Heading into the city with your wheels? The City of Melbourne has now equipped its  libraries with recharge points for anyone using electric scooters or wheelchairs. The designated power points are available to recharge the batteries for standard mobility aides (users will need to supply their own battery charger).

The City Library, North Melbourne Library and East Melbourne Library are all equipped with multiple recharge points at locations within each library. Recharge points are also available at Travellers Aid sites at Flinders and Southern Cross Station and are available to use free of charge.

Other recharge points across Victoria can be found listed at the Recharge Scheme’s website.

It’s been a long time between drinks, and we hope you all had a brilliant holiday break soaking up the sun, globe-trotting,  spending some time with your friends or whatever it is you got up to.

If you are a newly registered DLU student or thinking about registering with us, this is our blog, where we bring you news and events from around the internet that might be of interest to our students. Here you’ll also find specifically related DLU news, which may be relevant to you.

While enrolments are only slowly beginning, and you’re probably only just starting to think a little bit about the semester that lies ahead, the Some of Our Parts blog is starting to get on track with 2014.

• Jillian Mercado is one sassy wheel-chaired fashion blogger, who sits front row at New York Fashion Week, and featured in a Diesel fashion shoot.
• Online dating with a disability? What’s your strategy?
• If you’re a talented artist with a disability, you should check out the Australia Council’s Grant. You’ve got until the start of March to get your application in!
• Liz Carr, UK comedienne, broadcaster, actor and disability rights activist is doing a special performance presented by Disability Media Australia on the 6th of February at 6pm, Loop Bar, in Meyers Place Melbourne. See the Arts Access Victoria link for more details!
• Back to Back Theatre is a Geelong based theatre company prides itself on creating theatre with people who are perceived to have a disability. They are holding a Summer School Program in March for any budding Thespians.

That’s all we’ve got for now, just drop in again soon – and don’t forget to keep in touch! We love when our students submit stories and events.

Amazing Christmas Special Open now until Friday 20 December!

New Generation of Victor Reader Stream on sale at never to be repeated prices!

This unit normally retails at $425. You can have it for $300 (plus shipping).

This very special once only price is subsidised by Vision Australia Library for people signing up to become online only members using the i-access online service to download books, magazines and newspapers instead of receiving compact disks.

The new Generation of Victor Reader Stream incorporates many features frequently asked for by users. Some of these are listed here:

• A clock for having the time and date announced;
• The ability to charge the device with a USB connection to a computer or USB wall charger such as that used for a mobile phone;
• A clearer and louder speaker so you can easily listen to books and other audio files over normal ambient noises at home or work;
• New types of Text-To-speech voices (including an Australian voice) which sound almost human-like;
• A redesigned casing that is smaller, lighter and very comfortable to hold in one hand;
• Wifi connectivity allows software upgrades and access to Bookshare;
• 15 hours of playback time.

Orders can be placed with Ramona Mandy at Humanware. Email Ramona at ramona.mandy@humanware.com or Call (03) 9686-2601.

Offer is also open to existing library members wishing to become online only members.

Orders received after 20th December will not be accepted.

German agency Jung Von Matt/Limmat, working with fashion stores WE Fashion, modissa, PKZ, Schild and Bernies in Zurich, crafted a campaign that urged people to think about the definition of “perfect”.

The agency worked with a mannequin designer who re-made mannequins to reflect the bodies of people with various disabilities.

See the video here.

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.

There’s just 5 days to go until the Disability Sport & Recreation Festival at Federation Square, 3rd December.

It’s free! It’s fun! And, it’s all about better health for Victorians with disability through accessible sport and recreation.

Enjoy the full program of special events and great activities, like:

• Scoring the Equaliser Mini-Conference (8.45am – 11am)

• Community exhibition (10am-3pm)

• Sport and recreation activities to try (10am – 3pm)

• Corporate Wheelchair Basketball Challenge (11am – 1.30pm)

• Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards (12pm – 2pm)

We hope to meet you there!

