Some of Our Parts

Are you interested in Disability Studies? There are two great new opportunities being advertised at the moment!

Curtin University has an ARC funded project within the Faculty of Humanities in Disability and Digital TV: Access, representation and reception. This project investigates the impacts digital televisions have on the social inclusion or exclusion of people with disability through a user-focused analysis of accessibility and representation.

Further abroad, the University of Leeds has a position for a University Academic Fellow in Disability Law.

As we start to enter exams period, all current Monash students can access a 24 hour study area to study in preparation for exams around the clock:

Building 10, Ground floor, Center Cellar Room

Students will require their Monash Student ID to gain access to the space after hours. This space is now available for use and will be until at least Friday 21 November.

Are you a student or recent graduate with a vision impairment? Would you like to help improve access to graphical materials in university educational materials?

Graphs, maps, schematics, diagrams, cartoons, non-standard scripts and many other visual representations can be used to convey important information in study materials. A research team from Monash and Deakin Universities is investigating how vision impaired University students access these materials and how the current processes can be improved.

You will be asked to share your experiences and opinions in an interview up to one hour in length at your place of study or via phone in November 2014. Participation is entirely voluntary and confidential, as detailed in the attached explanatory statement.

Responses from the interviews will be used to develop a model for improved provision of accessible graphics which will be promoted throughout Australian Universities. Participants will have the opportunity to register to trial this new model for their 2015 study materials.

To get involved and help make a difference, please contact Leona Holloway at leona.holloway@monash.edu or (03) 9903 2401.

KPMG has been engaged by the Australian Government Department of Education to conduct an evaluation of the Disability Support Program. The Disability Support Program is one of the Australian Government’s key responses to assisting people with disability and removing barriers that may be preventing access and participation.

The evaluation will use a variety of methods and tools to collect information including this online survey.  The survey asks broad questions of your experience as a student with disability at university and you do not need to have knowledge of the Disability Support Program. The survey is entirely voluntary and please be assured your responses will be confidential.

Interviews (face to face or telephone) will also assist in the evaluation of the program. The final question of the survey asks if you would be willing to participate in a short interview with one of KPMG’s team. Your participation, whilst very much valued is optional. If you would like to be a part of the interviews would you be so kind as to indicate “Yes” and then complete the contact details as KPMG will need a way to contact you. Guidance about how KPMG will store and use your information can be found in KPMG’s privacy statement.

We greatly appreciate your participation in this survey as we understand this is busy part of the year for you.

Follow the link to the online student survey.

“You’re a really nice computer.”

Happy Friday every body! It’s going to be a cracker of a weekend, so make sure you get some sunshine (and study for exams of course…).

There’s a whole bunch of news this week about the visibility of people with disabilities in the media.

• Where are they all? In children’s books? On TV? On The Apprentice?
• Well here are 10 amazing characters who happen to have a disability.

In other disability news…

• Different bodies, different clothes?
• More wonderful bodies in a fashion shoot.
• A panel discussion on art, bodies and disability.
• Thinking about breaking into politics?
• A personal narrative on mental health.
• Think you knew blindness?

With exams only only two weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about some self-care strategies to support your mental health and well-being and  carry you through to exam success!

The Victorian Department of Education has put together a Strategies for Students document with some handy hints on looking after yourself under stress.

ALSO – did you know that Monash Counselling Services are now available online??

The young carer bursary programme application open SOON on Monday 13th October. These bursaries will assist young carers in greatest need, to continue to study and to relieve the financial pressure for them to undertake part-time work while studying and caring.

Who is eligible?

Young carers aged 25 years and under (born in 1990 or later), may apply for a 2015 bursary if they are:

• studying an approved course either full-time or part-time during 2015 at:
• secondary school
• TAFE
• an apprenticeship, or
• an undergraduate course at university.
• an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident
• not receiving another bursary or scholarship

Young carers may also be eligible if they are not currently enrolled in study or training in 2015 but can prove enrolment if granted the bursary.

How do you apply?

Applications for 2015 bursaries will open on the Monday 13 October 2014 and close on Sunday 9 November 2014. An on-line application form will be available from 13 October which is linked to the Young Carer website. An independent selection panel will assess applications and select recipients based on greatest need.

For more information visit www.youngcarers.net.au ; email ycbursaries@carersaustralia.com.au or ring 1800 756 238.

Good morning everybody! It’s Friday, the sun is (kind of) shining and spring is in the air! Here’s some disability news links to take you into the weekend.

• It’s the last day of Mental Health week! The BBC asks if well-being and mental health are connected and you can get in on a free mindfulness session at Clayton!
• More and more and more Mental Health week articles!
• Consider yourself a bit of a leader? Check out the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s Empowering Leadership Guide
• The Guardian‘s design blog looks at some amazing new wheelchair technology.
• The amazing Stella Young is a Digital Writer in Residence for the next four weeks – join the conversation!
• A little history lesson in Victorian disability self-advocacy.
• What’s It Like Being Blind and Gay?

Patrick Smith’s Striking Minimalist Posters Reveal What It’s Like To Live With A Mental Health Condition

The ABC’s Q&A program tackled the topic of mental health this week as part of their Mental Health Week.

You can watch the program here.