Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services

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Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
Solutions                                                                   ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013

Ruby (Far right) started her Transition to Work (TTW)     Using her time in TTW to increase her communication,
program in 2012 and has shown incredible commitment,      money handling and independent living skills, Ruby soon
achieving some amazing outcomes.                          started work experience at Bowral Pets and Aquarium.
                                                          Initially working three mornings a week, this soon turned
Ruby, her family and TTW worked together to create a      into four days a week and an offer of paid employment.
                                                                                                                                   A
                                                                                                                                DS 013
personalised program that included Commercial Cookery
and Bakery courses at TAFE as Ruby wasn’t sure which of   Owner Jeremy Maitland describes Ruby as “a breath of

                                                                                                                              am e 2 urf
her interests she wanted to pursue, cooking or animals.   fresh air” with her always positive attitude and bright
                                                          smile!
                                                                                                                             e
                                                                                                                            T th S
                                                                                                                             in ity2
Find and follow us on facebook            and twitter
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Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
FROM
    THE CEO
    2013 is shaping up to be another year of         After much hard work by many at DSA and          Thank you for your ongoing interest, I
    excitement and challenges as we continue         METS, our new websites were launched in          encourage you to visit our new websites
    along this pathway to fundamental sector         January. The sites serve as an additional        and pass back any comments or
    reform.                                          vehicle for us to communicate with and           suggestions you may have via the feedback
                                                     build on our relationships with customers,       area on the sites.
    We’ve started this year reaffirming our
                                                     community and supporters, providing up to
    commitment to personalisation. We have                                                            You can find them at:
                                                     date information that is simple and easy to
    a major focus on repositioning the way
                                                     access.
    we work, using the experiences, skills and                                                                     www.dsa.org.au
    talents of our clients, staff and community      The new DSA website shares our vision and
    so that people with a disability and their       journey towards more personalised services,         www.dsabusinessservices.com.au
    families exert greater choice and control        assisting people with a disability and their                 www.mets.org.au
    over the services they receive.                  families to maximise their choice and control.
    The National Disability Insurance Scheme
    (NDIS) Bill was recently passed in the
    Federal Parliament. This legislation sets up
    the legal framework for the establishment
    and operation of the NDIS and NDIS
    Launch Transition Agency.
    The new legislation and the announcement
    in December by the Federal and NSW
    State Governments regarding the funding
    agreement for the full rollout of the NDIS in
    NSW reinforce the importance of continuing
    our journey towards personalisation.
    Late in 2012, the Department of Education,
    Employment and Workplace Relations
    announced that 121 Employment was
    one of a large number of Disability Service
    Providers unsuccessful in maintaining            CEO Mark Spurr with Access and Transition Manager Naomi Barber, winner of the NSW Young
    their current contracts in the re-tendering      Business Woman of the Year for 2012 and Louise Mooney, General Manager Employment Services.
    process.
    We are greatly disappointed that DSA is            We are all very proud of Naomi’s wonderful achievement in winning the Young Business
    no longer providing an open employment             Woman of the Year Award for NSW at the 2012 Telstra Business Women’s Awards.
    service however we have formed alliances           This prestigious honour is a great acknowledgement of Naomi’s talents and an honour
    with the remaining DES providers to ensure         for DSA and the disability sector generally.
    that the people we support will have
    continuing access to Open Employment.

    Sailability – by Lee from Camperdown
    During the warmer months of the year the
    people from Camperdown Day Options
    take part in the amazing program known
    as Sailability. This service is run by Sailors
    With disAbilities who are able to provide a
    wheelchair accessible boat and qualified
    sailors to take groups out onto Sydney
    Harbour.
    Camperdown Day Options has been
    taking part in the program since 2010 and
    everyone loves getting the opportunity to be
    Captain, work the winches, hoist the sails
    and generally have a fantastic afternoon
    sailing around the best harbour in the world.
    Here’s a picture taken on a recent day on
    the Harbour!

