Cheap computers & latest news

Only 1 more week to go for SP5 classes....

How are you holding up? Have you followed your study plan? Are you making some time each day to de-stress (even just 15 minutes)?

Aspitech refurbish computers and sell them at affordable prices to students and people on low incomes. Currently you can buy an Intel Core2 2.4GHz Desktop and 19" Monitor for $120. Click here for more information.

Students with Autism wanted!
Robin Giles is researching the experiences of students with ASD who have made the transition to uni or TAFE. For more information, email Robin at rbgiles@students.latrobe.edu.au.

The Many Stories of Mental Health: With one in five Australians experiencing mental health issues each year, it's vital that personal stories are valued and told, writes Lucy Daniel. View article.

I Refuse to be Disabled by Fear: While people with disabilities, especially women, may experience a particular kind of vulnerability on our streets, it's vital that we not let it dictate our lives, writes Leah Hobson. View Article.

We wish you all the best for your final assignments and exams!!!

The Disability Services Team

Achieving Career Success & Placement Grants

Forum: Achieving Career Success with a Disability
This is an event for all university students with disability, mental health, medical conditions and learning disabilities to provide information about career pathways. Find out more about practical career strategies and programs to give you an edge in a tough job market.• Comprehensive workshop discussing disclosure – when, how and practical tips for disclosing a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability.
• Hear from a recent Graduate with a disability about their job seeking experiences.
• Ask the Panel: industry representatives from public and private sectors ready to answer your questions.
• Lunch provided

Date: Friday 12th October 2012
Time: 11:45am - 3:30pm
Venue: Bradley Forum, 5th Floor, Hawke Building, City West campus
Wheelchair access via lift
Register by 4th October 2012 (space is limited)
login to UniSA CareerHub and search events “Forum: Achieving Career Success with a Disability”

ABC Ramp Up News
A COAG report comparing disability statistics across Australia found that there was no statistically significant increase in employment rates for people with disability between 2003 and 2006. Tom Bridge is not surprised. View article

Student Placement Grants
To see if you are eligible for a grant to assist financially while you are on placement, have a look here.

Looking for work after uni...

I would like to introduce our newest video resource:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO1umJ-vO68

This video was put together from three interviews with graduates who have a disability, about their experiences looking for work after uni...

Have a look and let us know what you think!!!

Disability Services Team

July Workshops & Discovering Your Learning Style

July Workshops
The Language and Learning Team (L3) have many different workshops in the July teaching break including mind-mapping, oral presentations, referencing and others. Check out their schedule (scroll to the end of the pdf document):
http://w3.unisa.edu.au/languageandlearning/documents/workshops.pdf

Discover Your Learning Style
The Uni of Melbourne, as part of their 'Success in Tertiary Study' web resource, has developed a resource for uni students to discover their learning style...

"People learn and process information in a variety of ways. Some have particular strengths in some areas and weaknesses in others (for example, Einstein was dyslexic but excelled in Physics).



A learning style refers to how the mind receives and processes information. There are many different systems and inventories for determining learning styles. Some subjects tend to favour certain learning styles. For example, Philosophy may favour a more abstract thinking style compared with Art which may benefit from a more practical style. "

To discover your learning style, have a look at the website:
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/success/learningstyles

Career Networking Pilot Program

We are looking for expressions of interest in a new student

Career Networking Pilot program

Interested in broadening your networks??
Interested in learning new networking skills to help you gain employment after study?
Have a disability, medical condition or mental health condition?

We are looking for students who have:
• A disability, medical condition or mental health condition.
• An idea of the kind of job they would like after graduation.
• Know some places where they might like to work.
• Have some understanding of what they could bring to the workplace.

This program involves making a personalised career plan and broadening your networks with people in your desired field of work for the purposes of finding employment after you graduate.

If you are interested, please tell us in 100 words or less why you would like to be included in this program. Spaces in this pilot program are limited. From those expressions of interest, a small group of students will be invited to participate in this pilot program.

Kirsten Read Kirsten.read@unisa.edu.au
Tony McAcAvaney Anthony.mcavaney@unisa.edu.au
Or phone 8302 0022

In Your Own Words: The Voice and Opinions of Young People with Disability

If you are a young person with disability, the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition (AYAC), the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS), Children with Disability Australia (CDA) and the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) want to hear from you!

 

These organisations believe that it is important that more young people in Australia have the opportunity to share their views and opinions with other young people, their communities and with government about:what they think is important and

• what they would like to happen in their lives, community and Australia today.

 

Young people with disability, now and in the past, have had few opportunities to be part of these processes, to have their voices heard and become young leaders.

 

This survey aims to help young people with disability represent their views

The survey will take 15-20 minutes to complete and all of your responses are anonymous.

 

So, what will we do with the results?

A short report will be written and presented to the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Minister for Disability Reform, the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers and the Minister for Social Inclusion for their consideration.

 The results of this survey will be presented in September at a National Youth Disability Conference for young people with disability.

