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An initiative of

Teaching Resource

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The latest statistics indicate that 15-24 year olds are the group most at risk of acquiring a spinal cord injury. The SpinChat program aims to address this at-risk group by raising awareness and promoting the prevention of spinal cord injury amongst high school students.

This resource aims to support the presentation given by the SpinChat speaker. Included is further information about spinal cord injury, as well as extension activities which aim to help consolidate the message of injury prevention and foster further discussion about living with a disability.If you would like more information or wish to discuss any aspect of your SpinChat session, please don’t hesitate to contact the SpinChat team.

SpinChat CoordinatorIndependence Australia208 Wellington StreetCollingwood VIC 306603 9418 0490spinchat@independenceaustralia.comwww.spinchat.org.au

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What to expect during a SpinChat sessionUpon arrival

The speaker will arrive for the session approximately 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time. The speaker will require either an accessible parking space or a space reserved close to the venue where the session will take place. Please arrange for someone to meet the speaker upon arrival and ensure the way from the car to the classroom/venue is flat and wheelchair accessible.

Set up and equipment

Please arrange to have a laptop, projector and screen (or monitor) set up prior to the speaker’s arrival, as the speaker will have a DVD and PowerPoint to show. If you wish to watch the DVD prior to the session it is included in the confirmation pack mailed to you with this booklet.

During the session

The speaker will allow time for questions during their presentation. It is often helpful to have students start to think about the types of questions they may have for the speaker. A few ‘planted’ questions are encouraged to help break the ice and stir up discussion.

After the session

Once the session has ended, if students have additional questions that were not answered at the time, we encourage them to submit them either via email (spinchat@independenceaustralia.com) or via the SpinChat Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SpinChatAU).Included in this booklet are possible extension activities to complete with students following a SpinChat session.In the week following the session, a feedback survey and the invoice for the session will be sent to you. If students also have feedback that they would like to pass on to the speaker, they can do so via the SpinChat website at www.spinchat.org.au/contact or via the SpinChat Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SpinChatAU).

Extension activitiesBelow is a range of extension activities you might like to complete with students after the SpinChat presentation. These activities aim to foster further discussion and thought about injury prevention and living with a disability.

Activity: Share with the speaker

Write a letter to your SpinChat speaker. Having students share their thoughts on the session may help students to think about what it was that they took from the session. In the letter, encourage students to consider aspects such as: How the speaker’s story made them feel? What aspects of their story were most surprising? What they learnt from the presentation? Any other questions that weren’t answered during the presentation

Letters can be mailed to Independence Australia and will be passed on to the speaker.

Activity: Fundraising events

The SpinChat program is run by Independence Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that supports people living with physical disabilities. These support services assist people to regain, retain and extend their independence. As a not-for-profit organisation, the support of the community helps us to ensure that these important services continue to be available to those who need them. Your school community can get involved and make a real difference to people living with a physical disability. Fundraising activity ideas: Hold a casual clothes day Host a quiz night, morning tea or movie night Have teachers bring a baby photo and hold a competition to guess who’s who Organise a sausage sizzle or pizza lunch Organise a fun-run or walkathon

To discuss fundraising ideas contact the SpinChat team on 03 9418 0490.

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Activity: Creative for a cause

There is no cure for a spinal cord injury, only prevention. Encourage students to think about how they would go about promoting the injury prevention message by creating a poster or ad.When creating their prevention campaign, students may wish to consider aspects such as: the wording or slogan images or photos ideas that will resonate with other students

Any artwork created for ‘Creative for a cause’ can be submitted to the SpinChat team and placed on the SpinChat website (with permission). At the end of 2014, a $100 iTunes voucher will be awarded to the artist whose work is deemed most effective.Artwork can be emailed to spinchat@independenceaustralia.com or sent via mail to the address on page 3.

Activity: Is it wheelchair friendly?

Accessibility is one of the biggest issues for someone living with a spinal cord injury who uses a wheelchair. Have students consider how wheelchair accessible the school is by having them navigate a course through the school without using stairs. The same activity could be tried at home, with students reporting back on how they went.

L1

L2L2

L3

L4 L5

L3

L4L5

S1

S2S3

T2T3T4

T5T6T7

T8T9

T10T11T12

T2

T1

T2

T1

C2C3

C4

C5

C6

C8

C7

C8C7

C6

C5

V1

V3V2

C2C3

C4

T1C8

C6C5

C7

T9T8T7T6

T5T4

T3T2

T10

T12T11

L1L2

L3

L4

L5

S1S2

S3S4S5

C1

CERVICALVERTEBRAE

THORACICVERTEBRAE

LUMBARVERTEBRAE

SACRALVERTEBRAE

LATERAL VIEW

ILLUSTRATED DIAGRAM

The Spinal CordOF

CREATED FOR SPINCHAT AUSTRALIA AND INDEPENDENCE AUSTRALIA.

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What is a spinal cord injury?A spinal cord injury is damage or trauma to the spinal cord that results in loss of or reduced mobility or feeling. Spinal cord injury is normally diagnosed as either complete or incomplete. A complete injury means that the spinal cord is completely severed and there is

total loss of feeling and movement below the injury. An incomplete injury is when the spinal cord is not completely damaged and

there is some movement or sensation below the level of injury.

Who is most likely to acquire a spinal cord injury?

Spinal cord injuries are most common among people aged 15-24 years old. Males are over represented amongst spinal cord injury sufferers, accounting for 80% of all spinal cord injuries.