2                                          YOUR LIFE      •     YOUR FUTURE            •     YOUR CHOICE
Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
The National Disability
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Update
The National Disability Insurance Scheme          Set up of the National Launch Transition Agency (NLTA) for the Hunter region is underway,
Bill, an historic national reform that is         with the appointment of the NSW State Manager and the first office located in Charlestown.
well overdue, was passed in Parliament            The 3 year launch period will include 10,000 participants. As a result of the historic
on 21 March. The legislation sets up the          agreement reached between the Australian and New South Wales governments in
legal framework for the establishment and         December last year, the NDIS will roll out in full across NSW by July 2018, providing care
operation of the NDIS and NDIS Launch             and support to around 140,000 NSW residents with disability.
Transition Agency (the Agency).
                                                  The challenge for the sector is the growth in clients from 50,000 to more than 140,000
The Agency will work with people with             when the scheme is fully implemented. The roll out to a full NDIS in New South Wales is
disability to develop a personal plan that        scheduled as follows:
identifies the person’s needs, goals and life
aspirations, and recognises the support they       Launch period                       Local Government Area              Number of people
receive from family and friends. This plan         1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014          Newcastle                          3 000
forms the basis of the person’s funded NDIS        1 July 2014 – 30 June 2015          Lake Macquarie                     2 000
support package which they can choose to
manage themselves or with the help of local        1 July 2015 – 30 June 2016          Maitland                           5 000
Agency workers (such as DSA), family or            1 July 2016 – 2017/18               Remainder of NSW                   TBC
friends.                                           1 July 2018                         Full Scheme                        TBC
The first stage of the NDIS will commence
from July 2013 in launch sites in South           The Government also recently announced the new name for the scheme –
Australia, Tasmania, the Hunter area in           DisabilityCare Australia. This name reflects the core principle of the NDIS, namely
New South Wales and the Barwon area of            that all Australians with significant or profound disability receive the care and
Victoria. The Australian Capital Territory will   support they need and have choice and control over that support, regardless of
commence in July 2014. It is important to         how they acquired their disability.
note that the NDIS Launch is not a pilot; it
is the implementation of a system of reform.      • Copies of the legislation and the explanatory memorandum are available at the Australian
The launch period provides an opportunity            Parliament House website at www.aph.gov.au
for learning for what works and does not          • An easy English version of an overview of the Bill is available on the NDIS website at:
work to support the full roll out by 2018.           www.ndis.gov.au
This approach will ensure that the                • Additional information is available on the Every Australian Counts
implementation of the scheme is informed             Campaign Website www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au
by feedback from people with disability, their
families and carers, service providers and        • Keep up to date on the DSA website www.dsa.org.au and
community organisations and by the lessons        • You can also contact Caron Rooks at DSA on P: 9791 6599 or
of the launch.                                       E: personalisation@dsa.org.au for more information.
                                                  • Visit the DSA website www.dsa.org.au

DSA in the Hunter launch site
While DSA’s current systems, policies and         DSA recognises the barriers that may stand
procedures have served us well to date,           in the way of the people we support and we              The NDIS will give people with
they are based on the traditional models of       are resourceful in our efforts to work with             disability a right to realise their
program delivery. Responding appropriately        people to overcome them, finding new and                potential, to make choices and
to the new self-directed environment with         better ways of doing things.
the Hunter NDIS launch commencing
                                                                                                          be in control of the decisions
in July 2013 and individualised funding
                                                  At DSA we believe everyone has the right to             that affect their lives.
                                                  a good life and to being valued as equals.
arrangements across NSW available from 1
                                                  For the people we support this includes
July 2014 requires DSA to understand the
                                                  respecting their rights to make choices
impact of change and respond quickly.
                                                  and empowering people to have voice and
DSA’s Board of Directors have approved an         control over their own lives.
NDIS pilot project which means we will have
                                                  We will be running a number of focus
a strong presence in the heart of the Hunter
                                                  groups and would value your involvement.
launch region when it kicks off on 1 July
2013. An important part of the DSA Pilot is       If you are interested in learning more or
the opportunity it presents for us to work        contributing your thoughts and experiences
alongside people and their families in this       you can contact Caron Rooks on P: 9791
new environment.                                  6599 or email personalisation@dsa.org.au
                                                  or visit the website www.dsa.org.au
We will be talking with people about what
they want, what’s important to them, how
they would like to spend their time and how
DSA can help them achieve it.

