Wheelchair and a Wii to the Golf Tee

Graham Hunt of Essex discovered his love of golf through Nintendo Wii. After becoming paralysed from the waist down, he never thought he would find himself on the Green.  However, his second discovery of technology Paragolfer got him working on his swing in no time.  The Paragolfer is a kind of personal golf cart with a twist.

See Graham in action in pg 6 of today’s edition of E-Metro

• Posted:25 Jun 2009 at 12:41 pm

MA in Inclusive Arts Practice

The University of Brighton is currently accepting applications for its new course, a two year part time MA in Inclusive Arts Practice.  The course gives students a chance to conduct practice based arts research by working with real life projects like Access to Arts and Inside Out.   The course curriculum addresses key issues and debates around disability in the arts while exploring areas such as learning disabilities, architecture and built environment.  Graduates will leave with the practical skills and understanding they need to initiate and deliver their own inclusive arts projects and practices.

This course is not just for those with a well developed arts background.  Those in the health, education, and community sector also stand to gain valuable insight.  Learn more about this course by visiting the Inclusive Arts Practice Course Description.

• Posted:22 Jun 2009 at 11:33 am

Dublin’s 2009 Access and Mobility Expo

Dublin will host its eighth annual Access and Mobility Expo this Friday 19th, (10am to 5pm) and Saturday 20th (10am to 5pm).  The exhibition will take place in the Main Hall of RDS.  Admission is free and parking is free if you are a holder of a blue badge

This expo is Ireland’s only event for healthcare, disability and rehabilitation.  Vendors and seminars will be present which cater to all ages and professions.  The latest at home assistive technology will be showcased live with prebuilt room sets.

What RTÉ’s extensive Video Coverage of the 2008 Access and Mobility Expo

• Posted:18 Jun 2009 at 09:57 am

Learning to Look Outside the Box

In case you missed it, Kanchi and Dialogue in the Dark were featured in The Irish Times last week.  “Learning to look outside of the box” was written by journalist Amanda Phelan.  She tells of her personal experience as a participant in the workshops which ran all last week.

Read “Learning to look outside the box” published in The Irish Times.

• Posted:17 Jun 2009 at 02:40 pm

Another First for BBC Soaps

EastEnders’ cast will be joined by David Proud, a 26 year old actor who uses a wheelchair due to spinal bifida.  David will play a character with the same condition.

Throughout the history of this soap, many characters with various disabilities have appeared in the script. However, this addtion will be a first for BBC.  EastEnders’ executive producer Diederick Santer explains. “This is the first time we’ve had a regular adult character with a visible disability played by an actor with a disability. It’s about time.”

Read full article “Disabled character for EastEnders” on bbc.co.uk

• Posted:16 Jun 2009 at 12:04 pm

Dialogue in the Dark Featured on RTÉ News

Dialogue in the Dark workshops have officially landed in Dublin, running this week only.  Yesterday these business workshops were featured on RTÉ News on Two.  For the first time in 20 years, Dialogue in the Dark allowed infrared cameras to film participants as they discovered the dark.

Watch RTÉ news feature to see what the Kanchi Team could not, as they too learned how to think differntly in the dark.

• Posted:10 Jun 2009 at 01:05 pm

Films Involving Disability

When you see a trailer for a film involving disability, what springs to mind?  Perhaps a character in a wheelchair or one with learning difficulties overcoming all obstacles to achieve his or her wildest dreams?  Or perhaps a battle against prejudice?  In reality, there are actually thousands of films which involve disability, not necessarily using stereotypical storyboards.

Check out disabilityfilms.co.uk to see how disability has been represented over time in more than 3,000 films and documentaries.

• Posted:04 Jun 2009 at 10:20 am

Does nobody see the elephant in the room?

Caroline Casey describes the work of Kanchi and why it exists in article “Does nobody see the elephant in the room?” written by Rui Pestana of IM Magazine.

IM Magazine is an online publication which aims to showcase the best things that are done in the world to achieve a better world.  Accompanied by vibrant photographs, each article illustrates people and their projects which aim to make a difference by thinking new solutions to old problems.

Read “Does nobody see the elephant in the room?” online.  Article also available in accessible format seen here.

• Posted:03 Jun 2009 at 10:16 am