Some of Our Parts

• Have fun and make new friends!
• Encourage others to say ‘I Can’
• Build up The I Can Network

The first-ever I Can Camp (25-27 April) invites young adults (18-30-years-old) on the Autism spectrum to share their individual strengths, interests and quirks and make a difference for other young people on the spectrum.

At the I Can Camp you will develop a network of friends and learn how you can encourage other young people on the Autism spectrum. You will get to have fun, challenge yourself, reflect on the ‘I Can’ message and learn about mentoring.

Camp activities will include:

• Loads of good times!
• Storytelling
• Intro to mentoring
• Focus group chats
• Outdoor activities
• I Can MasterChef (making meals in teams)
• Free time for people to hang out and do their own thing
• Thank You Arvo Tea for friends and family

We would love for you to be a part of our first-ever camp! Here are the full details for you to note down and express your interest.

Dates: Friday 25th – Sunday 27th April

Venue: Gilwell Scout Adventure Centre, Gembrook Launching Place Road, Gembrook VIC 3783

Cost: Approx. $100 – $150

Exact price will be available shortly

Donations/ sponsorship to subsidise the costs of participants are being sought!

EXPRESS INTEREST HERE: http://tinyurl.com/ICanCamp-April2014-EOI
Please note that registrations will be open shortly.

Contact the.ican.network@gmail.com with any queries

Are you 15 – 17-years-old?

Please note that we are aiming to run a 15-17-year-old camp in the second half of 2014.
You can express interest in the 15-17-year-old I Can Camp here: http://tinyurl.com/ICanCamp-Teen-EOI

Welcome to the Monash O -Week for 2014!

The sun is out, the festivities are buzzing, the music is pumping and the lines for free food are growing! Make the most of the week by checking out all the various events and activities and events on your Monash campus.

Just a reminder, as well – the Monash Disability Liaison Unit is running an Open House all this week. That means if you have any questions at all about disabilities or mental health conditions that you feel might impact on your studies, pop into the DLU in Building 55 (right at the bus loop, near the Law Building and Menzies). You can speak to one of our friendly Disability Liaison Officers who will be able to assist you with any inquiries you might have.

Also, starting tomorrow, we will also be running DLU Campus Tours around the Caulfield and Clayton campuses. Tours are open to all registered students, and will operate as a drop-in service with no formal registration required. However, if there are any specific parts of the university or DLU services you are interested in visiting on one of these tours, please let us know in advance and we will try our best to cater for your requests.

• Clayton tours will run from 2pm on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of O-Week (26th, 27th and 28th February)
  Tours will meet outside Building 55 at 1.50pm for a 2pm start
• Caulfield tours will run from 2pm on the Tuesday of O-Week (25th of February)
  Tours will meet outside Monash Connect (Building A, ground floor) at 1.50pm for a 2pm start

Campus maps will be provided on the day and it may be advisable to bring your own pen and paper to take notes.
Let us know in advance if you require Auslan interpreters, electric scooters or have any other accessibility requirements.

If you have any further questions or concerns about the tours, please contact Sarah Mander at sarah.mander@monash.edu or on 9905 3857.

As part of our support services for newly registered students at Monash, we would like to invite you to participate in one of the new DLU Campus Tours around the Caulfield and Clayton campuses during O Week.

The tours are open to all registered students.

We will take you around the campuses to assist you to familiarise yourselves with the campus environment, as well as to highlight the DLU support services, library facilities for students with disabilities as well as important access points. This is also a great opportunity to meet other DLU students who are also new to the university.

As part of the DLU Open House running in O Week, tours will operate as a drop-in service with no formal registration required. However, if there are any specific parts of the university or DLU services you are interested in visiting on one of these tours, please let us know in advance and we will try our best to cater for your requests.

• Clayton tours will run from 2pm on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of O-Week (26th, 27th and 28th February)

Tours will meet outside Building 55 at 1.50pm for a 2pm start

• Caulfield tours will run from 2pm on the Tuesday of O-Week (25th of February)

Tours will meet outside Monash Connect (Building A, ground floor) at 1.50pm for a 2pm start

Campus maps will be provided on the day and it may be advisable to bring your own pen and paper to take notes.

Please let us know in advance if you require Auslan interpreters, electric scooters or have any other accessibility requirements.

If you have any further questions or concerns about the tours, please contact Sarah Mander at sarah.mander@monash.edu or on 9905 3857.

The 3rd December is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD), a dedicated day to place a greater emphasis on the abilities and achievements of people living with disability. Individuals and organisations throughout the country are encouraged to celebrate the day. This year we celebrate the 21st anniversary of International Day of Persons with disability.

IDPwD is unique among community awareness days, as it unites disability organisations, businesses, federal, state and local governments and the community. The day is a collaborative effort to celebrate and acknowledge the experience and expertise of people with disability.

For a list of events around Victoria, see the IDPwD website.

We are having a gathering to celebrate the end of the exams. Originally, the plan was to have a “pub night”, but we’ve decided to meet at Penny’s new house in Sandringham instead.

Date: Sunday 24th November

Time: arrive between 12:30 – 1 pm.