                                      YOUR LIFE        •         YOUR FUTURE       •      YOUR CHOICE                                           3
Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
2012 Employee
    Achievement Awards
    DSA’s Annual Employee Achievement               The success of DSA’s TTW program is            John Murray, President of the Bankstown
    Awards were celebrated at the Bankstown         dependant on the progressive employers         Sports Club presented the 121 Employment
    Sports Club with special guests Paralympic      who engage with the program. We had            Job Seeker of the Year Award to Tracey
    Swim Champion Matt Cowdrey and Rugby            many organisations worthy of the TTW           Williams. Tracey’s colleagues report that her
    League’s Mario Fenech.                          Employer of the Year Award and it was          cheerful manner, sense of humour, efficiency
                                                    difficult to narrow it down to the following   and professionalism makes working with her
    The Annual Awards are about recognising
                                                    five finalists: Bowral Pets & Aquarium,        an absolute delight.
    the significant contribution made by people
                                                    Greenacre Neighbourhood Centre, Neil’s
    with a disability in the Australian workforce                                                  It’s great to recognise the achievements
                                                    Liverpool Mechanical Repairs, PCYC
    and the many progressive companies                                                             of the people we support at DSA but it is
                                                    Woolloomooloo and Southern Cross
    who understand and enjoy the economic                                                          also important to recognise the employers
                                                    Tenison Apartments.
    and social benefits of supporting the                                                          and businesses providing jobs and work
    employment of people with a disability.         The TTW Employer of the Year Award             opportunities. Nominees for the 2012 Open
                                                    was presented to Jeremy Maitland from          Employer of the Year were: Aboriginal Affairs
    Awards were presented in a number
                                                    Bowral Pets & Aquarium. Bowral Pets and        NSW, Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre,
    of categories including recognition of
                                                    Aquarium has gone above and beyond             Delaware North Companies Australia, GN
    achievements made by participants in our
                                                    to support job seekers to gain skills and      Resound, Liberty Church, Neuroscience
    Transition to Work (TTW) Program and 121
                                                    increase their independence. They have         Research Australia, and WEHBE Group.
    Employment and employees working in our
                                                    participated in multiple work experience
    Australian Disability Enterprise.                                                              The 121 Employer of the Year Award was
                                                    placements and have been very flexible,
                                                                                                   presented to Hasara Abeygunaratne from
    DSA’s TTW is a two year work readiness          striving to meet job seeker support needs
                                                                                                   Delaware North Companies Australia, a
    program funded by Ageing Disability and         while encouraging job seekers to attempt
                                                                                                   catering company with many sites nationally
    Home Care. The program aims to equip            new tasks.
                                                                                                   and internationally. They are in partnership
    school leavers with the skills for work that
                                                    The staff are always friendly, helpful and     with Hungry Jacks at Central Station in the
    will assist them to achieve their employment
                                                    understanding and DSA’s partnership with       Sydney CBD providing food and beverage
    goals.
                                                    them has proved to be very valuable with       services to customers visiting the area.
    We are currently supporting more than           jobseeker Eleanor (Ruby) securing paid
    70 young people in this program and             employment.
    the TTW Job Seeker of the Year Award
    acknowledges the program participant
    who shows the greatest commitment and
                                                    Nominees for the 121 Employment Job
                                                    Seeker of the Year for 2012 were: Rebecca         Long
                                                                                                      Service
                                                    D’Hereux, Fuaaro Tusa Faalili, Laura
    diligence. Nominees were Mohammed
                                                    Heathcote, Abbas Jasim, Alexandre Saneev,
    Fares, Jason Kirby, Steven Hunt, Camilla
                                                    Tony Thrasy and Tracey Williams.
    Lean–Lane and Elizabeth Tiebosh.

                                                                                                      Awards
    Mario Fenech presented the TTW Job Seeker
    of the Year Award to Elizabeth Tiebosch in
    recognition of her persistence in working
    towards the achievement of her careers goals.
                                                                                                      Our Long Service Awards are an
                                                                                                      inspirational part of the day where we
                                                                                                      recognise those employees who have
                                                                                                      reached length of service milestones.
                                                                                                      DSA’s Vice Chairman, Mr Tom Leahy
                                                                                                      presented awards to the following
                                                                                                      recipients:
                                                                                                      •	15yrs service
                                                                                                         David Dingley, Glen Jarvie, John
                                                                                                         Kardoulis, Kylie Hammond,
                                                                                                         Magdalena Jaslovska, Robyn
                                                                                                         Lochmund
                                                                                                      •	30yrs service
                                                                                                         Chris Green, Jacqueline Peterson,
                                                                                                         John Kane, Karen Loveday, Neil
                                                                                                         Loveday, Patrick Green
                                                                                                      •	40yrs service
                                                                                                         Clifford Mead, Con Scortis, Foula
                                                                                                         Stoikakis

