Home Page: https://members.tripod.com/disability_scholars/

Discussion page:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disabilityscholarssociety_qld 

Updates:

Since our first December/January Newsletter we have had 45 people sign up to the discussion list (de facto membership). As word gets out, the numbers keep growing! The major problem is locating interested parties working outside of traditional sociology/social work/ human services disciplines. At this stage, we have no presence at the smaller/newer universities such as ACU and the USC. It is good to see that a number of policy practitioners working in the field  have also signed up.

Communications:

E- list: As our society has grown so has the demand to disseminate information quickly and effectively. As such you probably are aware that a discussion list has been established through the Yahoo groups network. This electronic list should allow members to share information and actions quickly as well as network across the distances.  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/disabilityscholarssociety_qld 

To subscribe, send an email to:

Leave the 'subject' and 'body' of your message blank.

Web Page: An addition a web presence has been established that provides more flexibility than the discussion list for resource and information development, e.g. conference listings, newsletter archives, links, research interests etc.

https://members.tripod.com/disability_scholars/  

Remember this is your site – contact me at f.campbell@qut.edu.au if you wish to add any information or have any other suggestions.

Again publicity and exposure are essential to maximise the effectiveness of this site. Please if you can add the site link to your email signature or personal/departmental web page.

I have added our site to the ‘disability studies web ring’ and issued a general notification to other disability discussion lists.

  Minutes of last Meeting (6^th April, QUT Carseldine):

Apologies:

Rea Dennis, Gerard Goggins, Jayne Clapton, Wyn Fletcher, Lisa Bridle, David Turnbull, Jennifer Mays, Mark Sherry.

Present: Fiona Campbell, Denise Alexander, Marie Knox, John Tomlinson, Greg Daley, and later Kaye Mays and Lesley Chenoweth.

Confirmation of the Mission Statement:

There was a brief discussion of the proposed mission statement outlined in the Dec/Jan newsletter and a number of modifications were made. The statement was put to the vote and unanimously endorsed. This statement should provide prospective members about the orientation of the society and can be used in promotional material. The final statement is below.

Convening Structure:

Discussion took place regarding the need for some kind of flexible convening structure to hold the society together especially in its early development, room bookings, topics, dates, agendas, minutes. Those present suggested the following people for the following tasks:

Marie Knox – Room books, minutes, general ‘rounding up’ person.

Fiona Campbell – newsletter, communications – mailing lists/web etc

Lesley Chenoweth – ‘activities officer’ – co-ordinate topics& speakers, organisation of calendar.

Jayne Clapton (in absentia) – social co-ordinator – organise end of semester get togethers etc.

- Contact emails can be found on the web page-

Calender of Events:

Format of meetings – a 15-minute presentation by a designated speaker to focus/kick start open discussion.

Suggested topics: immigration debate, people with int. disabilities right to vote, disability & spirituality, the concept of ‘mutual obligation’, disability in indigenous communities.

Call for ideas/topics – nomination of individuals to speak at certain dates. Contact Lesley:   l.chenoweth@social.uq.edu.au

‘Around the Traps’ (in Brief):

John –

unemployment conference  27^th Sept, SCU , Ballina RSL Papers by Jennifer Mays on mutual obligation in relation to domestic violence, Simon Shuttenfelt(?) on breeching. John – on unemployment as a product of Howard’s concept of utilitarianism/ethical obligation.

Denise –

Mentioned an online datebase of critical psychology, includes disability material. Contact David Nightingale (djn1@bolton.ac.uk)if you would like to subscribe to the Bolton Institute, Discourse Unit "Readings" Database (issn: 1473-2181). This is a free monthly publication of commentaries upon recommended/suggested critical psychological (and other post-positivistic) readings (books, chapters, journal articles, web resources etc). Please subscribe and/or contribute to this resource.

Also a Domestic violence /sexual abuse conference to be held at the Gold Coast.

Marie –

Assid National Conference in Melbourne. Working with QAI at Endeavour Toowoomba on a prject that examines ‘what does it mean to be well supported?’, the notion of ‘privacy’ and decision making. ‘Sharing the Road Ahead conference’ – 25 – 26^th July in Brisbane.

Fiona –

2^nd June ‘ Hebrew & Jewish interpretations of Disability – Parish Disability Network seminar, Wilston. Also Disability & Spirituality Conference in Melbourne October. Fiona mentioned she has has been accepted to undertake a chapter in a book looking a the government of disability.

Lesley -  ASSID(QLD) conference 28^th April. Currently working on an indigenous project examining disability. Looking for any information of service delivery to aboriginal Australians.

Jayne (via Fiona) –

First overseas trip – delivering a paper at Cambridge UK. More information at the next meeting.

General Business:

Immigration & disability – a general discussion about this issue and the need to get more informed.

Conferences – upcoming listing to be put on web page.

TASA and Disability studies – The Australian Sociological Association currently has no category identifying specific scholarship/interest in disability studies. The only option is currently to fit under medical/health sociology, which in ,most cases is not really appropriate. Fiona Campbell and Michael Bleasdale (from NSW) are undertaking a campaign for ‘disability recognition’ to increase the visibility of disability work. Members are encouraged to join TASA. Their web site is http://www.newcastle.edu.au/department/so/tasa/

The group wished Mark Sherry a speedy recovery.

Transport: If people need Help with Transport to meetings let one of the Convenors know.

Next Meeting:

1^st June Logan (Griffith) Editors Note -  This date has had to be changed – a separate notice will be sent out with the new details.

THESE MINUTES MAY CONTAIN INACCURACIES – PLEASE BRING YOUR CORRECTIONS TO THE NEXT MEETING