Karista Blog

Useful news and information from the health care community

534 Church Street Richmond, VIC, 3121 Australia

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A website that connects aged and disabled consumers with service providers.

What it means to me to have Dylan Alcott as Australian of the Year

January 28, 2022  /  Susy Dixon  /  Source

I welled up with the news that Dylan Alcott had been named Australian of the Year and a tear or two escaped listening to his acceptance speech. It is the first time in the awards history that a person with a disability has been given the honour. In the 63 years since the award’s inception, not one disabled person has been recognised for their contribution to the country. Why had it taken so long for a person living with a disability to be acknowledged as being worthy of the award? I know the answer.

Just like Dylan Alcott spoke about in his acceptance speech, I too had a difficult time in school. I hated the fact that I was ‘different’. Kids most likely didn’t understand that having a limp and a wonky eye was ok, instead they chose to punish me for my differences. I also remember, seeing the graphic TAC ads and wondering why they were showing people in hospital crying. Why was being in a wheelchair or attending rehab so awful? I spent a long-time in hospital and had been in wheelchairs and I knew that it was ok. Maybe not the most fun thing for a 10-year-old but it was still ok. It wasn’t just Dylan and me seeing those ads, it was many young and vulnerable people. While the message about the consequences of drink driving or speeding was a good message and it hit home in a graphic way, it was the depiction of disability as something to pity and avoid at all costs. Nobody wanted to be in hospital for the rest of their lives, did they?

As I got older, I thought that people would start to see me for the person I am and not just my disability. Going out with friends to bars or clubs, there would inevitably be one idiot who would ask what was wrong with me and why didn’t I just fix it. It wasn’t just a few drunks on a Saturday night either. I’m regularly asked by people in my day-to-day life ‘what’s wrong with me’, or why I use my walking stick. Sometimes, if I’m in the mood I might make a joke and say it was an old footy injury. Recently, I’ve had several people, particularly in shops make loud remarks about how fabulous my walking stick is (it is fabulous). Whether this is an attempt at conversation, or they think they’ve got a better chance of a sale, I don’t know. It may also be good natured and well-intended. With all of that in mind I smile and say something about how great it is and ‘well if you’ve got have one it might as well be a good one’. Occasionally, when asked what is wrong with me, I’ll tell them I have rheumatoid arthritis. Oh, they say – my grandma has that. I nod and wait for the next comment, which is inevitably, what grandma did to fix her arthritis. Not all arthritis is the same by the way. Osteoarthritis is common in older people while Rheumatoid is an autoimmune disease. Internally, I am groaning and hoping my face does not give me away. Why after 40 years of living in this body, do I still have to smile and nod at people commenting on my body when they don’t have a medical degree? Why? Why do people think it’s ok to ask a stranger about their medical history and then offer up a cure or remedy? Sorry mate but having a cold shower twice a day does not cure rheumatoid arthritis.

While the national employment rate for working-age able-bodied people has remained reasonably steady at around 80%, the employment rate for working-age disabled people is around half that *. I can understand why this is. Fronting up for a job interview with a walking stick can be confronting. I’ve seen potential employers looking perplexed about what they are going to do with me. Even when I was successful, I was told that I didn’t have quite the right ‘look’. There was also the memorable time when I was sent by a recruiter to an office with steep stairs which would have been difficult once a day but even more so when it had to be done as part of the job. This happened to me twice, for two separate jobs – with the same recruiter. I’d explained about stairs being an issue and frankly it’s obvious there might be an issue when a client walks into your office with a walking stick. But the recruiter hadn’t taken the time to ask one question. One question was all it would have taken to save me the embarrassment of telling a potential employer that I couldn’t even do the interview as there was no way I was getting up two flights of stairs with no handrail. While I’m only a small case study, it is obvious that there are barriers to employment for disabled people. As much as some government ministers might like the public to think it, no one wants to be on the pension all their lives. Disabled people want the opportunity to participate in the workforce just like everybody else. It should and can be possible. With diversity and inclusion major talking points for big companies – disability must be part of that conversation too. I am so hopeful that having Dylan Alcott speaking about disability employment in front of the nation on Tuesday night will spark new understanding from employers that disabled people are here and waiting to get into jobs.

When I was little, I wanted to be Tina Turner. I wanted to be Tina Turner not just for the voice, outfits or moves but because she was so energetic and confident. There were never any girls like me on the telly. The person I saw on television that I related to the most was Eve van Grofhorst. Eve was the first person in Australia to be diagnosed with HIV after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion at the height of the AIDS epidemic. With AIDS being new and not understood well, Eve and her family were hounded out of their NSW home as fears that Eve might infect children at her kinder became hysterical. The hysteria became so bad, the family moved to New Zealand where they were warmly welcomed. What I remember most about that time is that I felt like Eve did. I remember thinking I looked a little like her - I was also born prematurely and I could see myself in her. The kids at school used my apparent AIDS diagnosis as another form of bullying. This is why representation matters. No little girl should have to feel like an outcast through no fault of her own.

