Disability advocates allege epidemic of abuse in care

Disability rights advocates are calling for a royal commission into widespread allegations of abuse of disabled people living in care.
Disability groups say physical and sexual abuse is rampant in the system, and blame poor staff training and a culture of cover-up.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/14837998/disability-advocates-allege-epidemic-of-abuse-in-care/

Searching for honest answers - Canberra

Why did government agencies allow Jack Sullivan to be placed in a respite facility - where he later died - which they knew had a questionable history? SUE O'REILLY reports

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/searching-for-honest-answers-20120914-25xlf.html#ixzz26ZkqJeG3

Cybersecurity awareness session

How do you protect yourself online?

CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS WORKSHOP

Tuesday 29 May 10 am - 12 pm Belconnen Library Friday 1 June 10 am - 12
pm Kippax Library Tuesday 5 June 10 am - 12 pm Tuggeranong Library
Wednesday 20 June 10 am - 12 pm Gungahlin Library Wednesday 20 June 2 pm
- 4 pm Dickson Library Thursday 21 June 10 am - 12 pm Woden Library

The Australian Government is working towards helping Australians
understand that no matter where they are or what they are doing, they
need to protect themselves online - whether they are on their home
computer or laptop, iPad/tablet, smartphone, or even their gaming
console. They need to use safe and secure online practices.

This is a free interactive workshop on the simple steps Australians (and
older Australians) can take to protect themselves online, run by the
Australian Government in partnership with Libraries ACT.

Bookings are recommended

For more information contact:
Libraries ACT
www.library.act.gov.au
Phone 6205 9000

So Safe Training for Disability Workers

For Disability Workers
Visual & Conceptual Tools to promote Social Safety
SoSAFE! is a set of visual and conceptual tools designed to promote social
safety to clients with an Intellectual Disability (moderate to severe range)
and Autism Spectrum Disorder. SoSAFE! tools promote social safety through
the provision of a simplified and rule-governed model of social reality that
teaches the type and degree of verbal and physical intimacy appropriate with
different categories of people.
SoSAFE! Training 2012:
* Thursday 19th April 2012
* Tuesday 10th July 2012
* Tuesday 2nd October 2012
For further information or to enrol in this course visit www.shpfact.org.au

MOBILITY ASSISTANCE - A WORKSHOP FOR FAMILY CARERS

MOBILITY ASSISTANCE - A WORKSHOP FOR FAMILY CARERS

This workshop will focus on back care and mobility assistance for carers to use around the home, teaching a no-lift procedure to assist people in and out of beds, chairs, cars and the bathroom.

Facilitator:  Barb Lawson has worked for many years in direct care and care co-ordination with older people and people with disabilities, and now teaches in aged care studies at CIT.

Evening session:
Date:     Monday 5 March
Time:      6-8pm
Venue:    Nursing Lab, CIT Southside Campus, Ainsworth St Phillip
OR
Day session:
Date:     Friday 15 June
Time:      10.00am - 12.00noon
Venue:    Nursing Lab, CIT Southside Campus, Ainsworth St Phillip

Cost:    Free
To Register: 6207 3628 or CarerSkills@cit.edu.au<mailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au>

Note:  Skills for Carers provides training for family and unpaid workers in the ACT. Paid support/care workers are not eligible to attend. For more information call 6207 3628 or email CarerSkills@cit.edu.aumailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au

CIT is the ACT Large Training Provider of the Year.
Subscribe to CIT Industry Connection - CIT's free, bi monthly publication:
http://cit.edu.au/industry_business/industry_connection/

MOBILITY ASSISTANCE - A WORKSHOP FOR FAMILY CARERS

MOBILITY ASSISTANCE - A WORKSHOP FOR FAMILY CARERS
This workshop will focus on back care and mobility assistance for carers
to use around the home, teaching a no-lift procedure to assist people in
and out of beds, chairs, cars and the bathroom.
Facilitator: Barb Lawson has worked for many years in direct care and
care co-ordination with older people and people with disabilities, and
now teaches in aged care studies at CIT.
Evening session:
Date: Monday 5 March
Time: 6-8pm
Venue: Nursing Lab, CIT Southside Campus, Ainsworth St Phillip
OR
Day session:
Date: Friday 15 June
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Venue: Nursing Lab, CIT Southside Campus, Ainsworth St Phillip
Cost: Free
To Register: 6207 3628 or
CarerSkills@cit.edu.au<mailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au>
Note: Skills for Carers provides training for family and unpaid workers
in the ACT. Paid support/care workers are not eligible to attend. For
more information call 6207 3628 or email
CarerSkills@cit.edu.au<mailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au>

Kids in Cyberspace workshop (Sydney)

This might be of interest for parents of kids with ASD / AS or other children who love their online games and social media! I wish I could get to it.

Kids in Cyberspace

SYDNEY • 8:30am-5:15pm • Friday 16th March 2012
NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre

The Authoritative Update on Cybersafety, Online Behaviour, Digital Culture and Cyber-wellness of Young People

Group Discounts Available: Click here to register multiple delegates or contact Gen Next on 1300 797 794 for details.

