114 Housing Options Series - Main Street: Bring Your Own Independence
Release Date: 09/28/2022
151 Why We Should Be Using The Assistive Technology In Our Pockets with Alex Barker from AbilityNet
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
When we think of assistive technology or any technology that can support our young people with additional needs to become more independent, we often start at the point of thinking it could be expensive or complicated to learn to use. But the reality is that today the first bit of assistive technology that our young people should access is their phone or tablet. The built-in features of these devices have changed the way we think about assistive technology as my guest in this week’s episode Alex Barker from AbilityNet explains. Alex brings, his lived experience, and how he uses assistive...
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150 Why Community Gives Us More Than Just Friendship with Sarah Towler from CASPA
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
When we think of community, we first think about the friendship element of being around other people. But there is more to being part of a community than just that. When we become part of a community, we have the opportunity to learn from those around us. These are the other benefits of being in a community. And why this is such an important part of community is the focus of the second part of my conversation with Sarah Towler from CASPA. We all know community is important but it's not just about the people, it's what we learn from being around those people.
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149 How Community Can Support And Educate with Sarah Towler from CASPA
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
Community is defined as people with common interests living in a particular area but in reality, it’s less about location and more about belonging, about connection and feeling part of something. In this episode, my guest is Sarah Towler and the organization we are talking about is CASPA which does all of these things and more. CASPA stands for Community Autistic Support Pride and Advocacy, and it provides a variety of support services to autistic/neurodivergent children and adults and their families. In our conversation, we talked about why community is so important and the ways CASPA...
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148 Why Habits Are The Foundation Of Independence
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
Every day we all do the same things the same way because it’s these habits that make it easier to live our lives. Habits are just skills we have that we use over and over again and for my daughter with additional needs, all the skills she has built over time are now habits that allow her to live more independently. Those skills she has like cooking going to her job or managing her money, the things she does the same way each time are all her habits. In this episode, I’m talking about some of the ideas around habits, the habit loop cue, routine, and reward, habit stacking, and the...
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147 Why Working With The Right Support Works with Adam and Deb
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
The barriers to employment for young people with additional needs are high but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible as this week’s episode shows. In part 2 of my conversation with Adam and Deb, Adam talks about his experience of work and why his current role is working for him. Adam believes it comes down to the right support at the right time and matching the individual to the job.
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146 Making Choices with Adam and Deb
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
Sharing our stories helps us realize we are not alone. Hearing someone else’s story can also be a great way to learn new ideas we can use in our own family’s lives. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of Adam and his family. My guests are Adam, and his mother Deb. Adam talks about moving schools from a mainstream school to a specialist school as well as the challenges he found around transitioning out of full-time education.
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145 Why Risk Is Worth The Risk With Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
We should all have the right to choose how we live our lives, even if that means taking risks and making mistakes. But too often people with additional needs aren’t being given opportunities to take risks and to learn from their mistakes. My guest this week Carol Smail shares her experiences of the impact this lack of choice has, as well as what can happen when people are given the opportunity to make their own choices. Too often the focus is on reducing risk, but that only reduces choice and doesn’t necessarily make anyone safer.
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144 Why Gig Buddies Is Great with Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
Finding friends with common interests can be difficult for anyone and for young people with additional needs it is often more challenging because their social network is smaller. That is why projects like Gig Buddies are so important as my guest in this episode Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney explains. Carol not only talks about the vision behind Gig Buddies but the role it plays in breaking down stereotypes about people with additional needs.
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143 How can we change society’s expectations and accelerate inclusive employment opportunities? with Peter Bacon from Disability Employment Australia
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
Too often low expectations for people with additional needs have translated into fewer opportunities, particularly when it comes to paid employment. For change to happen, around work, more employers are needed which means employers will need to change their attitude toward employing people with a disability. But what is also necessary is a change in society’s perceptions of what a person with additional needs is capable of. In this episode with Peter Bacon CEO of Disability Employment Australia, we discuss where these perceptions come from and whether a more integrated education system...
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142 Does Inclusive Employment Just Happen? with Peter Bacon from Disability Employment Australia
The Expanding Worlds Podcast
Inclusive employers change the future for our children, but there simply isn’t enough of them. In this episode with Peter Bacon, CEO of Disability Employment Australia, I’m discussing why this is the case, and what actions could be taken to get more employers to become inclusive employers. Is some form of legal framework necessary, as Peter suggests, and are most employers willing but unclear on how to take the next steps? We all know the benefits of inclusive employment; the challenge is making employers understand the benefits easily outweigh the risks. Find out more...
info_outlineMoving into our own space is part of becoming an adult and embracing the independence that brings. In this new series on Housing Options I’m exploring some of the housing models that are available for people with additional needs. The series starts off with Main Street, an innovative project literally built from the ground up. Jillian Copeland the founder of Main Street talks about why Main street exists and its core values of affordable, inclusive, accessible living.
She discusses the impact it has had in transforming the lives of its residents and what the future will look like. The Main Street approach provides a model for how to build inclusive spaces, not just a place to live.
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