People with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) require improved methods of accessing telecommunications, given the communication barriers they face, to participate fully in society. This research explores the types of telecommunications access methods adults with CCN use and report to be useful, as well as their perspectives of the usefulness of a Video-Assisted Speech-to-Speech Relay (VAS) service.
Honours Research Thesis
Written by Darryl on April 30th, 2012The PhD bug? Doctor, help!
Written by Darryl on April 24th, 2012The first quarter of the year has been a time to recover from the past few years of doing my honours research, to re-evaluate the direction I am wanting my life to go, to sort through relationships, to just trying to enjoy life, to start to seek options both academic and employment, to catch up with friends and to wait for my university results. Not to forget the editing of my thesis down to 20 percent of it’s size to turn it into a journal paper that was submitted for the Newell Prize. The paper made it into the finals and will be published in next month’s issue of the Telecommunications Journal of Australia. At times it has been relaxing but other times frustrating. Doors that I thought might have opened haven’t, yet, there have been some fantastic experiences sprinkled throughout this time. During which time, a number of well meaning friends have been hinting that I should be looking for a job and getting out more. However, I feel it has been a productive the quarter.
Since being notified that I will be receiving first class Honours I have been thinking about doing a PhD, something last year I swore I wouldn’t do. While at WomAdelaide this year probably enjoying too much wine with a good friend of mine we came up with an idea for a PhD. The idea was to study people with complex communication needs in relation to expressions of their sexuality. Since then I have bounced the idea off a number of people and received a variety of responses, from very encouraging of both doing a PhD and of the topic to expressing the need for me to get a job. Many of the encouragers, after thinking on the proposed topic, could see such research could be very interesting, valuable and the many directions it could take.
Currently, I am investigating the option of doing such a PhD and it is my aim to blog my progress. This afternoon I had a productive meeting over Skype with a potential supervisor and tonight I began to chat, also over Skype with a woman who has cerebral palsy and who is actually currently doing a PhD in Sydney.
Maria’s Dreamtime (1988) by Darryl Sellwood
Written by Darryl on February 3rd, 2012In 1988 I was one of the winners from South Australia of a school competition ran by the Office of Multicultural Affairs of the Australian Federal Government. School students were encouraged to create a piece of art or writing that communicated a better multicultural Australia in the year 2010. I wrote and designed a children’s book called “Maria’s Dreamtime”. The prize was a day trip to Canberra to have a tour of the, then new, Parliament House of Australia and meet the Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.
Download a free copy of the book: Maria’s Dreamtime (8.83 MB)
A Christmas Dare
Written by Darryl on December 24th, 2011So, Christmas is here, a season of contradictions and mixed feelings. It’s ok to feel happy while feeling deep sadness. Enjoy tomorrow by lowering your expectations – not everything will go the way you would like. Try to do something loving to that person who you would like to punch into next year, knowing that you will possibly not get something in return, I know you will be touched by joy.
Confused about what all this Christmas thing is about?! I dare you to grab a bible and read the book called Matthew or John, both of these books can found a bit after the middle of the bible. Then after reading one of these books, just ponder for a sec, if you dare, what if those stories were true……………….
Have a very blessed Christmas!
AGOSCI 2011 National Conference – Darryl Sellwood’s Plenary
Written by Darryl on July 31st, 2011Well, here it is, the keynote address I presented at the AGOSCI 2011 National Conference held in May. It is in three parts. I will endeavour to get Closed Captions added as soon as possible.
