Association for Children with Disability - ACD

August means the return of ACD's popular workshop Getting Support at School 🌟

If you have a school-aged child with disability, our FREE online workshop will build your confidence to help you get the supports your child needs. ✏️🎓

ACD's professional facilitators, who are all parents of children with disability, will explain how school processes work and give you information about how plans can help your child.

Topics include:
🔹 Individual Education Plans
🔹 Behaviour Support Plans
🔹 Reasonable adjustments

Places fill fast, so register today 👇
https://ow.ly/c1cU50SC0uk

Everyone deserves to play and be part of their community, which is why our friends at have created useful resources to help make playgroups more inclusive. ✨

Play Together offers free disability inclusion support and training for playgroups. There's a webinar and resource kit, participants receive an individualised certificate upon completion of training, and every playgroup represented gets a set of visual aids for completing the training.

Find out more here and don't forget to share with your playgroup or with someone you know who's part of a playgroup 👇

https://www.playgroup.org.au/playtogether/

Reasonable adjustments are the changes that schools make so that students with disability can participate on the same basis as other students. These can include changes to the curriculum, teaching approaches, classroom set-up, or accessing support services.

ACD wants to hear directly from families about their experiences in planning and implementing reasonable adjustments with their child's school. What made it easy and what made it difficult?

We're holding two online consultation sessions for families to share their thoughts and experiences. De-identified information from the sessions will be shared with the government as part of ACD's advocacy to make education better for students with disability.👊

Have your say and register for a session today 📣

🔹 Wed 7 August 10.00 am 👉https://ow.ly/qqcq50SC03U
🔹 Wed 7 August 7.30 pm 👉 https://ow.ly/rCnB50SC03V

We love it when the representation of people with disability is just part of children's television.💜📺

We don't want to spoil the surprise but...check out this episode of which includes a guest appearance by NDIA Chairperson and former Paralympian 👨‍🦽👩‍🦽 👇

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/bluey/series/3/video/CH2003Q048S00

ACD CEO Karen Dimmock caught up with Nina Taylor MP Parliamentary Secretary for Education today.

Karen talked about:

🔹The work of ACD supporting families to advocate for their children and how this improves outcomes at school.
🔹The power of leadership and the difference it makes when Principals have an inclusive attitude.
🔹Recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission and the importance of accountability and transparency.

📞If you need help to advocate at school call the ACD Support Line on 9880 7000.

An Individual Education Plan documents your child’s learning goals and the supports needed to achieve them, which are called reasonable adjustments.

As well as goals, the plan should also include your child's skills, strengths, needs, and progress.

We've put together a helpful guide on Individual Education Plans to help you. It talks about what a plan can look like, things to consider when putting the plan together, who contributes to the plan and how it's put into action.

Read the guide 👉 https://www.acd.org.au/individual-education-plans/

“I learned to focus more on what my child loves to do, rather than being overwhelmed by lots of therapy exercises. ” Parent

Envisage is a FREE program for parents raising children with developmental delay and disability from birth to eight.

Here's what families who've done the program say:

💜 "It helped me to improve my relationship with my children."
💜 "Envisage gave me the confidence to trust my instincts. I know my children best."
💜 "I loved connecting with other mums, it made me feel less isolated."

Envisage sessions start in Term 3 and there are online and in-person options. 🙂

If you're a parent or know families who may be interested, register today and an ACD team member will contact you 👇

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/888024885337?aff=oddtdtcreator

Family Relationship Support for Carers (FRSC) is a Victorian service that provides free counselling and mediation for parents and carers of children with disability.

Services are offered to individuals, couples, siblings or the whole family. 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦

FRSC can help with future planning, mediating family conflict, and counselling to work through issues connected with your caring role.

Sessions can be face-to-face, by telephone, or online.

To learn more, please click below 👇
https://www.each.com.au/service/family-relationship-support-for-carers/

The ACD Support Line helps families with children with ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability, blind or low vision, Deaf or hard of hearing, and those with rare genetic conditions. 💜

We can help you to understand:

🔹 Your child’s rights in education
🔹 How to get started with the NDIS
🔹 What financial support is available

Lines are open Monday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Interpreters are available.

📞 Call the ACD Support Line today on 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional callers) and get support 📞

vision

Has your child attended an appointment at the Royal Children's Hospital in the past two years?

If so, the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the University of Melbourne invite expressions of interest from families to be part of a Lived Experience Advisory Committee for a new project about mental health support at the Royal Children's Hospital.

