In this issue of your newsletter
Changing Perceptions
Save the date A voice for Lindelani Pamper day Diary of a Cerebral Palsied Twenty something
Annual National Cerebral
50th Edition
Palsy Conference
July 2014
Save the date!!!
06 September 2014 Our Browns’ School big annual FETE is a “must-do” event for all families. It’s lots of fun, and a great opportunity for shopping for all sorts of lovely goodies. There’s also an amazing range of yummy food at very reasonable prices. The entertainment always includes something new and exciting and we will have all the favourites as well, such as the zorb balls, a giant slide, bungee trampolines, the rocket, paintball, a train, carousels, shooting games, the bottle bash, sumo wrestling and more! Don’t miss all our exciting stalls like Tombola, Farmer Browns’ Fresh Produce, Plants, Books, Second-TimeAround, Arts and Crafts, Needlework, Toys, and our famous Strawberry Bar. We would also be so grateful if you would like to contribute by doing a clear-out (ask all your friends and family too) and send in usable items, such as books, toys, kitchenware, crockery, arts and crafts, knitting wool, appliances and furniture (working), stationary, and anything else you think may be useful. Please do not send magazines, old computers, broken things or jumble. We also need people to help make jam, cakes or biscuits, sweets, needlework or artworks. Please also start cultivating a few plants for us now. Do you have any useful contacts for goods? If you can help us in any way, please phone Jane, Lyn or Margot, on (031) 700 6065, during school hours, or e-mail idc@brownsschool.co.za anytime.
P O Box 10213 Ashwood 3605 Telephone: +27 (0)31 700 3956 Facsimile: +27 (0)866 153 913 Email: info@kzncerebralpalsy.co.za Website: www.kzncerebralpalsy.org.za Our Association is a registered Non-Profit (002-154 NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930000042) with Section 18A Tax Exemption status.
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Thank you Donors for sponsoring Lindelani with his own tablet!!! Lindelani, who has Cerebral Palsy, is unable to talk. However, thanks to a programme on the tablet, he is now able to convert his thoughts into words which the device speaks out—thus opening the door to communication!!!
After the surprise presentation during his speech therapy session, Lindelani immediately started whizzing his way through the programme. He was so excited when a voice came out of the tablet saying: “I like” - the first sentence he typed to show his appreciation. Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to make this dream come true for Lindelani. Gaging from the huge smiles in these photographs, you can be left with no doubt about what this gift means to him.
Thank you making one of my dreams a reality
Our girls thoroughly enjoyed themselves at their pamper morning. Thank you Chevaun and Yershni for putting it together!
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Diary of a Cerebral Palsied Twenty-something Diary no. 48 by Penny de Vries
Accessibility is one of the disability issues that constantly plague all of us who either live with a disability or are connected to someone who does. I seldom take Julia anywhere without first checking out the lie of the land. The other day we went to movie at Gateway’s main cinema. I had booked online as usual; that is the best way to ensure I can secure the seat next to the wheelchair space. The first difficulty was pushing Julia up to the cinema as the passage is on an incline. I arrived in the cinema puffing and panting (yes, I should be fitter, I know) only to find that the seats were at the top of a flight of 3 steps and the wheelchair space was at the bottom. Not only did this mean that we could not sit next to each other but it also meant that Julia could not see over the top of the chairs in front of her. She is not particularly short and sits on a cushion; no-one, other than a Springbok lock perhaps, would have been able to see over the high-backed chairs. We moved to another row and she sat in the aisle. Luckily it was not full. What thoughtless design! Her flat has its own accessibility challenges. There is no intercom and visitors have to phone the flat dweller who then has to leave the flat to open the entrance gate, as well as go downstairs
to open the door to the foyer. Julia cannot do this so she has to hand out her keys to people who want to visit her when Seli is not there. The door and security gate to her individual flat was also impossible for her to open and lock herself. I cannot do anything about the entrance gate and foyer but I could at least sort out her flat entrance. I had a new door and new security gate fitted, both of which have a remote locking system. So she can sit on the couch and click the button to let people in. When her and Seli leave or enter the flat she can unlock the doors herself. She really loves it. She feels empowered and it also makes things a little easier for Seli. I feel more relaxed because it has always worried me that she could not get out of the flat on her own if something happened, such as a fire or something similar.
“When the world says, Give up, Hope whispers, Try it one more time.� ~ Unknown~
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During the three day Conference, hosted by the AM Moolla Spes Nova School, a variety of speakers presented some excellent and thought provoking sessions. Sensory Modulation, Therapeutic Play, Vitamin D deficiency in children with Cerebral Palsy, and Keeping up to date with Technology for Communication Devices, were just a few of the sessions Paula found valuable. However, it was the speakers who ‘spoke from the heart’ that were the highlight of the Conference. “Hearing a Cerebral Palsied man with a speech impediment, proudly stand up and tell us his life story, was one of the sessions that grounded everyone - as was hearing about the daily
struggles of a mother with a Cerebral Palsied daughter, who has proven everyone wrong.” Many of the presenters re-iterated the need to bring back the FUN factor when working with Cerebral Palsied children and adults. They spoke about adapting everyday activities to best suit their individual needs. As usual, the sessions were often cut short due to time restrictions as it is so difficult to talk about such involved topics in such a short time period. At the closing, Sandy Heyman was introduced as the new Chairman for the National Association for Persons with Cerebral Palsy. A.M. Moolla Spes Nova are to be commended on organising a great conference. LEFT TO RIGHT Paula van Eeden (Crest and Cwac), Edith Makhaye, Lindi Nyirenda and Phindile (Reunion School) Colleen Bailey and Sandy Burgess from Browns’ School
The Annual Jocks and Crocks Cricket match took place at Pevensey Place recently with the residents being the victors!
WELL DONE PEVENSEY RESIDENTS!