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AFSA

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25.01.2022 Access to TAFE for learners with disability is being examined by the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee, which is inviting community inpu...t. Committee Chair John Eren MP and Deputy Chair Gary Blackwood MP discuss the issues being considered. To have your say, go to parliament.vic.gov.au/TAFEaccessinquiry. See more

24.01.2022 This girl highlights all the things her service dog does for her

24.01.2022 We have been receiving many inquiries from deaf and hard of hearing people as well as family members, colleagues, friends, allies and service providers about co...mmunication and masks. We know it can be a bit overwhelming and finding the right information can be hard. So we have gathered some useful resources on a new page on our website here: https://www.deafvictoria.org.au//coronavirus-mask-informa/ Included on the page is: 1. Communication tips and tools 2. Deaf and hard of hearing friendly face coverings and masks 3. Victorian Government information about face coverings and masks This Auslan video is a description of the informaiton in English on the webpage. Please note: Deaf Victoria cannot provide advice about the appropriateness or safety of any protective equipment. Deaf Victoria does not purchase, sell or distribute face coverings or masks.

22.01.2022 Take the time to read About us at the left hand side bar of the page so you know what our organisations mission is, our company overview, general information... and our rules and guidelines. Our organisation is based in Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Our Certificate of Incorporation Number is: A0038094K Our page is moderated by trained volunteers and are available from 12.00pm- 9.00pm Monday to Friday and 12.00pm- 6.00pm Saturday and Sunday, Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEST). This page is not moderated on Public Holidays. Note that we are a volunteer based organisation and that we do not provide a 24/7 service. PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT OUR PAGE IS NOT A CRISIS SERVICE, WE ARE AN ORGANISATION THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION AND SUPPORT ONLY. Posts discussing, promoting, suggesting or recommending medications will be deleted from our page as we are not professionals and neither are the followers, and hence discourage the conversation of such. We encourage our followers to speak to a health professional about this topic. If in need of urgent help please call the following helpline numbers: Lifeline 13 11 14 24hr Telephone Crisis Support 24/7 SuicideLine 1300-651-251 - 24/7 Beyondblue 1300 22 4636 - 24/7 Mensline Australia 1300 78 99 78 is a 24/7 professional telephone and online support information service for Australian men Nurse-on-Call (Australia wide) 1300-885-605 OTHER COUNTRIES UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org (1-800-273-8255) CANADA: 1-866-996-0991 NEW ZEALAND Lifeline Aotearoa 24 hour telephone counselling: Within Auckland: 09 5222 999 Outside Auckland: 0800 543-354 UNITED KINGDOM : www.samaritans.org (0845 790 90 90) If your country is not listed here, please visit this page to find a local number: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines Anyone using this information does so at their own risk, and by using such information agrees to indemnify ADAVIC and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, injury, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such persons use of the information and resources on this website. Anyone who is suicidal should call a crisis number in their country to receive help from trained mental health professionals. ~The ADAVIC Team~ <3

20.01.2022 When we say we need to get every Victorian vaccinated - we mean everyone. But right now, although higher than the national average - vaccination rates among Vic...torians living with a disability are lower the general Victorian population. We've been working hard to support the Commonwealth with their vaccine rollout to people living with disability and disability workers, with vaccination blitzes and accessible vaccination hubs. But more needs to be done. So we're stepping in, and stepping up support. From this week, Victorians living with a disability can come to any one of our state-run vaccination centres and be supported to get vaccinated - no booking required. 10 dedicated pop-up sites for Victorians living with disabilities will open this month as well - and they'll be rolled out to areas with greatest demand. We'll also be expanding our hardworking team of Disability Liaison Officers - who so far have helped 6,000 people organise vaccinations at home, group bookings, as well as providing support and advice to those in need. By expanding our vaccination reach, we're making sure those who need the vaccine, get it. No one will be left behind - and our state can reopen for everyone, as safely as possible.