Successful applicants will be paid for their time and will help plan research questions to ask parents and carers about how to improve mental healthcare support for children and families.

The closing date for expressions of interest is 5 pm on Friday 26 July 2024.

For more information and to express your interest 👇
https://redcap.mcri.edu.au/surveys/?s=JXCMFNKKE74AAPER

Virtual MyTime is starting again after the school holidays ✨

A peer support group for parents of children with disability, Virtual MyTime is entirely online, giving you the flexibility to connect with others from the comfort of your own home. Whether you live in a remote area or have a busy schedule that makes it difficult to attend in-person support groups.

Our professional facilitator, who's also the parent of a young person with disability, will provide support and guidance during the sessions.

Sessions for Term 3 begin on Monday 22 July at 7.30 pm and will continue every week at the same time. Everyone is welcome, whether you're new or if you attended last term.

Book your spot today and start connecting with others 👇

https://ow.ly/6Sc050Slk3Y

MyTime is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and is nationally coordinated by the Parenting Research Centre.

NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

At ACD we love the opportunities for children and families to learn and celebrate Aboriginal culture.

🖤 Local NAIDOC week events - https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events
💛 Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum - https://museumsvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka/
❤️NAIDOC week programming on ABC Kids - https://iview.abc.net.au/collection/3429

Have you got a question about the and your child? Call the ACD Support Line today. ☎️

It's a free telephone advocacy service for all Victorian families raising children with developmental delay and disability from birth to 18.

We can help you to understand:
🔹 What you can ask the NDIS about
🔹 NDIS planning meetings
🔹 How you can use your child’s plan

📞 Call the ACD Support Line on 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional)

Lines are open Monday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Interpreters are available.

What exactly is respite, what does it look like and how is it funded? Well, as a starting point, it provides a short break for both you and your child and usually means that someone else cares for your child.

Respite is important for many reasons, but mainly because it gives you and your family a break from the physical and emotional demands of caring.

We've written a free guide on getting respite under the NDIS which gives you details about the costs, how to get respite in your child's NDIS plan, and the types of good evidence you may need. 👇

https://www.acd.org.au/getting-respite-under-the-ndis/

If your child's NDIS Plan Reassessment is coming up, this free online workshop will explain the terminology and provide useful information to help you prepare for the reassessment meeting with confidence.

Topics in this 90-minute, online workshop include:

🔹Preparing for a reassessment meeting
🔹Gathering supporting evidence
🔹Advocating for your child’s needs

Places fill quickly, so register today! 👇

https://bit.ly/NDISPRjuly25FB

We’re having a great day meeting families at the Source Kids expo! 😊

We’re here ‘til 4 pm so come and say hi at booth A17 and enter our prize draw to win a family fun hamper 🎉

ACD will be at the Source Kids Disability Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre tomorrow from 10 am to 4 pm. So come along and say hello at stand A17! 😀

There's something for everyone, with assistive technology and devices for physical disability, sensory shopping, and supports for neurodiverse families.

We look forward to chatting to you about our services and how we can help you advocate for your child. 💜

Entry is free but tickets are essential.

Register for free here 👉 https://sourcekids.com.au/disability-expo/melbourne-2024/

We love it when life gets a little more user-friendly for people with disability. 👨‍🦼👏

Wheelchair and mobility aid users can now book an accessible space on all V/Line trains across Victoria. All V/Line trips are a maximum $10.80 or $5.40 concession, so a train trip can be a fun and affordable way to travel. 🚅

Find more information 👇

https://ow.ly/Kwq550SkwTK

Have your say in influencing change 📣

Victorian carers are invited to complete the National Carer Survey, conducted every two years and open to carers across Australia. The results provide important data to demonstrate who carers are, how the carer population is changing, and what issues matter most to carers.

The survey closes on July 31st and takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

Find more information and a link to the survey 👉 https://www.carersvictoria.org.au/how-can-we-help-you/get-involved/national-carer-survey-2024

Have fun with your children in the kitchen these school holidays with some free easy-read recipes from Accessible Chef 👩‍🍳🍪

The recipes have visual guides for the ingredients and the tools you’ll need, and the cooking method is broken down into steps that are easy to follow.

It’s a fantastic and delicious way to have fun indoors and build confidence in our junior chefs! 👨‍🍳🍰🍚

Find recipes here 👉 https://accessiblechef.com/recipes/

Save money these school holidays with the Carer Card.💰👩‍👩‍👦‍👦

You can get great discounts on shopping, public transport, and leisure activities if you have a Carer Card, sometimes known as the "we care" card.

