ASK!

There have always been doctors and healers throughout history. Before the modern doctor, tribes would have their tribal healer or their physicians so it is difficult to say who the first true doctor was.
However according to enote’s History Fact Finder, the first medical doctor we know by name is Imhotep, who was an Egyptian who lived around 2650 B.C. He was an advisor to King Zoser and made contributions to the world of medicine by way of a textbook on how to treat wounds, bones as well as tumours. He was so well revered that Egyptians used to worship him as a god.

Image is a picture of a statue purchased in Egypt & is retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Imhotep.JPG

Reference:
Saari, Peggy. “Medicine And Disease – Who Was The First Doctor In History?.” History Fact Finder. Ed. Julie L. Carnagie. UXL-GALE, 2001. eNotes.com. 2006. 30 Sep, 2009

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our libraries.

All Rights Reserved, Rosen Central 2008

Medical breakthroughs by Gary Jeffrey
Publisher: New York : Rosen Central, 2008.
Call No.: J English 610 JEF

All Rights Reserved, Children’s Press, 2008.

Pills and potions: a history of remedies by Mary Atkinson
Publisher: New York : Children’s Press, 2008.
Call No.: J English 610 ATK

All Rights Reserved, Franklin Watts, c2004.

Health and medicine by Saviour Pirotta
Publisher: London : Franklin Watts, c2004.
Call No.: J English 362.1 PIR

All websites are last accessed on 25 Sep 2009. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Originally answered by Ms Felicia Chan
Librarian, Children’s Services

The answer is a definite yes indeed!! Below are some resources which will be useful for reference: 

1) Mountaineering expedition by persons with intellectual disability at this link:

http://jid.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/12/3/183

To contact via: http://jid.sagepub.com/cgi/feedback

2) Movement For the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore at http://www.minds.org.sg/main/contact.php
To contact via : Email: minds@minds.org.sg

“120 beneficiaries aged 10 to 50 years old are from the following six voluntary welfare organisations (VWO) as well as a direct beneficiary group of YMCA:
* Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled
* The Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore
* Movement for the Intellectually Disabled
* Metta School
* Grace Orchard
* Association for Persons with Special Needs – Centre for Adults
* Y Special Teens Arts & Recreation Society (Y STARS) – YMCA’s beneficiaries
Seal Enterprise and The Absorbent Mind, both specialists in formulating outdoor activities will be crafting suitable land and water activities for the beneficiaries and volunteers in the camp. Some highlights of the camp include the campfire, where volunteers will put up performances for the beneficiaries as well as the night walk to Kallang River, where volunteers would teach the importance of safety in crossing roads and provide them with an opportunity for social immersion”.
[Source: http://www.ymca.org.sg/Web/main.aspx?ID=17112516-fd59-425c-abe2-5a54f2ccc97d,,&TargetPageID=]

** All websites last accessed 9 Feb 2009

NLB Books for reference:
1) Outdoor pursuits for disabled people / by Norman Croucher / Call No: English 796.01960942 CRO -[REC].
2) Textbook of sport for the disabled / Sir Ludwig Guttmann. /Call No: English 796.0196 GUT
3) MINDSpeak./ Call No: English 362.38095957 M issue May0.. {A periodical available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library].

For the availabilities and holdings of the above titles as well as other relevant titles, please do access NLB’s online catalogue

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Contributed by
Ms A. MANIMEGALAI
Associate Librarian
Adult and Young People’s Services
Posted by
Mr Justin Tan
Librarian
Adult and Young People’s Services

ASK! about Special Needs and Disabilities

There are many stories evolving around the concept of an unsound mind, and touches on issues like suicide, depression and schizophrenia. Mental illness is a very broad classification. Below are some stories on depression and schizophrenia:

Lisa, bright and dark: a novel by John Neufeld
Call No.: Y NEU
Lisa Shilling, a sixteen-year-old girl, is rapidly descending into madness, but nobody is helping, except her friends, whose pleas are drowned by the adults. On days when she feels bright, Lisa is friendly; on her dark days, she is violent, erratic, and a danger to herself and others. Once, she hid under a teacher’s desk and pricked her wrists repeatedly causing them to bleed. During an outdoor barbeque, she tried to burn another girl. Lisa herself knew that she was gong mad, and had tried to get attention by jumping through a glass wall, but her attempts were rebuffed by her parents as merely extreme behaviour and unhealthy influence from her peers.

