CRU Conference Program 2016
Day One: Friday 20th May
9:00AM – 9:15AM “Welcome to Country” presented by Willie Prince
Willie Prince Bio
Wilfred Thomas Prince was born at Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission in 1960. Willie has represented Queensland in wheelchair racing and he carried the Paralympic torch in Brisbane in 2000. Willie is very proactive in both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and the Disability sector and he has a key role in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland.
9:15AM – 9:45AM Welcome by CRU and Opening Address – Claiming a Positive Future: The Power of Possibility.
9:45AM –11:00AM Stories of Possibility
“Life is Amazing” presented by Shane Rence and Glen Sheppard
Shane will introduce this session by talking about the Brotherhood of the Wordless and their successful application for one of CRU’s Disability Leadership Project grants. These funds were used to conduct a ground-breaking seminar, Out of the Silence, in October 2015.
Shane will talk about why leadership by people with disability matters and why the Brotherhood members wanted to share their experiences and insights through this seminar.
Glen’s presentation is about his “amazing life”. He faced many challenges in his early years. In his own words: “The first 16 years were rough. However, now my life is so fulfilling and I'm over the moon with happiness”. Glen’s presentation is a cautionary tale of what happens when we presume that people who don’t talk have limited potential and nothing to say, but it is also an inspiring story of hope, possibility, family fidelity and a determination to succeed.
Shane Rence and Glen Sheppard Bio
Shane Rence is 22 and has been using Facilitated Communication (FC) for over eleven years, but it was only in 2011 that he met speech pathologist Alice Owen who brought out the writer and poet in him. Shane subsequently joined the Brotherhood of the Wordless, a move that has changed his life for the better.
Glen Sheppard is a Sunshine Coast based university student, author and workshop facilitator. He has successfully completed 21 units of a university degree, and has written and self-published two books. Prior to being exposed to FC at the age of 16, he lacked an effective means of communication. Subsequently he has defied all projections of his potential. Glen has been an active member of The Brotherhood of the Wordless since its inception.
Shane Rence and Glen Sheppard are two active members of the Brotherhood of the Wordless, a unique group of writers of prose, poetry, plays and short stories.
“Dare to Dream and Live the Dream” presented by Bobby and Tracey Pate
Bobby is a teenager who loves an adventure. Just “giving it a go” has led to a full life. Bobby is a student, state representative, swimmer, tri-athlete, surfer, dirt bike rider, artist, actor and someone who even at the age of 15 contributes much back to the community.
Bobby’s family’s belief in him has been instrumental in Bobby having the same opportunities as his siblings. Tracy will share strategies for connecting with community particularly stressing how to be opportunistic, how to ask, and how to stay positive on a daily basis, especially when times are challenging.
Bobby and Tracey Pate Bio
Bobby Pate is a Year 9 student at a Catholic high school in Brisbane. He has a wide variety of interests, including spending time with family and friends, participating successfully in a number of sports, and pursuing diverse creative interests including art, acting, piano and playing drums. Bobby has a strong desire to “give back” to the community.
Prior to having children and volunteering in the disability sector, Bobby’s mother, Tracy Pate, pursued a successful career as a senior investment advisor. Tracy is passionate about all her children, including Bobby, living active lives. She sees that people with disability and their families must drive the pursuit of a “good ordinary life” and strives to build an inclusive society – where all children attend an ordinary school with their peers.
11:00AM –11:45AM Morning Tea
11:45AM –1:00PM “Supporting People Well – With Compassion, Collaboration and Respect” presented by Kate McGinnity
What does respectful support look like and where can it take you and those you care about? In this session, the role of compassion, collaboration and respect in supportive relationships will be articulated through personal stories. Kate will talk about a variety of support contexts and types of support, and will describe the approaches and strategies that are making a difference in people’s lives.
Come prepared to dream big!
Kate McGinnity Bio
Kate McGinnity from Wisconsin is an experienced teacher, presenter and author as well as an internationally recognised consultant in the field of autism. She has over 30 years of experience working with individuals with autism and their families.
Kate says she has learnt a lot from individuals with autism themselves and she is driven to help others understand how people with autism experience this world. Most of Kate’s work is with individuals who are seen as the 'not so easy to include' due to significant behaviour issues that have been excluding them from a good life.
1:00PM – 2:00PM Lunch
2:00PM – 3:30PMParticipants Select 1 of 4 Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Session Option 1: Respectful Support
“Bouncing Higher to Help: Duel Perspectives from Consumer and Therapist” presented by Emma Gee
As an occupational therapist and young stroke survivor, Emma will relay her own journey to date, sharing her insights as a therapist and her newfound consumer's perspective as a recipient of many of the services accessed by people with disability. In this session Emma will draw on her own experience to highlight the importance of respectful support to the processes of recovery and living well - supporting people to bounce higher.
Emma Gee Bio
Emma Gee is one of Australia’s acclaimed speakers, offering her thoughts and solutions on person-centred support and resilience. With a background in Occupational Therapy and learning to speak again after experiencing a stroke, Emma is determined to share her story to help others. Emma knows what it takes to step into another’s shoes and truly bounce back in life. She launched her first book in March
“And What Will You Do with This Wonderful Thing Called Your Life?” presented by Ann Greer
This session will explore the role of respectful and creative coordination in supporting people with disabilities to build the best life possible. It will tease out the elements of good support using stories to illustrate what's possible. Ann will present a range of planning and community inclusion strategies, with a clear message that services can play a pivotal role in delivering good lives for people with disability – always with, rather than to, the person and their family.
