Journal of Mental Health for Children and Adolescents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for 2015

The first journal for 2015, Volume 6 issue 1 is now ready for your reading pleasure. Highlights include:

• NDIS article by David Dossetor on page 4;
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Implications from the changes in DSM-V by Louisa Carroll on page 12;
• The Medicine Cabinet: FAQs for Allergies and Anaphylaxis by Judy Longworth on page 16;
• The Community Room: Connecting schools, support agencies and families and transforming lives by Michelle Montgomery on page 18;
• Developmental Disabilities, Challenging Behaviour and Mental Health: Research to Practice and Policy– Conference Review by Rowan Keighran on page 20;
• Book Excerpt: Ten things every child with Autism wishes you knew by Ellen Notbohm on page 23;
• Equal before the Law: Towards Disability Justice Strategies by Terry Sarten on page 26;
• The Client Monitoring and Review System (CMRS) by Rachel Rowles and Lesley Whatson on page 28;
• Interview with Professor Julian Trollor on page 32.

New Phone App for Parents

Download a free app on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and disability to get funding and services help, parent stories and reliable, easy-to-understand information. Proudly produced by Raising Children Network, the app is available for iOS and Android.

You can use the Children with Autism & Disability app before and after a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or disability.

With this free app, you can:
-use a pathfinder to navigate each stage of funding, services and support before and after diagnosis
-connect to ASD or disability services in your area with a mapping tool and key contacts directory
-navigate the Australian services system with step-by-step expert guidance
-learn from other parents’ experiences through parent videos
-get more information about disability and ASD from up-to-date, evidence-based articles.

Search “Children with autism and disability- A parent guide. “ or “Raising children network”.

Check out the Raising Children Network's Disability page here.

Is your child about to start school for the first time?

Starting school involves a big change for your child and family. It can be a time of great excitement, but also a time of potential challenge and stress.

Families play an important role in supporting children to manage the transition to primary school. The Kidsmatter website provides free resources that will give you practical ideas and strategies to help your child make a successful start to school. You will be able to watch a series of KidsMatter videos, as well as access information sheets and other practical resources.

Go to the Kidsmatter starting school webpage here.

Go to the NSW Department of Education and Communities Tranistion to School webpage here.

A recommended activity is to create a social story with your child about starting school. Details on how to create a social story can be found here.  

Senior Project & Policy Officer Position at UNSW

UNSW- School of Psychiatry- 3DN are currently seeking a Senior Project & Policy Officer to coordinate the ‘Improving the Mental Health Outcomes of People with an Intellectual’ Project. This project is a National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnerships for Better Health Project that will run from 2014 – 2018. The incumbent will also perform valuable duties and responsibilities key to the functioning of the Department, such as direct communications and develop funding grants. This is a 1.0 FTE full-time (35 hours per week) fixed term position available for one year with prospects of renewal.

For further information about the position, please contact either Julian Trollor j.trollor@unsw.edu.au  or Rachel Roth rachelroth@unsw.edu.au on  9931 9160.

https://www.jobs.unsw.edu.au/senior-project-policy-officer

Application close: 23 January 2015
 
http://3dn.unsw.edu.au/

Free Dance Performance and Workshop to Celebrate International Day for People with Disability

 ‘In transit’ performance and workshop with DirtyFeet

'In transit' is a free and accessible dance performance and workshop at Riverside Parramatta, as part of STARE FEST - an inclusive arts event coordinated by Riverside Theatres’ Beyond the Square for International Day for People with Disability.

Four young professional dancers with and without disability will perform excerpts from the dance theatre work ‘In transit’, followed by a free public workshop. ‘In transit’ is choreographed by Sarah-Vyne Vassallo and will take audiences on a journey exploring life’s transitions - the constant changes, choices, and directions that we face everyday.

‘In transit’ is a creative participatory activity celebrating the diversity of young artists with and without disability. Open the flyer here.

Art form:       Dance
Event date:    Tuesday 2 December
Time:            11am – 11.30am performance
                    11.45am – 1pm workshop
Venue:          Lennox Theatre, Riverside Parramatta.
                    Church Street, Parramatta. Access Information.
Cost:             FREE
Bookings:      Riverside box office (02) 8839 3399
                    http://riversideparramatta.com.au/show/in-transit/
Further info: Sarah Fiddaman sarah@dirtyfeet.com.au 0438 325 943

DirtyFeet is a Sydney-based not for profit contemporary dance organisation supporting independent dance artists and promoting community engagement in the arts.