World Autism Awareness Day

As declared by the United Nations General Assembly, this Thursday marks World Autism Awareness Day.   Events celebrating April 7th aim to increase understanding around autism and the estimated 67 million people affected by it worldwide. Learn more about autism and why detection and behavioural intervention at an early age are important in the WAAD Brochure (pdf file).

In the UK, the National Autistic Society are creators of an advertisement campaign entitled “Think Differently”.  With an aim to decrease discrimination due to lack of awareness and understanding, Think Differently shows how a person with autism might experience and react to everyday situations through film shorts based on true stories.

• Posted:31 Mar 2009 at 12:13 pm

Music at the blink of an eye

James Brosnan uses assistive technology to express himself.  Unable to communicate by voice due to cerebral palsy, Brosnan uses a computer which produces synthetic speech.  Now Brosnan has a new way to expresses himself musically with a computer system, My Tobii, and a software program called Grid 2.

“A graduate of DCU with a first class honours degree in communications, Brosnan recently performed in Trinity College’s Science Gallery’s Lightwave ’09: Defy The Darkness festival. Having worked on a range of projects over the past six years with SmartLab, a coalition of academics based at the University of East London, Brosnan jumped at the chance to explore his own musical creativity by using solely his eye movements to jam with a gaggle of musicians, in a performance entitled Eyelight – Live Music and Dance Controlled by Infrared Eye Gaze Cameras and Driven by the Human Spirit.”

Read The Irish Time’s full article “Music at the blink of an eye” by Siobhan Long

A demonstration of the technology Brosnan uses will take place on March 31st at Trinity College Dublin’s Samuel Becket Theater.

• Posted:25 Mar 2009 at 11:24 am

“GIMP” Adds New Moves to Modern Dance

“GIMP beautifully resets preconceptions about bodies and movement” The New Yorker

Heidi Latsky Dance is a modern dance company rooted in New York City.  Viewing a dancer’s disability as a chance to add another colour to an artist’s pallet, HLD creates new ways of expression and artistic movement with GIMP.  GIMP is an outreach programme comprised of workshops, forums, and a film series which are pulled together by a provocative performance by six residency artists.

“People go to dance events to see what they cannot do themselves. Dancers are generally perceived as limitless; disabled persons as essentially unable. Bringing these two groups together in GIMP challenges conventional notions of dance, performance and body image. GIMP’s unique palette of limbs offers an edgy landscape of uncommon beauty that examines the uncompromising ways we are often identified or defined by our physicality.” Artistic Director, Heidi Latsky explains.

After its New York City premier last week, GIMP will be travelling to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston this April.

• Posted:23 Mar 2009 at 02:41 pm

Watercolours to Wellness

When confronted with mental illness, Bobby Baker prescribed herself an over the counter medication to be mixed with water… a paint brush.  Baker talks about her experience with depression and road to recovery in “The art of surviving mental illness” published by The Guardian.  Keeping a visual diary over 11 years helped her describe her thoughts.  “Recovery is about communicating, so if my pictures can communicate with people in some way, that’s great,” Baker says.

Now through August, 158 of Bobby Baker’s 711 diary watercolours can be seen in person at The Wellcome Collection in London.  Alternatively, view an abbreviated selection online.

• Posted:20 Mar 2009 at 11:44 am

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day will take place on March 21st.  This Saturday will mark the 50th Anniversary of  Professor Jerome Lejeune’s discovery of the genetic cause behind Down Syndrome.  His publication and personal advocacy increased awareness and understanding around this disorder.

Down Syndrome Ireland will be celebrating with their annual HB Helping Hands Awards.  Presented tonight, these awards will honour people with down syndrome making remarkable achievements and the businesses and volunteers who have been especially supportive.

• Posted:19 Mar 2009 at 11:25 am

Shop4Support: An “Amazon” for Social Care

Shop4Support gives people with disabilities and their families the knowledge to make decisions about what services they need and the power to purchase them.  Described as an online supermarket for support services, Shop4Support enables users to shop around online to find the nearest services best designed for their needs at a price within their budget.  Users also connect with one another by sharing their stories and reviews of products.  Not only will this help social care organisations partner with local authorities while benefiting the user, it will help those who use support services, but do not quality for state assistance.