4                                        YOUR LIFE       •     YOUR FUTURE             •     YOUR CHOICE
Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
Business                                                                    Charles Appiah
                                                                            recognised for
Services                                                                    his passion for
Employees                                                                   working with
                                                                            people with a
of the Year                                                                 disability
The Business Services Employee                                              Charles Appiah from DSA’s Day Options
Achiever Awards recognise those                                             program in Blacktown was a recent winner
employees who show the most positive                                        of the 2012 METS Outstanding Student of
attitude and contribution to the goals of                                   the Year Award from a group of more than
our Business Services operation.                                            600 eligible trainees.
All our employees are great achievers                                       Awards were presented in recognition of
but nominees for the 2012 Employee                                          students’ achievements in studying towards
of the Year Awards are further                                              nationally recognised qualifications in
recognised by their fellow employees                                        Children’s Services and Disability Work.
as outstanding. The nominees for 2012
were:                                                                       In the three years since Charles joined
                                                                            DSA he has completed both his Certificate
•   Jake Burton                                                             III and Certificate IV in Disability through
•   Melissa Semeti                                                          DSA’s Registered Training Organisation
                                                                            METS. Charles impressed the judges with
•   Kevin Westren                                                           his passion, focus, resilience and discipline,
•   Jason Campbell                                                          completing his studies while working and
                                                                            supporting a family of four young children.
•   Lee Klein                                                               When it comes to his career and improving
•   Matthew Lawler                                                          his skills, Charles is tenacious with a strong
                                                                            commitment to advocating for people with
•   Andrew Kalnin                                                           a disability.
•   Jasinta Ulugia                                                          If you would like more information
•   Paul Elliott                                                            about gaining qualifications in Children’s
                                                                            Services or Disability Services call METS
•   Louise Ford                                                             on 9838 0567 or visit www.mets.org.au
•   Bernie Sullivan
•   Andrew Lamesa
•   Brett Foster
•   Georgina Seroukas
•   Locklan Lee
•   Adrian Macrias
•   Glen Jarvie
•   Steve Nickou
•   Ken Tanner
•   Anthony Ireland
•   Arsina Zacharian
Paralympian Matt Cowdrey presented
Employee of the Year awards to:
Kevin Westren from Braemar, Jasinta
Ulugia from Condell Park, Georgina
Seroukas from Mascot and Jake
                                                                            CEO Mark Spurr presenting Charles with his
Burton from Seven Hills.
                                                                            Student Recognition award

                                     YOUR LIFE   •   YOUR FUTURE   •   YOUR CHOICE                                           5
Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
Every weekday James is
    so excited he bounces
    “I can tell by the way James gets out of the       James loves – like listening to music, swimming, getting outdoors and dancing.
    car he likes being there,” says his dad Bill.
                                                       When James arrives each morning, he knows exactly what he wants to do! “He comes in
    “He bounces out of his seat! One morning
                                                       and goes straight into the music room and indicates he would like you to help him turn the
    he got so excited he jumped up and head-
                                                       radio on,” says Support Worker Tan Nguyen.
    butted me in the nose.”
                                                       This may not sound very important – but for someone like James it is a crucial milestone.
    James attends DSA’s Day Options Program
                                                       One of the main goals listed by his parents and now established as part of James’s person
    in Bankstown in Sydney. He is non-verbal
                                                       centred support plan is developing his communication methods using pictures and photos.
    but his enthusiasm when he is dropped
                                                       By guiding a support worker to something he wants, James is a step closer to being able to
    off every weekday is the best possible
                                                       give input into his own day-to-day activities, opening up the chance for him to have greater
    indication of his enjoyment!
                                                       self-determination and freedom.
    To know James has found a place where he
                                                       Another key goal for James is accessing activities in his local community including
    is happy and on the path to becoming more
                                                       swimming. He is making new discoveries all the time, trying activities and experiences that
    independent as a young adult is a joy to his
                                                       not only add variety to his life but stimulate his progress.
    parents Bill and Sharon too. When James
    finished high school, they were dreading
    the future for their son. “We felt absolutely
    traumatised,” says Sharon. “There were 100
    things to worry about.”
    James was born with a very rare condition
    called Ring Chromosome 22 that causes
    severe disability. Until he was nine months
    old his parents thought he was just small
    like them. But on a routine visit to the baby
    nurse “she said, ‘This little boy isn’t doing
    things he should be doing,’ ”remembers
    Bill. “He had blood tests and that’s when we
    found out. It was probably the biggest kick
    in the guts I’ve ever got in my life.”
    Now 22, James needs around-the-clock
    care. “He can’t get things out of the
    cupboard or turn TVs on or go to the toilet
    on his own,” says Bill. But he still has a
    boundless passion for life and the things
    he loves – like swimming, the footy, having
    a birthday party, listening to music and
    watching James Bond movies.
    With James’s very high, complex
    and specific needs, his parents were
    understandably concerned about where
    he could go when he transitioned from
    high-school. As autistic traits are also part of
    his disability, he is extremely dependent on
    structure and routine.
    When they found out about the support
    for James at the Day Options Program in
    Bankstown, they were incredibly relieved.
    Our Day Options Programs run from
    14 locations in NSW and create social,
    therapeutic and recreational opportunities
    designed for each person around their
    goals, interests, ideas and support needs.
    The centre at Bankstown specifically
    assists people with autism, encouraging
    communication skills and providing
    consistent routines in an environment
    designed specifically for people with autism.
    At the same time there are plenty of outlets
    for fun that match with the many things

