruma has many choices for you. From Supported Independent Living, Specialist Disability Accommodation, and Individualised Living Options, to name a few.

“We are not ones to use a one-sizefits-all approach,” Aruma CEO, Andrew Richardson said.

Let’s take a deeper dive in to their Home and Living services… A home is more than just bricks and

February/March 2022

mortar. It can also mean independence and finding confidence. And that’s where Aruma comes in. They have a range of options to help people with a disability find their ideal living arrangement. Across Qld, NSW, Vic and the ACT, Aruma offers a wide range of disability accommodation services with brand new developments coming soon to the below areas: • Fairfield, Sydney • Five Star, Sale • Ormeau, Gold Coast • Stella, Newcastle. So, whether it's Individualised Living Options, Supported Independent Living or other contemporary home and living supports, Aruma is here to support you.

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Finding an easy way to eat well While Lite n’ Easy are best known for their calorie-controlled meal plans, their individual meals and meal plans are suitable for people with a range of needs. Made from high quality ingredients and produce, Lite n’ Easy offers plenty of variety and choice with over 235 meals to choose from and all delivered to your door. their food, I was always disappointed with respect to the choice, quality and nutritional value. While I may have only signed up with the idea of it being a somewhat temporary solution, I can’t imagine a life without Lite n’ Easy now. I have been able to get back to work and can focus on my son and my husband when I am at home.” Check your NDIS plan to confirm if meal preparation and delivery are included. If it is, you can call Lite n’ Easy for more information about how to get started and how the billing and invoicing process works, and you may be eligible to claim up to 70 per cent of the cost of your Lite n' Easy delivery back from NDIS.

ite n’ Easy’s dedicated team of dietitians are central to the meal development process and work collaboratively with their chefs to ensure meals are as healthy as they are tasty. Lite n’ Easy senior dietitian, Ashleigh Jones said, “The single most important dietary change anyone can make to be healthier is to eat five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit each day. "But it can be hard, so at Lite n’ Easy we make sure you can enjoy the right foods, in the right portions throughout the day and that you get your daily 5+2 with our complete meal solution.” Lite n’ Easy meals are based around the Australian Dietary Guidelines, with particular attention paid to protein,

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fibre, saturated fat and sodium, making them suitable for anyone who can benefit from a general healthy diet. As a trusted, award-winning meal provider, Lite n' Easy can assist approved NDIS participants with their daily food requirements, delivering meals directly to their door. To pay for meals using your NDIS funds, you will need to have preparation and delivery of meals included in your plan. Christine, pictured, an NDIS customer from Sydney told us: “Lite n’ Easy has quite simply changed my life. It has given me the opportunity to live my life to the full. The food is absolutely delicious and the variety and quality are exceptional. “I tried other meal delivery companies, but as someone who passionately loves

There are no contracts or joining fees, so you're free to order as needed. Online ordering is also very easy and straightforward and can be done 24/7 by visiting liteneasy.com.au once your account is set up. Payment is by secure credit card only. Lite n’ Easy’s goal is to make ordering as easy as possible for you.

Helping all Australians to eat well Developed by dietitians and prepared by chefs, Lite n’ Easy offers more than just a weight loss solution. We also offer delicious, nutritious meals, designed to promote healthy eating, well-being and a better quality of life for all Australians. • Plenty of variety and choice with over 235 meals designed for weight loss or healthy convenience. • Highest quality ingredients. • Flexible options, home delivered. • No lock in contracts. • With NDIS funding support, participants only pay 30% of the cost of their meals.

For more information or to get a quote for NDIS approval, please call us on 13 15 12 or email your details including state, suburb and best contact number to NDIS@liteneasy.com.au

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Make your move with Base Introducing Base: a new player reimagining supported independent living, powered by Fighting Chance.

At Base, you’re free to make your life your own. Staff and housemates feel like family. At Base, you’re free to make your life your own. To sleep in, rise and shine with the sun, invite your mates over, or head out for a bite. Free to cook up a storm for dinner, or order takeaway. Free to stay up late or crash out early after a big day. Staff and housemates feel like family. Connection to community is key. Continuity of care is paramount. Marg, mum of Base housemate Lili, captured it all when she celebrated her birthday at Lili’s house: “It was my birthday (which I like to keep quiet) and we had agreed to just head to the house and have a simple pizza and ice cream dinner with Lili and her housemates.

Montanna is a soon-to-be Base housemate who also attends Avenue, another social enterprise empowered by Fighting Chance.

omes are meaningful. They are the places where we all should have the freedom to express ourselves, be who we want to be and have access to the support and amenities that make our lives better that make our lives our own.

lives, and that means doing things differently.

At Base, we’re committed to housemates having choice and control over every aspect of their daily

Base takes care of the day-to-day administration and logistics with transparency and trust.

February/March 2022

Our unique family governance model ensures that housemates and their families are the decision-makers in how homes are run.

Word got out, and the whole family descended. Everyone brought something to share. There weren’t enough chairs, so we dragged in outside furniture and squeezed around the table. It was a night full of food, laughter, song, dance and pure joy. The support staff stayed well beyond their shift, the housemates were late to bed and none of that mattered. I realised, sitting at that table, that our vision for Lili's home had been realised, we had found her people and she was so happy living a great life.” If you like the sound of living in a house like Lili’s, you should know that Base is growing - and we want to grow with you. Make your own way, with us.