What Dylan Alcott is doing just by being visible is making disability a normal part of life. He is showing us that it is more than possible to live an enriched, happy life and have a disability. Sure, you might have your bad days but you’re not going to spend the rest of your life crying at physio or hospital ward. I hope too that having him in the public space will open more doors for people like me and will maybe stop the ‘meaning wellers’ from telling me about grandma’s cure-all. Like Grace Tame has done for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Dylan Alcott will be able to start a conversation about what living with disability is like and how others can be an ally rather than a hindrance.

*Employment statistics can be found in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website

Susy walking in the Dandenong Ranges with her husband

Susy walking in the Dandenong Ranges with her husband

tags / Dylan Alcott, Australia, disability, AO, Diversity, Australian of the Year, Tennis, Tennis Australia, Representation Matters

How can physiotherapy support someone with a disability?

September 27, 2021  /  Danielle Bodinnar

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The NDIS brings an opportunity for Physiotherapists to support people of all ages with physical conditions like Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis or with lifelong injuries such as Spinal Cord Injury or Acquired Brain Injury. Also, people who have activity restrictions caused by non-physical conditions such as intellectual or psychosocial disability or autism can benefit from physiotherapy.

The possibilities are endless, but a good Physiotherapist always starts with the person and what they want to be able to do that they can’t do already, and where they want to head in life.

Once a goal is set, such as joining a local sports club or entering the workforce, an assessment helps understand where a person is now, and what barriers they face in achieving those outcomes. This helps to create an individually tailored interdisciplinary therapy plan to achieve those outcomes, which is often focussed on building opportunities for people to practice newly developed skills within their everyday routine.

For example, Physiotherapy can support a young man who is living with Autism who loves moving and has many sensory needs and preferences. Let’s say that young man finds sitting still for mealtimes a real challenge. His family would love for him to join them for a family meal at a restaurant when they can. A Physiotherapist will look at his mealtime set up at home, and his daily routines. They then identify motivating opportunities to incorporate movement safely into his routines, both before and during mealtimes. These strategies, as a part of an interdisciplinary approach, can help this young man to sit and eat for longer periods with his family.

How physiotherapy helped Lewis achieve his goals

Trish Hill, a passionate Everyday Independence Physiotherapist with extensive experience in Paediatrics, talks about how she supported Lewis to achieve his goals.

“Lewis is a young man living with Cerebral Palsy who I’ve been supporting since he was in Prep. He moved to warmer pastures in the Gold Coast last month, but thanks to our Everyday Independence team, he’s been able to keep his supports consistent and doesn’t have to start all over again. I’m still supporting him online until he gets settled, and then it’s high school next year for him! He’s pictured here with his dog Melody, who is having a ride in his wheelchair.”

Does your client need a Physiotherapist now?

We have Physios with immediate availability in most metro areas. Search now!

tags / physiotherapist, cerebral palsy, NDIS, disability

Interested in services for 15yo+ NDIS Participants with Autism?

April 29, 2021  /  Danielle Bodinnar

Check out PINPOINT

Pinpoint specialises in helping individuals over the age of 15 with Autism and mental illness. We focus on teaching new behaviours to help manage people’s mental health.

Sessions vary depending on the goals and objectives of the participant.

Group Therapy Program: The group typically begins with a gentle 25-minute walk followed by hand-eye coordination activities. Facilitators then present an interactive workshop that assists participants in managing their mental health. Following the workshop, our professional yoga instructor guides us through a series of basic yoga exercises and concludes with a short meditation session. All our activities involve the presence of our two therapy dogs, Luna & Paddy.

Behaviour and Social Skills Training:  Focuses on improving behaviour using behavioural techniques such as differential reinforcement,  direct instruction, role plays, shaping, positive reinforcement, video modelling and feedback.

Anxiety Management: Involves experiential exercises such as meditation, yoga, and basic grounding exercises.  

Physical Activity training: Targeted physical activities are undertaken to boost brain stimulation, increase focus and improve mental health. 

Animal-assisted therapy: Can be integrated into any service or therapy and helps participants connect with people, maintain calmness, and increases motivation to work on their goals.

Employment Advocacy: Uses the principles of behaviour analysis to assist individuals in maintaining employment and flourishing in their workplace. Emphasis is on collaboration with employers to maximise employee productivity.

Therapeutic Driving:  Targeted towards individuals with debilitating disabilities that require transport to essential appointments from a safe and familiar empathetic driver.

Location: Pinpoint specialises in intervening where the target behaviours occur. As a result, Pinpoint operates in an outreach capacity and meets participants in their natural environment such as their home, workplace, school, university, or community setting.

Enquire at: Karista Call 1300274782

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