Rabble Starkey by Lois Lowry
Call No.: J LOW
Parable Ann (Rabble) Starkey’s mother is the Bigelow’s housekeeper, and she is also good friends with the Bigelow daughter, Veronica. One day, when Rabble and Veronica took the latter’s brother out for play, they were disturbed by the town bully and chased after him, leaving the boy alone. They heard screams, turned back and found Mrs Bigelow half trying to drown him, half trying the breast feed him. News that Mrs Bigelow is mentally unsound spreads through town and she is sent to the local mental hospital. Veronica feels ashamed, and thinks about erasing her mother from her memory. Despite the incident, or perhaps because of it, things became better for the Starkey and Bigelows. The Starkeys moved in with the Bigelows, and Rabble’s mother was given sponsorship to study. Treatment leads to Mrs Bigelow recovery and she can finally return home. This is both good and bad news for Rabble, for they must move out when Mrs Bigelow returns. Thankfully however, her mother, with her education, can now better provide for them and find their own home.

The meaning of Consuelo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Call No.: Y ORT
A story about a girl growing up in a San Juan suburb during a time of major American influence. Her name was Consuelo, meaning ‘consolation’. As elder sister, she cared for Millagros, who was prettier, and whose name stood for ‘miracle’. The conflict of tradition versus reform opens the story, where a transvestite is accepted in the community only within severely restricted boundaries, or when he is useful. The girls are reprimanded when by chance, they come into contact with him. As Consuelo transcends into womanhood, she lives with this conflict, witnessing her parents’ battle of ideas, her father’s infidelity, her gay cousin’s escape to New York, and her own experience with relationship. She survives these trials of life, but she loses Millagros to schizophrenia, though she continues looking after her.

For more suggestions, try this resource list, jointly produced by NLB and Silver Ribbon (Singapore):
World Mental Health Day 10 Oct

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.

ASK! about Singapore 

At around 10pm on 18 September, a 300-strong crowd cheered and welcomed Singapore Paralympics team home, at Changi Airport Terminal 3. Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was present to congratulate them. In total, Singapore won four medals, and ranked 46th in the medal tally.

More good news was shared last night as Dr Vivian Balakrishnan announced that Yip Pin Xiu will be conferred the Meritorious Service Medal, and Laurentia Tan the Public Service Medal.

We were there in the crowd too, with red balloons and flower toys to give our athletes. Take a look at the shots we got of last night’s rousing welcome.

Medal Tally
In swimming, Yip Pin Xiu won gold in the Women’s 50m Backstroke and silver in the Women’s 50m Freestyle. She also set new World Records at both events.

Laurentia Tan made history by giving Singapore her first medal in Paralympics. She won two bronzes in the Equestrian events.

The Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) certainly spared no efforts in celebrating the athletes’ return. They engaged reporters to film the event and interview the crowd, and coming Saturday 20 September 08, a party has also been organised at Orchard Cineleisure for the team.

We were one of those approached for the interview, and one of the questions was, what words of encouragement we had for the athletes.

Roy: Their success has heightened the causes of persons with disabilities and he wishes them a bright future ahead!

Mei Jun: Their success and achievements are simply inspiring! She hopes that their stories will live on in people’s hearts and motivate Singaporeans. Mei Jun doesn’t know what words of encouragement she has for them, but she sure knows that they have encouraged us instead to believe in life.

Interested to find out about athletes like with disabilities?

Download our book list here on Sports and Disabilities.

References:
Sim Chi Yin, “ Paralympians’ feats inspire entire country”, Straits Times, 18 Sept 08, News Bank database.
Wang, Jeanette, “More medals for heroines”, Straits Times, 19 Sept 08, B29

What words of encouragement have you for the athletes? Leave your comments here.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun, Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

ASK! about Singapore 

Singapore won her first Paralympics medal on 9 Sept 2008. The bronze was clinched by Laurentia Tan Yen Yi at the equestrian games. This is also the first Paralympics equestrian medal in Asia. Her horse, named Nothing To Lose, or Harvey, was rewarded with a hug and carrots.