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Choice and control for paid supports at home For some people with disabilities, having support workers come in and out of their home is a life necessity. By Natalie Wade

ssistance to get out of bed, get dressed, go shopping or travel to work and social activities is often delivered by paid support workers. But finding the right arrangement to organise your supports can be more difficult than it sounds. Many people who need paid support workers on a regular or daily basis, do not realise that there are different ways to find your support workers. The different options reflect different levels of choice and control for you, and involvement in the hiring and management of the support workers. Broadly speaking there are three options for individuals receiving care

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in their home, either a rented or owed house (these do not easily translate to people in group arrangements): 1.

Disability service provider – the organisation recruits, manages support workers and allocates them to you as the client based on what time you need the support workers to come and where you live.

Online platforms – you are able to find support workers in your local area and decide who you would like to meet with to talk about them joining your support worker team. You are responsible

for rostering them. This is quite a “hands-on” option for people who like to manage their own supports. 3.

Self-employment – it is an option for some people to directly employ their support workers. It is worth checking with the National Disability Insurance Agency if you are an NDIS participant and getting legal advice on this if you want to pursue it.

If you receive regular paid supports, you should consider what model works for you and ensure that you are as involved as you want to be in managing your everyday supports.

Home Support helping to live Your Life, Your Way.

ACCOMMODATION & HOME SUPPORT

Community Support Inc can deliver a full range of domestic assistance to support you in your own home. This includes general cleaning, housekeeping, meal preparation, laundry, ironing, spring cleaning home services and anything else you may need.

“W

e can help you to keep your home just the way you like it by assisting you with any household tasks. Our staff can help you to prepare your meals and introduce you to new recipes or stick to your favourite ones if that’s what you prefer. The staff can also help you to prepare meals in bulk to see you through the week,” CEO Dr Angela Littleford said. “Our team can assist with general cleaning, laundry and gardening. Whatever support you need, we are here to help. We offer support from one hour a week to several hours a day, depending on how much help is needed with these tasks. The team are here to make your life easier and help you to maintain your home just the way you like it,” she said. Community Support has been providing home care services for people living with a disability, mental health, or aged care related need for 30 years. The organisation offers a

www.csisa.org.au

range of professional, flexible services for children, young people and adults requiring home or community support across all metropolitan and most regional areas of South Australia. With qualified staff supporting clients around the state, the organisation provides individuals with everything they need to help them live their life, their way. “A great example is our client, Matt. His main support worker is Nick, who encourages Matt to reach his goals and be the best he can be. They have a great relationship and there is a trusting bond between the two”, Littleford said. “Nick takes Matt to the gym, swimming, and shopping. He also helps Matt to choose ingredients and prepare his meals at home.”

a joke, and they are helpful. Nick is a fantastic support worker and is always cheerful. We joke around and have so much fun and I am really lucky to have Nick to support me.” Community Support worked with Matt to put in place his goals and objectives. “Finding the right support worker to match the client’s needs is something we aim to do as best as we can,” Littleford said. “It is rewarding to see the wonderful outcome for clients like Matt, so they can be as independent as possible.”

According to Matt his favourite things to cook are chicken patties and creamy pasta salad. “I chose Community Support because I like the staff and the contact centre team are fantastic and always do what I ask. We always have

hello@csisa.org.au www.csisa.org.au

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A new era in home design…not quite! By Dr Jane Bringolf, Chair, Centre for Universal Design

n early 2022, a meeting of Building Ministers is expected to sign off on technical details relating to basic easy access features in all new homes. The decision to include features in the National Construction Code (NCC), referred to as the Silver standard was made in April 2021, but this is not a done deal. Contrary to the spirit of a national building code, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia are refusing to adopt the Silver standard. The Silver standard includes wider doorways, stepless entryways and showers and reinforced bathroom walls. Policymakers tend to think these features are only suiting people with mobility limitations. Accessible housing is convenient for everyone and is not a niche product for “the others”. There are two key issues at play. One is the persistent reference to extra and unaffordable cost. This is despite two years of research that any additional cost is far outweighed by the benefits. The issue is further complicated with NSW’s confusing mix of planning policies on accessible housing. After two years of research on costs and benefits the Building Ministers agreed to include Silver standard features in all new homes. Although some costs were inevitable, the benefits to society were found to be greater than the costs. But what are those costs? That depends on who you talk to with figures quoted from $300 to $30,000 per dwelling. Some smaller builders are already implementing the Silver standard in their designs. Any extra costs will be low for them because their teams can do it without mistakes or loss of time for rectifications. Builders, particularly volume builders, who are not implementing the standard will need to change their plans and

