Some of Our Parts

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
12.30 pm – 2.30 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

It’s that time of year again!

The Disability Liaison Unit wants to ensure that our students are supported appropriately.

Your voice will give us the feedback we need to provide the best support services possible .

You can access the survey here.

If you have any trouble, please let us know and we will direct you to the link or provide the survey in an alternative format.

The survey should only take about ten minutes of your time,  and all feedback we receive will be appreciated and anonymous unless you choose to provide your name.

Benjamin Patterson. Questionnaire from Flux Year Box 2. c.1968

Welcome back! Hope you all had a well-deserved and restful mid-semester break.

• Custom made walker for the cutest cat ever with a mobility condition?!
• On the topic of cutest animals ever – check out Quill!
• Ever thought about running away to join the circus?
• The art of Inclusive Arts.
• Check out Lisa Bufano’s amazing dance pieces.
• What would you tell your sixteen year old self?
• Wow – check this out ladies/parents who might have or know someone with a vision impairment.
• Accessible weddings, you say?
• Graduating soon? Thinking about applying for graduate jobs? Read this and this!

Hiya there!

My name is James Ong. I am in third year, studying the Bachelor of Science (Science Scholar Program) with majors in immunology and physiology. I am academically intelligent and work hard in my studies, but I also like to surf the net and go running. I am also in the autism spectrum, diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at the age of four. Although it can sometimes affect me, throughout my life I have taken huge strides to where I am today, maturing and becoming more confident about myself.

I am working with Chris Varney, a Monash alumnus, to set up an I.CAN network in Monash University for students under the spectrum. As a first-year university student in the spectrum it was difficult for me to transition into university. I know that students in the spectrum may find the transition to university life overwhelming, demanding and emotionally draining. Yet there are no mentoring networks or outlets for university students under the spectrum to meet up and chat together.

Hence, we are setting up an I.CAN network in Monash University for students in the spectrum to meet once a month. Here, you can socialize with other students in the spectrum and share your experiences and coping strategies to other students like you while listening and learning from others. Our goal is to create an enabling environment where students in the spectrum can openly discuss anything they may have and feel empowered to overcome their limits and succeed in university and life.

Our next meeting will be on
Thursday 10^th October, 12-1PM,
Building 6 (Faculty of Education),
Level 1,Room TLS110,
Clayton campus

RSVP to chris.r.varney@gmail.com.

I hope to see you there!

The I.CAN Team – Chris, Penny and James

Happy Friday every body! And happy mid-semester break!

• Something from the history archives, meet Baby – the world’s first and only seeing-eye cat!
• Thinking about moving out? A piece on independent living under a Home Care Grant.
• The Accessible Icon Project is taking off! See here for how you can contribute.
• Disability and development goals.
• Boy, 7, hears for the first time and breaks into tears after talking to his family in Guatemala over Skype
• What does the change in government mean for DisabilityCare?
• Check out upcoming play, The Noahs at Irene Mitchell Studio, St Martins Youth Arts Centre in South Yarra. Performance on Thurs 10th Oct will be Auslan interpreted and audio described.
• October Scriptwriting Workshops on the Art of Inclusive Arts

“C’est La Vie” illustration by Tang Yau Hoong.

Writer and runner up in the inaugural Report it Right and WIN! competition, Glenn Dwyer, has called on Monash University journalism, media and communications students to put pen to paper and enter this year’s competition.

The Report it Right and WIN! competition challenges Victorian media, journalism and communications students to write a news story or feature article about a topic relating to people with disability or the issues people with disability may face.

Glenn says he drew upon his experiences working as a part-time carer to guide his competition entry.

“The way disability is reported in the media affects public attitudes and perceptions of people with disability. The competition made me more aware of the person and not to focus on their disability. A person’s disability is hardly the most interesting thing about them,” Glenn said.

The Report it Right and WIN! competition is open to tertiary students studying journalism, media or communications at a Victorian university or TAFE. Winners will share in $5000 worth of prizes with the overall competition winner’s story being published in their local Leader newspaper.

“The industry can be hard for students to break into without having some experience. So this is a great opportunity for students,” Glenn said.

Entries in the Report it Right and WIN! competition will be judged by a panel of experts that includes representatives from the media, people with disability and a member of the Victorian Government’s Disability Advisory Council.

Judges will be looking for entries that meet the Reporting it Right: guidelines for portraying people with disability. Students are encouraged to consider the guidelines when developing their story.

The Report it Right and WIN! competition closes at 5.00 pm Monday 14 October.
Competition winners will be announced in early November. For competition terms and conditions visit www.dhs.vic.gov.au/reportitright.
The Report it Right and WIN! competition has been sponsored by the Victorian Government and is being administered by the Department of Human Services’ Office for Disability.
For competition enquiries please contact Maria Coates 03 9096 9715 or email Maria.Coates@dhs.vic.gov.au.

Congratulations to making it to week 8 every one! The mid-semester break is in sight!

• Feel like getting fit for summer? A piece on disability and exercise.
• This lady will show us all how it’s done.
• Can this video really make Stephen Hawkins’ quantum physics simple?
• Disability-lit by Robert Hoge.
• What are your post-graduation plans? Ever thought about starting your own business?
• Post-election thoughts on disability reform.
• What have you #heardwhilstdisabled?
• When Disability Discrimination is legal. An important read.

What fun things are you up to this weekend? (Image by Brad Woodard)

Spotted in Monash News this week, DLU student, Caroline Lane, who is studying a Bachelor of Arts and Business at the Monash Caulfield campus, has won a Vision Australia bursary. The bursary has allowed Caroline to buy adaptive technology including a laptop with a Magic screen magnification and speech upgrade, a DAISY player, and large video magnifier and a handheld electronic magnifier.

Congratulations, Caroline!

Read the full story here on Monash News…

Happy Friday every body!

• It’s also the International Week for the Deaf!
• Amanda Cachia is a curator, PhD candidate and disability activist – read her article on ‘Disabling the Museum’
• Sex and Disability – a BBC special radio show (Warning: This programme contains adult themes and some may find it an uncomfortable listen)
• Eleanor Longden talks at TEDx about her experiences with schizophrenia
• Comedy and Cerebral Palsy?
• Read Disability Employment Australia’s recommendations for our new government.

Beijing, China photographed by Paolo Nespoli

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