6                                         YOUR LIFE         •     YOUR FUTURE           •     YOUR CHOICE
Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
It’s game on                                                                                         It’s time to
                                                                                                     start training
for Kenneth
Individuals’ goals have always been our           Kenneth is not so different from any other
                                                                                                     for City2Surf
                                                                                                     2013!
focus at DSA but we recently took the             young man. His dream was to become
landmark step to make the personal goals          a South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league
and aspirations of people with a disability       football club member and watch his
and their families our number one priority.       favourite team win. Based on Kenneth’s
                                                  wishes we developed a support plan to help
                                                  him realise his dream.
                                                  There are many things Kenneth has never
                                                  been able to do. He has high medical needs
                                                  and minimal mobility relating to his cerebral
                                                  palsy and intellectual disability. Simply
                                                  getting out and about is extremely difficult.
                                                  Being non-verbal, communicating his needs
                                                  and feelings is also hard.
                                                  Kenneth’s expression shows what he likes
                                                  best. Our staff worked with him using
                                                  communication tools to suggest support
                                                  options with his family and carers also
                                                  putting forward ideas. We then began
                                                  making the many practical arrangements
                                                  needed to fulfil his dreams. These included
                                                  numerous phone calls organising two
                                                  Rabbitohs memberships with wheelchair              Members of Team DSA are excited to once
                                                  accessible seats for Kenneth so assistance         again be lining up to participate in The Sun-
                                                  staff could accompany him to games.                Herald City2Surf, raising funds in support of
                                                  Kenneth is now a proud Rabbitohs Club              projects to provide opportunities for people
We are thankful for role DSA Supporter Mark       member. In 2012 he saw his beloved team            with a disability to live a healthier, more
“Panno” Pannowitz the host of the popular         make the NRL finals finishing third on the         active life.
radio program Talking NRL played in realising     ladder and recently received a surprise visit      City2Surf is the world’s largest run and
Kenneth’s dream.                                  from Rabbitohs great Mario Fenech.                 Sydney’s favourite sporting event. Join Team
                                                                                                     DSA and 85,000 other people on Sunday
                                                                                                     August 11 for the 14km journey from Hyde

  NEWSFLASH
                                                                                                     Park in Sydney’s CBD to Bondi.
                                                                                                     We’d love you to join us either as a member
                                                                                                     of Team DSA or as a supporter on the day.
                                                                                                     Contact the Communications Team on

  Beware of NDIS Scam
                                                                                                     9791 6599 or community@dsa.org.au for
                                                                                                     information on how to get involved.

   People are being warned to beware of contact from anyone claiming to work for the
   Government who tries to make them pay an administration fee to access the National
   Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
   These claims are false.
   There is no need for people to pay a fee to join the
   National Disability Insurance Scheme.
   If people are concerned that their privacy has been breached or they have provided
   personal details as a result of one of these calls, they should report it to the police.
   People can also report a scam and get further information at the Government’s
   Scamwatch website, www.scamwatch.gov.au, or call the hotline on 1300 795 995.
   If you have any further enquiries about this scam email helpdesk.fraud@fahcsia.gov.au
   If you want to know more about the facts of the NDIS please go to the Government’s                Some of the members of Team DSA 2012, who
   official website at www.ndis.gov.au                                                               ran, jogged and walked the 14kms and raised a
                                                                                                     whopping $18,000!

