tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14535253667998288742024-03-18T21:37:04.923-07:00LittlebigwitchThoughts, issues, at times mundane musingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16273547326797576445noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1453525366799828874.post-16972598631044600802014-12-30T22:27:00.000-08:002014-12-30T22:51:56.910-08:00Healing, and triggers that make us realise old wounds never really heal...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>If you're dedicated to reading this settle in with a drink, this has taken 2 weeks to write; its not been edited as I wanted to publish it online before the end of 2014! </i></span><br />
<br />
Its time to heal again, and 2015 has to be better!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Ok so in my <a href="http://littlebigwitch.blogspot.com.au/search?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=1" target="_blank">first blog</a>, I shared a
transcript from one of my presentations, I spoke about losing my speech, and
the process of mourning, and moving on, and getting on with life. I generally
try n look on the<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ" target="_blank"> bright side of life</a>, and look at the positives rather than
give any energy to negativity. This time though I need to speak about the raw
emotion from one small trigger that has ripped a deep emotional scar open and so I can begin
the healing again, not just for me, but for and with my family, particularly my
mum and my siblings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The trigger was a message from a colleague
and friend, who knew a little of my experience in that place I used to refer to
as ‘moldy rose’, asking if I had heard they were demolishing the site at Corinda?
Of course I hadn’t heard this news, at first the emotion was of slight relief,
and my first response was to find out when, so I could dance on the dust and
ashes of the site where my life, and that of my family’s were irrevocably
changed forever, but that slowly grew over the week to anger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Anger because by demolishing the physical
site effectively the powerful corporate cunts hiding behind a charity/medical
model of servicing the ‘poor’ cripple children, and taking the ‘burden’ off
families were again invalidating the abuse that has occurred over decades.
Where part of my spirit had been broken, where I was robbed of my speech, and
so much more. A flurry of emotions began to stir in me, more and more as I
processed this news, and I began to write vehement reviews all over the
rebranded <a href="https://www.facebook.com/littlebigwitch/activity/10152930597411252?notif_t=open_graph_action_like" target="_blank">Montrose Access Facebook page</a>, and started to see more and more
negative reviews in the form of one star ratings. I personally would have given
a minus 1 rating if that were even possible! My review at first was removed, so
I re-posted and re-posted and received some politically correct statement of
how to go about making a formal complaint. My response was, that we had tried
to do that over 2 decades to no avail, and I will continue to share my
experience publically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So here I am writing it all out, after a
Christmas party with friends on Friday night, one of my sisters came back to my
place, and I suddenly blurted out ‘I got news this week that Montrose is being
demolished’ (well I can hardly just blurt, but as I typed I started crying
uncontrollably). Having been processing it all week, the flood gates opened– I
really don’t know why I am crying over this – but having flicked through their Facebook
page a few times during the week, I saw photos of rooms and things that hadn’t
changed in 24 years. I guess also not knowing the corporate logic of
demolishing the property, whether it be for financial gain, to build a new
‘home for cripple children’ or rid them of the bad press that place attracted
over many decades. And whilst the advocate in me would love to see every bloody
institute covering as a ‘home’ a place of pretend refuge for the ‘poor’
crippled blown up, demolished and dismantled from the upper echelons of
management down to the scummy abusive so called care workers, something in me
was screaming, they cannot simply knock this place down and wipe out the pain
of the survivors with a wrecking ball and bulldozers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am going to share some of the fragmented memories,
that have started to flood back, that I thought I’d buried deep enough to
forget, some maybe repetitious of the first blog, but these are raw once again,
and I will not be sugar coating anything with a positive spin, haters will be
haters and I expect to get the ‘how could you tell such stories…’ This is my
reality, my memories and this is the truth of what I saw and experienced in
Montrose – the home for cripple children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Mum and I had driven to my grandmas the day
before, and mum and I stopped in Toowoomba and did some shopping – I was
excited because mum had bought me some new clothes for what was to be a 2 week
stay, the next day we set off from grandmas house, I remember it being a bit
emotional in the car, but we chatted and made light hearted jokes about boys
and what I might get up to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was a Sunny Spring Thursday in October,
that my mum and grandma drove in through those big old rusty gates, When we
arrive mum was ushered into an office to fill out forms and grandma n I were
escorted to a dormitory type room. Grandma helped me unpack my things, and then
we went back up the sterile 3metre wide ramp corridor to meet mum. On our way
back up I noticed a side ramp to a different wing or quarters, and asked what
was down that ramp, they told me that’s where the people who didn’t go home on
weekends stayed; I didn’t realize that would be where I would be moved to on
Saturday morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When we met up with mum, I could tell she
was upset at leaving me there, the matron or who ever she was that mum had just
been with tried to make the good-byes quick, but mum and grandma lingered a
little bit longer, took me for a walk through the grounds and gardens
accessible to the public from the car park area. Staff remarked ‘parents
usually don’t stay this long, and its usually best if they don’t …. The
children need to get used to it, and fast’. My grandma, who could be quite
abrupt when needed, replied ‘well this isn’t your usual parent’ in her cutting
tone, she was a feisty one when she needed to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I reassured mum that I’d be fine, and I
will see the city specialist, and when she come back, we might have a better treatment
plan for my arthritis. We had been assured when the booking was made through the
local community social worker back home, that I would see some specialists, but
most of all I’d have fun to take my mind off the pain caused by this flare up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It was getting late into the afternoon, and
eventually mum and grandma left, but I felt all our hearts tearing as we said
goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was escorted back to my
bedroom to ‘do my own thing’ before dinner; I was having to use my push chair
which I propelled with my feet due to the flare up, and I was having trouble
mobilizing independently even in the chair. My elbows had seized, so I could
only use my forearms a little to help propel my chair. I managed to maneuver
myself around my ‘room’ a little and retrieved my Walkman and settled in to
play some music. It must have been around the time shift change occurred as I
had a new face poke their head in and introduced themself. We struck up a
conversation around religion, having been raised loosely in a catholic family,
I do use the term loosely, because we were not regular churchgoers, nor did we
pray, but we cursed and swore when appropriate to express passion or anger. We
