Skip Navigation | ANU Home | Search ANU | Students | Staff

ABILITY PLUS

April 1999, Issue No. 17
Newsletter for Students with Special Needs.

---

A warm welcome to all new students. I hope by now the initial confusion is easing and you are finding your way around what can be a complex environment. Be reassured that by the end of semester you will all feel like old hands!

New Disability Office

As many of you know I will be leaving on April 14 and at the time of writing the new Disability Officer is being chosen so unfortunately I can't give you a name.

The good news is that the position will now be full time so you should find it easier to find some one at home when you call in.

As I said before the new office on top of the Commonwealth Bank is still timed to be opened in June and after the move the adaptive computer technology will be moved there to a dedicated room with Neil on hand to assist. Access to this room after hours will need to be by swipe card. There will also need to be some training to use the new lift and perhaps the issuing of a card. This is a dedicated lift for people with disabilities and will not be able to be used by others. See the new Disability Officer for procedures involved.

The Union courtyard will then be upgraded so there may be some confusion in the area for some time and I have discussed disabled access with the contractors. You will all be pleased to know that the big ramp will be changed so that it complies with the standards. For further information on the plans see the designs in the window next to the Chemist.

Work Experience

Six students obtained valuable work experience over the holidays on campus and I would really like to see this expanded but it will depend on the new DLO. If you would like to participate please leave your name at the DSU. The Careers Office is also available to take a work history from you so that we know your skills when placing you. Ask to see Jo Roper-Tanton in Careers

The One in Five Group

This group is for students with mental health issues and will meet again this year. Contact Anna in the counselling service on 2442 for times and places.

Pathways Conference

This as always was a great success in Perth and Penny has included her report for this newsletter. In December of the year 2000 the ACT will host the next Pathways so may be more of you will be able to attend. One of the great things about this conference is the number of students with disabilities who attend.

Post Graduates

Unfortunately Peter Chen was not successful last year in obtaining funds for an equipment pool for access to software and computers for graduate students. The new Parsa executive is working again on this issue and I have been speaking with the Dean of the Graduate School, OH & S and the Occupational Therapist about this serious issue. The policy is that Departments are required to provide good equipment for their Graduate students and 4% of their budget is meant to be spent on this. Keep protesting to Parsa or the Graduate School if you are not receiving what you consider adequate chairs and furniture.

Exams

A reminder to new students that if you need alternative arrangements you should submit your form after discussions with the DLO 3 weeks before exams.

For mid semester exams, if the Department is running them, request forms should be given to your lecturer.

Some new Web sites

Voice Recognition: http://www.synapseadaptive.com/joel/welcomeapage.htm
Mental Health Issues: http://www.bu.edu/sarpsych/jobschool
Personal Stories: http://www.tell-us-your-story.com/
Academic Success:http://www.qut.edu.au/admin/cah/counselling/success/
Uni Tas List server for students who use JAWS for Windows, for students with a vision impairment; mailing list address is: Jaws-tas@postoffice.utas.edu.au

DSU Review

I'm sorry but the results of the review are not yet available. I can say though that I understand it was a very positive one. The Unit will certainly continue. May be you could ask the new DLO when they see the report.

Assistance for Disadvantaged Employees

The Welfare Rights and Legal Centre is offering a service called Workplace Agreement Legal Advice Service (WALAS). The service offers free legal advice on Australian Workplace Agreements for employees in disadvantaged bargaining positions. Call 6247 2177 or e-mail wrlc@ozemail.com.au

Achiever of the Year Award

An ANU student Debbie Kazolis won this award in 1998 by raising $25,000 for the Canberra Quest on behalf of the ACT Society for the Physically Handicapped. Congratulations Debbie on your hard work for such a worthwhile cause.

Lift Upgrades

If students who use wheelchairs know of lifts on campus that are in urgent need of upgrades in relation to the height of the buttons etc., please let the DLO know who will pass the information on to Ian Duff in Facilities and Services. There are funds available for lift upgrades now.

Courses and Groups

I have included some courses and groups at the back of this newsletter, which are of interest to specific groups of people with disabilities. Contacts are given with them.

Finally it's goodbye after nearly 10 years in this job and I'd like to say how much I will miss you all. I feel very privileged to have met so many fantastic people and to have laughed and at times cried with you. Don't give up! It's a struggle for many of you to keep going with your studies, I know! It will be worth it in the end and I hope lead to a good job with a big salary! But even if it doesn't, enjoy life and take time to stop and smell the roses!

As for me I shall probably be like the old lady in that wonderful poem "Ruby at the Fair" and "walk in the rain in my slippers and wear purple and hoard pins and pencils and beer mats and things in boxes". Without a doubt I shall have a lot of great memories.

Good luck