Last month’s International Day of People with a Disability (on December
3rd) was the 20th anniversary of the United Nations sanctioned day,
drawing attention to both the gains and gaps in the lives of those
living with a disability.
Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia (MSRA) and MS Australia used the international day to highlight the huge deficit in basic living requirements for many Australians with MS.
The National MS Needs Analysis 2012 found that nearly 20 percent of Australians with MS struggle to have essential home modifications and equipment, such as wheelchairs, shower rails and ramps. For nearly half of these people, the inability to purchase or install the essential equipment is a direct result of a lack of funds.
The report is based on analysis of a survey of 2900 people living with MS across Australia, and is thought to be the largest of its kind ever conducted.
The damning results have led MS Australia to call on the Federal Government to urgently commit to future funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure basic needs are met for those living with a disability.
MS Australia CEO, Trevor Farrell has called for urgent policy changes in order to provide essential aids, equipment and services to people living with MS, particularly those who are experiencing financial hardship.
For more information and to download the report visit www.msra.org.au
iPad app assists children with autism
The City of Cockburn in Western Australia has approved the purchase of 50 TOBY Playpad applications for iPads, improving the lives of many children with autism.
The TOBY Playpad has been developed for children with autism or children suspected to be autistic between the ages of two to seven years old; it has the most benefit for children who are non-verbal, assisting them to develop their cognitive, learning and language skills.
City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett said the app would be purchased via individual families’ ‘App Store’ accounts, with the money provided by the City to families successful in applying for the TOBY Playpad.
“The TOBY Playpad is unique to each individual child as it tracks their progress and then tailors daily activities according to the skill level of that child,” said Mayor Howlett.
“Families will soon be able to apply for the application to be downloaded onto their iPads for the benefit of their child,” he said.
“This is a real example of just some of the work the City does to facilitate and provide a range of community services for our diverse community,” said Mayor Howlett.
City of Cockburn residents, Clayton and Rhona Bolger, use the TOBY Playpad with their two children, Lachlan and Alyssa, who are both autistic.
The Bolgers congratulated the City of Cockburn for contributing to early intervention therapy by funding the app for 50 families.
“TOBY has empowered us to take control of our home-based early intervention therapy for our children,” said Clayton Bolger.
App developer and Speech Pathologist Wendy Marshall thanked the community organisation, Autism West, for funding the development of the TOBY Playpad.
“I have seen TOBY help children to learn accurately and efficiently across a range of critical early learning areas, including social, cognitive and language, which sets them up to build on these skills and ensure they reach their full potential,” said Ms Marshall.
For more information about the TOBY Playpad visit tobyplaypad.com
