Every Tuesday for 5 years our 'Mum's group' got together
Ours was of course the 'best group' and our bonds would last forever
Some of us were 'older mums', some of us were 'young'
and the wisdom of all ages created such diversity among
 
The unknown ahead, the baby rules we required
got us thinking and sharing and positively inspired
We had ‘Mums’ from interstate, local town and overseas
Without extended family, one another responded to our pleas
 
Everyone looked forward to our Tuesday in the park
The next Tuesday at someone’s home,
The next – creating a landmark
 
Birthdays were celebrated together as a group
Invitations were not necessary as we were all in the loop
We had our list of names and numbers to check on now and then
If we did not turn up on Tuesday, concerned others would ask ‘when’
 
Some of us suffered PND, sleep deprivation or pure exhaustion,
some were so relaxed and ‘natural’, we questioned their milk portion? 
 
When the time came and our 'first ones' started school
Things changed somewhat with sadness, moving on seemed cruel
There were some lucky families who were graced with more than one
But others returned to a working life, supporting their partners, daughter or son
 
Life has changed for all of us – most ‘children’ now seventeen
Our fond memories of ‘mum’s group’ - laughter, friendships and caffeine
There has been loss within our group, due to things beyond control
We have been there for each other, in or out the cubbyhole
 
The bonds our kids developed in those early days
may not all be remembered
But the strength in those that have remained will not ever be severed
The experiences, the photos, all trigger a special time
of our lives in ‘Mum’s Group’ growing, playing, reading and rhyme.
 
Kerri Weaver 

​The stressors of life……the stressors in life

• We stress about what will be,
• what has happened,
• what is happening now …

Stress can be quiet – internalising thoughts that outsiders cannot hear
Rational thoughts, irrational thoughts – which one?

• That thought 1 minute ago – clearheaded?
• The comment 2 hours ago – rational/irrational ?

Where has that thought come from?

• Is a quiet person really just quiet?
• Does a loud person really share it all?

What if … it had been daylight?
What if … everyone was in this one place together?
What if … a different choice was made?
What if … there were no ‘what if’s’ ?
Cause of stress

• not being able to do anything…
• wanting to do something…
• change something…
• If we accepted the circumstances, would we still experience stress?

“Not all stress is bad” – rational or irrational?
“Stress can be good” – true or false?
Managing stress – or masking stress?

• Who can?
• Who cannot?
• Who thrives on it?
• Who learns from it?
• What does it look like for you?

Nobody’s STRESS = the other’s STRESS

As a driver, have you ever considered when turning a corner that there could be someone walking along the road on their right hand side which is your left turning area, and the person could have a vision impairment? Where they live may require them walking first to get to their bus stop in a rural area as there are not always buses going down a local road during the day if it’s not a ‘school bus’. So therefore, those who don’t drive a car whether it’s due to their limitations with their vision, or their lack of money to maintain the cost of a car and insurance, there are people who need to get on public transport and the bus stop is a distance away from home.

Recently, on my travels as an Orientation & Mobility specialist I was asked about some challenging scenarios for someone who travels with a long white cane, limited vision, and needs to catch a bus on the Bruce Hwy in North Queensland. For those who are not Queenslanders, “the 1,700 kilometre Bruce Highway is Queensland's major north-south road corridor, connecting coastal population centres from Brisbane to Cairns and supporting around 58 per cent of Queensland's population”
(http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/funding/projects/brucehighway.aspx)

Like all roads there are busy spots and quiet spots that vary throughout the day. The bus services are extremely limited and this service only ran every 2 hours. The challenge presented included the fact that the area of the highway was in a 100km zone, despite there being a bus stop and before the person got to the highway, the road travelled on foot was in an 80km zone.

As an Orientation & Mobility specialist, I don’t feel confident that a person with a vision impairment travelling along those roads is safe considering the logistics of rural country roads and the speed zones currently in place. Our role is to ensure safety and encourage independence in a person and although that person may be proud of their ‘travelling skills and abilities’, opting for alternatives in individual scenarios such as these are not to be seen as a ‘cop out’.

The person is making a safe and sensible decision to travel and be protected in a vehicle such as a taxi. And sometimes accessing such transport provides more independence for the person – they can choose the time of pickup and return and continue to be out there in the community, enjoying others’ company, engage in regular exercise, shop for essentials and more, knowing that there are safer options open to all.

Of course, there are always costs involved with accessing transport. A person with a vision impairment may have a Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS card) for travelling in a taxi? Not only do people with a vision impairment have this option. People with other disabilities may also be eligible.
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Since NDIS has rolled out in Australia, participants are also entitled to access transport funds and there are 3 levels – dependent on the purpose and regularity of their travel needs, and especially when the hours that a person may want to travel don’t match up with public transport options, these funds can support the person to continue to meet their needs and goals.