Local Community

Caring for a child can be tough and very challenging. While every child is a joy to their parents, families of children with a disability find simple everyday living more difficult. Financial assistance, respite care - time out and community support can make a world of difference.

The Westfield Community Program was launched in early 2008 to address these needs in our local communities. Each Westfield Centre across Australia partners with a local disability service provider to help improve the quality of life for children with disabilities their families.

Westfield North Rocks encourages you to support its local community partner Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children

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The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) provides much-needed education and support services to children with hearing and/or vision impairment and to those with additional disabilities.

In affiliation with the University of Newcastle, RIDBC conducts world-leading research, helping to develop better education practices for children with sensory impairment.

Through the RIDBC Teleschool, RIDBC is now able to work extensively with children and their families in regional and remote areas of Australia.

RIDBC is strongly committed to Australia's indigenous community, screening over 1200 Aboriginal children every year for hearing and vision impairment and working with community leaders and health workers to provide sustained care to Australia's indigenous children.

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is one of Australia's oldest charities and will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2010.

Hard work pays off for Aly...

When four-year-old Aly stood up in front of her preschool class at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) recently, she was taking a big step forward. Aly was telling the class about her recent visit to the city's dinosaur museum ­- something that she would have been too shy to do only a year earlier.

Aly was born with hearing impairment, but you wouldn't know it from listening to her. After years of support from her family and from her teachers at RIDBC, Aly's language and speech are developing well. And, as she showed, so is her confidence.

"It has taken a lot of hard work but considering where she is now and what she has achieved makes us feel so proud and so thankful," said Aly's mum, Carla.

When Aly was only two days old, her hearing was screened through the now mandatory State Wide Infant Screening Hearing (SWISH) testing. By four months, Aly had begun with RIDBC's Early Learning Program (Hearing Impairment).

Unfortunately Aly's hearing continued to deteriorate. But it was realised that Aly was a strong candidate for a cochlear implant, even if it meant the sounds she was used to would change. "The surgery was the least of our concerns. It was scarier to know that all her hearing, and all the sounds that she had heard and learnt over the years, would be erased because we were going from a normal ear to an electronic ear."

But Aly had the surgery and the result has been very positive. "Aly is doing really well," said Julie Kaney, Director of RIDBC Rockie Woofit Preschool where Aly has attended since 2007. "She's been lucky to have the winning combination of early intervention, support from RIDBC's programs, and very strong family support."

Carla also credits a ‘team effort' for Aly's success. "If you have a child with hearing impairment, there is no manual that tells you what to do and what to expect. Without early support like that provided by RIDBC, it would be very hard to teach your child what they need to learn, let alone teach them how to develop language," she said. "As a parent you want to equip your children with all the skills necessary to take on life's challenges, and support whatever choices they make until they decide who they want to be," Carla said.

With the continued dedication of her family and her teachers at RIDBC, there is little doubt that Aly will continue to take big steps forward.

Take Action...
Donate: Donations are welcome by calling 1800 043 411, online at www.ridbc.org.au/donate or by mailing a cheque made out to the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children to Private Bag 94, Parramatta NSW 2124. A donation tin is also located in Westfield, North Rocks.

Volunteer: A team of volunteers supports RIDBC's staff in many areas including with gardening, administration or in the classrooms Phone Diana Piper on (02) 9871 1233 or email diana.piper@ridbc.org.au for more information, or...

Participate in a fundraising event: Everything from Opera concerts to swimathons! To enquire about the latest fundraising activities phone Kaye Bailey on (02) 9871 1233 or email kaye.bailey@ridbc.org.au