February/March 2022

train their teams. They are likely to have extra costs in the short term. However, the standard gives builders a clear guide about what is required. When everyone is working to the same standards the costs will fall. The Summer Foundation found that volume builders were already including some features in their home designs. The only feature missing was a level entry into the home. This highlights the problem with the voluntary approach – that is, the inconsistent application of features It might be a while before everyone is working to the same standards if NSW, WA and SA lag behind with the implementation. NSW building Minster Kevin Anderson argues that NSW is doing enough. In a NSW Senates Estimates Committee meeting he stated, “The New South Wales Government is doing significant work in relation to providing accessible housing for those that need it, referring to a policy that encourages 20 per cent of the Silver standard. The Silver standard would also help bring NSW in line with the National Disability Strategy and our commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. NSW could tick the box on that one too if they sign up to the Silver standard. The home renovation sector stands to gain too. With the supply of home care packages increasing, established homes are going to need modifications. Currently the government subsidises home modifications for this group. But modifications are not the same as renovations. Occupational therapists assess clients and decide on functional modifications as part of a home care package. They are usually done in haste and

have little aesthetic value due to funding constraints. Clients often refuse these modifications because of poor aesthetics and concern about devaluing their home. On the other hand, renovations usually have a designer involved. Recent research by Monash University commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Commission, indicates that design-led modifications will gradually increase. With basic access features already in place, modifications and renovations will become easier. Homeowners will be more willing to have modifications because it will minimise major works and concern over the value of the home will be reduced. The NCC changes represent an opportunity for smaller builders to get ready for this market. It remains to be seen whether all jurisdictions will commit to changes in 2022 as it was not a unanimous decision. The Building Ministers’ Communique advised that each jurisdiction is free to determine whether and how the new provision will be applied. Nevertheless, in the name of consistency and a level playing field, industry might make the decision for them. Once these features are mandated in September 2022 any builder who wants a waiver from the standard must argue why the dwelling must exclude people from living in it. Similarly, any state or territory that does not support these changes will need to argue against the recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of Disabilities 2019 recommendation. Finally, a US study found that over the life of a home, there is a 60 per cent chance of having an occupant with a disability. When you add visitors, that figure rises to 90 per cent.

“Girls can do anything” - meet Danielle

ACCOMMODATION & HOME SUPPORT

Danielle works at Endeavour Foundation’s Southport Business Solutions site. Her mantra? Don’t let anything hold you back.

“Y

es I have a disability, but I’m married, I own a house, I have a dog, I have my licence and a car and I can solve just about any problem you can throw at me” she said.

story. For those ladies she has this message. “Girls can do anything. If it makes you happy, I think you should go for it! We can do whatever we put our minds to.”

She is also the owner of a well-earned forklift license. “I’m just so proud of myself. The staff and crew here at Southport were so supportive to help me make it happen. We were in a meeting one day about goals and stuff and I said: “You know, I’m going to get my forklift licence. And you don’t see many girls getting on the forklift and that’s something that I wanted to change.”

When asked where her can-do attitude comes from, she has a simple answer. “It’s just me, it’s just the way I am. Sometimes I’m quiet, but that’s never a bad thing. I just love helping people. I love to be useful and I love to help people out. Whether it’s a customer in the tip shop, or a colleague on the floor, if I can be nice and put a smile on their face that makes me happy,” she said.

Danielle is hoping that there will be women with disability reading this

When asked about the future, Danielle says she’s already on the right path.

“It’s amazing what you can achieve. I already have my 5-year forklift certification, now let’s see if we can go for 10. It would be wonderful to be here at work in another five years.” If you’re interested in being a Supported Employee like Danielle – Endeavour are hiring now with vacancies in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Get a job you love Endeavour Foundation is an Australian Disability Enterprise offering supported employment opportunities to people with disability throughout New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. • • • •

Work full-time or part-time Earn an income from day one Make new friends and work with big-name brands Ongoing training in a safe and supported environment

EF2535.LM

To learn more or to arrange a site tour, call www.e 1800 112 112 or visit endeavour.com.au/work ndeavour.com.au/work

.1221

We’re hiring!

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Throne Accessories began… with an injured Spitfire pilot Helen Kelleher was working as an operational therapist in Canberra and Queanbeyan in 1973 assisting patients in both the hospital and at home.

particular area of responsibility was in home modifications for people moving back from hospital or for those who wanted to fit out their house to suit their needs rather than move to a retirement home.

One of these patients was a former Spitfire Fighter pilot from the Second World War who had lost a leg. It was while working with him that Helen noticed the limited solutions for toileting for people with impaired mobility.

This involved building wheelchair ramps, adjusting light fittings and kitchen benches and simplifying bathrooms and bedrooms to maintain independence as much as possible.

The most obvious challenge was getting up and down off the toilet, sometimes bars installed on walls were positioned too far, were inconvenient or without the wall strength for security.

Over-toilet frames were either too high, unstable or trip hazards. Helen saw that by attaching rails directly to the toilet would make the rails compact, secure and an appendage to the toilet. In 1998, Helen established Throne Accessories. Her initial design was so well received she set about refining the model to support people with a range of disabilities, primarily around aged care and children but also to assist those with sporting injuries.

... and the toilet rail system with unique features Throne toilet systems have been designed by occupational therapists to assist people undergoing rehabilitation or who have a physical disability or impairment getting up and down from the toilet.

s well as toilet systems, the product range includes a heavy-duty rail, a toilet seat raiser and a toilet rail for children. Throne toilet support rails are attached directly to the toilet through the same means that the toilet seat is attached, giving improved access and safety during toileting. These rails are considered safer than free standing toilet frames that do not provide stable support and other users can also access the toilet without having to remove the rail. Key benefits include: • Reduces falls as no frame system • Fits in small bathrooms or where space is restricted • Fits directly onto toilet and used in circumstances where standard toilet frames cannot be fitted • Can be removed and taken if the client moves house.

