Models with disabilities needed for photoshoots
A modeling and acting company are looking for children and adults with learning or physical disabilities to take part in a professional photo shoot, as models with disabilities. Social care professional, Laura Johnson and performing arts teacher, Zoe Proctor,recently established Zebedee Management as they wanted to see better representation of people with disabilities within fashion, media and the arts. They are holding a series of photoshoots around Sheffield and Lincolnshire. Laura said “Zebedee want to see more people with disabilities on television, in magazines, online and in films. We believe that people with many unique characteristics should have the same opportunities as ‘mainstream’ artists and we are working with people within the media and fashion industries to make this happen. The photo shoots will be fun and a great opportunity for those who take part to get a feel for the industry, and models will receive copies of their images. This will create a professional portfolio for fashion and media castings. Our February shoots have are already full with gorgeous child models, but we still have spaces for our April shoots” Those interested should email zebedeemanagement@gmail.com with 3 or 4 clear photos (no hats or sunglasses), with contact details and a little bit about themselves. www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/the-model-agency-which-wants-to-put-disability-in-the-spotlight-1-8400394/amp
Neurokinex chosen as first international NeuroRecovery Community Fitness and Wellness Affiliate
Neurokinex chosen as the first international NeuroRecovery Community Fitness and Wellness Affiliate of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation This brings breakthrough neurological rehabilitation treatments to the UK and Europe Neurokinex – the UK’s leading provider of neurological activity-based rehabilitation – has been chosen as the first international Community Fitness and Wellness Affiliate of the Reeve Foundation’s NeuroRecovery Network (NRN). This affiliation means that Neurokinex can deliver the unique NRN protocols and bring its ground-breaking work within reach of people in the UK and Europe. The Reeve Foundation NRN is a cooperative network of cutting-edge rehabilitation sites designed to develop and deliver therapies that promote functional recovery to improve the health and quality of life for people living with paralysis. With the addition of Neurokinex, the NRN has expanded to include 12 sites. The NRN was originally conceived by Christopher Reeve who believed the way forward for rehabilitation from spinal cord injury was to provide activity-based therapies that promote functional recovery. By combining technological advancements with scientific knowledge, the NRN is able to broaden its understanding of neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to form new neural connections to compensate for injury. Until now, people living with spinal cord injury and neurological impairments wishing to access therapies offered by the NRN had to travel to the US. Now that Neurokinex is approved to deliver the ground-breaking protocols, people in the UK and Europe have access to this cutting-edge technology and equipment much closer to home. The two NRN protocols now being delivered by Neurokinex are Locomotor Training and NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES). Locomotor Training emerged from recent advances in the understanding that the spinal cord can interpret sensory information below the level of injury and relay signals to generate a motor response. Locomotor Training works to awaken dormant nerve pathways by repetitively stimulating the muscles and nerves in the lower body and thus retrain the spinal cord to ‘remember’ the pattern of walking. In Locomotor Training, individuals living with paralysis repeatedly practice standing and stepping using body weight support on a treadmill (BWST). The participant is suspended in a harness over the treadmill while specially trained therapists and technicians move his or her legs to simulate walking at a normal pace. At the same time, sensory information from the legs and trunk is repetitively sent to the spinal cord. The sensory input comes from the actual stepping, from the manual contact of the therapist on the participants and from the contact of the sole of the foot on the ground. In this way, the nervous system relearns motor patterns associated with walking. The NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) approach was developed by the NRN. Its unique protocol targets many muscles at the same time during a useful movement, using parameters that activate the spinal cord. This, combined with the precise administering of the electrical stimulus to move the muscle or paralysed limb, excites the central nervous