For more information, check out the website: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/in-your-own-words/?collector=1390

What's all the talk about the NDIS???

What's all the talk about the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)??
In the recent budget, the Australian Government has committed $1 billion to support the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NDIS is a proposal for a Medicare-like system for people with a disability. It is a national no-fault insurance scheme that provides funding for people with a disability for personal support, therapy, aids and equipment, home modifications, and employment training.

An NDIS would assist individuals with a permanent disability, no matter how, or when, their disability is acquired, and it would be based on the needs of the individuals, include funding for all aids required for living, maximise independence and give people with a disability choice.

The NDIS website has more information and can be found here: http://www.ndis.gov.au/

Here are links to some recent articles:

Wendy Harmer explains, "It's not only people with a disability who should be cheering the budget's $1 billion commitment to a National Disability Insurance Scheme. Every one of us should be applauding like mad." See article here: http://www.abc.net.au/rampup/articles/2012/05/11/3501034.htm


Christopher Boyle writes, "Ending the education lottery: why the government must extend the NDIS to schools", see here: http://www.abc.net.au/rampup/articles/2012/05/15/3503212.htm

Will You Be Watching the Oscar's?

Todd Winther from ABC Ramp Up predicts the winner based on disability...

"The winners of the little gold statues at the 84th Annual Academy Awards this Sunday will come as no surprise," writes Todd Winther.


View article...

FREE Workshop for Women with Disabilities

Women With Disabilities South Australia [WWDSA] is presenting a workshop

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES

to coincide with White Ribbon Day - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gendered Violence.

Date:      Friday 25 November

Time:      10am - 4pm

Venue:    Julia Farr Association: 104 Greenhill Rd, Unley

Facilitated by –

SUE SALTHOUSE - President, Women With Disabilities Australia

Presenters Include:

• MARGIE CHARLESWORTH - Convenor, & Project Coordinator for Women With Disabilities South Australia
• MEGAN HUGHES - Executive Officer, Southern Domestic Violence Service
• CHELSEA LEWIS - Communications Manager, YWCA Adelaide

Plus:  A workshop creative Section after lunch that will demonstrate how to turn a negative situation into a positive learning experience!

RSVP November 17
eigram1@optusnet.com.au

Sponsored by the Office for Women’s “Don’t Cross the Line” Ant-Violence Campaign

WANTED: Leaders for Tomorrow

The Australian Government is encouraging people with disability to apply for a leadership program:  Leaders for Tomorrow

that will help people with disability become leaders in business, the community and government.

 “Leaders for Tomorrow is an innovative program that supports people with disability to develop their leadership skills, overcome barriers into work and education and reach their full potential... By linking participants with appropriate training, support and mentoring, Leaders for Tomorrow will develop participants' skills and confidence to become leaders in business, the community and government."

The Leaders for Tomorrow program is an individual leadership program which is committed to developing 200 people with disability to be more skilled, confident and active in leadership roles in business, community, government or their chosen area of interest.  Through mentoring and leadership development opportunities, Leaders for Tomorrow participants will become better equipped to contribute as leaders in Australia’s future.


Applications close Friday 25 November 2011

See the website for more information and application forms:
www.leadersfortomorrow.com.au 

Disability meets popular culture; the myth of triumph over adversity...

Disability is finding its way into our lounge rooms via one reality television contestant at a time, but are they really helping our cause? Leela Rottman doubts it.

View article...

What do you think about this article bloggers?

Students with mental illness often don’t ask for help...

From an article in the Campus Review:
"One of the big issues is making students aware that there is support on campus.
"Do you have a disability?" This is one of the first things a student is asked at enrolment. Tick yes and a world of help opens, from special consideration and exam aids to assistance with building access. But students with mental illnesses rarely think to tick that box, a conference in Melbourne heard last week... "


See the rest of the article here: http://www.campusreview.com.au/pages/section/article.php?s=News&idArticle=21808

UniSA has a range of services to support students with a mental health issue through the Counselling Service and Disability Services.  Check out some of the websites below for more information:

• The counselling services website has a lot of useful online resources.
• Disability Services lists the kinds of supports it can provide to eligible students here.
• The University of Melbourne has a great online resource for students: 'Towards Success in Tertiary Study Mental Health Conditions'.

Other Resources:

• Beyond Blue - http://www.beyondblue.org.au
• Black Dog Institute - http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
• Headspace - http://www.headspace.org.au/is-it-just-me/getting-help?gclid=CLiLzOzM1aoCFYpMpgodqzNC7w
• Moodgym - http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome  

Remember: If you are experiencing a mental health condition and it is impacting on your studies, you are welcome to have a confidential chat with a counsellor or disability adviser. Just book a time through the Learning and Teaching Unit on your campus.

  

Positive Futures Expo 2011

IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, LEARNING DIFFICULTY MEDICAL or MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION… …COME ALONG & JOIN IN


4 May 2011: 10am – 3.30pm
The Playford Civic Centre
10 Playford Boulevard, Elizabeth


The day will include:
*Information stalls on Education, Employment and Training Opportunities
*Entertainment
*Free BBQ Lunch and Morning Tea
*Information Sessions to assist people access further Education & Employment opportunities, and what you need to know about future prospects.