were just an ordinary working class middle income earning family; mum was a
nurse, and although my parents had divorces several years earlier; dad was a
hard working ganger on the railway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">At this stage in my life I was struggling
with my belief in A god, and all religions. This worker explained he had
recently, or was at the time converting to being a born again Christian, I
cannot exactly recall the status; but we had an intellectual and quite mature
conversation debating Christianity and religion and the difference. It was
during this that I witnessed what I now recognize as the shower procession;
which was more like herding the cattle in for milking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Young girls and boys were stripped naked,
lined up the hallway on shower chairs with a towel thrown over them, that most
were unable to hold them up so everything from butt cracks to vaginas and
penises were able to be seen by all. It was like I had entered the dark ages I
had only ever read about in books, these young prepubescent children and teens denied
any dignity, or not even aware that this was not appropriate. Well it wasn’t
appropriate for me as a stranger to see 3 in at a time, three out, and the
process repeated while they sat there totally naked1 The staff I was talking to
must have interacted for longer than was deemed appropriate, as another staff
member chased him up to do his jobs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Dinner was called not long after that, at
this point I couldn’t feed myself because of the swelling in my elbows; the
pain was unbearable to move them. This annoyed the staff because I was yet
another mouth to stuff, then the medication trolley was wheeled around the
table, I was on a high level prescription aspirin/panadol called eccatrin, they
were large orange tablets. Mine were dispensed and I downed them with no
trouble – my pain started to ease for the night, and some ‘residents’ for want
of a better word had TV privileges. Because I was there on a temporary stay I
was allowed stay up till 8pm at home my bedtime was 8.30 or 10.30 on holidays. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I watched some city TV, which for a country
kid only used to 2 channels at that time was a bit of a treat, but after a big
day of traveling and some shopping on our way with mum and grandma I went to
bed when I was told to at 8pm. Later that night I was woken to take my
medication, at home if I was sleeping soundly and didn’t appear to be in pain,
mum wouldn’t wake me; but because they didn’t know me, or my needs, I was just
another ‘poor’ unfortunate cripple they had to ‘look after’. I refused that
night, and the staff on duty let me be, I went back to sleep quite easily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The next morning, breakfast similar to
dinner but more hectic, as a few ‘deemed suitable’ attended a main steam local
school, they were priority to get fed, and cleaned up to make the bus
transport. The others (myself included) were processed in a similar way,
breakfast, cleaned up, and dressed for the days ‘activities’. Activities
included either attending the ‘school’ onsite, or playing games, or whatever
the staff had planned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As I said earlier my memories are
fragmented, both from repressing them, but also due to the overdose I received
over a period of a few days. But I recall seeing this huge therapy pool, I
asked if I could go in the pool, but I was told there were no staff to
supervise me, and a physio hadn’t assessed me, and the pool rarely gets used
anyway for therapy. So what was it used for, and why have this huge resource if
it rarely gets used? But these and many other questions didn’t start to surface
until after… And still haunt my mind, with no answers. I know too well many
things we will never have answers for, like the loss of a loved one, missing children,
and even on a political level – why our ‘leaders’ make dumb statements, don’t
follow through, or even recognize global warming in the case of our current
prime minister. But I do feel the questions I have had since the medical
disaster that occurred at the hands of virtual strangers, and the wastage of
lives when clearly the resources were available could be, and should be
answered. But I digress; I need to purge all these memories, and questions into
words for everyone to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Because I refused my medication the first
night, (but slept fine) it was decided I needed to see the local GP, I recall
being taken to his clinic, and he seemed like a decent enough fellow, he
reviewed my medication, and added an anti-inflammatory, stating the prescribed
ecatrin was a little high, but given I had been taking it on and off for a
number of years then, if I didn’t want it, and could sleep through the night,
then I wouldn’t need to be woken. It was a quick non eventful GP trip, though
at the appointment he contacted Dr Tiernan – a pediatric rheumatologist and
made an urgent appointment with him at his private clinic at the Wesley
hospital – I was happy about this, as getting an appointment with specialists
had always been a long wait period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We returned to Montrose, and it was lunchtime,
again another experience that was akin to feeding time at the zoo; not the
orderly usual school yard lunch break I was used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After lunch I was advised I should go to the
school room to try and keep up with my school work, as I had missed a few weeks
prior, having always had a thirst for knowledge and desire to be educated I
obliged. Again another culture shock for want of a better word, I had been main
stream schooled all my life, and to walk into a large hall shaped building that
I can only liken to that of day care, with books, toys and puzzles suited to a
kindergarten level. How or what was I going to gain from spending an afternoon
in this space? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">By this stage the reality was hitting, this
was no ‘school camp’ it wasn’t even a hospital, it was a waste land surrounded
by beautiful gardens to give the illusion of a ‘home’ or ‘boarding school’ for
those poor cripple children whose families simply couldn’t cope… And why
couldn’t they cope? They couldn’t cope with being told to give up on their
child any longer, so many did, and as a result this hell hole scored charitable
grants, government funding and the rest; when if only half this money was
channeled into providing more support to families in their own homes, we now
wouldn’t have a generation of parents ridden with guilt, and we wouldn’t have
survivors like myself, speaking out about the atrocities that occurred. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Again I digress, there is still so much to
be told, and this is only my story, my family’s story, I do wonder how many
more out there with scars in their hearts, and nightmares in their sleep still,
because of this institute??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After an hour or two in the ‘school’ room I
requested to go back to my room to read my books and have a rest. I was
informed we were going on an outing to the movies in the city that evening, and
to gather my clothes and toiletries I would need for the weekend – this puzzled
me, but I didn’t question, I was still reeling from all that I had seen and
witnessed in just 24 hours, I remained hopeful that I’d get used to it, and
settle in within a few days. Where there is life, there is hope, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The shower herding started earlier that
evening, some children were picked up for the weekend, many others stayed. I
chose to wear one of my new dresses, as going out in the city for an evening
was a big thing for a country girl like me. It wasn’t until they started
loading us into a big white van, and not your ordinary people mover, this
looked like a prison van on the outside, and inside was a cold steel box with
ropes and straps to tie the chairs down. Because my chair was a basic stock
