The ParentWise Podcast series is designed to help families understand some of the complex issues of parenting a child with cerebral palsy.

Written and presented by people who have had many years working with children with a disability, these audiocasts cover such diverse topics as building networks of support, managing your child's behaviour, building their resilience, assistive technology options, respite, mealtime issues, your child's growing awareness, siblings, and looking after yourself and your partner.

1. What is cerebral palsy | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
This podcast is for parents whose child has just been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, or for grandparents whose grandchild has been diagnosed. Robyn Cummins gives a basic explanation of cerebral palsy, the different types and parts of the body affected, what is known about its causes, and the physical and cognitive conditions that are associated with it. The podcast also shares insights and tips from other parents.

2. Building networks of support | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Liz Foy talks about how parents of newly-diagnosed children with a disability can build a strong and effective networks of support with family and friends.

3. Getting good outcomes | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Finding out that your child has a disability is one of the most stressful and traumatic situations that parents have to face. In this podcast, psychologist Joan Bratel shares some ideas about how parents can most effectively get good outcomes for their child.

4. Parents supporting each other | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Over the years, Paul Mavromatis has worked with many families who have a child with a disability. Here, he draws on his experience in facilitating parent support groups to explain the benefits of joining these groups and what parents can expect from being part of them.

5-6. Making the most of your child’s mealtimes

• Part 1 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  Speech pathologist, Sudi Veerabangsa, takes us through the types of mealtime difficulties that people with a disability may experience, explains what dysphagia is and outlines some of the most important elements for making mealtimes more enjoyable for everyone.
  
  
• Part 2 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  Some of the ways parents can assist children who have eating difficulties.
  

7. Alternatives to oral feeding (Gastrostomy) | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Sometimes, chewing and swallowing can be hard for children with cerebral palsy. At some point, non-oral ways of feeding might be suggested by your child’s therapist, doctor or dietitian. Parents will often have different thoughts and feelings about this option and may find it a challenging decision to make. In this podcast, consultant speech pathologist, Leigha Dark, explains the various tube feeding options with some tips to help guide you when making the decision.

8. Strengthening your partnership | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Social work consultant, Natalie Morton, discusses the impact that having a child with a disability can have on parents’ relationships and talks about what people can do to ensure they can maintain strong, healthy and communicative relationships.

9. Creating ‘me’ space | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
If you have a child with a disability and have been struggling to find some ‘me time’ lately, this podcast is for you. Paul Mavromatis identifies some strategies shared by members of parent groups about how they find time to meet their own needs. He’ll also discuss the implications of not giving yourself a break and explores the many benefits that come when you do.

10. The ‘black days’ | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
They’re the days we’d rather not have, but, at one time or another, all parents of a child with a disability have experienced what social work consultant Kate Hooke calls the 'Black Days'. In this podcast, Kate looks at how parents can make those dark days more bearable.

11. Respite options | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Jaye Chadwick, physiotherapist and mother of Kate, who has cerebral palsy, talks about the benefits of respite for both children with disabilities and their families. Respite is where your child is looked after by a trusted individual, for a few hours, overnight or for longer. It may be in your home or at a special respite centre. Respite is designed to give you a break and offers your child to participate in fun activities and meet new people.

12. Your child’s growing awareness | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Kate Hooke, consultant social worker, examines how to best handle your child’s growing awareness of their disability.

13. Brothers and sisters | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Jaye Chadwick shares her insights about what she, her husband and her family have experienced and learned about behing a brother or sister to someone with a disability.

14-16. Building resilience

• Part 1 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  Social work consultant Jenny Griffiths will share her insights about why it’s so important to help kids with a disability to develop their ability to ‘bounce back’ or become more resilient in stressful situations. You’ll also learn how you can help your child to build these skills.
  
  
• Part 2 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  How problem solving can be a powerful tool for building your child’s confidence to cope in stressful situations.
  
  
• Part 3 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  How can relaxation and helpful thinking build your child’s resilience? This is the question that's addressed in the final part of the resilience podcasts.
  

17-20. Encouraging positive behaviour

• Part 1 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  In the first of four podcasts social work consultant, Jenny Griffiths, talks about the often challenging topic of behaviour management and how it can be implemented successfully with your child.
  
  
• Part 2 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  The role of parent and child related triggers in managing challenging behaviour.
  
  
• Part 3 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  How you can successfully set goals and plan ahead to manage your child’s challenging behaviour.

• Part 4 | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
  How you can help your child to learn new skills and behaviours and what you can do to manage challenging situations when they arise. - How you can help your child to learn new skills and behaviours and what you can do to manage challenging situations when they arise.

21. The ABC of AAC | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Speech pathologist, Anna Bech, explains the benefits of Augmentative and Alternative Communication - the use of gestures, facial expression, body language, signing, photos, picture symbols and voice output technology to communicate.

22. Cerebral palsy - staying healthy | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Melissa Perrett, who is the Health Manager of a large disability service, explains the various medical conditions that can be associated with cerebral palsy and some of the strategies that can be used to manage them.

23. Powered mobility | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Occupational therapist and seating consultant, Natalie Carden, explains the benefits of powered mobility for children with a disability and gives you some hints about how to investigate powered mobility options for your child.

24. Sense of belonging | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
In this podcast, youth worker Peter Horsley shares his insights about how parents can help their teenagers disabilities develop an all-important sense of belonging.

25. Inclusion – for everyone! | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Inclusion is about taking part in social, cultural, educational and sporting activities, regardless of our background or ability – it’s the essence of a community. As Recreation Therapist Jessica Tarr explains in this podcast, for children with a disability inclusion is about much more than just building ramps for access. Drawing on her experience of helping kids with a disability to achieve their recreational and sporting goals, Jessica reflects on the most effective ways to overcome barriers to inclusion.

26. The path forward: the six thinking hats | Download MP3 file | View transcript (PDF)
Marelle Thornton AM is President of The Spastic Centre of New South Wales and the mother of an adult daughter with cerebral palsy. In this podcast, Marelle shares a thinking tool called ‘The Six Hats,’ which she has found invaluable for dealing with life as a parent of a child with a disability. Devised by Dr Edward de Bono, and discussed at length in his book, ‘Six Thinking Hats’, the tool gives us six different ways to think about thinking and, in this case, to think about disability.

For more information about the ParentWise Podcast series, please contact: Robyn Cummins, T: +61 2 9479 7200.