THIS week the Irish Hard of Hearing Association is starting its autumn season of lip reading classes in the Dublin area. According to Mairin O'Kelly, secretary of the association, the ability to lip read is considered the single most practical step a person can take after losing hearing and can restore the confidence needed to continue or resume working and socialising. Classes, which will run up to Christmas, begin this evening in St Vincent's, 40 Lower Drumcondra Road, Dublin 9, tomorrow morning at NAD, 35 North Frederick Street, Dublin 1 and on Thursday evening at St Mary's, Beechpark, Stillorgan, Co Dublin. Further information can be had about these classes and others taking place in Cork, Limerick and Kilkenny by telephoning (01) 4589157, 4502701 and 2693491 or by writing to The Secretary, IHHA, c/o St Joseph's, Brewery Road, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
TO mark the start of Arthritis Butterfly Week today Maureen Potter and Mick McCarthy are launching Arthritis Move It Or Lose It, an exercise workbook for people with arthritis This 40 page workbook is encyclopaedic in its coverage of the disease with practical information on how to cope, where to get advice on the different kinds of arthritis and how to keep up to date on the latest developments. The focus of the workbook is exercises and these are sensibly prefaced by flexibility and strengthening, tests which can be recorded on a chart to monitor progress.
The workbook, which was supported by the Health Promotion Unit and Seven Seas, is available from The Arthritis Foundation, 1 Clanwilliam Square, Grand Canal, Quay, Dublin. It costs £3.99 including postage and packaging.
THE Irish Fashion Extravaganza Roadshow in aid of ARC Cancer Support takes place this evening in the RDS, Dublin. The show, presented by the Irish Fashion Group and An Bord Trachtala, includes a preview of the Look to Our Own Autumn 96 collection. ARC (Aftercare Research Counselling) Trust is located in Eccles Street, Dublin and the services include an eight week educational programme for people with cancer and their supporters, relaxation and visualisation sessions, supervised support group meetings, yoga classes and one to one counselling. Inquiries about tickets (£12) from ARC on (01) 8307333. Two other shows in Ballina and Ballybofey are planned for October.