Young People with a Disability: Independence and Opportunity. A Literature Review by Helen Stokes, Malcolm Turnbull & Johanna Wyn

The executive summary concludes: Wellbeing as well as having the capacity to exercise choice and control over one's own life, is strongly associated with having strong social connections.

However, evidence on the situation of young people with a disability suggests that they are more likely than their peers without a disability to be socially isolated and that they take longer to forge strong relationships of trust.

Closely related to this is the impact of community attitudes and perceptions as they are the most frequently reported barriers to social inclusion. This argues strongly for social policy programming (and expenditure) that actively educates the community about the experiences of people with a disability.

Visit: http://web.education.unimelb.edu.au/yrc/linked_documents/research_report39.pdf

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Specialist homelessness services 2012-13 in Australia

In 2012-13 specialist homelessness services assisted over 244,000 clients. Of these clients, 54% were at risk of homelessness, and 46% were already homeless when they first began receiving support (22% of those who were homeless had no shelter or were living in an improvised dwelling).

This report presents the findings of the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection for 2012-13, and describes the clients who received specialist homelessness support, the assistance they sought and were provided, and the outcomes achieved for those clients.

Visit: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129545629

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Kaye's story on video - inspiring

Kaye's Story – After being diagnosed with terminal peritoneal mesothelioma, Kaye Sales underwent a staggering eleven hour surgical operation which left her broken and drained. This was a period of time in which Kaye can only describe as 'free-falling without a net'.

Palliative Care Australia met Kaye and her husband, Geoff, in their home town of Bunbury, Western Australia. We were inspired by her story, and want to share it with you.

Look here:

http://www.ehospice.com/australia/ArticleView/tabid/10688/ArticleId/4831/language/en-GB/View.aspx

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Antenatal diagnosis of disability: your feelings

If you find out your unborn baby has a disability, it can be a very difficult time, especially if you're not prepared for bad news.

It's normal to feel a range of emotions when you get an antenatal diagnosis of disability. You might feel shock, anger, sadness, guilt, anxiety, stress or shame. You might feel isolated and disconnected from family and friends. Or you might not feel much at all.

You might also worry that you've done something to cause your baby's condition or feel jealous of others with a healthy pregnancy and baby. And your feelings might depend on your baby's condition and how severe the disability is likely to be.

There's no right or wrong way to feel. Everyone has their own way of reacting to the news.

Visit: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/disability_antenatal_diagnosis.html/context/1439