Leading Experts, Up to Date information, Practical Knowledge, Real World Strategies

http://www.generationnext.com.au/wp-content/themes/gennext/pdf/Cybersafety-Brochure.pdf

SUPPORTING SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS - A COURSE FOR FAMILY CARERS

SUPPORTING SOMEONE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS - A COURSE FOR FAMILY CARERS
These 6 sessions are designed to provide information about mental health
conditions and available supports as well as an opportunity to better
understand and deal with the issues and challenges that arise when someone
you know is unwell. It is also a chance to meet other people in similar
situations and explore ways to strengthen your sense of wellbeing.
Topics covered:
* Understanding mental health and mental illness
* Communicating and connecting effectively
* Responding to difficult symptoms and behaviours, handling emergencies
* Services and supports
* Strength for the journey - managing your own stress and balancing
everyone's needs.

Facilitator: Jenny Thompson has a background in psychology and has worked
in the Canberra community for over 25 years. She has a special interest in
mental health, trauma and grief, and how families find resilience in the
face of adversity.

Dates: 6 sessions (Wednesdays) - 7, 14, 21, 28 March, 4, 11
April
Time: 6 - 8pm
Venue: CIT Southside campus, Woden
Cost: free
To Register: 6207 3628 or
CarerSkills@cit.edu.au<mailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au>
Note: CIT Skills for Carers provides training for family and unpaid carers
in the ACT. Paid support/care workers are not eligible for CIT Skills for
Carers courses. Call 6207 3628 or email
CarerSkills@cit.edu.au<mailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au<mailto:CarerSkills@cit.
edu.au%3cmailto:CarerSkills@cit.edu.au>> for more information.

This weekend's Autism Links

Should children with ASD be exempt from homework? (Tony Attwood)

A major cause of anguish for children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, their families and teachers is the satisfactory completion of homework. Why should this group of children have such an emotional reaction to the mere thought of having to start their homework and such difficulty completing assigned tasks? There may be two explanations. The first is based on their degree of stress and mental exhaustion during their day at school and the second is due to their profile of cognitive skills.

http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76%3Ashould-children-with-autistic-spectrum-disorders-be-exempted-from-homework



Cost of autistic children cripples parents up to $50,000 a year

PARENTS of autistic children are having to sell their homes or move overseas to access crucial treatment that costs up to $50,000 a year. Federal government guidelines recommend early intervention with a "minimum of 20 hours a week over two or more years" but its funding covers just an hour a week, advocates say. "You're looking at $30,000 to $50,000 a year," said Nicole Rogerson from Autism Awareness Australia.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/cost-of-autistic-children-cripples-parents-up-to-50000-a-year/story-e6freuy9-1226268442692



How can parents reduce the risk of sexual abuse of their children (as adults or children) with autism?

“I have suffered real abuse. Really if it were not for my mom and my therapist pleading for me, I would have retreated into my world. When the bad thing happened I wanted to die. Greatly my mom and therapist found a way to help me grow from this experience. I learned that there were really bad people that could do things to your body, but I learned that you don’t have to let them into your soul.” – a young man with autism.

Although data on abuse of adults with disabilities is scarce, research on children with disabilities finds that they become victims of abuse at 3.4 times the rate of children who do not have disabilities (Sullivan,T. and Knutson, D., 2001). While many agree that abuse occurs more, those who specialize in the field of abuse & disability believe that for both children and adults, increased victimization is more likely 10 times the rate than for those without disabilities.

 http://autismcollege.com/blog/2012/02/07/how-can-parents-reduce-the-risk-of-sexual-abuse-of-their-children-as-adults-or-children/



Tummy Troubles: Studying the Relationship Between Autism and Gastrointestinal Disorders

Many children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have co-occurring medical conditions that affect their quality of life and response to therapy. One of the most common of these medical conditions is gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. Our research directly examines the relationship between the two and creates a foundation for understanding the biology and behaviors unique to children affected by both disorders. It is described, in detail, in our recent report in the journal Autism Research.

http://blog.autismspeaks.org/2012/02/06/tummy-troubles-studying-the-relationship-between-autism-and-gastrointestinal-disorders/


Parenting Aspergers Children Support Group (Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parenting-Aspergers-Children-Support-Group/101589699900722?sk=info



Parenting Defiant Aspergers Teens (Audio Recording)

http://www.myoutofcontrolteen.com/ParentingDefiantAspergersTeens


Conversations with Richard Fidler: Tony Attwood speaking about girls & women with Asperger Syndrome

Professor Tony Attwood returns to 'Conversations' to talk about his latest research into women and girls who have Asperger's Syndrome.

He says there are more women with Asperger's than previously thought.

Since his last visit, there has also been a revelation in Tony's own family.

Despite his heavy academic and research workload, Tony still loves to keep seeing his clients: "the day I stop, my knowledge freezes".

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/02/02/3421377.htm