standard for short-term use when I needed it, it didn’t have to tie down points
as most chairs do nowadays. They stabilized it to one of the side bars and
jammed me in between two solid chairs; I’ve since been on many hairy a rides,
but I still flash back to that ride as my chair tilted and slid all over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Upon arrival, the cattle were unloaded one
by one, with staff pushing some of us; we were offered McDonalds as a ‘special
treat, for us special boys and girls’. I requested just a thick shake, as I
knew I could hold that and drink it independently, I hated having to be fed,
and being fed in public was not going to happen!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We were then herded into the cinema with no
choice of what WE wanted to see; it had been decided for us. I can’t even
remember what the movie was; I was just watching this freak show (not my idea
of a cool freak show either) I was in with disbelief and horror. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When it was time to leave, I asked if I
could get lemonade; the staff ignored me – I was one of about 15 they had to
round up – with only a few staff plus the impatient driver. As they were
strapping my chair in I asked again; it was the nice staff member who I had
spoken to on my first afternoon, he said he really shouldn’t as no food or
drink was allowed in the bus, but he ran and got me a small one anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Upon arriving back through those haunted
gates, we were unloaded and herded into the ‘weekend quarters’ where I found a
few of my belongings on an antique hospital frame bed in a double cubicle style
room. We were changed, given a wash over with a flannel, medicated and put to
bed. Again that night I was woken to take more meds, I tried to refuse again,
but this time my refusal was met with verbal abuse of how I was wasting their
time, and I wasn’t the only one in here they had to take care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave in, and took the pills, and went back
to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The next morning I woke up so sluggish and
very emotional, I tried to lay in as long as I possibly could to avoid seeing
the quarters in the light of day, from what I had seen in the dark of the night
after our ‘lovely’ outing, I knew this was going to be a very long weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I don’t remember doing much that day, I
know I slept a bit, and was hanging out for 6pm to be able to ring home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But 6pm was dinner time so I had to wait till
7pm, by the time I got to speak to mum I couldn’t stop crying, not from pain as
I usually only cried because of stupid physical pain, or over silly teenage
girl stuff. This was different, it wasn’t homesickness either, as I had been on
school camps and barely thought of family, or missed home – I was too busy
having fun with my friends… I felt like I had no control over my emotions, and
again because they didn’t know me, they didn’t see the deterioration. The staff
member in charge of monitoring phone calls threatened to hang up if I ‘didn’t
cut out my nonsense’. I could hear mum getting distressed so I tried to pull it
together, and attempted to make small talk about what my sisters were doing,
and how my little nephew was. Mum was concerned that I was so upset, and in the
end the staff took the phone off me, but mum had told her she was sending a
friend to visit the next day, and gave permission for this friend to take me
out. Marie was one of mums’ friends from work, but her and I had become close
over the years, and she even took me on little holidays, I loved and respected
her very much. She was like a big sister, but without the bickering I had with
my actual big sisters, she enjoyed quirky movies with me, and we always just
had this indescribable bond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After the phone call ended, I became a bit
hysterical, I just couldn’t control my emotions at all. They decided a bath
might help calm me down, so they ran a bath and took me in, I freaked out again
– this wasn’t a bath tub – not in my world at least. It was a huge surgical
steel trough. But the water was warm, and it did help me calm down a little
bit, until the three nurses standing round me started talking about me, and how
my mother should have bought me here when I was younger, so it wasn’t such a
shock to me. I tried to explain, this wasn’t my reality; I had grown up in a
family home, and this was all that was offered when we asked for some in home support.
But because I became emotional again, all they saw was a hysterical spoilt
little cripple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After the bath and such an emotional day, I
quickly went to bed, but was woken again in the night to medicate, again I
tried to refuse, and again I was abused, only worse, being called spoiled and
to just accept it, that mum couldn’t handle me anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The next day I woke up even more sluggish,
but not as emotional, just vague. Marie came and saw me before lunch, and I
begged her to take me out for a drive – I used to love to go cruising with her.
Of course she didn’t hesitate, we went out, I think she took me to bingo, but
this is where things began to get really fuzzy. I recall feeling like I was
drifting in and out of sleep; I recall trying to have a conversation but not
being able to say some words. We had lunch, and drove around as long as we
could, and I knew she had to take me back, but I could feel she didn’t want to.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I started to feel sick, and as we parked I
began vomiting, Marie rushed round to the passenger door and tried to turn me
around out of the car so I wasn’t sick on myself but could vomit on the ground;
she was shouting for a bucket and towel. Eventually staff came out, they got me
into my chair and told Marie they’d take over from here. They whisked me away
before we could say good-bye, and that was all I can remember of that day. Mum
said she had spoken to Marie that night (I wasn’t allowed any calls that night,
because I was sick, and they didn’t want to have to deal my hysterics again) Marie
had expressed her concerns that I wasn’t very coherent or my usual bubbly self.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I recall being moved back to the main
‘house’ or dormitory sometime that night (Sunday), or early the next morning –
Monday. I recall being taken to see the specialist that Monday afternoon,
trying to explain symptoms of this latest flare up, but repeatedly apologizing
because I was having trouble forming my words; I recall telling him my right
side felt heavier, and I hadn’t experienced that before. He had a lovely manner,
and noticed I was drooling a little, he asked if that was normal, and I recall
crying again saying no, I was usually so independent, and I was losing what
little control I did have. I just recall apologizing constantly through that
consultation because I couldn’t talk clearly, and I was always such an
articulate and chatty young woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I don’t recall the dinner routine or the
shower procession that night, but I remember waking up half falling out of bed,
and calling for help. The staff came in threw me back into the bed, and told me
to stop calling out as I was waking up the others, and if she had to come back
in and deal with me again, she would move me. Move me where? I didn’t remember
having called for help before that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After that I started vomiting, but I was
too scared to call for help, she must have heard me retching, and burst into
the room abusing me in her heavy accent. I have weird memories of being taken
to this little hut thing out in the gardens, but the next thing I recall was
being stripped off and taken to the showers. I had vomit in my hair, and was
again so emotional, apologizing and asking for help; she turned the shower on
cold and pushed me under it, leaving the water to wash away most of the chunks
