Some of Our Parts

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes will finish his term at the Commission on the 4th of July 2014, and the Disability Rights Team are looking to farewell Graeme and to thank him for his remarkable contribution to the Commission by creating an accessible farewell card.

If you would like to contribute, please send your farewell message to: Card4Graeme@humanrights.gov.au

Graeme Innes will address the National Press Club in Canberra on 2 July, just two days before his term ends.

How is every one? Are exams over yet? Do you have six more in the next two days?

Here are some of this week’s links to take your mind off exams, and hopefully the cold too!

• “The disability is not the problem, the accessibility is the problem.” – Mohamed Jemni
• The quote above is an example of the social model of disability. Jarrod Marrinon has some thoughts.
• The very charming Story Balloon, a writers collective made up of people with disabilities.
• Have you come across any Abnormally Funny People?
• A touching story about the friendships that are kindled in the prosthetics fitting room.
• Online is a great place to connect with other people who understand your disability, mental health or medical condition. So is the pub!
• 99 Problems and Palsy is just one.

Happy Friday!

Students registered with Monash Disability Services can apply for a limited number of funded places for the Willing and Able Mentoring (WAM) Program, now run by Diversity Recruitment and Training. WAM matches mentors with students with disability within the professional area the student is interested in.

In the 13 years the WAM Program has been operating, mentees report that through their participation they have:

• gained confidence and clarity about their career direction
• valuable contacts in the professional area
• increased skills in developing their resume
• improved interview skills
• developed ideas about solving disability related challenges

Some mentees gained work-placements and others have even gained a job.

The WAM Program involves:

1. Induction session (via phone or in person) detailing the program
2. A series of mentoring meetings in the mentor’s workplace
3. A program manual to guide the mentor and mentee through the program, plus full support from our staff
4. Debriefing and certificate presentation event at the conclusion of the program.

How to apply for the half-year intake in 2014

If you are registered with Disability Services and wish to apply for a funded place in the WAM Program, please complete the Expression of Interest Form, which will be sent to: disabilityservices@monash.edu .

You may also post, fax, or drop off the form to the main Disability Services Office at Level 1, Building 55, Clayton Campus, Monash University VIC 3800; fax number: 9905 5517.

*NOTE: all applications for funding to Disability Services must be received by close of business, Wednesday 25 June, 2014. No WAM Mentorships for Monash students will be funded without prior approval by Disability Services.

Saturday 12th July, 5-7PM

• The Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston St Carlton (just north of Melbourne Central, see map here)
• The Monash Autistic Collective is organizing a pub night in the well-known Queensberry Hotel, just up along Swanston Street from Melbourne Central
• This is a social event for everyone to come and talk with other university/TAFE students within and outside the spectrum over food and drink
• BYO money to buy food and drinks in the pub

Everyone is welcome to come to pub night, including:

• Students within or outside the I Can networks in universities and TAFEs
• Students within the autism spectrum (they can bring along a friend if needed)
• People outside the autism spectrum are also welcome to come

RSVP on the using this link to attend:

A few days ago, Juliano Pinto, a paraplegic who wore a mind-controlled robotic exoskeleton, kicked off the World Cup with a first kick at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.

While some see this as a triumph of science and technology from the Walk Again Project, high school teacher Red Nicholson isn’t  quite so convinced. Neither is anthropologist William Peace.

Equality, Capacity and Disability in Commonwealth Laws was released on 22 May 2014.

This Discussion Paper is the second consultation document in the ALRC’s Inquiry into Commonwealth laws and legal frameworks that deny or diminish the equal recognition of people with disability before the law, and their ability to exercise legal capacity.

Any public contribution to an inquiry is called a submission. The deadline for submissions is the 30th June 2014. You can make a submission by creating an account on the Australian Law Reform Commission website.

Stella Young is a comedian and journalist who happens to go about her day in a wheelchair — a fact that doesn’t, she’d like to make clear, automatically turn her into a noble inspiration to all humanity. In Stella’s TEDx talk, “I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much” she discusses society’s habit of turning disabled people into “inspiration porn.”

Happy exams every one! Wishing you all the best in your final assessments for this semester.

In the meantime, here are some of the best articles in disability related news this week:

• WORLD CUP! Check out some visually impaired Brazilians strutting their stuff on the soccer field.
• Speaking of strutting, you might have noticed #yesallwomen on the Twittersphere. Stephanie Woodward, Ms Wheelchair Florida has some thoughts on how this must includes Women with Disabilities.
• Personal journeys toward self-acceptance and pride are complex at best. Leah Hobson writes on the contradictions of growing up with a disability.
• You might have seen here on Some of Our Parts we promote disability specific, paid internships on a regular basis. This is why you should never be expected to work for free.
• A look at how disability will be treated at the Australian Human Rights Commission after the departure of Commissioner Graeme Innes in July.
• And how having a Disability Discrimination Commissioner can prevent issues like this.

AND HAPPY FRIDAY TO YOU ALL!

The Australian Network on Disability’s Stepping Into… Program are excited to announce our partnership with IBM to offer students with disability at your university an opportunity to apply for an internship with IBM.

Internship opportunities are available in the following disciplines:

• Business/Commerce
• IT
• Marketing
• Human Resources

Please note the IBM eligibility criteria below:

• Be in your second/penultimate year of study;
• Australian Citizenship OR Permanent Residency; and
• Credit average or above on your academic transcript.

Stepping Into… invites students to register their interest up until Wednesday 18 June 2014 5PM to Cynthia Sasongko on cynthia.sasongko@and.org.au or on 02 8270 9200.

The Social Justice Unit (of which Disability Services is a part) has launched a blog, Just for Equity.

The Social Justice Unit (or SJU) offers key areas of support in students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, the promotion of safe spaces for our LGBTIQ community and the implementation of anti-racism initiatives.

Check out Just for Equity for information and updates about our programs as well as related social justice news and events from around the world.