February/March 2022

The Throne 3-in-1 toilet support rail provides the necessary support for those who need assistance transferring on and off the toilet and is available in three positions: standard, splayed and fold down. Standard: Helps support the user to lower and raise themselves to and from the toilet providing them with better stability in doing so, in this position both grab rails are in a standard vertical position. Splayed: In this position the grab rails are much the same as the standard position only now offering a wider option for users who rather a wider grip from the grab rails. Fold Down: The fold down position is there to offer the option of side access to the toilet in situations where side access is needed, the

fold down option is also a useful choice for users in wheelchairs and for situations where space is limited, by folding down one of the grab rails this can reduce the space being taken up. It has a maximum user loading of 130kg. A heavy-duty rail in stainless steel which has legs grounded to the floor on either side of the toilet, carries a maximum user load of 250kg. The Throne Spacer is a toilet seat raiser that adds height to the standard toilet seat without changing its appearance, integrating with bathroom décor. There is also a toilet rail for children, which suits a very small child and can include a step. Throne products are available through the NDIS, DVA and selected distributors.

Link to...Accommodation & Home Support

U City accessible apartments A city break for people living with a disability.

Maddy with her mother, Tash Rowberry, in a U City accessible serviced apartment.

addy Rowberry loves the chance to take a short city break and enjoy some time away from home. As a regular guest at the U City accessible serviced apartments

in Franklin St, Adelaide, Maddy appreciates the central location, close to some of her favourite things to see and do in the city.

The accessible features provide peace of mind for her family, while giving Maddy the chance to experience some independence away from home.

During her stays at U City, Maddy enjoys girls’ nights with her carers. They can cook their own food or order takeaway, visit the Zoo, the Central Markets and Rundle Mall. The location makes it the ideal city break and the stylish accommodation provides a fully accessible, inclusive and welcoming environment.

“The height adjustable furniture gives Maddy the flexibility and inclusivity of sitting around the table with everyone which means she can be more involved during mealtimes,” her mother, Tash, said.

The 21-year-old, who lives with a rare genetic disorder, CDKL5, feels right at home in the apartments which include everything she and her carers need for a comfortable stay. Showering and sleeping are safe and easy thanks to assistive equipment such as functional beds, shower chairs and portable lifters.

“She also loves the outdoor community balcony and communal kitchen where we can get together when we visit.” U City is the perfect accommodation choice for people living with a disability, recently recognised with a silver medal in the Excellence in Accessible Tourism category at the 2021 South Australian Tourism Awards.

SHORT-STAY ACCESSIBLE SERVICED APARTMENTS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY Heading to Adelaide for a medical appointment or short holiday? Or maybe you need Short Term Accommodation and Assistance (STAA). Either way, U City Accessible Serviced Apartments has got you covered.

SEE U SOON! ENQUIRE TODAY 1800 247 365 | apartments@ucity.com.au 43 Franklin Street Adelaide, SA 5000 ucity.com.au

February/March 2022

AN INNOVATION OF

UNITING COMMUNITIES

New SDA opens in Sydney

ACCOMMODATION & HOME SUPPORT

SDA group Seton Villa recently opened its third home, Leia’s Place, in Ryde, Sydney. The five-bedroom home, a combination of house and apartment, was built in accordance with Seton Villa’s care model of ‘active support’, for women with intellectual disabilities.

n July, Seton Villa ran its ‘Homes for Life’ crowdfunding campaign to complete two new purpose-built homes in Ryde. The campaign resulted in an anonymous $100,000 donation from a woman who was moved by the vision of “turning houses into homes”. It supported the purchase of specialised equipment such as an electric hoist, Carendo shower chair, soft furnishings and furniture. Leia’s Place is part of an $11m+ investment plan by Seton Villa, which was founded by Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. The asset redevelopment program involves rebuilding five existing Seton Villa properties and purchasing two new suitable properties in the local community. A new home, Lavender Cottage, is underway and residents will move in at the end of January. DAs have also been submitted with Ryde Council for the fifth and sixth houses, with the view to commence building in 2022.

Welcome home Live the life you want with the support you need. In your home or one of ours. Barkuma works closely with you, your family and support network to provide person centered Supported Independent Living (SIL). “The most exciting thing for us is Lisa has choice and access to so

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many community activities that have enhanced her life. She has a

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The borders open … and Seeing Eye Dog Eva takes her first flight After months of not being able to travel due to Covid-19 restrictions, Vision Australia advocacy manager Chris Edwards was back in the air, with a new travel companion, Seeing Eye Dog Eva.

or the past 10 years, Edwards had been accompanied on his many trips with Odie, his first Seeing Eye Dog. After clocking up more than 100,000 kilometres on Virgin Australia flights alone, Odie retired earlier this year and Edwards was matched with Eva, his successor.

“Airports are challenging environment for everyone, but when you’re travelling with a Seeing Eye Dog it’s even more so. Having a dog that’s well trained, can get through terminals and security and be confident that they are doing the right thing is special.”

According to Edwards, Eva’s ability to handle most situations has been a real strength and flying on the plane was a big experience for both.

Making Chris and Eva’s first trip all the easier was the welcoming environment created by Virgin Australia. Under law, Seeing Eye Dogs are permitted access to just about all public places, but Edwards said many could learn from how Virgin Australia and the wider aviation industry have welcomed both Eva and Odie.