Community Exhibition 10am – 3pm

Visit 35 sport, recreation, disability and community organisations exhibiting at the Festival.

Come and Try Activities 10am – 3pm

Have a go! There’ll be miniature ponies, lawn bowls, AFL, football skills, badminton, personal training and much more.

Scoring the Equaliser Mini-Conference, Deakin Edge, 8:45am – 11am

Learn about the role of allied health professionals and disability support planners as sport and recreation champions for Victorians with disability. Tickets are free, but strictly limited. Registrations must close this Friday 29th November, unless sold out earlier. See the full program and registration here.

Cheer on the teams at the Corporate Wheelchair Basketball Challenge (Forecourt area, 11am – 1.30pm)

Eight teams will take on the wheelchair basketball challenge in this friendly knock-out competition. Paralympian Sam Bramham and AFL star Glenn Archer are among the DSR All Star team taking on the Victoria Police in the first round.

Celebrate excellence at the Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards (Deakin Edge, 12pm – 2pm)

Show your support for excellence in sport and recreation at the Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards. Supported by the Carbine Club, awards will be presented by Australian sports stars such as James Tomkins (Oarsome Foursome) and Glenn Archer (North Melbourne Football Club).

For more information, visit the Disability Sport and Recreation Festival website – www.dsrf.org.au

The “I CAN” network is now on various social media platforms, to spread the “I CAN” message.

If you have a twitter account, you can follow us (@I_CAN_Network).
If you don’t have an account, you can go to http://twitter.com/I_CAN_Network to view our tweets.

Twitter is a very quick and easy way to say a short (max 140 characters) statement, or get a message out. So far, details of the “I CAN Monash network” gatherings and camp planning sessions have been posted on twitter, as well as the link to @chrisrvarney’s TEDxMelbourne talk and @PennyRobaus’s “Working Successfully with Aspergers Syndrome” talk.

There is also a “I CAN Monash network” secret group on Facebook. The aim of the Facebook group is to enable students in the “I CAN Monash network” to communicate – either with the group as a whole (on the “wall”), or directly with other individuals who have joined the group through the “inbox” (private message).

On Facebook, there are three types of groups:

• “Open” – your other friends know you’re a member of a group, and what you write on the group wall.
• “Closed” – your other friends know you’re a member of a group, but can’t read the group wall.
• “Secret” – your other friends can NOT see you’re a member of the group, nor can they see the wall.

We have decided to make the group secret, for everyone’s privacy.

So to join the group, send Penny a “friend” request on Facebook (and write a short private message to her), and she can then add you to the group. https://www.facebook.com/PennyRobinson.aus

Stay tuned for the “I CAN network” Facebook group which can go on mass!

In breaking news, there is now an email address for the “I CAN” network.
You can now email the team at the following email address: the.ican.network@gmail.com

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.

Just a reminder to complete the DLU annual student survey if you haven’t already done so. Your feedback is important and helps shape DLU services.

Survey closes on 31 December 2013

Hello SWOTVAC Friday!

Hope everyone is studying hard and keeping themselves sane!

• The University of Washington have developed something they’re calling ‘Eyes-Free Yoga’ for the vision impaired.
• How was your Halloween? Celebrating this weekend? Check out some more disability-friendly costume ideas.
• Any budding disability scholars should check out the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity held in May next year – they’re calling for papers now!
• Consider yourself a bit of a wordsmith? Writer’s Victoria are holding Writeability workshops for writers with disabilities in November and December in the Melbourne CBD.
• Ever wanted to ride in an off-road mountain-wheelchair?
• It’s not new, but it’s pretty great! Service dogs and Sesame Street!
• More animals! Meet Thumper – a very special kitty with a very tiny adorable walker!

Check out Noah Sheldon’s Cats Wearing Clothes featuring this adorable vision impaired feline!