Caleb wins at Boccia - Novita Children's Services

6
Our hands are very
important because they tell us so
much about the world around us. By feeling
an object we can tell if it is hot or cold, rough or
smooth, hard or squishy.
But what if our sense of touch doesn’t work as it
should? What would this ‘feel’ like?
Research from around the world suggests that children with
cerebral palsy (CP) feel touch differently to children without CP,
and this may affect how they use their hands.
Researchers from the Women and Children’s Hospital, Flinders
University and the University of South Australia are leading an
important study looking at how children with CP feel touch. The
team, led by Dr Ray Russo from the Women and Children’s
Hospital, is aiming to assess the hands of as many children
with CP aged between 5 and 15 years old as possible. If
you would like to know more about this study,
contact David Hobbs on 8201 3167 or
david.hobbs@flinders.edu.au
UP, UP AND AWAY!
B
uzz Lightyear is helping a
young boy born with a very
rare disease to ride his bike
for the first time.
4-year-old Novita Children’s Services
client, Liam Booby, has been fitted with
a specially created body spinal brace
created by Novita’s orthotists that Liam
and his family have nicknamed a ‘Buzz
Lightyear’ suit because of its similarity
to the outfit worn by the famous Toy
Story character.
It’s now “Up, up and away!”
for young Liam who, for the first
time in his life, is able to ride a
modified bicycle.
He suffers from a very rare form
of muscular dystrophy: limb girdle
muscular dystrophy, that results in
a progressive loss of muscle
strength, especially the shoulder
and hip joints.
Twelve months ago Liam was
able to hold himself upright in a
seated position and then shuffle
on the floor for mobility.
He has lost the muscle
strength to be able to sit
independently and his head and
trunk have become floppy. He
spends most of his time in a
highly modified wheelchair.
How do children with cerebral palsy feel touch?
The creativity of Novita’s
orthotists has changed
Liam’s life for the better. He can
now use a walking frame and sit in
a chair independently with the other
children at his kindergarten.
Liam is a chatty and enthusiastic
young fellow who has much to look
forward to thanks to the support of
Novita and Variety, the Children’s Charity.
Butterflies
are Free
A
n Oscar-winning play (made
into a film starring Goldie
Hawn) will be a feature
fundraiser for Mitcham Auxiliary
of Novita, this August.
Butterflies are Free, a gentle
romantic comedy and winner of
three Broadway awards, will be
presented by St Jude’s Players Inc
on 1 August at 8.00pm, 444
Brighton Road, Brighton. Tickets
$19 or $15 concession. All proceeds
in aid of Novita Children’s Services.
Contact Jocelyn on 8296 4470.
BUDGET
BOOST
FOR
N
ews that the Australian
Government is extending the
Home Interaction Program for
Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) in
South Australia has been welcomed
by Novita Children’s Services.
“HIPPY sites at Salisbury North,
Davoren Park and Mansfield Park are
already helping parents to develop
their young children’s skills in reading,
writing and numbers before they start
school and in the first year of school,”
Novita Chief Executive, Glenn
Rappensberg said.
Mr Rappensberg said research
has proven that a child who is ‘school
ready’ is far less likely to fall behind in
the classroom, which reduces the
chance of them failing to complete
their education later on.
“But long before children start
school, they are constantly learning
new things from their very first and
most important teachers – their
parents. HIPPY is so effective because
it helps the parents in that role,” he said.
The two-year program helps parents
and their 4 to 5-year-old children in the
year before school and first year of
school. Trained tutors visit the families
at home to show parents how to work
with their children through weekly
activity packs that nurture a love of
learning and build pre-literacy and
IT’S DAD’S BIG DAY OUT
9.30am Sunday 2 September 2012
Botanic Park
Great fun for all the family! Bring your children,
a picnic rug, and Daddy, for a stroll around the
Botanic Gardens as part of Adelaide’s big
annual Walk With Me event. Details will be
available soon at
www.novita.org.au/walkwithme
I
Hippy tutor’s brighter future
By Natasha Miller,
HIPPY Salisbury North Home Tutor
t was a normal Friday morning when
HIPPY came into my life. After taking
my two eldest children to school,
I was headed to the playgroup which I
was coordinating when one of the kindy
staff informed me a lady from Novita
Childrens Services wanted to talk to our
families about a new program that was
to start in our local area.
That morning we welcomed HIPPY
into our playgroup and then into our life.
It wasn’t long before I realised what an
opportunity had just fallen into my lap. I
signed up as a HIPPY family and quickly
applied for a HIPPY Home Tutor position.
Since that normal Friday HIPPY has
changed the lives of my whole family.
Firstly, my youngest, she has blossomed
under the HIPPY program. Her
opportunities to learn have grown as I
learn to generalize our activity learning
into our everyday life. As my confidence
grows, she grows and so do all my children.
Since my eldest was born, 15 years
pre-numeracy skills. The activities are
designed to be carried out as part of
the family’s daily routine.
Salisbury North, Davoren Park and
Mansfield Park are funded by the
Australian Government Department of
ago, I have been a stay at home mum.
My life has revolved around my
children’s activities, kindy, school,
sports and playgroups.
The next 15 years of my life were
looking a bit sad, children growing up,
needing me less and less, and no real job
opportunities. HIPPY has allowed me the
chance to be me, not only my children’s
mother. This has built my self esteem
and allowed me to become a better
parent. HIPPY has given my children the
opportunity to see me in a new way.
Now they see me as a working woman
with hopes and dreams.
But I think the biggest and most
important change HIPPY has brought to
my family is the opportunity to have a
brighter future. Until HIPPY, I didn’t know
what my future held, beyond being a
parent. But now, with the help of my
HIPPY Coordinator Sarah, I have a future
plan. I LOVE HIPPY and will be forever
grateful for this opportunity.
7
Education, Employment
and Workplace Relations
through HIPPY Australia. For information,
about the national program visit
the HIPPY Australia website at
www.hippyaustralia.org.au