When you're out and about with the family you can get free entry into Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks, Legoland Discovery Centre, and Sealife Melbourne.

Follow this link to find even more discount information 👇

https://www.acd.org.au/save-money-with-a-carer-card/

ACD will be at the Source Kids Disability Expo on Friday July 5th and Saturday July 6th at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)! 😃✨

With over 150 disability product and service providers under one roof, you can check out what's available and enjoy a great family day out. 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦

Make sure you come and see us at Booth A17. We're looking forward to chatting with you about our services and how we can help you advocate for your child. 💜

Register for free and get more information here 👉 https://sourcekids.com.au/disability-expo/melbourne-2024/

Masterpiece, written by Alexandra Hoffman is the story of Samuel, an autistic boy who sees the world differently from his peers.📚

When Samuel's teacher asks his class to create a piece of art, his beautiful way of looking at the world makes him a true masterpiece! The story shows the other children in his class learning empathy, acceptance, and understanding.

Beatriz Mello's beautiful illustrations also include things such as noise-cancelling headphones, which aren't usually shown in books.

You can find the book here 👉 https://www.amazon.com.au/Masterpiece-Alexandra-Hoffman/dp/1778071058

If you're looking for free family fun this school holiday, head to the State Library Victoria to experience Paper Planet workshops from Polyglot Children's Theatre.

Set in a small forest of tall cardboard trees, children and their families can use paper, tape, and their imaginations to create their own creatures, plants, costumes, and adventures.

Relaxed, drop-in sessions will be facilitated by a Polyglot artist and a library educator, and children can either take their creations home or add them to the paper trees in the library.

The venue is wheelchair accessible and there are accessible toilets on site. There is also a visual story to share with your child before you visit.

Venue: State Library Victoria
Dates: 4 - 14 July
Times: 1 pm - 3 pm
Free drop-in sessions so no booking is required

For more information 👉 https://polyglot.org.au/events/workshops-slv-2024/

ACD staff are visiting our Child and Family Disability Alliance partners in WA. Kiind supports families raising children with disability across Western Australia and we shared knowledge and practices on peer support, the importance of clear information for families and supporting families throughout their journey.

Both ACD and Kiind value the power of families lived experience that underpins everything we do💜

Great news! Children aged 14 and under can go to games in Rounds 16 to 19 for FREE! 👏👏

The , Stadium, and all have:

🏈Accessible toilets
🏈Wheelchair seating
🏈Sensory rooms
🏈Social scripts

Information on the Kids Go Free program 👉 https://ow.ly/XxM450Sf0Pn

Accessibility information for each venue 👇

MCG: https://ow.ly/L9Il50Sf0Po
Marvel Stadium: https://ow.ly/YybO50Sf0Pq
Kardinia Park: https://ow.ly/rkoJ50Sf0Pp

This winter the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria will be lit up after dark as part of the popular Lightscape event.✨

You'll be mesmerized by the interactive Submergence, the Winter Cathedral, and Laser Forest as you wind your way through the landscape with large lighting sculptures, colourful lighting effects and accompanying sounds.

The event is wheelchair accessible and there are relaxed sessions with reduced visitor numbers and the chance to leave the path at any time to visit a designated quiet area. A visual story is also available to help you prepare your child for the visit.

Relaxed session dates and times:
✨ Wednesday 3 July at 5.15 pm
✨ Wednesday 24 July at 5.30 pm
✨ Cost: $16 per person. Companion Card holders are free.

Find out more and book tickets 👉https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=LSTIX24&EG=LS24&EP=RELAXED

Our friends at have produced a free online guide to all things Assistive Technology for children. From pushers, wheelchairs, walkers, seating, and tricycles, their bumper guide has all the information you need!👨‍🦼👩‍🦽🤩

Get the free guide here 👉 https://www.sourcekids.com.au/atguide/

ACD CEO Karen Dimmock gave testimony last week at the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Education.

Education is the #1 issue families raise with us and Karen shared what we hear from families about their children's experience of education:
📢Lack of reasonable adjustments
📢Exclusion of students, including reduced hours
📢Not enough focus on literacy, numeracy and vocational opportunities
📢Limited supervision that means children can hurt themselves or be hurt by others

Karen spoke up for what families tell us helps makes education better:
📢An inclusive, can-do attitude from Principals
📢Support for teachers to implement reasonable adjustments
📢Increased accountability and transparency

You can read more about the inquiry and what Karen said on the inquiry website👇

https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/stateeducationinquiry/hearings