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Articles by Rachel Sirr
Are only children destined to be spoilt or lonely?
Zoya Patel 8 July 2021 7 July 2021 Is having only one child setting them up for selfishness or loneliness? Photo: Jeremiah Lawrence. Unsurprisingly, as soon as you reach a point in life when you’re seriously contemplating and preparing for having children, opinions are thrown at you from every direction as to how many you should have, what schools they should attend, and how you should raise them. In general, I’m pretty happy to smile and nod to most unsolicited advice.
Parents given 'false choice' between mainstream and specialist disability schools
ACTCOSS policy manager Craig Wallace said segregated classrooms at mainstream schools are no better than segregated schools for students with a disability. Photo: Dominic Giannini. Canberra families and children with a disability are being offered a “false choice” between mainstream and specialist schools because of resourcing discrepancies, an ACT Assembly inquiry into education and inclusion has heard.
These technologies can change the life of seniors but more awareness is needed
President of the ACT Retirement Village Association Alistair Christie said assistive technology is vital to the lives of seniors. Photo: Dominic Giannini. Assistive technology might sound like a new term but the concept is decades old. Alistair Christie, the President of the ACT Retirement Village Association, has used a walking stick since he was 11-years-old after a fall knocked the top off his right femur. Since then, he has needed three hip replacements.
Should your workplace have any say in what you wear?
Zoya Patel 29 April 2021 28 April 2021 Men have far fewer options regarding what’s considered workplace-appropriate clothing … but can still get it wrong. Photo: Sara Kurfeß/Unsplash. As the days get cooler and shorter, some might be welcoming the return to winter fashions – the chance to bundle up in coats and jumpers, warm boots and scarves to protect you against the Canberra chill.
ACAT sets aside suspension of Year 2 student with disabilities
The boy had been violent towards other students and the principal said her priority was safety. Photo: File. A decision to suspend a Year 2 child with disabilities after a string of violent incidents has been set aside after it was found that the public school principal had other options at her disposal and had not met the requirements of the Education Act and the Education Directorate’s suspension policy.
Chapman respite care on track for 2020
Rachel Sirr 14 September 2019 Kylie’s looking forward to the opening of Hartley’s Lifecare facility in Chapman. Photos: Supplied. People with disabilities are more likely to live on lower incomes and have limited housing options that may reduce their quality of life. In response to growing need for low income and disability-suitable housing, the ACT Government has been building and renewing the stock of affordable and accessible housing to align tenant requirements with public housing.
Building muscles and community – people with disabilities working at the gym | The RiotACT
Stacy at Club Lime. Photos: Supplied. It isnât all muscle pumping, primping, health or fitness at Club Lime Kingston. It’s also about diversity and boosting morale. Among the many notable achievements Club Lime is recognised for is their inclusivity, hiring people with different abilities and disabilities to join their growing team. One staff member, Stacy Pantelidis, has a disability, and loves working at Club Lime. âEveryone is very happy and that makes me satisfied,â says Stacy.
Building muscles & building community – people with disabilities working at the gym | The RiotACT
It isnât all muscle pumping, primping, health or fitness at Club Lime Kingston. Yes itâs wellness-driven. It’s about diversity, and boosting morale as the Clubs employ people with different abilities and disabilities. This benefits everyone â customers, employees, and the community. One staff member, Stacy Pantelidis, pictured below, has a disability, and loves working at Club Lime. âEveryone is very happy and that makes me satisfied.â said Stacy.
Towards greater inclusion in ACT schools
Towards a more inclusive school system in Canberra. In the movie Finding Nemo, Mr Ray – the school teacher manta ray – would sing his happy song as all of the fish children schooled together under his big fins. Nemo the little clownfish actually had a disability; one small fin, but was determined to be part of the âmainstreamâ class, despite his fatherâs fear he would not cope.
Autistic IT developer in Canberra finds opportunity and support
Ronnie is a software developer in Canberra. Photos: Supplied. Ronnie – or Nazzareno as he was called back then – had a tough time growing up in the late 1950s. In the working-class suburbs of Melbourne, when having an Italian heritage was deemed to be ‘reprehensible’, Ronnie became an extreme introvert and struggled with depression and OCD, but wasnât diagnosed then. He also obsessed over things such as cricket statistics, and admits he had difficulty mixing with other people.
Autistic IT developer in Canberra finds opportunity and support
Ronnie is a software developer in Canberra. Photos: Supplied. Ronnie – or Nazzareno as he was called back then – had a tough time growing up in the late 1950s. In the working-class suburbs of Melbourne, when having an Italian heritage was deemed to be ‘reprehensible’, Ronnie became an extreme introvert and struggled with depression and OCD, but wasnât diagnosed then. He also obsessed over things such as cricket statistics, and admits he had difficulty mixing with other people.
Checking brakes and breaking stereotypes at Fisher Car Mechanical
Naomi at work, showing off her medal won for bowling at the National Cole Cup. Photos: Rachel Sirr. Introducing Naomi, a 31-year-old administrative assistant at a local Canberra mechanic shop. Naomi has Down Syndrome, but she is seriously challenging the stereotypes of people with disabilities who canât be independent, work in mainstream places or meaningful jobs.
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