Tan was born with cerebal palsy and profound deafness. When she was young, she had difficulties walking and sitting, but horse riding improved her movements and control tremendously. Today, she can walk and even drive.

For more information about the Paralympics, check out ASK! and the International Parlympic Commitee website.

 Reference:

Image: Channel News Asia, “Laurentia Tan”, URL: www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/
singaporelocalnews/view/374777/1/.html
“Paralympics First Medal for Singapore”, Straits Times, 10 Sept 08, B11

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.

ASK! about Events and Outreach

On 2 August 2008, NLB once again supported people who are disabled by participating in the SDSC’s Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Roadshow, held at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza.

Roy, our librarian, was there to promote books to the public and athletes with disabilities.

“Serving people with disabilities is very meaningful, as we have a chance to bring the joy of reading to them. In doing so, I hope that we can make a positive difference in their lives.” – Roy Won

FAQ: What started the Paralympic Games?
The idea began when Sir Ludwig Guttmann organised games involving British WWII veterans who sustained spinal injuries, in England in 1948. As other countries joined in, an international initiative was born. More athletes of different disabilities also joined in. The first Olympic-style Games for disabled athletes were held in Rome in 1960.

In 1976, the Winter Games started in Sweden. The International Paralympics Committee was formed in 1989. Today, Paralympic Games are held at the same venue and same year as the Olympics, part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympics Committee‘s (IPC) “one bid, one city” initiative.

FAQ: What is NLB doing at the Paralympic Games Roadshow?
Or rather, what business has the library got at any roadshow for that matter. The answer is: education. We are knowledge providers. We cover the whole range of DDC, 000s to 999s, and fiction stories too. Thus, we have practically every topic that’s written in the world. Beyond books, we even have the Digital Library, where you can retrieve current information like research and news. Clearly, information is important, and the library is a rich source of it. What’s more, the library’s free too!

At the SDSC Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Roadshow, a selection of books on athletes with disabilities and the Paralympics were showcased. These books can be generally found at the DDC number 796.08 and 796.01, in the recreation, or Young People general collection of libraries.

Reference:
- “Paralympic Games”, International Paralympic Committee, 2008, 11 Aug. 2008, www.paralympic.org/release/
Main_Sections_Menu/Paralympic_Games/
- “Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Mount Olympus Meets the Middle Kingdom.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. 11 Aug. 2008 library.ebonline.com/eb/article-277422

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.

ASK! about Events and Outreach

NLB recently took part in Disability Information Referral Centre’s (DIRC) Abilities Roadshow 2008, held at the National Library Plaza. The roadshow aimed to “create awareness of the various services for people with disabilities, offered by Voluntary Welfare Organisations in the Disability sector”.

We were there to celebrate the abilities of People With Disabilities. We wanted to promote awareness and demystify misconceptions by encouraging people to read related books. In 2007, NLB also participated in the DAPE fair.

The Abilities Roadshow 2008 was graced by Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan.

He delivered a speech, and also visited the booths set up by various VWOs. Children had fun at a colouring contest, and the crowd was also treated to performances by the Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled.

At NLB’s booth, many youths sat down without second thought to be adorned with NLB’s tattoos. Each organisation received a plaque from NCSS Chief Executive Officer Ms Ang Bee Lian for their commitment to serving people who are disabled.

The NLB public libraries have lots of disability-related books.

Why are some people deaf? How do blind people read? Are autistic children shy? How do you explain disabilities to a young child?

These were some of the many questions participants at the roadshow asked at NLB’s counter. Through our suggestions, they found their answers in the books at our booth.

Some books featured at the roadshow can be found in our booklists, Understanding Disability Part 1 and Understanding Disability Part 2, which can be found here.

During this event, we not only promoted disability education to the public, but took the opportunity to hobnob with other members of the special community.

We thank DIRC for the opportunity to be showcased alongside the other VWOs.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.