before coming back to wash me properly. All the time telling me to shut up, and
I was carrying on for no reason; I was a 13-year-old girl in a strange place,
barely able to stay coherent, and constantly being verbally abused. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Before she could come back I began cramping
again, not wanting to be sick again I tried my hardest not to vomit, but then
my bowels let go, and I couldn’t stop anything. I cried out for help, and she
came in swearing at me – I assume she was swearing – though I couldn’t
understand much of her thick accent and my state of delirium. But I recall her
grabbing me by the hair, rubbing a flannel over my face, which had been used to
wipe my soiled butt. All the while telling me how disgusting I was, I mumbled
that I was going to tell someone, it must have been clear enough to be
understood as I just recall her pulling my head back by my hair telling me to
go ahead, because no one would ever believe me, taunting me, in my face who’s
going to believe you, after all the tantrums you’ve thrown… I don’t remember
much of the morning after she slapped my face and hosed me off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The next thing I do remember was being put
into an old car or truck, and then I remember being in the emergency at the
royal children’s hospital; I was trying to give them my name and details, and
asking them not to call my mum because I knew she was on night duty and would
be sleeping, but no one could understand what I was saying, not even I
recognized the noises that were coming out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I recall a gentle nurse come to escort me
to have tests, he tried talking to me, but when I got upset that I could not
reply back in a coherent state, he just started asking me questions I could
answer with a nod, a blink or a gesture. After I had a blood test I don’t
remember anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I woke up about a week later, my family was
there all crying, what had happened who had died, why was I in hospital – all
these questions spun around, but no words could come out. I grabbed someone’s
arm and began spelling letters onto their arm. Each wrong guess frustrated me,
each correct elated me – I am still in here, I can hear you, I can understand
you, but no one could understand me. They told me not to talk, just rest. Slowly
I began remembering flashes of wakefulness from the week that had been lost in
hospital. My Dad had been to see me, he never liked hospitals and very rarely
came to medical appointments, so for him to have come, I knew something major
had gone down … But what, and why couldn’t I remember, why couldn’t I chew, or
swallow or even drink without help, and without dribbling like a teething baby?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The days and weeks after, as I slowly
became more coherent I was told I had had a stroke due to being over medicated;
the strong aspirin had thinned my blood so much I had been having mini strokes
for days, before a major one had occurred sometime between Monday afternoon and
Tuesday morning. I was also told I had finally ‘become a woman’, although I had
had my period sporadically for about a year, it wasn’t regular. In that week in
hospital I finally started menstruating; to many women that is still seen as a
curse; but to me it was just another thing that had been stolen from me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My city cousins and aunt had come to visit
me after a few weeks, I remember just sitting quietly with my Aunty and not
wanting anyone to see me like that, she wept for the niece she had once
described as having spunk-itude; I wept because I felt like more of a burden
than ever before. Plus I didn’t want anyone to see me like that; I was trapped
in this even more twisted, broken, bent body and I could no longer ‘tell it
like it was’. My cousins didn’t come back again, I think all the drool, and
snot, and tears scared them off – who could blame them though – they were boys
and they had seen me give cheek as good as I got all my life, suddenly I was an
expressionless, motionless figure in a chair with tubes and braces keeping me
still. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It took many months of rehabilitation and
many years of dealing and accepting this as my fate; I had never thought of
myself as a cripple, or disabled, I merely had a medical condition that
affected my joints. I have accepted and embraced my place in the world of
disability; I am a woman with a disability, and proud of who I am, and what
I’ve made of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I am not ‘inspirational’, I merely want
create a decent life for my son and myself. I am not a victim, I am a survivor
– and I am not going down without a fight, I am not an object of pity, don’t
treat me with pity unless you want your own pity party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So I’ve been writing this out for almost
two weeks, I’ve cried, I’ve laughed at snot pour out, I’ve healed a little
again, but the hardest part was talking to my Mum about opening these wounds up
again. When I told her how the news of Montrose Corinda ‘home for cripple
children’ was being demolished had triggered all these feelings, and that I was
intending on writing the whole story out – her words made me realize I had to
tell this story, our story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My mum said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #2a2f3c; font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-effects-shadow-align: topleft; mso-effects-shadow-alpha: 40.0%; mso-effects-shadow-angledirection: 2700000; mso-effects-shadow-anglekx: 0; mso-effects-shadow-angleky: 0; mso-effects-shadow-color: black; mso-effects-shadow-dpidistance: 3.0pt; mso-effects-shadow-dpiradius: 4.0pt; mso-effects-shadow-pctsx: 100.0%; mso-effects-shadow-pctsy: 100.0%;">I will never
ever forgive myself for you being there I think every time we are together how
it is my fault If I could change it I would in a heart beat I would never
change you as you are but that time in there I would change very quickly I will
regret my weakness until the day I die as I believe your life would have been
so different and I always wanted the best for all of you but feel you were
dealt a triple whammy, I would never change the person you have become or the
mother or daughter you are but that Montrose time I would</span><span lang="EN-US">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">No matter how much I tell my mum it was my
choice too, and we made the decision together, as a parent myself I understand
more now that we take ultimate responsibility for the choices we make which
affect our children. To know my mother still feels such guilt just seeing me;
in the years immediately after the stroke, I recognize now I became too
dependent on her, and she accepted that, but I didn’t realize how deep her own
scars went from that one fateful choice to accept help, she sees as a weakness.
My mother is anything but weak; she’s raised four headstrong individual
wonderful children, and has just adopted a foster child who has been in mums
care for almost 10 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My father passed away the year my son was
born, and I have regrets that my last phone call to him before I lost my speech
was one of teen angst and full of nastiness; I don’t believe in a god, or the
ever after, but if I did, I think he would be saying ‘come on girl, get going,
you can do this’. And I hope he’d be proud of me too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So why have I written all this out, these
stories, the horror stories that we have lived need to be told, and like fables
they need to be cautionary tales, even lessons for future kids born with
disabilities, parents, and siblings. Like I said don’t pity me, but get angry
with me, take action with me, share your stories on social media – the platform
that’s given us all an equal playing field – use it to play hard!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">To all the ‘anonymous’ benefactors,