The self-directed support model for social welfare is encouraged throughout England by in Control, backer of Shop4Support. In contrast to the current “one size fits all” model provided by local authorities, self-directed support gives people with disabilities choice and control over their lives.

Read full article in The Guardian

• Posted:18 Mar 2009 at 12:01 pm

The Miracle Project

The Miracle Project gives children with special needs an outlet for personal expression and their siblings and parents a way to create something together.  This film and theater arts programme based in California strives to provide an accepting, nurturing environment which celebrates and honors the unique and often unrecognised talents of these young people.  Past projects include “Fly”, a album featuring songs co-written and performed by children with autism and celebrities including Stephen stills and Jason Alexander.

Last year, The Miracle Project won two Emmys for its film documentary “Autism: the Musical”.

• Posted:12 Mar 2009 at 04:10 pm

Behind the Kanchi Blog

The Kanchi Team has decided to draw back the red curtain and reveal the girl behind its blog.  Now, truth be told, sourcing topics for the blog is quite the collaborative effort here at Kanchi.  All of us are on constant look out for interest pieces to pass along.  It’s like Christmas when I find news clippings left on my desk in the morning, or messages in my Inbox entitled “Blog?”  But yes, I am the one that clicks PUBLISH and eagerly visits our own blog to double check it posted how envisioned.

So I bid you a cheerful hello from my comfy swivel chair on Lad Lane!  My name is Jessica and last October, I traveled from America to join the Kanchi team. My decision to cross The Pond stemmed not only from my hunger for travel and experiencing new cultures, but from personal experience.

Nearly 10 years ago I was diagnosed with an eye disorder which causes central vision loss. What’s that like?  For me, when I look at an object directly, a shimmering blur in the center of my vision blocks it, kind of like when they blur people’s faces in the media for privacy.  Ten years ago this meant there was finally a reason why following the traditional advice “keep your eye on the ball”, actually made the baseball speeding towards me disappear.  Today, it means I have my own version of “normal”, using peripheral vision coupled with assistive technology to see.  I’ve learned how to adapt, accommodate and over the years it has become habitual to look at things from a different perspective.

When I first learnt of Kanchi’s vision, it ignited my passion and realisation that I wanted to learn more.  Since landing on the greenest island I’ve ever seen, I have yet to be disappointed with my experience, both inside and outside of the office.  It is a thrill to be part of an organisation which shares my positive attitude and is changing so many people’s notion of disability.

• Posted:11 Mar 2009 at 11:58 am

Kanchi’s New Managing Director

Kanchi is delighted to welcome Gabrielle Murphy to the team!  Gaby joined in January as Managing Director and has 15 years experience working in the not-for-profit sector. Prior to joining Kanchi, Gaby was Director of Development at Barretstown where she was responsible for an 80% growth in fundraising income to the organisation

Gaby said, “I’m delighted to have joined such a great team and to be part of a truly dynamic organisation that is changing how people think about disability. I’m looking forward to working with Caroline and the entire Kanchi team to grow the organisation and build on its past success”.

To help her settle into her new role, First 100 Ltd. generously offered their expertise complimentary.  First 100 is a leadership and performance acceleration consultancy.  Acting as a “companion on the journey”, they support participant(s) through the real time experience of their first 100 days of a new leadership appointment.  Typical challenges such as steep learning curves are met with expertise through workshops, structured planning and coaching,

When asked to describe her experience with First 100, Gaby expressed her satisfaction.  “I found the session with First 100 really helpful in getting me to focus on what my key priorities should be and how best to achieve them.” she explains.  “They gave me a very clear plan with key steps to follow.  A large part of this was looking at the need to build key relationships and identifying internal and external factors that might impact on the organisation achieving its goals. Thank you to Garrett O’Keefe and First 100 for donating their time to Kanchi.”

• Posted:10 Mar 2009 at 10:32 am

A notable first for British Soaps

Next month Kitty McGeever will join the cast of Emmerdale.  Her debut will prove historic as she is the first actress to join a UK Soap who is blind.  Last month, Emmerdale reached over 7 million viewers according to Broadcasters Audience Research Board.  Kittys’ presence will certainly help to raise awareness.  “I’m thrilled to be joining Emmerdale and delighted that the show is challenging stereotypes in this way.” she says.

• Posted:03 Mar 2009 at 10:55 am