                                      YOUR LIFE        •     YOUR FUTURE            •         YOUR CHOICE                                            7
Solutions ISSUE 11 : APRIL 2013 - DSA Business Services
it Doesn’t
     24-year-old Neciptake
                       startedMuCH
                               a new life two       years
                                           “If you think

     ago when he began receiving the service
                                                         you’re too
                                           small to make a difference
                                                    wealone offer
                                           you’ve obviously never

     toourMake
     at            a Autism
           Specialist DiFFerenCe           spent a night

                             Centre at Bankstown.
                                           room with a mosquito.”
                                                                 in a

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Anita Roddick, Body Shop founder

     Figen Ada looks up and says “thank you,                                     By the time Necip was in his early 20s his                                                                                                  reflective of their goals. Necip’s list, written
     Nick* loves
     God”     everybike  timeriding,
                                   she seeslovesher   thesonfeeling    of his
                                                                  off for        need for specialised support and constant                                                                                                   by his mother in line with his aspirations,
     speed    and    that
     day program at Bankstown.special      kind    of   freedom      of          vigilance meant his parents were barely able                                                                                                stresses community inclusion and becoming
     watching the world fall behind him as he races                              to take him out of the house although they                                                                                                  a valued member of his community.
     “To look at where he is now,” she explains,
     along   with the        wind      in his it.”
                                                face. Nick is like a             longed to, and they were struggling just to
     “I honestly      can’t       believe                                                                                                                                                                                    “He’s going swimming and shopping. The
     new person. He is enthusiastic, happy and for                               go shopping or to the doctor.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             goal at the moment is to go shopping at the
     When we met Necip, he was virtually
     the first time in a long time he is happy to get                            People with high-level needs, including those                                                                                               supermarket and not be distressed by all
     housebound, isolated and sleeping most
     up the
          andday.
               out of      bed before                                            with significant autism, like Necip, require                                                                                                the people. So we’re starting small, going to
     of               Today,         he is midday.
                                              a youngWatching man who      the
     transformation                                                              a specialised day program. Chris Faulkner,                                                                                                  a corner shop with two staff, being patient
     walks    into the has    centre been  ona weekday
                                                 thrill and extremely
                                                                  mornings
                                                                                 Assistant Co-ordinator at the Bankstown                                                                                                     and moving on when Necip is ready.”
     with   a lively
     rewarding       forloud       “hello”,
                            the staff      whoready        and willing
                                                   are working        with to
                                                                                 Autism Specialist Centre, has been thrilled to
     try
     the new
           youngchallenges.
                    people in our new Leaving Care                                                                                                                                                                           “Our focus is to assist people to do the
                                                                                 watch Necip gradually expand his world.
     Program.                                                                                                                                                                                                                things they can and want to do. Maybe
     These     are things that Figen and her
                                                                                 “It’s been little baby steps for him,” says                                                                                                 Necip can’t turn on the oven but he can roll
     husband feared would never be possible
     The Leaving Care Program assists young people                               Chris. “Initially he wouldn’t come in to the                                                                                                up a sausage in pastry and is building his
     for Necip – especially when their son was
     with a disability      in NSW      whoand are leaving      the Parental     centre. He would get very agitated with                                                                                                     self-esteem in seeing the end result.”
     diagnosed         with      autism                an intellectual
                                                                                 other people around him. Now he’s coming
     Responsibility
     disability         of the3Minister
                   at just          years old. for Community
                                                        They’d been  Services                                                                                                                                                There are others hoping for the same
                                                                                 here and he’s socialising; he wants to come
     concerned
     – what you may     when knowhe   aswouldn’t
                                          the care ofjoin        in games
                                                           the state.                                                                                                                                                        support as Necip but it is essential that
                                                                                 and see his friends. He’s got a mischievous
     and
     Somedidn’t
             have beentalk removed
                               like theirfrom nieces        and nephews
                                                    their families,    were                                                                                                                                                  we not overcrowd our Autism Specialist
                                                                                 streak, he’ll say hello and wave and he likes
     but hoped he would start when he was                                                                                                                                                                                    Centres. Change can be distressing and
     homeless or in other trouble.                                               you to copy what he’s doing.”
     ready. Suddenly the future they’d dreamed                                                                                                                                                                               routines and environments need to be
     of
     Manyforhave