“It’s been fantastic to get back up flying again. It’s been a long break since Covid and to have the support I need form a Seeing Eye Dog to be able to get through the airport and onto the plane and get back travelling again is going to be amazing,” Edwards said

February/March 2022

“Virgin have been amazing to support myself and my Seeing Eye Dog through

so many trips and the experience continues to improve. People know what to do and what not to with a Seeing Eye Dog and it makes the journey so much more pleasant to have a company that really understands what the experience is like for someone travelling with a dog and what they need to do to support them.” Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dog is the only national provider, trainer and breeder of Seeing Eye Dogs in Australia. It offers a wide range of services, equipment and training so people who are blind or have low vision can live the life they choose. Visit: www.sed.visionaustralia.org

Careport – Your Accessible Portable Bathroom Solution

ACCOMMODATION & HOME SUPPORT

The portable CarePort unit can be provided as either a stand- alone shower or shower and toilet combination, providing an immediate solution for accessible showering and toileting.

f you are unable to access your bathroom due to an illness, medical condition, physical ailment, or even simply home renovations, CarePort provides an invaluable short or longterm solution. The CarePort avoids the following issues: • Having to leave home while renovations are occurring • The inconvenience of being without a toilet and shower for a number of weeks • Unnecessarily long stays in hospital whilst a bathroom is being renovated • Unnecessarily long stays in hospital whilst you are waiting on funding for home modifications

• •

Needing to leave home to go into respite while the works are being completed Rental property that you are unable to renovate.

The cubicle is suitable for most types of shower stool or commode chair and the shower rose height can be adjusted to suit or simply hand- held. There are curtains on one side and front for carers to assist. The CarePort comes in three sizes and can be installed and removed quickly in any home with minimal disruption.

Australian plumbing and electrical standards.

The freestanding unit is safe, easy to clean and conforms to relevant

CarePort hire is also able to be funded by the NDIS.

www.vipaccess.net.au

enquiries@vipaccess.net.au

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Link to...Employment

An inclusive workforce Making a world of difference to this international café.

Mel with Misha Laurent

Things Café Katoomba, located in the NSW Blue Mountains, caters to both local and international patrons offering global delicacies which owner-chef Misha Laurent, calls: “around the world in 8 dishes”. But, it’s the work ethic of his casual cleaner and maintenance woman, Melissa, or Mel, who he said really takes the cake. According to Laurent, Mel, who has an intellectual disability, has become a valuable team member, with all their chefs relying on her skills to be able to achieve their tasks. Mel works 15 hours a week cleaning

February/March 2022

and maintaining café equipment which Laurent said has never looked so good. “She is meticulous and reliable, always arrives on time and is now responsible for accepting deliveries from suppliers.” Mel follows a very detailed work schedule which was developed by Laurent and NOVA Employment staff. Laurent said NOVA spent days putting a work program together and came in every day to train and make sure Mel felt comfortable. He contacted NOVA Employment Springwood in February 2020 when he

needed help because as he said: “We like to give people with disabilities the opportunity to become independent through having a regular job to fulfil. “Working builds self-esteem and pride and is helping the community too. We all have positions in our businesses that could fit the profile, given the opportunity and the appropriate training,” he said. NOVA Employment Springwood manager, Carrie Garner said: “It’s about making sure that every person in our community has the opportunity to work, earn money and thrive.”

www.novaemployment.com.au

Link to...Employment

Let the force be with you When it comes to employment.

commitment as a For-Purpose organisation to best support communities with pandemic recovery and to build a successful future.

With new chief executive, Keith Baillie at the helm, the Gforce Group, consisting of Gforce Employment Solutions, EGF Solutions and People@ Work has come together as one, under the new banner of gforce employment and recruitment.

“In order to fulfil our purpose, ‘to help people achieve the benefits of employment’, it is crucial that we are genuinely part of the communities we serve,” Baillie said. “Our community framework is public and outlines principles and commitments to communities that guide our work.”

The employment and recruitment specialist now has an even stronger community focus and a reaffirmed

The organisation has been at the forefront of the pandemic recovery, with demand for jobs and now a

s communities look to emerge from the effects of the pandemic, employment and recruitment leader, gforce is helping people and business position for the future.

February/March 2022

greater demand for candidates, outpacing previous years. More than ever, gforce is providing support to develop skills, link to support services and training to help people towards a pathway to a rewarding career. With a range of roles, gforce cover all industries across Southern Victoria, from Western Melbourne to the South Australian border. If you are an NDIS participant with a goal to gain employment or return to the workforce you may be eligible to register.

www.gfo rce.org.a u

Link to...Employment

More user friendly design solutions South Australian business, Blend Creative has been providing people with disability real work opportunities for 22 years.

ounded in 1990, the multi-service graphic design studio in Adelaide gives people with disability the opportunity to get into the graphic design industry. Part of SA Group Enterprises (SAGE), Blend Creative offers its graphic design services nationally and worldwide. In 2020, access and inclusion consultants at service provider Maven, partnered with Blend Creative when Maven sought input on design solutions for easy-read documents they had been developing with their clients. People with intellectual disability can find workplace documents difficult to understand. Often pieces have too much text or no images to support understanding. Maven takes these documents and transform them into easy-to read text,

February/March 2022

before Blend Creative customises them into a design friendly style. The aim is to ensure clean, easy-tounderstand English. Examples include using only one idea per sentence, simplified grammar and addressing readers as ‘you’ or ‘we’. Blend incorporate easy read principles including simplified fonts, meaningful images and basic layouts to ensure maximum user-friendly design within client branding guidelines. “Easy read or simplified English documents are not just for people with cognitive delays or intellectual disability” Blend Creative, account director, Monique Russell said. “Often the change made assists a broader community, especially if one considers accessible documents from the CALD perspective (culturally and linguistically diverse) and supports all businesses reaching a much

wider audience. "Working with Maven to achieve this reach for businesses has been a brilliant partnership”. Blend Creative has trademarked their Socially Inclusive Design logo. Any client of Blend has the option to include this exclusive logo into their designed work to showcase that their business supports social inclusion. It is one of nine commercial enterprises that make up SA Group Enterprises (SAGE) that offers a variety of commercial services, from graphic design, landscaping, grounds maintenance and catering to electronic recycling. As with Blend, all these businesses offer meaningful working opportunities for people with disability while remaining effective and meeting commercial expectations in their competitive markets.