*Bring along your resume to show stall holders.
RSVP: Friday April 29th 2011
Jenny - (08) 8302 5444 or jenny.watts-sampson@unisa.edu.au

Women With Disabilities South Australia

There is a meeting to plan the establishment of a

‘Women With Disabilities Network for South Australia’.

So, if you are a woman with a disability and are interested in the idea of a Network, please come along and share your thoughts!


Where: Disability Information and Resource Centre, 195 Gilles Street, Adelaide, SA
When: Saturday, 27th November 2010
Time: 1.30pm – 3pm


For more information contact: Shirley or Carolyn at the National WWDA Office
Phone: 03 6244 8288           Email: wwda@wwda.org.au

Career Success - this Friday!!

• Find out how to give your job applications and interviews an 'edge'
• Ask an experienced panel all your questions about disability and entering your chosen career
• Tasty morning tea provided

When: This Friday 11th Dec
Time: 9:30 - 12
Venue: BH4-33, City West
Wheelchair access via Yungondi building elevator, bridge to adjacent B H building.

Ask the panel:

• James Rundle, Disability Works Employment Agency
• Tanja Rudd, InterWork Employment Agency
• Jenny Watts-Sampson, UniSA graduate and National Disability Coordination Officer

RSVP through MyCareerPlan events
For more information contact Kirsten Read
Ph 8302 2330

DisAbility & Aging Expo

Friday 14 August 10.00am - 4.00pm
Wayville Showgrounds, Jubilee Pavilion
FREE Admission

Over 160 stalls full of information on:
- Advocacy
- Arts
- Café dining facilities
- Loan wheelchairs available
- Products, aids and equipment
- Recreation
- Sporting clinics
- Further education
- Employment assistance

www.dircsa.org.au/expos/

What do you think of this??!! Post your comments on the D-Blog

This article was in today's Advertiser (1/5/09)

Outrage over primary school's plan for disabled dress-up
Maria Moscaritolo

PARENTS and disability advocates have slammed a primary school fundraiser that asked students dress up as a disabled person.

In a newsletter sent home to parents on Wednesday, Ramco Primary School in South Australia advised it would hold a "disability day" and fundraiser on Friday, May 29, with prizes for the "best students dressed as a person with a disability".

The aim of the dress-up is to raise money for a clinic in Bangladesh that repairs cleft lips and palates in children, The Advertiser reports.

Its newsletter stated: "There will be prizes for the best students dressed as a person with a disability. Get your thinking hats on and see what disability you can represent!"

The well-meaning idea has missed the mark, with one disbelieving parent saying she had spoken to other parents who were also bemused by the concept, wondering how they were meant to dress their child.

Principal Barrey Niven said the idea had been to raise student awareness of what it is like to cope daily with a disability but the idea had not been conveyed well in the newsletter.

The intention of the fundraiser, devised by the school's Student Representative Council, had been for students to come in with a bandaged arm or leg, he explained. He said a new letter would be sent to parents explaining the idea more clearly.

Paralympic gold medallist Matt Cowdrey said while he was sure the school's intentions were good, he didn't "think this is the best way to raise attention".

"People with disabilities want to be treated and should be treated no different to anybody else in the community," he said.

Disability advocate David Holst said the dress-up day was in poor taste and there were better ways to create awareness.

"You can understand it's with good intent, but it is trivialising some serious issues and is the worst in poor judgement and poor taste," he said.

"There are numerous agencies and associations that have regular contact (with schools) ... that could involve them in a much more positive way."

Please post your commments!!

Bill Shorten's address to the National Press Club

"Unemployment in Australia is expected to rise to 7 per cent, and many people will ask the question: "Why should it be a priority to get people with disability into the workforce? I need a job too."


I have two answers to this.


One is the standard sensible answer: That in the long term we have an ageing population and once this current economic crisis has passed we will need to use the potential of all members of society in all walks of life.


The second answer is more simple: When did basic civil rights become dependent on the state of the All Ordinaries, or the strength of the dollar against the yen?
People with disability should not be pushed to the back of the queue, the back of the bus, or out of the washroom, by the current economic crisis.
Because what we're asking isn't charity, and it doesn't involve sacrifice, and it never did. People with disability can be as productive as anyone else.


Take this example of four people looking for work:
One, let's call him Leo, is deaf, the second Frank is in a wheelchair and the third Helen, is blind and the fourth, Steve, can not make himself understood.
It is likely that all four resumes would be put on the bottom of the pile by a boss or a job agency too concerned about the problems that these unhappy unfortunates might cause.

That boss would have turned down Ludwig van Beethoven, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller and Stephen Hawking. "


Here is the link to Parliamentary Secretary’s speech at the National Press Club.
http://www.billshorten.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/billshorten.nsf/content/right_to_ordinary_life_01apr09.htm [1]