National radio to feature the disabled

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 6

National radio to feature the disabled

Radio New Zealand’s national programme will mark the International Year of : Disabled Persons (1981) within minutes of its start. I In the early minutes of I January 1, Reida Familton, I the : all-night programme j presenter, will have as her ’ special guest in the studio, Miss Ann Ballin, of Christchurch, chairman of the national committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons. Disabled since she was six and using a wheelchair for : mobility, Miss Ballin is well qualified to talk about the ; many problems faced by the . disabled in all facets of life. ■ Miss Ballin’s information I is gathered from first-hand experience as well as from ■ her . wider professional involvement in social and personal issues as clinical psychologist and student coun- ' seller with the University of

Canterbury student health service. She has travelled extensively during the last 12 months meeting groups, and organisations of the handicapped in all parts of New Zealand. Miss Ballin .was also a delegate at this year’s world conference in Canada of Rehabilitation International, of which she is the New Zealand president. Miss Ballin will talk to Reida Familton about all aspects of disability, between the usual schedule of musical items and feature programmes, from a few minutes past midnight until 5.30 a.m. Programmes reflecting the International Year of Disabled Persons will form a regular part of the National Network’s output next year; These will include the programme, “Progress Positive,’’ at 9.15 a.m. on Saturdays during January and Febru-J

ary. These- programmes will be an extension of the information normally heard in the weekly forum, “Future Indicative,” for the handicapped. On Sunday, January'3, the first broadcast church service of the year will also follow the I.Y.D.P. theme. This will be broadcast from Nelson Cathedral. The first 8.45 a.m. book reading for the year will also be in keeping with the disabled persons’ theme.- It will be the biographical story of the paraplegic athlete, Eve Rimmer, whose book, "No Grass Between My Toes,” will be read each morning from February 2. As well as these programmes early in the year, the * National Network will present- • talks,interviews, discussions; radio plays, and documentaries associated with the .I.Y.D.P. throughout 1981. : : . .: