Goya Dmytryshchak
An online seminar for people living with Parkinson’s aims to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding the disease.
Brooklyn’s Pam West, who founded the ParKanDo peer support group for people living with Parkinson’s in Melbourne’s west, said the disease didn’t define people.
“The focus for us is about busting perceptions and myths around capacity of people with Parkinson’s to engage and contribute within the community,” she said.
“People seem to view someone with shakes or someone whose speech is impacted by the condition as not having the capacity to do things.
“We’ve had members refused service in hotels because they had the shakes.
“We’ve had people who are with a carer [and] the conversation is directed at the carer instead of the individual.”
The seminar will include a speaker from Parkinson’s Victoria’s and people with lived experience of the disease sharing their personal perspectives.
Ms West’s professional life included the roles of business development and project management before she used her skills to establish the support group.
In the year since it was launched, ParKanDo’s membership has doubled to more than 60 people from all walks of life.
The youngest member is 40 and the oldest is 87.
Ms West said last year’s COVID-19 lockdowns had pushed many of the group’s events online, which had led to a growth in membership from across Australia.
The free e-seminar will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, February 9, from 5-6pm.
ParKanDo membership is free.
Register for the event via bit.ly/2K6TOr0.
For more information, contact events@parkinsons-vic.org.au or call 1800 644 189.