members, and any other fool who is donating to this ‘service’ in disguise,
please reconsider where your money is going – my mum paid a few hundred dollars
(in the early 90’s that was a lot of money, incidentally she wanted me to let
you the reader know, she never did get any reimbursement back of the remaining
10 days I was in hospital) for me to stay there 2 weeks, the damage done in
just a few days, not only to my physical state, but emotionally to my whole
family is beyond any ‘good’ they pretend to do with your hard earned
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Give your money to a family doing it tough,
or invest it directly with people who have viable business plans, and hopes and
dreams for the future – I know plenty who are labeled as disabled, but who have
the drive to make this world a better place. Stop pouring good money after bad
into an already fully funded corporate run organization. Perhaps if the upper echelons
of management took a pay cut – the figure they state on their website of being
underfunded a few thousand every year for every client; they wouldn’t need to
use the ‘poor’ cripple children in tragic marketing campaigns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try not to think about ‘what if’s’ but in
this case I do often wonder how differently my life, and my family would be now
had we not all had to deal with such adversity. I have said in the past, that
although the medical disaster had turned everything upside down, and I had
encountered, and met some truly remarkable humans, some who have become dear
friends; I have to question also what bigger dreams would I have made come
true, like being on the stage, on film, but it was my fate obviously – I just
hope the corporate faceless cunts don’t ruin anymore family’s, and steal other
young girls dreams as they did mine, and turn them into years of nightmares!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is human nature to fight for survival,
and as one of my heroes says, where there is life, there is hope. I have hope,
that we are on the edge of a revolution; where all people labeled as disabled,
mistreated, abused, underrepresented raise up, and don’t give up. My<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYnuSsM7tRw" target="_blank"> theme song</a>
for 2015 is edge of a revolution – write your own headline, be your own
headline – but be a positive Crip – don’t lay down and accept shit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Oh and by the way, you can rebrand, rename,
Montrose to ‘Montrose Access’ even restructure the company, but one thing I’ve
learned from my marketing studies is <span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>that it's pretty hard to rebrand shit and
make it smell nice!!! </b></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><b>This may seem a negative blog to end the year on, but its been cathartic to write it all out, and tell the now fragmented memories of what really did happen - for many years I never spoke of these events, because it upset my mother so much, and because I really didn't think anyone would believe me. I now know there are other survivors out there, and the more we tell our stories, the less they can deny, the more people will see the truth for themselves. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><b>Until 2015, live, love and laugh, or cry when you need to, but always remain true to you! </b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><b>Lisa XxX</b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>4665</o:Words>
<o:Characters>26593</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>221</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>62</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>31196</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16273547326797576445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1453525366799828874.post-40251120231314097472014-07-03T00:53:00.000-07:002014-07-03T00:53:00.024-07:00Travel Tales ... No cyclists have been hurt .... Yet! <div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is my first blog of my travels... Well my trusty travel companion and I made it
to Amsterdam later afternoon on the Tuesday the 1st of July with many
adventures along the way. From check in I was not impressed with emirates
service or pretense of care. I usually book through QANTAS, being a frequent
flyer member, my chair details are all on file, and I do not have to repeat the
same questions every time I fly, ,how heavy is it' when I reply with 135kgs
depending on what scales (it has weighed from 128 - 145kgs at various domestic
airports within Australia. 'Is it wet or dry cell?' I say 'dry'. At Emirates
check in I got the 'you're-to-hard' basket exhalation. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the end I had to Trwnsfer at check-in to one of their manual aisle chairs; when
I had rung qantas to ensure I would get to keep my power chair till the gate.
Not only is it more efficient for me to stay independently mobile (in any
situation) but it also means one two less hours of sitting in discomfort. I
think only people who are in a chair themselves, or know someone close in a
chair would get that. Despite the hiccups, I medicated and managed to get some
sleep on the longest flight (Brisbane to Dubai) and the transfer at Dubai
wasn't too painful; oddly enough they have a divine 'special assistance'
lounge, but with no facilities there to stay and drink. Was a strange but no
unpleasant experience.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
we arrived at schipol airport in Amsterdam, I had just assumed we would get my
chair back, which was like sliding back into my second skin, it was heavenly
comfort and freedom, after 23 or so hours apart; being reunited with my ride
was beyond description in words. Let's just say I had a little tear at seeing
my sexy studyly steed! Side tracked there - so I thought as I had done in the
past we would collect luggage (all 3 cases, and yes a 2/3 of mine large case
were shoes) and go out and get an accessible taxi from the taxi rank; travel
tip for future travelers to this beautiful city. If you do need an accessible
taxi where your chair is not collapsible or the weight of a small car; you need
to book in advance. I have since<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>discovered just two taxi companies which have accessible vans <a href="http://taxi.connexxion.nl/luchthaventaxi/621" target="_blank">conexxion</a> and
<a href="http://www.sadlerstaxis.co.uk/" target="_blank">Saddlers (although says they're a UK company)</a>. Usually you also need to book in advance at the train station you are
embarking and disembarking on. We were very lucky to have the airport help desk
and guard take swift action, and get us on a train within 10 minutes of
realizing this to be our only option. I believe this is was a small miracle on
the train companies part - they were ever so helpful. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">But
what a site we must have looked I was straddling and somehow monkey gripping a
small suitcase perched on my foot rest, with 2 back packs and our duty free
goodies. My assistant was skull dragging the two big suitcases Luckily our
hotel was two minutes from the train station - right next door! It was all
meant to be!! We made it to our room dropped our luggage, got out what we
needed had a bathroom stop, and headed out to find a bar. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Along
the way we stumbled upon one of Amsterdam's famous or infamous (what ever rocks
your world) alleys of aromatic smoke coffee houses. We didn't stop, but it is
on my to do list (as are many other things in this amazing city) our first
bar/eatery was a quaint little place (I ca't recall the name of, but all link to all the places we went when I return home) where we chatted to a local
gentleman and just enjoyed the people watching, but on that first outing we
discovered bikes have right of way to cars pedestrians scooters, trams, buses,
and just about anything they share the road, alley, or footpath with. My
companion spent that whole journey dodging bikes running from one side of the
