Belonging and Inclusion
Belonging and Inclusion: I was honoured to present at the 2015 Art of Belonging conference in Melbourne. The heart of the conference was the sense of belonging and inclusion of people with disability in their community.
It was held in Melbourne and hosted by Belonging Matters, an organisation focussed on the belonging and inclusion of people with disability. The conference was insightful and thought provoking. I loved hearing about real-life examples of people with disability having valued roles in their community.
Emma Gee spoke about how her life had changed after her stroke. She went from being the Occupational Therapist to receiving occupational therapy. Her sense of belonging and inclusion within her community changed significantly because she lost her mobility. This was further impacted by the fact that her first walking frame was cumbersome and didn’t compact much when not in use which made it difficult to transport. She nicknamed her it ‘anchovy’ after her least favourite food. Her sense of belonging and inclusion within her community was limited because her walker didn’t assist her well. Her therapist continually promised to help her get a new walking frame, but never did. So, what did Emma do? She went and found her own. This one she fondly named ‘Mercedes®’. It gave her the freedom and independence she needed.
Beau was an avid AFL player before he had his accident whilst playing a game. He still loves footy, and now that he is the coach of the local team, he is still active in the AFL community. He needed a modified wheelchair so that he could manoeuvre around on the wet grass of the playing fields. He has an extremely valued role in his community.
At the conference I spoke about an initiative that assists my sons to feel included in their school community. The school they attend is very inclusive, but before commencing with Circles@School, their friendship groups were small or non-existent. This initiative also helped my youngest son transition into school when he first started there. By presenting at this conference I was able to share how their friendship groups have grown, and they extend beyond the hours within school. Without a doubt it gives them a sense of belonging and inclusion within their school community. Their sense of connection is increased and their emotional well-being is increased.
The conference is summarised in the You Tube clip below. It was delightful to see my sons and their friends included in the highlight reel.
For more information on Belonging Matters please refer to their website: