Some of Our Parts

Monash Alumni and CEO (Chief Enabling officer of I CAN Network, an organisation empowering young Australians with autism with an “I CAN” attitude, has written an article on the way in which the education system  could better support students with autism by turning their attention to individual strengths.

“I have met kids on the spectrum across 140 schools. I have seen some great practice and some terrible practice. I have found that the strengths of students with autism include our intense focus, memory retention, attention to detail and, for some, visual/linguistic perception. Often, these strengths are specialised around certain subjects. When I was nine, I had no care for my brother’s interest in AFL, but I could tell you everything about Europe’s royal families”

Read more at the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Sydney Opera House lit blue on April 2, 2015, the United Nations' World Autism Awareness Day. Photo: Christopher Pearce

It’s been a really busy couple of weeks, but here are some disability related link to take you through the long weekend.

• A Critical Disability Studies Workshop is being run at La Trobe University on Wednesday 8 April 2015
• It’s Autism Awareness Day! And these young people are challenging media stereotypes to see the person behind the disability in some beautiful photos.
• And Tracey Spicer suggests that we need to change the way that we talk about Autism.
• Been to any great gigs lately? Thought about how venues and bands can work together to improve access?
• A fascinating read on Disability and Technology at Slate.
• ‘I can have sex and I can have babies. I am a cheap drunk.’ When a performer challenges her audience.

HAPPY LONG WEEKEND!

• Feminism and Disability at the Wheeler Centre
• Studies in Ableism: Illuminating Disability Jurisprudence – a public lecture by the Melbourne Law School
• Designers at Tokyo Fashion Week are stepping up for models with physical disabilities
• Chantelle Winnie really is hot right now
• Get Out There – literally!
• Have you got any more questions? Disclosing disability and getting the job
• Meet the heart melting Winter, Autism Assistance Dog.

I’ll let Iggy take it from here…

ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Co-founder, Isaac Zablocki talks to NPR about disability, media representation and cliches.

Starting with “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” this coming weekend, we are delighted to report that Village Cinemas are continuing to provide sensory-friendly sessions for individuals with ASD and others who have sensory sensitivities.

Sessions will be showing at 11am this Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February at Village Cinemas:

• Airport West
• Fountain Gate
• Geelong
• Karingal
• Knox
• Southland
• Werribee

Book online here!

Conversational English Programs are beginning next month, with a range of different kinds of classes available.

These classes are a set of extra-curricular language activities aimed at developing the global competences of domestic and international students and enhancing the student experience through cross cultural communication and making new friends!

Classes for 2015 include:

Let’s Chat MUISS!

• Groups of 30 students + 3 student facilitators
• Structured but flexible, fun classes addressing conversation starters and other themes identified by Monash students
• Last session in collaboration with Monash Sport includes games and a BBQ lunch
• Clayton campus only
• One 1h session once per week, Week 3 to Week 11, Semesters 1 and 2 – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-5pm or 5pm-6pm
• Open to all Monash students
• Registration open from February 16 to March 6

Let’s Chat BusEco!

• Free conversational English sessions to improve communication skills
• Groups of 30 students + 3 facilitators
• Structured but flexible, fun classes addressing conversation starters and other themes identified by Monash students
• Last session in collaboration with Monash Sport includes games and a BBQ lunch
• Caulfield campus
• Open to Monash Business School (Faculty of Business and Economics) students only
• One 1hr session once per week, Week 3 to Week 11, Semesters 1 and 2
• Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4pm-5pm or 5pm-6pm
• Registration open from February 16 to March 6 with a new intake of registrations during Survival Week (Week 4)

Peer Support

• Help with written or spoken academic work
• Free, one to one, ‘drop in’ 20 min sessions – no bookings necessary
• John Medley Library, Campus Centre, Level 1, 21 Chancellor’s Walk, Clayton
• All students welcome
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 11am-2pm, Week 3 – Week 12, Semesters 1 and 2

Aussie Connect

• Social interactions with local community in collaboration with Monash City Council
• Once per month social group gathering
• On Clayton campus and various council’s venues
• Semester 2 only

There will also be a range of workshops and seminars across the semester looking at topics of cross cultural communication and international education. Watch this space for more information in early February!

If you missed Stella Young’s memorial, you can now watch it here with no geoblocking. The writer, broadcaster and comedienne did much to help Australians understand disability issues.

From the staff at Monash Disability Services, have a very happy, safe and peaceful holidays and a wonderful new year.

See you in 2015! And in the spirit of the holidays, here is one last heartwarming video for the year.

“What better way to unwind after 24 hours of world record breaking tennis than rapping your favourite verse, with one of your favourite rappers from your favourite group of all time.”

So said Australian gold medallist who just spent his weekend at Meredith Music Festival – part of it on-stage with Wu-Tang’s Ghostface Killah rapping in front of a packed crowd. The 24-year-old paralympian crowdsurfed his way to the front of the festival audience where he joined the New York rapper centrestage and totally nailed a verse of Wu classic, ‘Protect Ya Neck’.

The Saturday afternoon performance follows the athlete completing a 24-hour marathon of wheelchair tennis in Melbourne last Thursday, as ABC News details, raising nearly $70,000 for the Starlight Foundation and Variety Children’s Charity.”I had ice packs on my hands because my wrists were so swollen from playing 24 hours of tennis,” says Dylan, who has scored the opportunity to meet his rap hero backstage at Meredith.

Prominent disability activist, writer and comedian Stella Young has died aged 32. Ms Young was the former editor of the ABC’s disability news and opinion website, Ramp up. Her family said she passed away on Sunday.

“With great sadness we acknowledge the passing of Stella Young, our much loved and irreplaceable daughter and sister,” the family said in a statement. “A private funeral will take place soon, followed by a public event in Melbourne, with more details to come.  “Our loss is a deeply personal one. We request privacy during this difficult time.”

Ms Young was born in Stawell, in country Victoria, with Osteogenesis imperfecta. She studied to become a teacher, before beginning a career in journalism.

Read tributes to Stella from the ABC’s Mark Scott and Wendy Harmer.

In a letter to her 80 year old self she wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald:

But on my path to reach you, I promise to grab every opportunity with both hands, to say yes as often as I can, to take risks, to scare myself stupid, and to have a shitload of fun.