20.01.2022 Youve seen the vision, and its hard to watch. His family wants answers, but they also want you to know what happened before the police moved in. #9ACA

19.01.2022 We know independent assessments are a big change for people applying to access the NDIS, and for existing participants. And we understand that change can create... uncertainty. We are committed to working with participants, their families and carers, peak bodies, disability organisations and peer and family networks between now and the start of independent assessments, to make sure they work effectively for participants. Were already hearing from participants and the disability community about what theyd like to know about the introduction of independent assessments. Weve answered some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) on our website: https://bit.ly/33aNch4

19.01.2022 A true inspiration. Join Janis McDavid on a tour through his very specially converted Sprinter. via Mercedes-Benz Vans

19.01.2022 Did you know your location is often visible by default when you download an app? Showing your location on your posts or messages can allow people to track where... you and your children go and how often. Check whether your location is necessary for each of your apps if not, disable it in the settings. _______________ Stay Smart Online Protect your personal information reverse the threat of cybercrime: https://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/ See more

18.01.2022 Yep! Very concerning!!

18.01.2022 Are you a nominee or child representative? If you need to log into the myplace portal to access participant information, you need to log into the myplace portal... using your own details. This enables us to protect participant privacy, while ensuring nominees and child representatives can still access the information they need. From November to February, our National Contact Centre will be calling nominees and child representatives to speak to them about how they access the myplace portal. Tap for more information: https://bit.ly/32OdW7G Tap for instructions on how to access the myplace portal: https://bit.ly/32QAN26

18.01.2022 Independent Assessments: Will the NDIA make the assessment tools public? Yes. We have considered and assessed more than 60 recognised and standardised tools for... independent assessments and will make this information public shortly. We have also developed a framework for independent assessments, which explains the tools which will be used, and how they have been selected. This framework was published on September 7 2020. Tap to view more FAQs on Independent Assessments: https://bit.ly/33aNch4

17.01.2022 Break out the tissues! What a family!

17.01.2022 Mona Lisa the lamb is learning to walk thanks to a reusable Woolworths shopping bag and the team at Edgars Mission whove been helping disabled farm animals live the fullest life possible Video by Michael Dahlstrom

17.01.2022 Weve compiled a list of coronavirus information resources that give you up to date information. Tap for coronavirus information for Victorians with a disabilit...y: https://bit.ly/2EVVGQI Tap for coronavirus information for Victorians in 53 languages: https://bit.ly/3b80tdO Tap for Australian Government Department of Health easy read resources: https://bit.ly/2YX3ybP Tap for NDIS coronavirus easy read information: https://bit.ly/3dERtO4

16.01.2022 "Your child is not well and your child is in pain, and there is nothing you can do about it." Sofia has some of the most complex special educational needs. Duri...ng lockdown the government said that children like Sofia could still attend school, but families say is wasnt that simple. https://bbc.in/3jLWir8

15.01.2022 Dad builds son with spina bifida a special wheelchair

14.01.2022 Ive heard independent assessments only take 20 minutes. How can you assess the impact of my disability in 20 minutes? Independent assessments do not have mini...mum or maximum time limits. Depending on your age and disability, and how many assessments you need, your assessment will probably take between 1 and 4 hours. It can also take place over a number of days. It isnt something we want to rush. Its important to remember that independent assessments are just one piece in a collection of supporting evidence that the NDIA considers when making decisions about access and planning. Your doctor or allied health professional will continue to provide evidence of disability and supporting evidence, which is required to request access to the NDIS. Following this process the NDIA will support applicants to obtain information to show how their disability affects their life though an independent assessment. Tap to view more FAQs on Independent Assessments: https://bit.ly/33aNch4

13.01.2022 [NEWS] Booster shot for severely immunocompromised Australians. From next week Australians who are severely immunocompromised will be offered the option to rece...ive a third COVID-19 vaccine dose to boost their protection against COVID-19 to the highest level. Read more at: www.health.gov.au//booster-shot-for-severely-immunocomprom

13.01.2022 A Moms Response to the Deaf Community

13.01.2022 The Attorney General has known that confidentiality protections are needed for people to be able to safely tell their stories to our Royal Commission for almost... a year, yet he has done nothing. Last week I promised the government that if they werent willing to fix the problem, The Australian Greens will. Today Im honouring that promise and introducing a bill to amend the Royal Commissions Act so that disabled people can safely tell their stories

12.01.2022 Deaf and hearing-impaired advocates have criticised new NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet for failing to provide Auslan interpreters at his recent press conferences. 'Failure to provide this information in an accessible manner, in real-time, violates the human rights of people with disability and places them at great risk.'