road to the other, yelling 'sorry' as she went. I am sure we were pegged as
tourists from the first site. In our matching 'homie' sweaters, and 'deer in a
headlight look' at times.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBB4znwOj53KEd6Q5yIjckWldL-ZSRMxFfKSlTpuCkqfMQU69a27oaResOlfVdzUXqVH3In20YYOPp0V9DyzQTuCFP-Kqgmruqj9tv1x9CsaXm8HXKcBJ0dOTNxHQk5ItPTDH07EensY/s1600/IMG_3140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBB4znwOj53KEd6Q5yIjckWldL-ZSRMxFfKSlTpuCkqfMQU69a27oaResOlfVdzUXqVH3In20YYOPp0V9DyzQTuCFP-Kqgmruqj9tv1x9CsaXm8HXKcBJ0dOTNxHQk5ItPTDH07EensY/s1600/IMG_3140.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
have laughed till our sides ached, and tears poured out, we have taken in
people watching, and it's only our second full day today! It's been a dream, or
wish of mine to come to Amsterdam since I was a young teenager, and read 'the diary
of Anne Frank' and learned much about the history of this place. To be
here is still a little surreal, but seeing it, smelling it, feeling the rich
culture and old world charm - I feel so blessed, but not lucky, I've made this
happen by choices I've made and actions I've done. I am proud of myself for
having earned and worked to get here (basquing in a bit of self appreciation
there).</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sadly
my lil travel buddy isn't with me on this trip, but he will be coming with WHEN
I come back to Europe. I say WHEN not IF, because it's my dream to score a
dream job here, for a few years once I graduate in 2015/2016. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's
8am here, and 4pm at home so it's perfect timing to Skype home. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until
my next travel adventure story, </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span lang="EN-US">Stay
happy, love life, and laugh lots!</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><i>Lisa
xx </i></span></span></span></h4>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>721</o:Words>
<o:Characters>4116</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Personal</o:Company>
<o:Lines>34</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4828</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16273547326797576445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1453525366799828874.post-47973934526269722592014-06-12T22:15:00.002-07:002014-06-12T22:15:40.571-07:00VLOG Attempt 1<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I've not been very active with my online 'diary' or presence (unless its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/littlebigwitch">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/littlebigwitch">Twitter</a>)... Though I have written - or half written a few entries - but have not got round to posting them ... Yet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whats news - well Hunter is now 7 - time flies doesn't it?!? I have 3 more semesters before I graduate, seems like this degree is taking forever, but the learning and challenges are always good to reflect on, even if they seem painful at the time. I head to Europe in 13 days; first stop Netherlands to meet more of the <a href="http://www.assistiveware.com/">AssistiveWare</a> team, and do a small presentation for them. Then 5 days R&R in Paris - my 2 must do things there are a burlesque show (of course) and, to put 3 locks on Locke Bridge. From there I head to Lisbon for ISAAC2014 where I am running my first solo (or longest) pre-conference workshop on <a href="https://www.isaac-online.org/aac-and-intimacy/">Intimacy &AAC</a>. I am also doing a visual presentation titles "pictures of you & Me: changing perceptions of a 'traditional family'". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is fun, and hectic as usual, but recently I was inspired to make this VLOG - the quality isn't great - but I thought I would share it here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be doing 31 days of selfies on my <a href="http://instagram.com/littlebigwitch">instagram</a> account to capture my adventures through Europe just for a bit of fun; and hope to get time to journal about my experiences which I will share on here (if I don't keep forgetting my passwords). I need to have more brain purges onto paper - so this is the (only) second, of hopefully many more blogs over the next months and years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">anyway, enjoy the 'VLOG' and as always, be happy, stay positive, and enjoy life!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz2Awr58ACl0Gp3ASPCearees1MZZJtGrLqK1Std_bP9xwLiP49ajpGN1CxKuZDFqUQkfwidqsnnv1DDX1q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
With love,<br />
<br />
Lisa<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16273547326797576445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1453525366799828874.post-6178457100071997962012-08-21T02:09:00.000-07:002012-08-21T02:09:00.126-07:00So I have started a blog, what now? Okay, so I have started a blog ... What for? Who would possibly be interested in reading my words, hearing me rant, whinge, complain, and generally vent my overly opinionated opinions... As I write this I am listening to my boisterous, loud, mr five year old sink battle ships, fight star wars characters, and generally entertain his imagination in the bath.<br />
<br />
So really i have no idea what this will morph into, but for now, it will be my very public diary, and a place to vent, rant, and express my own opinions on many things.... to get started, and so people bored enough to read this can know more about the author, I will paste an audio dialogue of a paper I wrote for a presentation for a government and NGO forum about a year ago, although it's a little bland, as far as my usual standard goes, its still fodder for you the reader, if I even get a reader :) ... Through this, you will learn more about me, and hopefully it will spark your interest to keep reading my rantings...<br />
<br />
to set the scene, it was a stream on communication, and meeting evolving needs with technology, some won't make sense as it refers to visual slides and prompts, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Hi, my name is Lisa Lehmann – and if you are in
this stream, and can’t be challenged on a Monday morning, well sorry, cos I do
hope to challenge your thoughts, and perceptions, generally and professionally.
<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Can I ask you all to take a piece of paper or something
to type your name on, now write your whole name backward.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Did that feel strange; was it difficult – did
you feel challenged?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i> That exercise is supposed to
stimulate other parts of the brain.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Ok so first off I will share a little about myself,
and my life. Then I will talk to communication methods, ways and means, by this
I mean verbal, non-verbal, and technologically generated communication. I just
want to say from the outset I am not the academic in this stream, that's Jane;
I am just here to talk about my experiences with communication as an end user. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I would like to firstly recognize the people who
cannot be here today, and I dedicate this presentation to those in a less
fortunate place than us here. In the hope the world can one day, be a
barrier-free world full of love, acceptance, and peace. I also acknowledge
those who have gone before us in fighting the good fight in creating a real
and valued life for themselves or loved ones. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>So now I will attempt to sum up 34 years of
living. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>My life journey started in chinchilla – I was
the youngest of 4. I was a healthy happy baby and toddler from all reports, mum
started noticing when I was about twelve months old I used to go blue
around the mouth as the day went on, it was discovered I had a hole in my
heart. They monitored it, cos usually they close over, but it kept growing.