Seeking to break down barriers while creating employment opportunities for people with disability. Collaborate with us: • • •

Disability awareness training Easy Read document translation Disability access and inclusion plans

scopeglobal.com/access-and-inclusion

Design by example. Designed by us. Strong, passionate individuals, united in a socially inclusive workplace to deliver unique design solutions.

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Link to...Travel & Leisure

Travelling in the USA Taking a trip to another country as a person with disability is always challenging but add in a global pandemic and things get a bit tricky. As Caitlin Maynard discovered. Caitlin with her father Donald and sister Georgia

up being an issue almost every time, either it wasn’t there on time or no one could bring the chair onto the plane. There were a few times when I had to walk to my seat and when I was only able to board the plane after everyone else was on. One of my favourite parts of the trip was visiting the Grand Canyon. We were able to get a disability pass that let us take our own car to the different lookouts. Without it we would have had to walk or take a shuttle to the different lookouts. This would have been complicated to do with my wheelchair and I probably would have wanted to leave early. Like they do in Australia, parks in the US are taking accessibility into account for everyone to enjoy.

arly in November my family and I were able to travel back to America to visit friends and family.

As a wheelchair user there are things that I needed to make sure of when traveling and these were made more complicated. Such as, being able to get my wheelchair safely on the plane, that people talk to, and listen to me, instead of whoever is accompanying me and organising assistance to get through airports. There were difficulties on each leg of my trip and some things I would have done differently. I was glad to have printed vaccine records and proof

February/March 2022

of a negative PCR, but next time I would print out a written version of the assistance I require. It was hard to talk through everything with a mask on while staying socially distanced. Every airport has a different idea of what wheelchair users need, so this would make everything clear and be quicker. Now to the aisle chair - a special narrow wheelchair that can fit through the aisle of the plane. These chairs stay at different airports and when a plane carrying a wheelchair user takes off and lands people working at the airport bring the aisle chair to the jet and take the person from the door of the plane to their seat. But the aisle chair ended

We also visited Las Vegas and were able to rent an electric scooter for me to use all over the strip. This was a total game changer because I was only able to bring my manual chair on the trip and had to rely on my family to push my chair for the most part. This rental scooter gave me so much freedom and saved me a lot of energy. Every grocery store and big shop we went into in the US had motorised scooters. It is something I wish more cities or even just shopping centres had here. A good support system when traveling now is so important. The biggest frustration I found was that a lot of the people working on the aircraft and in the airports were either new and didn’t know the correct way to interact with people with disabilities or hadn’t assisted any passengers with a disability since before the pandemic started so did not remember the correct policies. This meant it was necessary to have someone with me to help find a solution. Even with the difficulties and frustrations in the end it was all worth it to see the Grand Canyon, new cities and my wonderful extended family.

Take the leisurely to your next getaway

TRAVEL & LEISURE

Planning a holiday during the coronavirus pandemic has created complications for travellers, but with the arrival of summer and reduced restrictions people are able to relax and take the opportunity to venture further from home.

emand for holidays and the confidence to travel is continually increasing with people keen to escape their own four walls and get back to some relative normality after a long two years stuck at home. Slowly, both national and international borders are reopening, and our adventurous spirit is seeing the supported tourism sector adapt to provide holidays that are both safe and fun. With the completion of a full and successful summer holiday season the Leisure Options team are now busy finalising their holiday programs for travel through until August 2023. Their

new holiday brochure will be available from March 2022. For those of you who may be unsure about returning to travel rest assured that the Leisure Options team offers you peace of mind to “travel with confidence” as they continue to conduct enhanced health and wellbeing measures for the foreseeable future. The experiences gained during the pandemic has led to many safety and hygiene measures remaining as standard on a permanent basis. Upgraded safety protocols and enhanced training have been a focus for both the tour and office staff as the business returns to pre pandemic

levels. You can be certain that when travelling with Leisure Options you will receive the safest and finest care at all times. With both group and customised holiday experiences available, now is the perfect time to book your ideal holiday or commence planning for a grand, bucket list adventure. As demand continually increases Leisure Options recommends you book as far ahead as possible to avoid disappointment. Their current summer program reached 100% capacity, a true sign that we are settling into our “Covid normal” lifestyle.

