Some of Our Parts

Almost every Friday, we post disability news from around the world here on the Some of Our Parts blog.

Here’s a sample from this week’s news reel:

• Have an autoimmune disease and feel like no one gets you? Here are 15 celebrities who understand!
• Have you seen those emotional ‘Deaf Person Hears for the First Time’ videos on the net? Some thoughts about why they might not be as inspiring as they seem.
• Any biomedical engineering students out there? Here’s a rewarding task you might want to take on after exams are over.
• Check out this poignant video tackling stigmas attached to depression and mental health conditions.
• An innovative invention for those who experience hand tremors
• Spent time in a psychiatric hospital lately? How would you redesign it if you go the chance?

Washable paint walls?

What does the budget mean for you and your disability?

• It’s time to raise our expectations
• Disability advocates urge Federal Government to work with big business to create jobs
• Budget crackdown to hit younger people on disability pensions
• People on disability support pension to have ability to work reassessed
• Disability Support Pension changes unlikely to feature in May budget: Kevin Andrews
• Disability in Budget 2014

The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival is showing its commitment to improving the accessibility of the festival for all festivalgoers. HRAFF’s accessible services have been made possible thanks to the support of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. We make every effort to ensure our accessibility information is correct; please contact us if you find any errors so we can update our information.

Download a text version of the program here (Word)

Download a text version of the program here (PDF)

For information regarding service dogs, wheelchair access, companion cards, audio description, assistive listening, AUSLAN and captions, see the HRAFF’s accessibility page.

Welcome back to another week of the DLU Friday round up. Public holidays and long weekends have meant that we’ve missed a couple of Friday Round Ups, but hold tight, I’ve got a bunch of the best and most exciting disability related news articles and events around Melbourne for you today.

• NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT – Make time to check out the very exciting event run by Cherchez La Femme, ‘Disability and Feminism’, a panel discussion featuring Dr Shakira Hussein (writer, researcher, academic, feminist), Jax Jacki Brown (perfomer, writer, educator, feminist) and Jessica Knight (poet, arts writer, artist, feminist). At the Duke of Wellington on Flinders Lane – tickets from here.
• For those with an interest in non-visual art, you should check out Smell You Later. As the program states: ‘audiences are invited to participate in non-visual artwork experiences by creating scent-based Next Wave Festival memories with Smell You Later. Discover a series of scent-based encounters embedded within Festival venues and sniff out the scent trail that winds through corridors, stairwells, lobbies and bathrooms.’
• Speaking of non-visual arts, the Metropolitan Museum in New York is holding regular ‘Seeing through Drawing’ classes for Blind or Partially sighted visitors. In fact, they have a range of programs for visitors with different disabilities ranging from mobilities to Autism spectrum.
• Auslan Stage Left are a non-for-profit organisation that enables and provides quality Auslan interpreted theatre, and training to interpreters and deaf consultants in the area of theatre interpreting.  Check out some the feedback from their Grease show and you can keep an eye out for their upcoming shows here.
• It’s Budget time – where is the NDIS now?
  
• An interesting read for job-seeking grads – how do you disclose hidden disabilities to future employers?
  
• Although recent news seems to suggest that employees with hidden disabilities such as Autism are being sought after. So much so that Freddie Mac is offering specific internships for recent graduates and current students on the autism spectrum.

And finally, some wisdom from Gothe

Andrew Follows is an inspiring photographer with a social conscience, who is quickly making a name for himself within the arts community. Diagnosed with an eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a condition,  Andrew has forged an impressive career in photography with one eye completely blind and with ever diminishing tunnel vision in the other. He can see three metres to most people’s seventy metres, and that is through a foggy haze.

Check out his website, Blinkie Photography, and some of the amazing prints in his portfolio.

Scarp Face, Beechworth

On the recommendation of one of our students, we have spent the morning watching the CODA Brothers videos. CODA is an acronym for Children of Deaf Adults, and as the student so rightly suggested, they are really funny for the deaf and non-deaf alike.

Check out The Funny Things Hearing People Do, There’s a Deaf Guy for That and What Deaf People LOVE About Interpreters on Youtube!

For those of you who have been following the Stepping Into posts on this blog will know that the program offers paid internship programs specifically designed for students with disabilities who want a paid, hands-on work experience that is relevant to their degree and chosen field of study.

Winter internships for this year are still open until the 21st April:

• Department of Agriculture – Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide (Degrees in Human Resources, Business, Plant Science or Agriculture an advantage but not required)
• Department of Industry – Canberra, Sydney (Degrees in Business, Pharmaceuticals or Science, Engineering, Economics or Applied Science, Financial Accounting, Communications, Public Policy, and Law etc)
• Henry Davis York – Sydney
• Sparke Helmore – Sydney
• Crown Solicitors Office – Sydney
• NSW Ombudsman – Sydney
• Telstra – Sydney, Melbourne (Degrees in Business, Business Admin, Commerce, Visual Design)
• Australian Financial Securities Authority (AFSA) – Sydney, Melbourne (Degrees in HR, Management, Accounting and Law)
• Department of Human Services VIC – Melbourne (Degrees in Public Policy, Communications, Community Development and Law)
• IBM – available in 2 weeks
• Department of Social Services – Tasmania (Degrees in Business and Contract Management – closes April 27)

Apply by downloading the application form and submitting to applications@and.org.au with your cover letter (addressed to AND), your CV and transcript.

Hi everyone! It’s been a while between posts, but we’re back with more of the best disability-related links from around the web.

• A Queensland PhD student has debunked some serious myths about the Autism Spectrum
• Ever thought about going to Study Abroad? Check out Juanita’s amazing story!
• Looking for a wardrobe update with the winter weather coming in? Check out the range at IZ Adaptive Clothing.
• On the significance of charity names.
• NDIS delays? What does this mean for you?

Keep dry and warm out there!

The Quantum Print Disability Scholarship and Award Program aims to assist individuals who are unable to access printed material, either because they are vision impaired, or have a cognitive or learning disability, such as dyslexia.

To be eligible to apply for the Scholarship Program, applicants must:

• Have a print disability (low vision, blindness or a learning difficulty)
• Be currently enrolled in a primary, secondary, tertiary educational institution or TAFE
• Provide a referee for your application. Eligible referees include: teacher, supporting teacher, disability consultant/support officer, allied health professional, e.g. occupational therapist, or assistive technology consultant.
• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Teachers or parents may apply on behalf of their child or student if the criteria above can be satisfied for the applicant.

Applications close on Friday 11 April 2014.

For further information on eligibility, the application process and prizes visit The Quantum Scholarship website.

The Bridges to Higher Education consortium, in partnership with the Universities Admissions Centre (NSW & ACT), has been working collaboratively to widen participation at universities for everyone.

As a result Make Your Mark is an exciting new website designed to be the first port of call for information to help those from under-represented communities to discover future life opportunities through further education. This brand new website aims to provide early information about tertiary education options, for those whom further study is not an obvious choice.

Make your Mark offers information on useful topics such as financials assistance, academic supports at university as well as real life success stories of students with disabilities taking on tertiary education. You can also see some real-life Monash examples here!

The website also has a range of resources for prospective TAFE students as well as resources for parents.