What causes spinal cord injury?

The most common causes of spinal cord injury are the result of a trauma (79%). Road crashes are the leading traumatic cause of a spinal cord injury, however other common causes include leisure and sporting activities such as water-related incidents or motor sports, as well as falls.

What are the effects of a spinal cord injury?The effects of a spinal cord injury will vary depending upon where the spinal cord is damaged and the type of injury. The higher the damage to the spinal cord, the greater the loss of function.An injury at the base of the neck at C2 will usually affect function below the neck. While an injury to the lower back at L1 is likely to affect function in legs and lower half of the body only.Paralysis or a lack of function is often classified as either quadriplegia or paraplegia. Quadriplegia is an injury to the spinal cord which results in partial or full paralysis

to the arms, legs and chest muscles. Paraplegia is an injury to the spinal cord which results in some degree of

paralysis in the legs and abdomen.Other possible effects of a spinal cord injury include: Incontinence of the bowel and bladder Breathing complications Temperature control issues such as inability to sweat (below point of injury) Low blood pressure or inability to regulate blood pressure Diminished sexual function Diminished fertility Pain

INTERESTING FACTS

Spinal Cord InjuryABOUT

WHO IS LIVING WITH A SPINAL CORD INJURY?

YEAR OLDS

APPROXIMATELY

12,000

PREVENTABLE

AUSTRALIANS

UP TO 350-400 NEW CASES REPORTED EVERY YEARNEW

THINKFEMALE (20%)MALE

(80%)

MOST AT RISK

15-24MOST COMMON CAUSES ARE

(ROAD ACCIDENTS, FALLS, WATER RELATED INCIDENTS)

HOW DOES A SPINAL CORD INJURY AFFECT THE BODY?

LOSS OF MOVEMENT AND FUNCTION BELOW THE LEVEL OF INJURY(SUCH AS LEGS, ARMS, HANDS)

(GOOGLE IT)

LOSS OF FEELING BELOW THE LEVEL OF INJURY

INABILITY TO REGULATE BODY TEMPERATURE

CHANGES TO OR LOSS OF BLADDER, BOWEL AND SEXUAL FUNCTION

CHRONIC PAIN

PRESSURE SORES

AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA

HOW DOES A SPINAL CORD INJURY CHANGE LIVES?

SPINAL CORD INJURY CAN HAVE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF SOMEONE’S LIFE AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILY’S – PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL

DATA IS CORRECT AS OF SEPTEMBER 2012. CREATED FOR STEPSFORINDEPENDENCE.COM.AU AND INDEPENDENCE AUSTRALIA.

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No cure, only preventionThe SpinChat program aims to encourage high school students to consider the possible consequences of risk-taking behaviours in order to reduce the incidence of new spinal cord injuries. The most common causes of spinal cord injury are the result of a trauma, such as road accidents, water related incidents, falls and incidents that involve the influence of drugs or alcohol. Below are some tips for helping to minimise risks.

On the road

Always wear a seatbelt Drive smart – influences such as drugs, alcohol, fatigue, speed and distractions

can increase the chance of an accident Be a smart passenger – don’t risk your safety by getting into a car with a careless

or dangerous driver, or one that is under the influence of alcohol or drugs Be alert – pedestrians are vulnerable road users, so obey the road rules set to

protect you Cycle smart – always wear a helmet and obey the road rules

In the water

Always check the depth of the water before diving in Watch out for hidden dangers under the water, such as logs, rocks and sandbanks Equip yourself with the right protective gear for water sports such as water skiing,

wakeboarding and surfing

Falls

Consider potential hazards and exercise caution Wear a helmet for sports such as cycling, horse riding and rollerblading

Drugs and alcohol

Remember when drugs or alcohol are involved, you’re more likely to take unplanned risks. In some cases these unplanned risks can lead to serious traumatic injuries, such as spinal cord injury

Disability EtiquetteAsk before you assume

Always ask a person in a wheelchair if they need assistance before offering help. It may not always be needed or wanted.

When a person has transferred out of a wheelchair to a chair, bed or car don’t move the wheelchair without asking first.

The environment and personal space

Avoid leaning on or touching a wheelchair without permission. Don’t pat a person on the head or shoulders or slap their back as a friendly gesture.

This may be perceived as patronising or cause the person to lose their balance. If children are curious, don’t discourage them from asking questions. When giving directions, consider distance, weather conditions and physical obstacles. Rearrange furniture if something is blocking the path. Know and advise where

accessible facilities are (ie. ramps, accessible toilets). When involving people with a disability in social events, ensure there are

accessible facilities available. Leave accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities.

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Communicate naturally

Shake hands, speak normally and make eye contact. If someone speaks slowly or with great effort, be patient and don’t pretend to

understand. Ask the person to repeat or offer them a pen and paper if appropriate. Consider sitting down or kneeling for a longer conversation to put you at the

same eye-level. Don’t mention the person’s disability unless it is relevant to the conversation. Be natural with language and expressions. It is okay to use expressions like

“running late”.

Don’t pat assistance dogs

It’s only natural to want to pat a guide or assistance dog, but please refrain from doing so as they are always in working mode when they are with their owner.

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Independence Australia 208 Wellington Street Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia

T 1300 704 456 F 1300 704 451 E spinchat@independenceaustralia.com W www.independenceaustralia.com

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