12.01.2022 We have published a new info pack Support for participants with coronavirus (COVID-19). The pack provides information on what to do if you are being tested or have tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19). Tap to view this pack and other information packs https://bit.ly/2ZJeFFt

10.01.2022 Why is somebody with a disability so terrified of you?

10.01.2022 You might not realise this, but masks have made it especially hard for the Deaf community to read people during COVID. Expression Australia have kindly given us some basic Auslan signs we all should learn

10.01.2022 Independent Assessments: Will assessors be focussed on reducing plan values and/or remove participants from the NDIS? No. Although funded by the NDIA, the asses...sments are conducted separate to the Agency. They will be conducted by assessors from a range of health professions, like occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, clinical and registered psychologists and behaviour support specialists. Assessors provide the assessment report to the NDIA; they do not make decisions about a persons access to the NDIS, or a participants plan budget. Tap to view more FAQs on Independent Assessments: https://bit.ly/33aNch4

09.01.2022 Not disability related but a really important topic to discuss

09.01.2022 Today I joined Dan Andrews to outline our roadmap out of lockdown. Importantly it includes some significant announcements for schools and early childhood servic...es I want to share with you. Students will begin returning to school next term in a careful, staged approach. For the first week of Term 4, all students will continue to learn remotely, except senior secondary students doing VCE/VCAL essential assessments on-site and, for VCE students, the General Achievement Test (GAT) on 7 October. Students in regional and rural specialist schools can continue to attend on-site. From 12 October, metropolitan Melbourne students in Prep to Grade 2, VCE and VCAL and specialist schools will return to on-site learning. Teachers will only need to be on-site to deliver classes if their students are, or to provide supervision for students who need to attend on-site. Otherwise they are able to work from home. All regional and rural Victorian students will return to on-site learning from 12 October. Schools will have local flexibility to determine the best staged approach for different year levels, with all students to be back on-site by Friday 16 October. Students in Years 3 to 10 in metropolitan Melbourne will continue remote and flexible learning, with a decision on their on-site return to be made based on future health data and expert public health advice. Early childhood education and care will be open to all children from 28 September, with parents/carers no longer requiring a permit. Sessional kindergarten will be open for all children to attend at the start of Term 4, and eligibility for outside school hours care attendance will continue to align with schools. I know how hard this period has been on everyone. I want to take this opportunity to thank all our brilliant school and early childhood staff, parents, carers and most importantly students.

09.01.2022 Maybe a good resource for PWD who live in Victoria.

09.01.2022 Weve partnered with Beyond Blue to highlight the link between mental and financial wellbeing, and what financial counselling services and supports are availabl...e. In a recent survey, most financial counsellors said that financial hardship causes mental health to deteriorate. The good news is that people reported feeling more hopeful after seeking support. Its never too early or too late to take control of your money. For information and support to take that first step, visit bb.org.au/3b7gyAj.

08.01.2022 Hundreds of businesses have crashed in 2020 due to the pandemic, so to see a new one open up is a rare sight. But today in Logan an Australian first - a gym catering exclusively for the deaf community. www.7NEWS.com.au #7NEWS

08.01.2022 Its been so long since our last walk and we cant wait to the day that Pathways for Carers is about to recommence. As we are currently unable to walk or enjoy... a coffee in a Caf, we have decided to bring our Pathways for Carers to your home via Zoom. For this event, we are extremely fortunate that are guests are the Hon Luke Donnellan Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers and Anthony Carbines Parliamentary Secretary for Carers & Volunteers, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Date: Tuesday 29 September Time: 11:00am to 12:15pm Cost: Free To book: https://www.trybooking.com/BLDQI (please note numbers are limited) There is an opportunity to submit a question to either the Minister or the Parliamentary Secretary prior to the event. Questions to be sent to [email protected] by 5pm Monday 21 September. Please note that due to time constraints we may not be able to cover all questions during the event. Any questions that is related their portfolios (Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers and Parliamentary Secretary for Carers) that havent been answered we will work with their office in seeking a response.

07.01.2022 We have created a new resource the Early Childhood provider report form. It guides providers to write reports for plan reviews for participants aged under sev...en years. The form will make it easier for providers and families to gather information, because it is clear what information should be reported. Tap to learn more and download the form: https://bit.ly/2F3lb2E

07.01.2022 The National Disability Insurance Scheme has changed the lives of thousands of Australians and it has also proven to be a massive money-maker for some big playe...rs. Among them is the Australian Foundation for Disability, also known as Afford, which has seen its revenue skyrocket under the NDIS. But some families of Afford clients fear its rapid expansion has put safety standards at risk. This report from Pat McGrath and John Stewart of ABC Investigations.

06.01.2022 CHILDHOOD DEMENTIA: Chances are you haven't heard of Sanfilippo Syndrome, a rare form of childhood dementia. It causes brain damage, robbing kids of their mind... and body, and ultimately taking their life by 20. Isla, 11 and Jude, 9, are considered middle aged in terms of this disease. Donate: https://www.sanfilippo.org.au//campaigns-f/hope-for-oliver

05.01.2022 The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on Australians, especially those in Victoria. The NDIS and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission)... have jointly released an open letter to all Victorian participants, their families and carers. The letter provides a range of information for Victorians to support them during the pandemic. Tap to read the open letter: https://bit.ly/31RrqPK

05.01.2022 The guidelines on the rights of people with a disability in health and disability care during COVID-19 have been published on the Australian Human Rights Commission website. View them here https://bit.ly/31Qe1Yk View the Easy Read version here https://bit.ly/32RRglZ

04.01.2022 Why should I have to tell my story again, and to a stranger? I already have therapists who know my needs. Why cant the NDIA trust their reports and assessments...? Functional assessments have always been part of the NDIS process, however current arrangements can be complex, costly and inconsistent. Participants have reported they have spent thousands of dollars chasing assessments to show their functional capacity. By making the independent assessments free, we are removing the financial burden of evidence gathering, to access and use the NDIS, and making sure participants have the right assessments to assist in the planning or review process. The NDIA estimates this will save people with disability collectively between $130 million and $170 million per year based on the cost of assessments. Independent assessments mean that new and existing participants have the same opportunity to access an internationally recognised, evidence-based and consistent assessment, which provides an up-to-date and complete assessment of their functional capacity. Tap to view more FAQs on Independent Assessments: https://bit.ly/33aNch4

02.01.2022 Were really looking forward to this discussion about COVID and work tomorrow night. This topic is especially important as restrictions ease and theres more movement across the community. Hot tip: youll be able to post questions and comments underneath the live feed.

02.01.2022 Here are 3 great questions to ask yourself when you feel triggered

02.01.2022 Melbourne - bring forward the haircut and tell Mum you'll be round for dinner. Victorians have rocked up to get vaccinated faster than even our best predictions.... Five million Victorians have had their first dose - and it looks like we'll hit 70% double dose almost a week earlier than planned. We promised if we could open earlier, we would - and today we're locking in the changes we'd planned in the Roadmap, and some more. Victoria's Chief Health Officer has determined that from 11.59pm on Thursday 21 October the following changes will take place: Up to 10 people (including dependents) per day will be able to visit your home in both regional Victorian and metropolitan Melbourne. The curfew and the 15km travel radius will go - but to protect regional areas, travel between regional Victoria and Melbourne is still restricted for now. Indoor venues like restaurants and cafes reopen with up to 20 people indoors - but only if all customers and workers are fully vaccinated. Childcare is open to those already attending, as well as children whose parents are fully vaccinated. In regional Victoria, all students will return to school full time on October 22, and in Melbourne the staggered return to classes is moving forward by a week. Weddings and funerals can to take place with up to 50 people outdoors, and 20 people indoors, subject to density limits and only if all attendees are fully vaccinated. For fully vaccinated Victorians, outdoor cafes, cinemas, and physical recreation facilities like pools will open with up to 50 people per venue but are subject to density limits. And in regional Victoria, outdoor venues will increase from 20 to up to 100 fully vaccinated people and restaurants, cafes and gyms will also have a higher cap, from 10 to 30. The next stop on the roadmap is 80% double dose, and at the moment we think this will happen in the first week of November. The turnout has been nothing short of incredible, Victorians want to get vaccinated. We all want to get on with our lives. You've all sacrificed so much for days like today, and that sacrifice has saved so many lives too. Every single Victorian should feel optimistic, the end is near and future is clear. Just keep getting vaccinated. Keep saving lives.

01.01.2022 I know everyone’s hanging out for this one so I’ll cut to the chase. Victoria will move to the Last Step from 11.59pm tonight. That’ll mean more people can get ...together 15 visitors to your home and 50 outdoors in a public place. Numbers at gyms will increase to 150 with group limits of 20 and venue density limits. Hospitality also increases to 150 inside for larger venues and 50 for smaller ones with density limits based on their size. Up to 150 people can attend weddings and funerals. And the number caps will be increased for other venues community centres, galleries, museums and more. I'll put all the details in the comments. There will be a staged return to offices for staff who've spent the past six+ months in Zoom meetings too with up to 25 per cent able to come back onsite at any one time. Everyone else will need to keep working from home. We’re also changing the rules around masks. They’ll still be mandatory indoors and on PT but you won’t need one outside, so long as you’re able to keep a safe distance from others. To put it into context, that means wearing a mask if you’re at a busy outdoor market or event but not if you’re out walking the dog. You'll need to carry a mask at all times for when it's required. I’m sure some people think everything should be thrown open completely now that we’ve gone three weeks without a case. But that’s precisely the point. We’ve only got to zero cases because of masks and distancing and everyone playing their part. Keeping these protections around a bit longer means that if we were to get a case, the risk of it spreading faster and wider will be much lower. And most Victorians would agree it’s a relatively small imposition for a potentially huge benefit. Just finally, to everyone looking ahead to Christmas and planning how many seats at the lunch table you'll be able to have 30 visitors at home, including kids. We'll have more to say on other settings soon, based on the latest public health advice. This has been a year like no other and one most of us would probably rather forget. Victorians have sacrificed so much and done it so tough. But even in the darkest of winter days, we stuck together and supported each other. And for that I am so grateful and so very proud.

01.01.2022 A week can sometimes feel like a year at the moment, but heres something worth remembering: In just over a month weve gone from over 700 daily cases to 70. T...hats a massive effort, and one Victorians should rightly be proud of. Today we announced our plan for a new COVID Normal and the steps well need to take to get there. These steps are not about locking down. Theyre about locking in a new normal. Finding ways to safely do some more of the things we love. Ive said this a bunch of times recently but this has to be slow, steady and most importantly, sustainable. To open up faster and further when the numbers are still at this level would almost guarantee a third wave. There is absolutely no point in enjoying a couple of weeks of fun only to have cases explode again and end up right back where we started. Or worse. It makes no sense and its just not worth it. Im sure most Victorians would agree with that. This is about moving forward, safely stepping down our restrictions while continuing to step up our fight against this virus. Weve given up far too much and worked far too hard to risk throwing it all away now. We all have to somehow find that extra gear, that extra reserve, to dig deep and keep going. Now to the important part: What it means for all of us. On 14 September, metro Melbourne will move to the First Step toward COVID Normal and regional Victoria will move directly to the Second Step. As part of these steps well be introducing social bubbles, meaning single people who live alone and solo parents can nominate one person to visit them in their home. Im very conscious these past few months have been particularly isolating for people who live on their own and hopefully this makes the coming weeks that little bit easier. In the First Step, youll also be able to meet up with one other person outside for up to two hours at the park, for example and you dont necessarily have to be exercising. Melbourne will enter the Second Step towards COVID Normal once weve driven the numbers down to between 30-50 daily cases over a 14 day average and not before 28 September. Itll look slightly different to the regional version, and well still be asking people in Melbourne to stay local but the principles are roughly the same. Ill put links out to more detailed information about what this means for socialising, businesses, schools and childcare, sport and travel in the comments. The case number targets for moving to the next step are listed too, so everyone can be on the same page about our goals and where were headed. These arent just dates on the calendar. Based on health advice, well have to maintain a certain number of low cases for a certain number of days before we can move forward. Im sure people will have lots of questions. None of us have a crystal ball, so asking "Will I be able to go ten-pin bowling with 10 friends for my birthday on 10 November?" is a bit premature. But Ill do my best to clarify whatever I can over the coming days. Some people will no doubt want this to be done quicker. And believe me, if we could we would. But we would be doing ourselves a massive disservice if we put all our hard-won gains at risk and every sacrifice counted for nothing. It just wouldnt be right. Weve come so far. We just have to keep going. We can. We must. We will.