system in such a way it can promote neuroplasticity. NMES is administered as part of active therapy, when the client is completing a movement under their own control. The electrodes are applied to the relevant area being worked and the electrical stimulus is administered while the individual performs an exercise. In this way, the signals start to develop new or strengthen existing pathways in the spinal cord circuitry. The programme is set and tracked on the Restorative Technologies Xcite machine which comprises a touchscreen that enables manipulation of therapy parameters to give pinpoint accuracy of settings while charting the progress of each individual. “I feel privileged and honoured for Neurokinex Gatwick to be the first international NRN Community Fitness & Wellness Affiliate,” says Harvey Sihota, CEO and founder of Neurokinex. “I first became aware of their work following my own life-changing injury and I vowed to develop facilities here in the UK to offer activity-based rehabilitation. Being able to deliver the Locomotor Training and NMES protocols gives our clients remarkable opportunities to be more functional and independent. Our location close to Gatwick airport brings these protocols within reach of people in the UK and across Europe who are living with spinal cord injuries and seeking potentially life-changing improvements.” As well as delivering these unique activity-based interventions, Neurokinex will work closely with the NRN to measure outcomes and share relevant data to continue its ongoing research into advancing treatment and results for people with spinal cord injury. “We applaud the innovative, activity-based exercise programmes offered by Neurokinex and we are particularly excited because our affiliation means NRN protocols are now more readily available in the UK and Europe,” says Peter Wilderotter, President and CEO of the Reeve Foundation. “Most importantly, our partnership enables us to deliver cutting-edge interventions that improve the health, well-being and independence of so many individuals living with paralysis.” David Smith MBE www.neurokinex.org www.christopherreeve.org/NRN
Top 50 most influential disabled people announced
Top 50 most influential disabled people announced as Rehabilitation International World Congress comes to Edinburgh Powerful Media and Shaw Trust have announced a list of the 50 most influential disabled people globally, ahead of an international disability empowerment conference taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland, next week. The inaugural Global List will be launched at the 23rd Rehabilitation International World Congress (RIWC) on Tuesday 25 October, and celebrates the achievements of 50 of the most accomplished people living with disabilities or health impairments from across America, Africa, Europe and South America. Entries onto the list include sporting heroes, artists, politicians, community leaders and successful business chiefs, to name just a few: Madam Zhang Haidi, the President of the influential Chinese Federation of Disabled People, who lives with paraplegia, has been praised for her effective disability activism. Michael J Fox, the well-known American actor who lives with Parkinson’s disease, and who has founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Srikanth Bolla, a young CEO from India who founded Bollant Industries which employs disabled employees to manufacture eco-friendly consumer packaging, and is worth Rs 50 crores (circa £6.1 million or $4.5 million). Madam Haidi, who is also an accomplished writer and translator, will this year be assuming the role of president of Rehabilitation International Global at the conclusion of the Congress on Thursday 27 October. Madam Haidi was elected to the role as the term for previous RI Global president, Jan A. Monsbakken of Norway came to an end. The list was chosen by the editorial team at Powerful Media which looked for individuals who make a positive impact, help change lives, campaign to make a difference, or through their careers have made an outstanding contribution to society. Roy O’Shaughnessy, Shaw Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely proud to sponsor The Global List and highlight these exceptionally talented, hardworking and inspirational people who have positively impacted so many lives. “To be able to launch such a publication at the 23rd Rehabilitation International World Congress, where we will be promoting disability empowerment and building towards a fully inclusive world, is a special honour.” Katherine Deal, Editor of the Global List, added: “We recognize that all lists such as this are ultimately subjective, but we also believe the Global List are incredible role models who are to be celebrated for their fantastic achievements. We believe also that this would still be case if they were not