Video of the Month -- November - Dislabeled TV

Budget cuts are hitting services worldwide. In this video some Americans discuss the absurdity of the proposed cuts.

Ring a bell?

A wheely good way to have fun

Pictured in front of the GPO in O'Connell street, Dublin are Myles, Timmy, Paul, Anthony, Simon and Michael. 3A and the Garden Team joining forces to go on the Dublin City bike tour. A great time was had by all. What a way to see the city.

Timmy and Myles have been getting out and cycling on a regular basis with at least 3 cycle rides from Bray to Dalky and Back. Both Timmy and Myles wanted to do more cycling trips as they were enjoying it so much. So they teamed up with experienced cyclists Paul and Anthony and two members of the public to go on a Dublin City Bike Tour. The bike tour took us all around the city stopping off at 20 top tourist spots.

One word describes it - fun!

M.K.

Sunbeam Times Frontpage

Twice a year the Sunbeam Times is produced. It is a newspaper all about what's going down in Sunbeam with the service-users and staff and much more besides. There's a committee who work very hard to gather the information and assemble it all together in time to go to press.

This issue has a great frontpage. It is an interview with our new Managing Director, John Hannigan. Our intrepid reporter, Louisa, grilled him hard during the interview. Take a look at some of the questions below but for the full story find a copy of the Sunbeam Times now.

John Hannigan Interview by Louisa -

SO TELL US WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I am originally from Crumlin in Dublin. I lived there for almost 22 years then moved to Saggart in Co. Wicklow and then to Birmingham in England. I lived in Birmingham for nearly 14 years and returned to Ireland in 2003 and have lived in Dunboyne, Co. Meath since then.

WHY DID YOU APPLY TO WORK IN SHS?

I applied to work in Sunbeam House Services because of its excellent reputation, its staff and the clients that it provides services to. Sunbeam House Services is seen as one of the leading service providers in our sector and I wanted to be part of that and lead an excellent team of managers and staff. I am glad to say that I am very happy to have applied for the job and that I was selected. It has lived up to my expectations, I hope I can live up to its expectations.

WHAT UNIT DO YOU GO TO AT SHS?

I currently have an office in Cedar Estate in Bray and in The Village in Ballyraine. I try to spend at least two days a week in both and the other day in some other unit. This week I have been to Abbey Manor, Hall Lodge, the Training Centre in Bray, Dunavon, ATEC, Arklap, and I hope to finish the week in the our new unit in Bray Suiamhneas.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?....................................................................................

If you have any stories for the Sunbeam Times contact Ruth Doran, Shirley Redmond or Louisa to get your story in the next issue!

ABARA - Disability Film Festival

Abara is Ireland's first ever International film festival. It has come about through Dochas and Arts and Disability Ireland.

There are many films and documentaries showcasing people living and triumphing with disability across the world.

The programme begins on Friday December 3rd through to Sunday December 5th.

Tickets can be purchased for as little as €2 for access to all films. Box office open on Nov. 29th at 10am-4pm at Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.

Video - Better Together Competition Entry

Take a look at Sunbeam's entry for the 'Better Together' video competition organised by 'The Wheel'. Videos should be no longer than 2 minutes and detail why charities and other organisations are better when we work together.

Thanks to all who voted for us. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to win but it was fun to take part.

Festina Lente Tour

Some of the guys recently went to Festina Lente to view an exhibition of photography and were given a tour of the grounds.

The lads at Fetina are keen photographers and have exhibited their work around Bray earlier in the year.

As part of the tour was a session on the mechanical horse! It is one of Aaron's goals to learn to ride horses so it was the perfect introduction. They certainly look the part.

Night out at a Play

"Last Friday, 19th Nov. 2010, I went to see a show called 'The Girl Who Forgot To Sing Badly' in the Mermaid Arts Centre.

I really enjoyed the show.

The actor who plays Deter in Killinascully was the actor in the play. He was very funny. I had my picture taken with him and my friends."

L.I.

OUCH!!!!

Click HERE to visit OUCH!

Ouch! is a website from the BBC that reflects the lives and experiences of disabled people. It has articles, blogs, a very busy message-board and an award-winning downloadable radio show - (Touch-Podcast). It's aimed at those with a stakehold in disability: family, friends, professionals and, rather importantly, disabled people themselves - without whom all this would be a bit meaningless.

Bus Shelter Badly Needed

Sunbeam Media was on hand to capture the protest in relation to the lack of adequate protection from the elements at bus-stops on the Killarney Road.

The pressure is on Dublin Bus to fulfil a promise made yesterday on local radio to provide a bus shelter on this Killarney Road bus-stop. This stop has a high proportion of wheelchair users and parents with prams and is located opposite Sunbeam House Services.