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Link to...Travel & Leisure

Making beaches more accessible Shane Hryhorec has a mission, and that is to make every beach across Australia accessible to everybody.

hrough innovation and ideation with his charity, Accessible Beaches, Shane Hryhorec has succeeded in making more beaches accessible and inclusive. At last count there were 50 nationally. Among the most recent at Wollongong Beach, NSW, that helps people with disability access the beach for the first time. “We have eight beaches across New South Wales that have our beach accessible matting, the Mobi-Path, that provides an easy way to venture to the edge of the water in your own wheelchair or walker,” Hryhorec told Link. New accessible beaches opening this season are Noosa main beach and Emu Park in Queensland, Goolwa and Semaphore in South Australia. Hryhorec creates accessible beach days across multiple states of Australia to help empower and encourage local councils, surf lifesaving clubs as well as local residents who live with a

February/March 2022

disability to make beaches a place to use and access. The challenges Hryhorec and the Accessible Beaches team face include the physical barriers such as accessible parking spaces, pathways, platforms and accessible amenities, but the obvious barrier and challenge that is faced can be finances. Trying to empower local councils, surf clubs and availability of grants and sponsorships can be issues that are presented. “The most challenging aspect is trying to help out and break down attitudinal barriers, we have spent a lot of time and energy travelling around Australia educating key stakeholders about beach access equipment and accessible tourism, as well as inclusive practises for visible and invisible disabilities at the beach,” he said. The Push Mobility managing director, has not confined his efforts just to accessible beaches. He recently opened a health and wellness

destination in Port Adelaide, South Australia, known as co-able. The co-able building is the first of its kind in Australia, designed with accessibility in mind. The co-able space, including various rooms, suites and co-work stations has tenants that are allied health professionals, sole traders and freelancers. And an accessible and inclusive gym will open at the centre in the new year. Hryhorec recently received a Disability Leadership Award for Innovation. If you are looking to see which beaches across Australia are accessible, you can visit the Accessible Beaches website and view its beach directory. This directory contains which products are on offer at each respective beach. Go to: https://accessiblebeaches.com/ directory For those wanting to get involved go to: https://accessiblebeaches.com/ get-involved

Start planning a trip to Tropical North Queensland

TRAVEL & LEISURE

If you want to see the magnificence of the Great Barrier Reef, immerse yourself in the tranquility of the world’s oldest rainforest or dream of coming face to face with a live crocodile but have queries about some specific requirements, fear not!

ut There Travel Care is here to take care of you. We offer care and support for you to go on tours while you are on holidays in this tropical paradise. The range of accessible activities in Cairns and the Port Douglas region makes this a most excellent destination for a relaxing or adventure-filled holiday. Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly into Cairns and on arrival Cairn’s airport has dedicated parking spaces, wheelchair access to terminals, accessible toilets and an army of smiling volunteers to assist travelers in the terminal. Once you have landed in Cairns,

we are available at any time throughout your holidays to offer tour companions, personal care and respite so everyone can have a much-deserved break. Your carer is local and passionate about the work they do and want to help you and your loved ones have the best holiday while you are visiting Cairns to Port Douglas in North Queensland. Start planning your next dream holiday with Out There Travel Care as we can offer plenty of assistance with booking accessible tours and attractions along with your care.

“We’ll get you out there” TOUR COMPANIONS RESPITE CARE PERSONAL CARE Providing professional care with a selection of certified carers and registered nurses FOR BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES:

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New podcast series:

NEWS

Tackling blindness stigma in migrant communities.

hispers and comments are an inevitable occurrence for people living with a disability. And for Zafiro Parnos, 86, just walking down the street, someone will say “look she’s blind” just a bit too loudly. “I look back and I say yes I am, and I’m trying to help myself.” The stories of five migrants with vision loss are featured in Vision Australia Radio’s in-language limited podcast series Eye to Eye.

The shows are produced in Hindi, Greek, Sinhalese, Arabic and Farsi, and tackle the topics of community stigma, perceptions and the struggles of navigating a new country with minimal or no vision. They showcase what has helped them lead independent and fulfilling lives in their adopted country: from

learning to walk with white canes, using technology like screen readers and electronic magnifiers to navigating the NDIS and government funding. Vision Australia Radio manager, Conrad Browne says it’s about giving a platform to non-English speakers and letting them explain how they see the world in their own words. “Unfortunately, these stories don’t readily get told,” he said. “We hope others in the community who hear the show will be encouraged to advocate for themselves and possibly take those next steps in getting the right supports.” People from Culturally & Linguistically (CALD) communities are often more at risk of vision loss due to lower engagement rates with eye testing.

According to the 2008 Victorian Health Population Survey, nearly 30 per cent of Victorians who spoke a language other than English at home had never had an eye examination. Communication barriers, poorer health literacy and the lack of culturally appropriate health services also contribute to lower engagement. The series aims to breakdown informational barriers and empower people to take hold of their eye health by hearing authentic stories from their compatriots. The podcasts are available to listen to in full via Vision Australia’s radio website. Vision Australia also offers weekly in-language social support groups for people with low vision or blindness. The groups are free and conducted over the phone.

www.varadio.org linkonline.com.au

Link to...Happenings

Visit Matisse for another great art happening Going to the Matisse: Life & Spirit exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW was a huge treat for Caitlin Maynard.

Matisse in his studio cutting coloured gouaches.

“I

love his art and all the bright colours’” so this exhibition was a ‘must see’ for me.”