disabled. “From Neema Namadamu, a Polio survivor who founded Maman Shujaa Media Centre to empower women in the Congo; to Johnathan Bastos, a Brazilian pianist who was born without arms, this list contains some of the most inspirational people that we have ever come across.” The Rehabilitation International World Congress, which is taking place from 25-27 October at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, is a four-yearly event which brings together disabled people, policy makers, service providers and academics from across the globe. This year it is hosted by Shaw Trust, and will focus on how to create a more inclusive and accessible world for people of all abilities and backgrounds. The Global List is published by Powerful Media, the London-based publishing house that also publishes The Power 100 – which showcases 100 of the UK’s most influential disabled people and includes such luminaries as Stephen Hawkins and Paralympian Ellie Simmons. 2016 Global 50 Power List# Conti-nent Country Name Occupation Disability 1 AF Nigeria Lucy Oguchuwku Ejike Powerlifter Polio 2 AF South Africa/Namibia Eddie Ndopu Academic concerned with human rights Spinal muscular atrophy 3 AF Congo Neema Namadamu Disability rights activist Polio 4 AF Ethiopia Yetnebersh Nigussie Lawyer and disability rights activist Blind 5 AF Ghana Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah Athlete and activist. Malformed leg 6 AF Ghana Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie Disability rights activist and founder of Enlightening People with Disabilities in Africa Wheelchair user 7 AF Nigeria Cobbams Asuquo Musician, producer, songwriter and lawyer Visually impaired 8 AF South Africa Hon. Hendrietta I. Bogopane-Zulu Deputy government minister Visually impaired 9 AM Canada Christine Gauthier Invictus Games medallist and multiple world champion Spinal and knee damage 10 AM America Jim Abbott Athlete – Baseball Born with one hand 11 AM America Stevie Wonder Singer/songwriter Blind 12 AM Canada Michael J Fox Actor Parkinson’s disease 13 AM America David Patterson 55th Governor of New York Blind 14 AM Canada Rich Donovan Global expert in business development Cerebral Palsy 15 AM America Trischa Zorn Most successful Paralympian ever Blind 16 AM America Stanley Eisen Musician – KISS – rhythm guitarist Partially deaf 17 AM America Greg Abbott Current Governor of Texas and former Texas State Attorney General Spinal and kidney damage 18 AM America John Hockenberry Journalist, author, 4-time Emmy Award winner Spinal chord injury 19 AM America Diance Swonk Chief Economist and senior VP at Bank One Corporation. Dyslexia 20 AM America Marlee Matlin Academy Award- winning actress Deaf 21 AM America Jack Chen Lawyer and Google employee Blind 22 AU India Malini Chib Disability rights activist and author Cerebral Palsy 23 AU India Srikanth Bolla Head of a RS 50 Crore Company Blind 24 AU India Javed Abidi Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disable People Spina Bifida 25 AU Sri Lanka Ajith Chrysanta Stephen Perera Chartered Chemist, scholar, former test match panel cricket umpire and author Wheelchair user 26 AU Pakistan Malala Yousafzai Campaigner, global advocate for human rights and women’s right to education Gunshot injury 27 AU Japan Mayumi Narita Swimmer – one of the world’s best Paralympic athletes Myelitus 28 AU Australia Nick Vijucic Motivation speaker and filmmaker Born without arms or legs 29 AU India Sugha Chandran International dancer Single-leg amputee 30 AU China Zhang Madam Haidi Head of the Chinese Federation of Disabled People, writer, translator Paraplegia 31 AU Australia Adam Hills Presenter Single-leg Amputee 32 AU Malaysia Melvin Tong Businessman Fibro sarcoma 33 E Italy Alex Zanardi Former F1 driver turned Para cyclist Double-leg amputee 34 E Poland Bartek Ostalowski Racing Driver Double-arm amputee 35 E Israel Itzhak Perlman International violinist Polio survivor 36 E France Jean-Christophe Parisot Political scientist, disability activist Tetraplegia 37 E Norway Ragnhild Myklebust Most successful winter Paralympian ever Wheelchair user 38 E Germany Wolfgang Schauble Minister, former CDU party chairman Wheelchair user 39 E Italy Andrea Bocelli Singer Blind 40 E Germany Sabriye Tenberken Social worker, creator of Tibetan braille Blind 41 E Turkey Esref Armagen Painter Blind 42 E France Bernard Morin Mathematician Blind 43 SA Jamaica Floyd Morris Jamaica Senate Leader/Radio Broadcaster Blind 44 SA Mexico Miguel Barbosa Huerta President of the Senate Paralysis from waist-down 45 SA Argentina Gabriela Michetti Vice President Paraplegia 46 SA Brazil Johnathan Bastos Musician Born without arms 47 SA Mexico Lenin Moreno Vice President and Noble Peace Prize nominee Paralysis following a shooting 48 SA Brazil Daniel de Faria Dias Swimmer Malformed upper and lower limbs 49 SA Mexico Raul Montoya Executive Director – Collectivo Chuchan, painter Mental health 50 SA Cuba Omara Durand Sprinter Visually impaired