When I was about 2 I had open-heart surgery to fix the hole. And about 6 months
later, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, I remember
being able to climb the back fence to my friend over the back and then one day
I just couldn’t do it. I affectionately refer to it as Arthur-right-arse
now.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>So after that we moved to a smaller town but
closer to Brisbane to have more access to therapies and specialists. I started
my education journey in the early 80’s at Helidon State Pre-school. The best
memory I have of pre-school was attempting to ride my bike to school but
falling off the second day, it took me ages to get back on that bike, but I
did, eventually.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>When I was due to start primary school, it was
decided that I needed a wheelchair to conserve energy in the playground. I
wonder if any 5 year old really needs to conserve energy, but hey they were the
experts; who were we to argue. And as long as I could go to the regular school
with my brother and sisters, mum and dad were happy to accept a piece of
equipment as a condition.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I had a pretty average childhood, I did – or at
least attempted to do – little athletics with my siblings. And I was
excited about going to school. I thought I would learn how to read and
write all on my first day. Much to my disappointment, this was not the case.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>After that; we moved around from Helidon to
Toowoomba; then mum and dad divorced; and mum, one of my sisters and I moved to
Dalby.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I completed primary school and was orientated
into high school with the rest of my grade. My first day of high school was
such a blast, scooting around on my manual chair from one subject to another I
felt so grown up, so responsible and so ready to take over a bigger school
again. I did English, math, home economics, Art, Geography, history, music and
in those days – I feel old now – never thought I would refer to anything in my
life, as in those days, but in those days everyone had to do phys Ed. I
remember doing square dance - or trying to it was a bit hard with a chair
attached to my butt. But I still do a pretty good modified chicken dance.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I was in the middle of my first year of high
school; when I came out of remission; and was in the midst of the worst flare
up I ever had. “Arthur right arse” was really kicking my ass this time.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I often describe my life as teetering on the
edge of both worlds. By both worlds, I mean the mainstream community and the
disability centric world. We ventured into the disability world when we needed
to, For instance, I always attended mainstream school at mum’s persistence, and
we worked out that my life could be made a little easier with equipment like a
typewriter for class work, and walking sticks instead of a wheelchair. We
accessed these things in the disability world. But quickly retreated to the
real world of our community when we got the assistance we needed from the
disability world.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>It was during this relapse or ‘flare up’ that my
life, and that of my family’s worlds changed forever. I wasn’t able to get out
of bed most days, and when I could I wasn’t up to going to school. Mum was
working full time; and I needed more assistance everyday as my pain increased,
and my mobility decreased. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>So mum sought assistance for additional therapy
and support at home. We should have heard the warning bells in the words: “Oh
you need respite”. No one should presume to know what is best for an individual
or family, rather offer options available.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>But it was the early 90’s and this was the
language of the era. And we were sold on the way they talked up this wonderful
camp. We accepted in good faith what they were selling to us was what we were
getting. But when we made the journey from the country to the city and as we
approached the big old gates I noticed the sign.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Moldy Rose – home for crippled children. –
For personal and legal reasons I call it Moldy Rose. This did not look like, or
smell like any of my school camps – As had been promoted to us. – KIDS
ACTUALLY LIVED HERE, AND CALLED THIS PLACE THEIR HOME!!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Home did not look like a hospital; and no camp I
had ever been on, looked like this scary old haunted place. We were told this
place was a Camp for children like me; who needed extra
care. It was not meant to look like a hospital. What we got
was actually institutionalized respite care.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I was there 4 days out of a 2-week stay and
because they didn’t know me, they assumed it was normal; that I was suddenly
slurring my words and having difficulty swallowing. It wasn’t until I became
incoherent and unconscious; staff thought I might need medical attention.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Prior to this I was verbal, and pretty much
never shut up – so my mum says.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I now refer to my life in two parts. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>A S.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>And <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>B. S.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>B S – Before the stroke. I had
aspirations of becoming an actress. I was a full spirited average teenage girl,
with two things on my mind – boys, and big dreams. I was outspoken, outgoing,
and outspoken again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Although I have been non-verbal for more almost
two thirds of my life, childhood is such a huge part of ones life, losing my
speech was as you can maybe imagine pretty devastating.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>A S. – after the stroke, my body frustrated me;
I still felt and thought the same but could no longer express it physically or
verbally. So emotionally I let it all out, and mourned the loss of my speech
for awhile. But then life was still going to keep going, and slowly I began
living it again.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>When I was to return to school I was seen as
even more different in a less cool way. No longer able to communicate verbally
I was disregarded as a viable student and placed into the special Ed unit of
the school; with no lesson planning, suited to my level of
education. No plan for me at all other than to vegetate. Of
course my mum and I fought this decision. But I was no longer seen as the same
intelligent young girl I still was inside. In the end we moved towns, from
country Queensland to the urbanized sunshine coast. So I could go to mainstream
school and be challenged intellectually, as I had always been. I finished high
school in year 10 and did 2 years study at TAFE and obtained an associate
diploma of fashion studies. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>After TAFE I dropped out on life for a while and
got into a bad relationship. But I still maintained some community credibility
in my roles on various boards and committees for local advocacy organizations,
and an assisted employment agency. This helped when I was ready to grow up and
get a real job, and woke up to myself so to speak. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I need to say I am not a very strategic person,
in that my life hasn’t been planned or formulated. It’s just happened. I have
made bad choices and done stupid things. When I was at TAFE I had big
plans of moving to Sydney to pursue my fashion career. But that just never
happened, I made decisions that took my life on a different path. I stayed on
the coast, and my life just progressed. I gained employment, and worked at
housing Queensland for 7 years and did some study in different industries,
predominantly Business studies. I fell pregnant in 2006 – no that wasn’t
planned either, and I am now a single mum to a gorgeous 4 year old boy, I am
currently am just about to complete my first year at university, and life keeps
flowing, although I now do have life and career goals I want to achieve, I will
always be a dreamer, but I have become a realist too with age. As John Lennon
once said – life is what happens, while your busy making plans.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>So now on to communication, and being heard,
being taken seriously, and being valued, when societal perceptions are still
very closed when it comes to communication.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>In all aspects of our work, and personal life we
all seem to have one problem or another to solve at any given time. In looking
for solutions, we seem to apply the same Band-Aid and wonder why it loses its
stickiness – or effectiveness – even when we get a fresh new packet of
Band-Aids – we like the packs with all the different shape band aids in our
house – but which ones run out first? The standard size shape ones, not because
our cuts and scrapes are always the same standard size, but because its what we
know.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>So why am I talking about Band-Aids in a communication
stream? Because like cuts, and bumps we all want an easy solution to what’s
seen as a very complex and time intensive issue for the human services right
across the board.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>But with anything in life we all grow, things
change, fads come and go, and some go down in history as changing lives,
changing the world as we know it, or knew it. Like life, our needs, wants and
desires can change at anytime. I am lucky in that I can be quite adaptable in
my communication – from writing messy scribbled notes, to my own developed
signs that only my nearest and dearest get and understand, and to my now main
and preferred method of communication – my I pad. I pay tribute today to the
late great Steve jobs in being able to communicate with you all today so efficiently,
his vision has certainly changed my world and that of my son, I have only had
the I pad for since Christmas eve last year, but prior to that I was using an I
pod touch with this application, and whilst that was still effective, the I pad
has really made communication much more efficient, because of the more
accessible size and still being a portable manageable size.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>When I first lost my speech I used a device
called a canon communicator, which really was just a glorified label maker,
only because it was considered an aid they were very expensive, and broke down
often. When it became so unreliable I gave up on technology for a few years and