Henri Matisse was an artist from the North of France who lived from 1869 until 1954. He has been described as someone who ‘discovered a more remote and far more marvelous country’. He discovered Joy’. Matisse found the world of art when his mother gave him a box of coloured paints during a childhood illness. Matisse’s effort to find ‘lightness and joyousness’ was often hard as he questioned himself constantly. “When I saw that the exhibition was showing during the construction to the gallery façade I was nervous because it would mean being unable to enter with my wheelchair. However, the construction was clearly labelled and showed me where to find the

February/March 2022

temporary ramp, which was one of the best ramps I have used, with strong metal rails at each side. There was an easy-to-use QR check in and once we entered the gallery, staff made sure we knew where the ramps and lifts were located throughout the building. All of the labelling was easy to read and well lit in the exhibition. Because of covid protocols and limits on how many people were allowed in, I was able to take my time and see and read about the pieces I was drawn to. “Towards the end of his life Matisse had life threatening surgery for cancer and became a wheelchair user but it did not stop him from creating art. He claimed that becoming less mobile gave him and his art a ‘second life’. As someone who was diagnosed with a disability at 18 and became a fulltime wheelchair user at 23, it was amazing to see how a change in health or mobility

does not prevent anyone from being a successful artist.” This new chapter led to Matisse creating cut-outs and coloured paper shapes that he said gave him the sensation of flying. At the NSW gallery a small gallery has also been set up exhibiting works by artists who were inspired by Matisse. “It was eye opening to go through this well-choreographed exhibition and see the different progressions his art went through. I was so glad to be able to see all of the different works of art in a smooth and easy to navigate gallery. I was a fan before I went but am an even bigger one now.” These masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou, Paris runs until March 13, 2022.

Vision impaired musicians’ band together with Perth Symphony Orchestra

WHAT'S ON

A group of vision-impaired musicians is performing with the Perth Symphony Orchestra to headline one of Australia’s largest community events, playing in front of an estimated 23,000 people.

he musicians who make up the band, called Grand Delusions, have low or no vision, with some members also having an acquired brain injury. And they take centre stage at Coogee Live in March. The band started with just four people in 2015 and has grown since then, with currently 12 members. The band rehearses in the Perron Place Theatrette at VisAbility in Victoria Park, every Tuesday. For group founder Manny Lee, born with retinitis pigmentosa, music has become an integral part of his healing process. "Music has been my saviour. Since I lost my vision, my hearing is sharper, so music is clearer, and I can pick up the clarity of pieces. The chords are crisper as well,” he said. "It's a great privilege for our visionimpaired musicians to perform with the Perth Symphony Orchestra ensemble and to give back to the community. We are rehearsing hard and practicing our chords and harmonies because we want to show people with disability that anything is possible. There is light at the end of the tunnel.” Manny is also an assistive technology officer at VisAbility and willingly shares his enthusiasm about music and technology with others. He received a Rotary Award last year, for his outstanding contribution to the music group and offering support and encouragement to other band members. Fellow band member Stacee Parkinson said the band consists of like-minded people sharing the ups and downs of life with vision impairment. “It’s great to have others you can talk to

who can understand what you are going through. The group lifts me and brightens up my day.” Over the past 12 months, Grand Delusions has performed at public events, Coogee Live being the most prestigious. Perth Symphony founder, Bourby Webster, said the orchestra’s mission is to inspire people from all cultures and walks of life, so musicians were delighted to be working alongside the band. "We are so thrilled with this combination and it will be an experience to remember. Music is a powerful force because it can bring about a range of emotions and motivate and inspire people. This event is proof that you can do anything if you have belief in yourself." The Saturday night performance will include individual personal stories from band members, their journey to vision

loss, and how music has changed their lives for the better. Admission to the weekend Coogee Live event is free. The band’s performance takes place on 12 March 2022 from 7:00 pm - 8:40 pm on the Community Stage at Coogee Beach Reserve. Ahead of the opening will be a grand lantern parade with members of the Grand Delusions leading the procession. Information about the event is on the Coogee Live website. VisAbility offers support and therapy services for people with no or low vision. Its multi-disciplinary team can help everyone living with blindness or vision impairment at every stage of life. Support nurtures skills and confidence to enable someone to live life to the full. To find out what support is available visit: www.visability.com.au/link/ linkonline.com.au

Link to...Happenings

What's On Calendar FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL:

28TH FEB - 2ND MAR: Disability Employment Australia Conference https://dea.CW3.events

3RD MAR: ACT Women’s Awards officefordisability@act.gov.au

1ST - 2ND APR: Melbourne Disability Expo https://melbournedisabiltyexpo. com.au

4TH - 5TH MAR: Brisbane Disability Connection Expo events@ developingauscommunities.com.au 26TH - 27TH MAR: Source Kids Disability Expo https://sourcekids.com.audisability-expo/sydney-2022/

5TH APR: Australian Disability Service Conference & Awards https://adsca.com.au All events were correct as this issue went to press. Refer to websites for updates.

27TH MAR: Live Your Potential NDIS Expo https://lypexpo.com.au

Meet new friends and learn new skills! Yooralla is excited to bring you interesting activities to learn new skills, socialise and have fun—all from the comfort of your home. Choose from a range of activities including Life Skills and Recreational.

Who can join?

Details:

How to join:

Customers 18 years+ requiring 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 ratios. You don’t need to be an NDIS participant.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 4pm to 7pm

By Zoom

Designed by you, supported by us, and achieved together Yooralla works with customers to provide safe, supportive and interesting programs for people with disability. We know the NDIS and tailor supports for all ages and requirements.

February/March 2022

For bookings and more information please contact Rita Trotta: 0476 812 902 - online@yooralla.com.au yooralla

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