ASK about Health & Fitness 

21 March has been officially earmarked by the Down Syndrome International (DSI) to be World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD).

Why 21 March? The inspiration comes from the genetic sequence of people with Down syndrome. Generally, an extra copy of chromosome 21 occurs, leading to three chromosome 21 (see picture above). Thus 21 March symbolises this phenomenon, called Trisomy 21.

Instead of 46 chromosomes, people with Down syndrome have 47.

This is just the scientific face of it, but what about the human and social aspect of the condition? Have you come across anyone with Down syndrome? What comes to your mind when you do? Do you really believe that they can lead a good life, or do you say it out of pity or political correctness?

Whatever you may feel, everyone is unique. There are many stories of Down syndrome individuals leading typical lives (you may have heard of one yourself). To get a glimpse of their lives, take a look at these blogs and websites:

- Blog for Down Syndrome  A blog by a parent whose child has Down syndrome and autism.

- Down Syndrome Life A parent shares stories of his family and his youngest child who has Down syndrome. He writes: “I have created the “Down Syndrome Life” blog in the hopes of sharing a father’s everyday thoughts and experiences of raising a family of four children, one with Down Syndrome. My contributions will be of the good, the bad and the ugly.” This blog, both personal and intimate, will move even the hardest hearts.

- World Down Syndrome Day Check out the congratulatory messages and links to other international websites for Down syndrome.

- Down Syndrome Association Singapore Look through this website for related programmes, facts, and publications.

Reference:

“Down Syndrome”, Medline Plus Medical Encyclopaedia, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html, 1 April 08, URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000997.htm

“Down Syndrome: Trisonomy 21, Trisonomy G”, www.merck.com/, Merck Manual Online Medical Library, 01 April 08, URL: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec19/ch294/ch294b.html

Image from Mayo Clinic.com, Children’s health: Down Syndrome “The genetic basis of Down Syndrome, 6 April 2007, retrieved: 14 March 2008, URL: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/down-syndrome/DS00182/DSECTION=3

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.

ASK about Events and Outreach

Librarians, Roy, , Joycelyn, Cheng Soon, Peck Keong and Mei Jun participated in the Disability Awareness Public Education (DAPE) 2007 fair at Sengkang Community Centre on 2 Dec 07. The cheerful lady borrowing a book in the photo above is from Bizlink, one of the organisations at the fair.

DAPE was launched in 2006 with the aim of promoting the employment of individuals with special needs. The event on Sunday started off with a Thematic Walk. Though it was a really hot day, the walkers were undeterred by the sun, and arrived at the exhibition tent (where booths like ours were set up) boisterous and sweaty after the work out. Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean also took part in the walk and visited our booth.

What does NLB have to do with this fair? We are the middle man of information. The library is after all a treasure trove of information. We brought down books related to the employment and engagement of handicapped people which people can borrow and read. If you are interested in reading about the subject, below are some inspiring stories about these ‘extraordinary’ people:

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon
Call No.: Y English HAD
About a teenage with Asperger’s Syndrome who tries to solve the murder of a dog, and discovers strength in himself along the way. An award-winning book. Haddon himself has ever worked with Asperger children, which is perhaps why he is able to relate the story in such realistic light.

Reflections of a peacemaker: A portrait through heartsongs by Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Call no.: 811.54 STE
A moving collection of poetry by a child called Mattie since he was three. Mattie has been afflicted with a life-threatening muscular disease since birth, and has passed away in 2004. Before his death, Mattie asked his mother if he had ‘done enough’ in his life to contribute to hope and peace for the future. His optimism and motivation lives on in his Heartsongs, poetry he penned to express his life experiences, poetry he wrote as a gift to inspire others.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Call no.: Y English SPY
A classic about a swiss orphan leaves her grandfather and home to care for a wheelchair-bound girl in the mountains of Frankfurt, Germany.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Call No.: J English BUR / Y English BUR
A classic about an orphan child who meets a boy who thinks that he is destined to be a useless cripple.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun, Adult & Young People Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to mailto:ask@nlb.gov.sg?subject=ASK_blog- instead of sending a comment.