Challenge Change Create: Action on Intellectual Disability Conference Sydney 14-15 September 2016

Challenge Change Create brings together people with intellectual disability, senior NSW and Commonwealth government staff, politicians, innovators, community organisations, family members, thought leaders, advocates and researchers, to work on creating positive change. Hosted by the NSW Council for Intellectual Disability (CID).

Get involved, find out more about planning, policy developments and all the latest news on the NDIS.
 
The conference will discuss the big burning issues:
• Meeting complex needs in a changing service system - An expert hypothetical panel will work through how NDIS transition and ADHC closure will work for two individuals.
• Minimising contact with the criminal justice system - Another hypothetical panel on how to minimise offending and go after the right support from the NDIS and mainstream services
• The latest on health - Professor Julian Trollor on his latest research and resources; and how we can make Primary Health Networks work for people with intellectual disability.
• Decision making - Professor Chris Bigby on how to make supported decision making happen.
• Information, Linkages and Capacity Building in the NDIS - The latest information on what it will mean in practice from Stephanie Gunn NDIA General Manager
• NDIS transition and ADHC transfer of services to NGOs.

Running over two days, this event brings together a wide range of people
who are interested in improving the lives of people with intellectual disability.
 
CID welcomes all people to attend this event.
Discounted rates are available for people with intellectual disability and family members.
 
For more details see the conference website, download the booking form or contact NSW CID.

E: event@nswcid.org.au
P: 1800 424 065
http://www.nswcid.org.au/

Understanding the Child Holistically: from Genes to the Family 30th August 2016

A Seminar for professionals who work with children who have a disability hosted by The Disability Specialist Unit, Children's Hospital at Westmead.

Date:   Tuesday 30 August 2016
Time:   2.00 pm – 4.30 pm
Where:  ADHC Conference rooms – Level 2, 56 Railway Pde, Burwood
Cost:   nil

During this seminar, we will explore 3 key topics that are important for the child and family, especially during the period of diagnosis. We will be working with key partners in the early intervention services as we plan the details of this seminar.

• Genetics of intellectual disability, current insights and future prospects.
Professor W Ted Brown, MD, PhD, Medical Geneticist, is Director of the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities. He was the first to describe a relationship between autism and the Fragile X syndrome.

• Developmental and cognitive testing: how do we ensure the results are meaningful for the child and parents
Ms Aparajita Gupta is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist with diverse experience in assessment with children and adolescents. She is a member of the APS College of Educational & Developmental Psychologists (NSW section) committee and current team leader for DSU.

• Understanding the family to better understand the child
Ms Jessica McCallum is a social worker accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers, with further qualifications in systemic family therapy.  She works part time at the Disability Specialist Unit assisting the process of diagnosis with a focus on providing information and support to families.

RSVP by Monday, 22nd August 2016.

Places are limited. Please email mausaum.guragain@health.nsw.gov.au to reserve your place

Grief and Loss Symposium 13th July 2016

You are invited to attend the Grief and Loss Symposium bing held on Wednesday 13th July 2016 at Novotel Parramatta, NSW. The theme for the symposium is The Grief and Loss Experience of People with Intellectual Disability. Grief is a natural response to loss. It may be the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a home or even a way of life. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief is likely to be. Many people do not know how to offer support, or what to say when trying to acknowledge a loss, it is difficult to know what you can do to comfort someone with an intellectual disability that is grieving. To find out more download the flyer here.

Have your say about a program to treat anxiety for children with a mild intellectual disability

Northcott and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have developed a new program to treat anxiety in children with mild intellectual disability. They are looking for feedback on the program and welcome input from the following groups of people:

-　Professionals (e.g. teachers, speech patholog​ists, psychologists, psychiatrists) who work with children with mild intellectual disability​​

-　Parents of children with mild intellectual disability

Participants will be asked to participate in a focus group that should take no more than 1-2 hours. Participants have the option of attending a group at Ultimo or Parramatta.

Please see the attached flyer for more information about this exciting development for children with a mild intellectual disability.

Free Seminars for Parents of Children with a Disability in NSW

Stepping Stones Triple P Seminars are being delivered free throughout NSW. At this three part seminar you will hear about the following topics:
     -Positive Parenting for Children with a Disability
     -Helping your Child reach their Potential
     -Changing Problem Behaviour into Positive Behaviour

To find a Stepping Stones Triple P Parenting seminar near you click on this link.

What is Stepping Stones Triple P?

For parents of children with a disability, everyday issues come with extra challenges. But there is help. Stepping Stones Triple P is a parenting program that supports families of children with special needs (aged 2-12 years of age).

Stepping Stones gives you the skills you need to manage misbehaviour and developmental issues common in children with disabilities, and prevent problems from happening in the first place.

From mealtime tantrums to supermarket meltdowns, from bedtime dramas to outright disobedience, Stepping Stones helps you sort through the issues that affect families of children with a disability.

And you can be confident that Stepping Stones can really work. It’s part of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, which has more than 30 years’ ongoing scientific research to back it up and is now used in more than 24 countries around the world.