Where: Penny Robinson’s house (contact her to get the address)

Bring a plate of food to share – preferably onion/garlic free. (And a foldable picnic chair, if you’ve got one!)
Meat can be cooked on the electric griller, or in frypan on the gas stove. (No BBQ outside – yet!)
There is a supermarket (Coles) near Sandringham station, if anyone needs to buy food on the way.

Transport options:

Drive: there is car parking in side streets, with no time limit.

Public transport: Get the Sandringham line train to Sandringham station, and then either walk (1.3 km), or get the 822 bus from Sandringham station to the “John Batman Gardens” stop on Bay Road.

RSVP to Penny Robinson (Penny.Robinson@monash.edu), preferably by Fri 22 November.

This event is also listed in the “I CAN Monash network” secret Facebook group.

The last I.CAN network meeting last Thursday was a success. We had a lot of students come to the meeting, where we had a great time introducing and talking amongst ourselves. We also introduced the concept of the I.CAN network during the meeting and the students enthusiastically agreed with what we are doing. We plan to run one more meeting during the semester and we are more than happy for you to come!

Our next I.CAN network meeting is on (updated)

Thursday 24 October 2013
Building 6, Room G08
1 pm – 2 pm

BYO Lunch

The topic for the meeting will be “Exam pressure, and how to cope with them”. Everyone is welcome to come to the meeting, especially students with Asperger’s syndrome or autism and students who know a relative or a person with Asperger’s syndrome or autism.

RSVP by Wednesday 23^st October to Penny Robinson at penny.robinson@monash.edu. We hope to see you there!

Chris, James and Penny

What is International White Cane Day?

International White Cane Day is held on 15 October each year to raise awareness of the importance of the white cane and how it can aid mobility and independence for a person with vision loss. This year marks 92 years since the white cane was invented by an Englishman who lost his sight in an accident and painted his black cane white to make it more visible to others.

What is the Watch Out, Cane About campaign?

Watch Out, Cane About is a pedestrian road safety awareness initiative being launched by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to address worrying numbers of pedestrians with vision loss reporting near misses and collisions with vehicles when trying to cross the road.

To help raise driver awareness, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is launching TV and radio community service announcements and an educational video on Youtube highlighting the following key ‘Dos & Don’ts’ tips for motorists.

To read more, visit the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT website.

A message from one of the I Can Network founders, Chris Varney:

Dear Friends,

Just a reminder about our exciting planning workshops this week! Many thanks for your support of them, whether through promoting them or RSVP’ing! Below are the details again.

City Planning Workshop: Wednesday 9 October, 5.30pm – 7.30pm at Foundation for Young Australians, 21-27 Somerset Place (off Elizabeth St), Melbourne

Eastern Planning Workshop: Saturday 12 October, 2pm – 4pm at World Vision Australia, 1 Vision Drive, Burwood East

My mobile is 0432 405 384 if you have any queries in the lead up or need help with directions, building access, etc, on the day.

Would really appreciate your input during the workshop on how we create a meaningful program for young people on the Autism spectrum, bearing in mind the breadth of the spectrum and young people’s many different strengths!

Please spread the word far and wide about these workshops. More creative minds the better!

Thanks,

Chris and the team

Monash Alumni and all-round superstar Chris Varney and Monash Student, James Ong are planning to run a camp for young people and young adults on the Autism Spectrum in February 2014. The camp/s will be targeted to 15 – 24 year olds, and they are looking for your contribution to the content, messaging, facilitation and promotion of this camp.

They have put together some planning workshops for any young person on the spectrum or any person supporting young people to come along and make a contribution. Any piece of advice – however big or small – would be GREATLY appreciated.

The purpose of the camp is to bring together young people and young adults on the spectrum and engage in personal development. It’s going to be fun, and encourage you to push yourself to be bold, share talents, quirks, positive messages, coping strategies and develop a sense of community. This will be a positive experience for young people that grows everyone’s confidence!

They are seeking your input, and there are two workshops to cater to everyone’s different geography.

City Planning Workshop: Wednesday 9 October, 5.30pm – 7.30pm at Foundation for Young Australians, 21-27 Somerset Place (off Elizabeth St), Melbourne

Eastern Planning Workshop: Saturday 12 October, 2pm – 4pm at World Vision Australia, 1 Vision Drive, Burwood East

For more information, email Chris at chris.r.varney@gmail.com

Join Monash students James Ong and Chris Varney, both of whom have Autism Spectrum Disorder, for a free lunch where you can learn about the vision for ‘I CAN Monash’ – a network of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder who support each other to achieve personal goals.

I CAN Monash is a community of students who share a good laugh about the Autism Spectrum and the interests, talents, quirks and coping strategies that come with it. We exist to ensure that students and staff together create an enabling environment for you to get the most out of uni life!

These upcoming gatherings will provide a way for you to meet like-minded others and just hang out with a cool bunch of people!

WHEN?

Thursday 19 September & Thursday 10 October
12pm – 1pm
Building 6 (Faculty of Education)
Level 1, Room TLS110
Clayton campus

WHO?
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder