Projects

Here are some of our projects that we are involved with:

Accessible Adventure Activities - Queenstown

In conjuntion with DRC Queenstown we are working on a pamphlet and details for our web on the accessablitiy on various activities in the Queenstown area.
Watch this space!!

2010 Expo - "Clutha Country"

Wed 3rd March 2010 - Memorial Hall, Balclutha

Planning for the next Health and Disability Expo ito be  held in Balclutha s now underway.  If you would like to be part of this exciting event - please contact us as soon as possible.  Are you or your organisation able to assist on our Steering Group Committee??  At the 2008 we had more groups wanting to attend than we had available space for!  Book now to secure your space.

 For further details, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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CCS Disability Action
Mobility Parking Survey

CCS Disability Action is conducting an online survey on its Mobility Parking Scheme.  They want the Scheme to:

1.   Continue to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
2.   Improve access to the community.
3.   Reduce misuse of the scheme and mobility parks.
4.   Remain trusted and supported by the wider community.

The discussion paper and survey are available at CCS Disability Action and can be either filled out online, or downloaded, filled out and sent back to them.  They would appreciate your time.

Phone: 0800 227 363

CELEBRATE DIVERSITY WEEK 2009

Monday 21 September – Sunday 27 September

FREE LAUNCH CONCERT & PARADE

Monday 21 September 6pm, Mary Hopewell Theatre Dunedin College of Education145 Union Street

(follow the path between the childcare centre & Bill Robertson Library to the Drama Centre GO1)

Councillor Andrew NOONE launches Celebrate Diversity Week

Singer Bevan GARDINER in concert

In TRANSFORMERS the audience votes for its favourite modified wheelchair

FREE THE ART OF DISABLEMENT – CREATIVITY AS A MEANS TO RECOVER SELF

Tuesday 22 September 11am, Social Work Practice Suite (H4.19), Castle Street North

Tim TURNER conducts a workshop that explores the way imagination can aid recovery

from traumatic injury or chronic debilitating conditions (to book a place ring David on 027 482 1002)

FREE 'FREAKS & NORMALS' - PUBLIC LECTURE

Tuesday 22 September 2pm, Social Work Practice Suite (H4.19), Castle Street North

Dr Russell JOHNSON demonstrates how the notion of disability permeates history

FREE SPORTABILITY EXPO - 'GIVE IT A GO DAY'

Wednesday 23 September 10am-2.30pm, Edgar Centre Portsmouth Drive Dunedin

Karate, wheelchair basketball, boccia, hand cycling, tramping, scuba diving, skiing & more!

Demonstration games: 11am Wheelchair basketball, 12pm Karate, 1pm Special Olympics Football

FREE PARENTING WITH A DIFFERENCE - PANEL DISCUSSION

Thursday 24 September 5pm, St David Seminar Room 2 University of Otago

Donna-Rose McKAY, Barbara GEE, Huberta HELLENDOORN, Vanda SYMON, & Lee VANDERVIS

on the triumphs and challenges of raising a child who has a disability

GOLD COIN 'EXCUSE ME, YOU'RE BLOCKING MY SUN'

Friday 25 September 11am Matinee, College of Education Auditorium 145 Union Street East

Saturday 26 September 7pm College of Education Auditorium 145 Union Street East

a gala performance presented by IDEA Services & friends

$5 DIVERSITY DANCE (with Volunteering Otago)

Saturday 26 September Noon until Midnight, Dunedin Town Hall Moray Place

with Kapa Haka, Bollywood dance, DZIAH, The New Zealots & more

FREE THE DEAF FILM FESTIVAL 2009 (with Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand)

Sunday 27 September 1pm St David Street Theatre (B6) University of Otago

for more information ring David (03) 482 1092 or 027 482 1002

 

Central Otago Health and Disability Expo, Alexandra 7 April 2009

Following on from the successful Expo held in March 2007, where 40 stallholders participating together with seminars, demonstrations and interactive displays this was an awesome event to showcase what is available in the Central Otago,  (see the report of the expo below), we are again holding an Expo in April 2009.

We are starting the organisation process so for further information please contact John Marrable, 0800 693 342 or (03) 471 6152 or email dis.dn@xtra.co.nz

The Proposed Bachelor of Applied Social Services at Otago Polytechnic – feedback welcomed

In response to the increasing demand for qualifications, the School of Social Services at Otago Polytechnic has developed a proposed Bachelor in Applied Social Services with majors covering counselling, career practice, disability information and provision, and mental health support work.

We are now carrying out further consultation on this degree. If you or your organisation is interested in contributing to this consultation, then contact the School Services at Otago Polytechnic  (KeithA@tekotago.ac.nz ) for background information and a questionnaire.

 

2008 Expo - "Clutha Country"

6th March 2008 - Memorial Hall, Balclutha

Planning for the next Health and Disability Expo ito be  held in Balclutha s now underway.  If you would like to be part of this exciting event - please contact us as soon as possible.  Are you or your organisation able to assist on our Steering Group Committee??  At the 2007 we had more groups wanting to attend than we had available space for!  Book now to secure your space.

 For further details, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Celebrate Diversity Week in conjunction with International Day of Disabled Persons

24 November 2007 to 3 December 2007

 

Last year a committee was formed to run a week of events that will celebrate disability culture in Dunedin.  That week started on the 3rd of December which was the International Day of Disabled Persons.  Some of the events we ran were  art exhibitions, movie screenings, sports displays, youth forums with a closing event of a Formal Dinner at the Art Gallary. 

This years events have now been finalised and a programme is available by contacting us at DIS.  This will be posted on our web-site shortly.

 

Central Otago Health and Disability Expo, Alexandra 20 March 2007

We changed the name from Alexandra Health and Disability Expo to Central Otago Health and Disability Expo to better refelct the whole of the Central Otago community.

With 40 stallholders participating together with seminars, demonstrations and interactive displays this was an awesome event to showcase what is available in the Central Otago.  Some of the groups attending were Central Otago Health Services Limited, Arthritis Foundation, CCS, Workbridge, Ideas Services and PACT.  Seminars on a variety of subjects ran throughout the day in rooms adjacent to the hall.  There were also demonstrations of Tai Chi and Living Options singing group as well as activities to get the school students involved.  Many thanks to the numerous people involved and support that was given to make this a successful event.  A DVD of some of the days events has been produced and can be viewed by contacting us.

For further information contact: Judith Hyslop, 0800 693 342 or (03) 471 6152 or email dis.dn@xtra.co.nz

 

Balclutha Health and Disability Expo

This was a factastic event to be a part of!!  Thank you to everybody who helped us run the day.  We are looking forward to next years expo!

NASC Project

We have been working with the Carer's Society Otago on a project to collate information on Needs Assessment and Service Coordination agencies.  Our aim is to provide the public with a comprehensive overview of the services in the Otago region.  It is important for consumers to know where they fit into the system and what other options may be available to them.  We have been consulting with NASC agencies, other interested parties and the MOH.

The booklet is now with the printers and should be available within the next few weeks.

It will also be posted on our web-site.

Watch this space for release date of this great resource! 

Eateries Project

Early in 2004, the Disability Information Service was interviewed for an article in the ODT regarding the problems with eating out for people with dietary concerns. The article raised many questions about how to best inform the public on eateries that would cater for their needs, and how to increase the number of eateries that would.

As a not for profit information service, we saw a growing need from not only local residents, but many travellers, to be supplied with information on eateries that would cater for their respective dietary concerns. The number of people being diagnosed with dietary concerns is increasing substantially in New Zealand. Eating out is a major social barrier to these people, their family, and their friends.

We formed a project group with Allergy Awareness, The Coeliac Society, Public Health South, Otago Polytechnic, and The Heart Foundation. Our initial intention was to create a directory of eateries and what special diets they would cater for. We undertook background research, by way of questionnaires, to ascertain how the industry felt about the issues, and in what ways they wanted to be supported. It soon became apparent that the need for better information needed to be supplied to the eateries themselves. The project has now evolved into an educational program. The basic idea is to construct a seminar course open to all workers in the industry. The aim of the seminar will be to help workers become more aware of the issues surrounding specific dietary concerns, and to work together to look at ways people with such concerns could be catered for without jeopardising the style of their respective menus. The incentive for eateries to send their workers to the seminar is free multimedia publicity, and they will be supplied with a manual containing all relevant information on specific dietary concerns, important contacts, and recipe ideas.

At this stage we are looking at options to provide seminars.

Wanaka Health and Disability Expo 2005

The Disability Information Service is a not-for profit agency that provides the public of Otago with health and disability related information. Our aims are to increase community awareness and understanding of disability; provide accessible information to all members of the community; and maintain a service that provides the opportunity for all individuals to make informed choices. We also support other agencies by facilitating support meetings and projects.

One of these support meetings is the Fieldworkers Network, which provides a forum for other not-for-profit agencies to share ideas, learn from others, and keep up to date with all activities in the disability and health sector. All of these agencies are based in Dunedin but exist to serve the Otago region.

In a meeting held in late 2004, the difficulty of adequately providing our services to the rural areas was discussed. Most agencies send their promotional material to smaller towns out side of Dunedin, but this is not as effective as making a physical presence. The barriers to these agencies making physical visits were time and lack of finances. From these discussions it was decided to plan a group expo in a rural town. The advantages of this are that we can share resources, share time, and maximise the visit by potentially drawing a larger crowd than one group would on their own.

Wanaka was suggested as a potential venue for such an event. It has the well established Community Networks that act as a good contact between our services and the local community. The Community Networks are very supportive of this project and have offered to support us by way of promotion.

The Disability Information Service took on the role of facilitating this project on behalf of the collective community groups involved in the Fieldworkers Network.

Key Notes:

  • Possibly have guest speakers during expo
  • Individual agencies can arrange 'clinics' for pre booked groups
  • Other rooms will be available for private consultation
  • All welcome to attend interagency meeting on the Wednesday to make contacts with other groups in the area
  • Accommodation has been sourced for those who require it. The cost of which will be covered by the Project funding
  • We will be hiring vehicles for those who require it, which again the costs will be covered by the funding.

Outcomes

This was a sucsessful event with 25 agencies displaying their services.  The networks that were formed between agencies was a very valuable outcome.  We have already had interest from other groups to hold a similar event in 2006.