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As the Chair of the Minister's - Coralee O'Rourke MP Queensland Disability Advisory Council (QDAC) I am very excited by our state celebrations of Disability Action Week - this week. There are so many interesting events happening across all areas. This week is about inclusion and about educating and creating awareness of disability and how our community can work together to create truly inclusive society. We all need to make sure we become involved and get out there and have some fun. Queensland is a great state. Let's showcase some of the great ways we come together and celebrate inclusion throughout this week.

Discovery at Paradise Island Overview

I was really excited to find out my children's storybook Discovery at Paradise Island has just been chosen for the NSW Board of Studies Suggested Texts for English P-10 in Stage one, two and three, new curriculum - in the Social Sustainability, Environmental and disability area.
I have released a second paperback print run and a double cd audiobook version and a DAISY and PDF file and ebook on iTunes and amazon -ISBN - 978-0-9581610-7-7of the story as well. This book is one of the only Australian children's books written exploring disability in the family and also will be one of the only resources with mp3 files and audio cd of the book. This will greatly assist those with literacy problems or vision problems as well. This book also is a good resource for ESL and older readers as well. To order either email - boyces@usq.edu.au or click
http://www.discoveringdisability.com.au/index.php/about-us/online-shop

A Little About The Book - Blurb‘

The fun and discovery starts as soon as Alexandria and Sarah arrive at Paradise Island. What would usually be a relaxing holiday on a tropical island turns into an exciting adventure. Sarah thinks because Alexandria’s mum is in a wheelchair their holiday will be quite boring. How wrong is she?

The island activities, a mystery code, digging for pirate treasure, clues and discovery make for a surprising holiday and Sarah discovers some things she didn’t know before she went away with Alexandria’s family.'

Discovery at Paradise Island is a children's adventure storybook written for audiences aged seven to twelve years. The story gives children a chance to learn and discover about disability. This book aims to develop children’s literacy, numeracy and social intelligence, while at the same time making it exciting and fun to read. It integrates into the school SOSE syllabus and also critical literacies and numeracy with the code breaking work. It has teacher and parent directed activities included and engagement questions at the end of each chapter to encourage children to think about what they have read and apply it to their own lives.

Written by an author with a strong educational background and a thorough knowledge of disability both from a practical perspective and a theoretical framework this book explores a variety of social justice issues through the eyes of a child. Because this book can be used as a teaching resource across the curriculum and because it has a particular focus on disability it would be an invaluable classroom tool.

The book links into the SOSE syllabus especially the Culture and Identity strand, as well as critical literacy and numeracy. It also is a much needed resource in the area of disability awareness. The engagement questions at the end of each chapter encourage children to think about the issues they are reading about and to apply them to their own lives. At the conclusion of the book it has a section containing teacher and parent directed activities.  These can be used to develop a unit of work or activities based around the book and the themes contained within it.  

Sharon Boyce is available to come to your school to participate in author visits and also disability awareness sessions. Sharon is a registered teacher and is trained to work across all year levels. Sharon won the Disability Action Week Award for Individuals for this books first edition.

Enquires: 0417 708 945 or boyces@usq.edu.au 

Or the website – www.discoveringdisability.com.au

Kind Regards

Sharon Boyce

Hi Everyone
It has been a long time since I have written on my blog. I have been travelling and meeting some very amazing people in the Leaders for Tomorrow program I am working with. I have been to Canberra for the graduation of our June graduates and had an amazing time looking over Parliament House and having dinner at Old Parliament House. That bought back many memories for me about when I was ten and visited with my family - before I had a disability.
Then we flew to Melbourne and took part in the Disability Care conference. This was great and I was able to catch up with many amazing friends I have made across the disability networks of Australia. There are certainly many interesting things happening across the disability field in Australia at the moment.
Some of you may be interested in having a look and a listen to this post . I was interviewed by the ABC last week about disability and Australian society. Just click to follow the link. Have a listen and let me know what you think
http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2013/07/12/3801624.htm

Dear friends and colleagues

I thought everyone in this group may be interested in a special price reduction – for 2 weeks - in my children’s ebook - storybook Discovery at Paradise Island - about disability in the family. It is an ebook for iphones i pads ipods etc. in the itunes store and the link is below.

It is just $1 .99 instead of the usual $9.99

Ebook version -

 http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/discovery-at-paradise-island/id485504789?mt=11

I have written and published the print version of this book and have now released it as an ebook. I am really only learning about how to market it and how to let people know it exists -so I hope you don’t mind me sending this out to your networks. I would really love it if you liked it - if you could forward it on to your friends and families. I am selling it at this extra special price - $1.99 - so schools and organisations may be able to have a look and a read of it at the special price and then may be able to buy a number of copies for class sets of apps etc. It is designed to explore issues of disability and create conversations and raise awareness about different issues families have to deal with. It is also a fun adventure story with lots of activities for the reader, code breaking and laughs as well.

Discovery at Paradise Island – Sharon Boyce -                                    ISBN - 978-0-9581610-6-0

Description

‘The fun and discovery starts as soon as Alexandria and Sarah arrive at Paradise Island. What would usually be a relaxing holiday on a tropical island turns into an exciting adventure. Sarah thinks because Alexandria's mum is in a wheelchair their holiday will be quite boring. How wrong is she?

The island activities, a mystery code, digging for pirate treasure, clues and discovery make for a surprising holiday and Sarah discovers some things she didn't know before she went away with Alexandria's family.'

Discovery at Paradise Island is a children's adventure storybook written for audiences aged seven to twelve years. The story gives children a chance to learn and discover about disability. This book aims to develop children's literacy, numeracy and social intelligence, while at the same time making it exciting and fun to read. It integrates into the school SOSE syllabus and also critical literacies and numeracy with the code breaking work. It has teacher and parent directed activities included and engagement questions at the end of each chapter to encourage children to think about what they have read and apply it to their own lives.

More details on the book are also available at my website as well –

http://www.discoveringdisability.com.au/index.php/about-us/discovery-at-paradise-island-2nd-edition

Written by an author with a strong educational background and a thorough knowledge of disability both from a practical perspective and a theoretical framework this book explores a variety of social justice issues through the eyes of a child. Because this book can be used as a teaching resource across the curriculum and because it has a particular focus on disability it would be an invaluable classroom tool.

The book links into the SOSE syllabus especially the Culture and Identity strand, as well as critical literacy and numeracy. It also is a much needed resource in the area of disability awareness. The engagement questions at the end of each chapter encourage children to think about the issues they are reading about and to apply them to their own lives. At the conclusion of the book it has a section containing teacher and parent directed activities. These can be used to develop a unit of work or activities based around the book and the themes contained within it.

Sharon Boyce is available to come to your school to participate in author visits and also disability awareness sessions. Sharon is a registered teacher and is trained to work across all year levels. Sharon won the Disability Action Week Award for Individuals for this books first edition and the Australian Human Rights Award for Individuals for her work in inclusion.

If you have any questions or any advice on other ways I can let schools/ teachers/ organisations and families know about this resource please just email me back. I would really appreciate it.

Kind regards

Sharon Boyce
Discovering DisAbility & Diversity

Institute of Inclusive Education and Research

USQ - Toowoomba

0417 708 945
www.discoveringdisability.com.au 

Winner of the

Australian Human Rights Award for Individuals 2008

Runner Up

Queensland Regional Achievement Awards 2011