              Necip grown was   upgone
                                    in veryand        theyand
                                               unstable       were volatile      Central to DSA’s focus on maximising                                                                                                        carefully organised. As you can imagine this
     terrified
     situations ofwithwhat       lay ahead.
                          few good       role models. Where others               choice, inclusion, achievement and                                                                                                          requirement puts pressure on our existing
                                                                                 opportunities for people with a disability                                                                                                  services and necessitates opening up new
     “Any    child
     their age  are islooking
                           very at  precious,”
                                        a future fullremembers
                                                          of promise,                                                                                                                                                        lucky to be spaces
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         one of ourtosupport
                                                                                 mentoring,
                                                                                 is         education,
                                                                                    developing           teamwork and
                                                                                                  a personalised         physicalplan
                                                                                                                      support    activity,                                                                                   outreach                  meet workers.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the highA demand.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       recent
     Figen.
     these young people were facingNecip
               “For     my      husband,                     was his
                                                     the potential    of a       from cycling to going on bushwalks, washing the car                                                                                         personal highlight for Jack was seeing three of
     everything.        It  was      absolutely
     devastating downward spiral, at risk of remaining   devastating.
                                                                                 or even mowing the lawn. This could be their first                                                                                          the five young people he is working with begin the
     Nothing was easy for Necip or for us, but
     victims of abuse or of being drawn into criminal                            experience of adult life and its potential where they                                                                                       Transition to Work program.
     step by step the grief we felt turned into the
     activities ifofnot‘Let’s
     thought              for thehelpintensive     intervention
                                           our little      son.’ ”they           have opportunities and responsibilities.
                                                                                                                                              “It’s a huge achievement!” he says. “With ongoing
     receive from DSA.
     An estimated 64,600 Australians have                                        One of the staff brought their bike in from home for         support every person we help will have the chance
     autism
     Our Leaving– a Care
                      dysfunction
                               Program focusesof the on   central
                                                              working with       Nick to try and he now he goes bike riding regularly,        to be independent, they will be able to manage their
     nervous      system          that    changes
     young people to help break a destructive cycle that   how                   sometimes for as far as 14 kilometres. That might not money, work, and be fully participating members of
     individuals understand their world, in
     could potentially lock them in for life by meeting their                    sound important but since he’s achieved that level of        the community.”
     particular affecting people’s communication,
     individual
     social       needs to help
              interaction,           andtheirtheir
                                               transition     into adulthood.
                                                      behaviour        and       discipline we’ve been able to encourage him to use
                                                                                                                                              Even simple things, like the pleasure of riding a bike,
     We   provide
     interests.      access      to  fl exible   support     linked   to secure   that discipline to go to his transition to work training,
                                                                                                                                              can make a significant difference. Please consider
     accommodation.                                                              learning job readiness skills on a path to becoming
     In Necip’s case, says Figen, “he depends on                                                                                              supporting our appeal raising much needed funds to
     me                                                                          employed. This is a major breakthrough for Nick as
     Staffto  doparticipants
            help    everything        to –build
                                            grooming,          shaving,and
                                                 personal strengths                                                                           provide healthy lifestyle options, including sport and
     brushing      his     teeth,      going      to   the   toilet,             getting out of bed was a challenge not so long ago.
     develop independent living skills such as paying bills,                         Your donation to our new Autism Specialist outreach      recreational
                                                                                                                                                   facilitiesequipment
                                                                                                                                                              would makefor the
                                                                                                                                                                            the people we support.
                                                                                                                                                                                same intensive
     preparing snacks. He has behaviours. He’ll
     shopping and cooking. Confidence, more positive                             Achieving  change
                                                                                     assistance        takes
                                                                                                    that hasgreat
                                                                                                               giveneffort and time
                                                                                                                      so much        but and his family, available to more people and their
                                                                                                                                 to Necip
     say a word over and over then it turns into
     attitudes and social
     aggression.                  inclusionand
                          He shouts             are fostered
                                                       stampsthroughhis feet.”       families.
                                                                                 being  part of it is a privilege. Jack*considers himself     *Names have been changed to protect privacy

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