Category Archives: day services

Upcoming Workshop in Victoria – Armchair travel

The following workshop is being conducted by Communication Resource Centre – I have no connection with it – but it looks great!
This workshop will provide:
Information about
• the concept of armchair travel
• the role of the senses and the impact of sensory processing disorders on the ability to participate in everyday activities
• sensory assessments
• Armchair travel resources

and strategies for
• enhancing sensory performance
• formatting armchair travel experiences
• developing other sensory-focused activities

The practical component of this workshop provides you with the opportunity to develop an armchair travel experience for someone you support.

Prerequisites:
An interest in developing individualised supports to engage people with PIMD in activities in ways that are meaningful to them.

Target audience:
Direct support staff, teachers and others who support people with PIMD.

Date: Monday – March 29th 2010
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Venue: Whitehorse Library – Meeting room 1
Cost: $187.00 (Includes GST)

To register for this workshop you will need to complete an application form. See attachment
OR Telephone 03 9843 2000 OR Email crc@scopevic.org.au
Communication Resource Centre, Scope, 830 Whitehorse Rd, Box Hill 3128

Learning from mistakes abroad


Toward the end of last year Beverly Dawkins published the following article: Dawkins, B. (2009). Valuing Tom: will Valuing People Now change the lives of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities? Tizard Learning Disability Review, 14(4), 3-12.
It is a response to the UK Valuing People Now policy shift and its impact on people with PIMD in the UK. It highlights the many ways in which the current policy has let down people with PIMD:
– decreased access to day services
– poor planning
– continued discrimination in health context leading to uneccessary pain and, at times, death
– continued inadequate access to advocacy
– …
New initiatives attempting to improve the lives of people with PIMD in the UK are highlighted: Emerson’s demographic study, Mencap’s various studies…
Although this is based in the UK, I believe this is highly relevent in the Australian context, both in terms of current and future issues.