resorted to messy hand written notes and I still have a few crate fulls of
filled notepads, which might make memorable reading one day. Then one day I was
given then electronic diary, and I began using that as my main form of
communication – it was cheap, concealable, and reliable, and cheap enough to
replace if after too many drinks were spilt it died.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>After 6 or 7 years of using this little keypad I
was finding people were having trouble reading the screen, so I moved onto a
mini netbook, and I experimented with freeware screen readers, but I had always
had an issue with the robotic sounding voices, having had my own voice and lost
it, I knew I wouldn’t settle with a computerized sounding voice.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I had learnt to use an Australian accent
acapella voice and a freeware program that reads power points so I began using
that for these kinds of presentations, but it was not efficient enough to use
in everyday communication situations. And then I found out about this amazing
revolution we now know as applications – where would we be with out the
wonderful world of applications?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I know I would still be converting this text to
power point slides and running two laptops to present and probably silent word
processing in everyday situations.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>The technological advances in the last 2 decades
have changed the lives of many, mostly for the better. Yet I still meet people
who have no means of communication, can you imagine your world if you had no
means at all?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>This is where the importance of low tech and no
tech communication has a role to play. As I mentioned when I was at moldy rose,
they didn’t know me to know my needs, or assume to understand my level of
comprehension. When someone with little to no communication is truly known by
people, and has roots in a community it can mean the difference between merely
existing, or being truly valued, being understood, and looked out for.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>As technology is evolving so rapidly the human
services sector in Australia is beginning to catch up to this I T age, and as
result end users are changing in relation to requests for funding for assisted
communications and Speech Generated Devices. Slowly the funding providers are
seeing the value in the mainstream devices over the specialist communication
devices, yet still many people do not have someone in their lives to e able to
read simple human needs signs.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>As I mentioned before I have a son, we live on
our own, and have a maximum of 6 hours support a day to assist me with daily,
weekly, monthly and yearly tasks. My sons name is Hunter and he is totally
accepting of me. To Hunter I am just mum, his mum, his constant person, and he are
very secure in that. Hunter has begun educating by example without even being
aware of his impact in the world, he even educates me, I can still verbalize a
little bit, but mostly its not comprehensible, Hunter understands mums happy
noises and mad noises. He understands about 60 percent of my verbal and self
made signs, but when he doesn’t get what mum is saying, he tells me ‘tell me it
on the I pad mum’, and if its on the I pad then it’s the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth. The I pad is his oracle.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I recently made the mistake of introducing
Hunter to you tube, we use the I pad for bedtime stories, and I have downloaded
a number of new and old stories. But one evening he was really interested in
rescue helicopters – he’s such a boys boy – so I searched rescues on you tube
and for a week he watched chopper rescues, and was in awe of these amazing
clips. But he now navigates his way around the I pad from stories to you tube
and other educational applications, it’s a little scary that he almost knows
his way around the I pad better than I do.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Because the specialist communication devices are
now running mostly Main-stream tech market operating systems, doors are opening
to people who use specialized equipment especially communication aids to talk. I
know of a young person who uses a dynavox maestro which is the Ferrari of
specialist speech generating communication devices, and they had a technical
problem which would usually mean they would have to send to device away to be
repaired and have no means of in depth communication, and the eternal game of
charades goes on. But they were given a tip off to try ‘gizmo’ guy – which is
like a computers are us, mobile repair service. Gizmo guy was able to fix the
glitch on the spot and had the young person communicating again in the comfort
of her own home.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Social media has given so many more people a
voice, and I would challenge the audience to engage more with people through
all of the social networking sites in cyberspace. It would also be good to see this
medium used to engage with what people really want from government and NGO
services.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Given the very nature of disability sees many
people almost trapped in their homes, and most people are now on the internet
wouldn’t it make more sense to communicate and engage more efficiently with
people through social and professional networking sites? From consulting, to
promoting, to linking people with broader networks, the possibilities are
endless. With more and more people turning to mainstream devices too like the I
pad, I know that funding providers are concerned that it can open individuals
up to exploitation, and inappropriate use of the device; and whilst this is
true, it also opens their immediate world up to connecting to far more networks
than just those they physically encounter. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I admit I am a geek, and I am a huge fan of big
bang theory, I just want to share a snippet of a clip from the show – just one
line really, but I will set the scene, Raj can not speak to women unless he’s
very drunk, and then he becomes obnoxious, Penny the female neighbour who has
befriended the geek guys over the life of the show, sets Raj up with a girl
who’s deaf – he can’t speak to girls, and she can’t hear boys – so a match is
made, or is it.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I love that scene, but the sad thing is that its
so very true of how society in general tends to stereotype people, I know I
sometimes stereotype people, its human nature, but being aware of how we view
others helps lessen the impact of our own perceptions of first impressions.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I currently use Facebook, twitter, and linked
in, to network, but I’ve just discovered through a recent entrepreneur lecture
at university these 3 make up a small population in the scale of global
networking media. Guess what I will be doing over the summer break – yes –
exploring other social media to build on and grow my global network.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>So that's me, I have lived, and learnt, I
have enjoyed the ups, and endured the downs, and gone with the ins and
outs. I still continue to learn, grow and evolve as we all do, and no doubt my
communication methods will also change as I do. I would like to leave you with
a few of the big lessons I have learned through my life's journey, not
necessarily linked to communication, but that affect every aspect of life in
some way or another. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>It starts with family love, and acceptance. But
also and more importantly, expectation. I think the fact my parents expected
the same amount of responsibility and understanding from me as they did my
siblings, gave me a strong sense of self worth, I was always just expected to
give it a go. Yeah sure they made consideration and decisions based on my
medical condition. But on the whole my sense of self-uniqueness has come from
my family challenging, encouraging and promoting my strengths.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I believe we need to educate all kids together,
and individually meet their learning needs. In primary school I was just one of
the crowd; and tasks were modified for my participation. But the outcome was
the same; I still had to show competence. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">No child, youth, or adult needs or deserves a
special education. Rather an education that fits them; is more appropriate.
Special is made to sound attractive <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>–
but it sucks you into buying and accepting a dud. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When
we segregate children we are teaching them prejudices. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Children who have a
diverse class of peers grow up to be more accepting and open to diversity in adulthood.
Isn’t that just common sense?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Language is so important, and we need to use it
correctly in order to educate, or perhaps re-condition the community in the
language used and in turn people may see some ones value more clearly.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So I hope I have left you
with something interesting to think about today; and when you meet someone
different to you, think about the very humanness that makes them who they are. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Go against the current if that</span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">s what your gut tells you.
Life is a journey. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Start dreaming; add to the value. Don’t let labels be the value of you
or anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I was inspired a number of years ago to write my
own personal manifesto, although it changes a little each time I share it in a
presentation, the messages remain the same. They say everyone has at least one
book in them, everyone has a story to share, and it’s just a matter of finding
the means to tell it for some. Before I finish this speaking bit I want to end
with something I read once.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;
courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. So thanks for being
courageous enough to listen and for being the unique person you are. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></i></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So thats my first blog, till next time ...</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Love, laugh, live, enjoy ... Xxxx</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16273547326797576445noreply@blogger.com4