Channel 4 Continuity adds new voice as part of the broadcaster’s Year of Disability
In a first for Channel 4, prime time continuity announcing will be subtitled for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. Channel 4 announced the latest addition to its Continuity Team with 27 year-old Chris Renouf taking on announcing duties during prime time, as part of the broadcaster’s Year of Disability. As part of its commitment to opening up the airwaves to alternative voices, Channel 4 has invited young people with disabilities to become the voice of the broadcaster and announce some of the channel’s biggest shows. Chris, who is deaf and has mild cerebral palsy, will be telling his story on air alongside fulfilling the usual continuity duties from 6pm this Friday. His voice will be heard announcing programmes such as Channel 4 News, Gogglebox and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Channel 4 has also arranged for subtitling to be available during Chris’ announcing. This marks the first time Channel 4 has subtitled content for their prime time continuity breaks. Chris worked closely with Isla Paton and Barra Fitzgibbon, Channel 4 Continuity Creative Managers, to develop his script. Paul Sapsford, Group Continuity Manager, Channel 4 said: “After launching this initiative earlier this year we are delighted to have Chris come on board as our second announcer and take control of the continuity mic for the evening. With the start of the Rio Paralympic Games just around the corner, it’s been great that we’ve been able to work with Chris to help further increase the representation of disabled people on Channel 4.” Chris commented: “I’m looking forward to hearing my voice on air tomorrow evening, especially as I’ll be heard around popular programmes like The Simpsons and Gogglebox. A big thank you to Barra and Isla for helping me with my script and I’m also very grateful to Channel 4 for this opportunity.” Channel 4’s Continuity Team has a long held reputation for its bold, edgy and innovative approach to providing programme links for viewers. Earlier this year Olivia Hale, who has high-functioning autism, became the first to take part in the initiative.
UK’s First Ever Disabled Strongman Event Launches
The first-ever Disabled Strongman event is to take place Saturday 29th August at the Northwood Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent. Devised by UK Disabled Strongman Gary Clarke, the event will be officiated by Four-times world’s strongest man, Magnús Ver Magnússon. The Impey Showers sponsored event will see competitors compete to win the Arnar mar Jonnson trophy. Inspired by the World’s Strongest Disabled Man event created by Magnús Ver Magnússon and Arnar Már Jónsson. The event is supported by 2 times winner of Britain’s Strongest Man, Laurence Shahlaei, hosted by renowned Strongman MC, Les Wilson, and will be judged by 4 time world strongest man, Magnús Ver Magnússon. Competitors will undertake Six individual disciplines including truck pulling, weight lifting and endurance during the event which is being held at the Northwood Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent from 11.30 – 3.30pm. Tickets are free and available from a dedicated EventBrite page – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/britains-disabled-strongman-2015-tickets-16874866179 Founder Gary Clarke 37 from Somerset, began devising his own event after noticing a distinct lack of disabled strongman events in the UK. “I’ve competed in disabled strongman competitions around the world for a number of years and was always disappointed that, even after the Paralympics, there was nothing like this at home. Last year Magnús Ver Magnússon, four-time World Strongest Man winner, said I should bring the event to the UK, and here we are. “It has been a lot of hard work, but it will hopefully be worth it when we raise the profile of disabled strongman competitions in the UK.” Neil Whitehead, Brand Manager at Impey Showers, said: “We have sponsored Gary’s strongman efforts around the world for a number of years, and knew that we wanted to be involved in bringing this great event to the UK. We want to help Gary raise the profile of disabled strongman in Britain and this is a great first step in doing so. “Impey is committed to supporting disabled people live normal lives. Whether this being installing wet rooms into homes that have been refused DFG or adapting changing facilities in a sports centre to cater for the less abled, we believe in giving everyone the right to independent living.” For more information on the event, and other disabled strongman activities, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/807332179317350/?fref=ts