Although the sun shone brightly during the protest, which was organised by the Sunbeam service-users forum, the usual forecast is howling winds and lashing rain.

More power to the protesters for making there voices heard.

Thanks to Neil K. for photos.

Shoebox Appeal for Christmas

Every year Cathy makes an enormous effort to collect gifts for the under-privileged. Not every kid gets presents at Christmas. Cathy knows this and so organizes a massive collection of toys and various gifts that people for one reason or another don't want. The gifts are then placed in old shoe-boxes and sent to their destination.

Knowing Cathy is a pleasure. She has a very kind and pleasant way about her. Well done to her and her helpers and all those who donated gifts.

Vote For Us Now!

Click here to vote for Sunbeam in the Better Together video competition. Voting closed on Nov. 15th.

This competition is open to charities and the like to describe in 2 minutes or less who we are, what we do and why we are better working together.

Working together and community integration has long been a focus for Sunbeam. This video details our befriending service called 'FRIENDS IN DEED' and how Sunbeam and its users benefit from volunteers in the local community.

The Fascinating Story of the Twins Who Share Brains, Thoughts, and Senses

This is one of the most surprising and awesome tales ever told in the history of medicine. These twins are Tatiana and Krista Hogan. Their brains and sensory systems are networked together, but they have separate personalities. Their story defies belief.

So much, in fact, that Tatiana and Krista Hogan shouldn't be alive at all. Their chances of surviving the pregnancy, birth and first months of life were almost zero. Surprisingly, they turned four on October 25, and they are still healthy and happy, as you can see in the photo above.

They play Nintendo Wii games against each other, they fight for toys and they share food and physiological functions. But they also share their senses. For example, one can pick an object out of her field of view, while the twin looks at the object.

Most importantly, however, they can share each other thoughts, like their grandmother—Louise McKay—describes:

They share thoughts, too. Nobody will be saying anything, and Tati will just pipe up and say, ‘Stop that!' And she'll smack her sister.

Read the full article and video at http://gizmodo.com/5682758/the-fascinating-story-of-the-twins-who-share-brains-thoughts-and-senses

Inspiring video

Don't worry folks, it's not all doom and gloom!

This is an IBEC video detailing some positive facts and figures you might like to know about the Emerald Isle.

Faces Competition - update

Came across this blog on the internet relating to the face-casts appearing on the walls of our town.

An insight into the artists mind.

http://artoftheheid.blogspot.com/

Mondello

Perfect conditions were forecast for this Autumnal Day.

Dry with sunny spells – we were going to have a great day!

A group of 20 guys travelled to Mondello Park in Co. Kildare.

Mondello provides a tailored package based on the Early Drive programme for young people.

It gives our Service Users an opportunity to drive a car in a safe environment.

Each Client with the help from a driving Instructor enjoyed getting behind the wheel and driving several laps of the infamous track.

Of course it’s not just the driving experience that makes this a great day out but a visit to the museum to view some of the fastest,colorful and most aero dynamic cars in the racing business.

We all took part in a brake reaction test with Anthony surpassing the National Irish and UK average.

All Clients took part in a safety class and rules of the road session and the competition was fierce in the questions and answers session.

We had a great day and the general consensus was “ I’d love to do it again”

Where is Dell customer support when you need them?........oh, there they are

We have had a fantastic relationship with Dell in the past number of years and they continue to lend us their support and friendship.

This year a group of 13 employees arrived at SHS to provide 1:1 computer training to our Clients as part of their Volunteering initiative.

What an opportunity for both Dell and SHS to capitalize on social integration.

Each Client had a Dell buddy and enjoyed getting acquainted over coffee and scones before heading off the computer rooms.

This gave the Clients an opportunity to practice and learn some new skills.

Some learned how or set up email accounts and send emails, some googled, some did applications training, games and there were a few sneaky short cuts too. Not only was this skill based, but social interaction and fun was had by all involved.

A Big Thank You to our Dell Volunteers.

In-Seine City Break

Take a look at these photos.
They were sent in by Lisa and her husband Stevie who visited Finland and Paris earlier this year and just wanted to share them with us.
They must have saved hard but it looks like it was worth it from the look on their faces.

The trip to Finland was spurred by Lisa's cousin getting married. But the trip to Paris was to see the Eiffel Tower,Disneyland,the Louvre and the River Seine.

Who Let Him on the Telly?

It is amazing what surfaces from time to time.
Here’s a photo of some of our job-coaches goofing around during the filming of the RTE programme, Nationwide.

The programme focused on a few of our service-users in their job roles and on Connect Employment who support them.

Thanks Kevin for the photo.