Ann Greer Bio
Ann Greer is both a parent of three adults (two of whom live with disability) and the Service Manager of Community Connections, Townsville. Ann has 25 years’ experience as a service provider and has particular skills in areas of behavioural strategies, communication and lifestyle planning. Community Connection works closely with people with disabilities and their families to get the best life possible.
Concurrent Session Option 2: Building Relationships
“Look At My Life Now! Step by Step, it’s Possible!” presented by Anita O’Brien and Darren Hammer
Ten years ago, Anita’s son Warren, now 41, was attending and living in traditional services that did not suit him. Through developing a vision for his life, Anita has, step by step, assisted Warren to develop an inclusive life including: meaningful work, valued roles allowing opportunity for relationships, a supportive neighbourhood, and a home of his own.
Anita’s presentation will focus particularly on the reciprocal nature of the housemate arrangement that enabled Warren to live in his own home. Warren’s former housemate, Darren, will describe his role in providing companionship, security and practical support, while also sharing life together. Anita explains that focusing on vision, even in times when ‘life happens’, counters discouragement and inertia so Warren can say proudly: ‘Look at my life now!’
Anita O’Brien and Darren Hammer Bio
Anita O’Brien lives in Melbourne. With her husband, Allan, she has two sons, Matthew and Warren, and two grandchildren – the best grandchildren around!
Anita has worked as a program manager, trainer and administrator. As well as ensuring that Warren’s life is rich and full, she is passionate about assisting people with a disability to become valued and contributing members of their community. She has made contributions as an advocate, presenter, writer and member of many community and family governed organisations
Anita will be joined by Warren’s long-term housemate, Darren (Dazz) Hammer who has a background as a professional chef and experienced presenter. After an extensive interview and matching process, Darren became Warren’s housemate, an arrangement that lasted 7 years, as they shared social outings, hosted the odd dance party and took a memorable and adventurous trip to Bali.
“Nuturing Relationships to Sustain Us” presented by Roschell van den Brink and Vanessa Scott-White
Roschell and Vanessa, along with 3 other mothers, have recently established a Friday Mums get-together to talk with people who are on the same page, share ideas and learn from one another.
Today they will share a little of their experience about the importance of connecting with others and how this has nurtured and sustained them.
Roschell and Vanessa’s message is that families do not need to do things all alone; maintaining positive connections helps them to aim higher and keep going. Their story will be of assistance to other families worried about becoming isolated in a self-directed future.
Roschell van den Brink and Vanessa Scott-White Bio
Roschellvan denBrink and Vanessa Scott-White are members of a small incorporated organisation called BIPI (Believe in People Inc). They are also both parents of young women with intellectual disability.
Believe in People Inc (BIPI) operates on the Gold Coast and northern NSW. BIPI supports people with a disability and their families to plan for a good life by working One Person at a Time. It aims to provide information, practical assistance, training, encouragement, inspiration and guidance to people with a disability, their families and supporters, services and the wider community.
Concurrent Session Option 3: Peer Leadership
“In the Driver’s Seat – On the Road to the NDIS and Living a Good Life” presented by the Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN)
This presentation will share information about the peer development program, the power of peer led education for people with intellectual disability and the outcomes and impacts of this approach for both the participants who attend the workshops as well as the peer facilitators themselves as leaders and self-advocates in their own lives.
This session will be relevant for people with disability who want to experience the peer-led processes used in the Ready to Go workshops. It will also be extremely relevant for others who want to understand how people with intellectual disability can be engaged in learning about the NDIS and express their hopes and dreams.
Queenslanders with Disability Network Bio
Queenslanderswith Disability Network (QDN) as part of their NDIS participant readiness work in Queensland have trained a team of 16 people with intellectual disability and other disabilities as Peer Facilitators. They are co-facilitating workshops across Queensland, educating other people with intellectual disability about the NDIS and opening up people’s thinking about their hopes and dreams for the future.
Peer support is a powerful vehicle for bringing about change in the lives of people with intellectual disability.
Through the workshops, participants grow in their confidence, knowledge, and self-esteem around being in the driver’s seat on their journey to the NDIS and planning for a good life. QDN Peer Facilitators are passionate about helping people with intellectual disability change their lives and develop their own leadership and advocacy skills.
Concurrent Session Option 4: Leading Change
“Leading Change Together: Realising our Potential in a Self-Directed Future” presented byDr. Sam Smith
This session will focus on the characteristics of personal and professional leadership that supports positive change and growth in the context of self-directed support.
Dr. Sam Smith Bio
Dr. Sam Smith is the founder and CEO of C-Change Scotland, a not for profit organisation supporting people with disabilities to live the lives they choose. She also writes and campaigns on issues of equality and social justice.
C-Change Scotland was established in 2001 to support adults with disabilities or mental health issues who had significant reputations for being challenging to services. It has been at the forefront of providing personalised support with and for people with disabilities.
“My Self-Managed Opportunity” presented by Narissa Wilson
Through her 29 years of lived experience Narissa has gained deep insights into directing, leading and living the life she chooses. She focuses on being responsive to change, creating change for herself, cultivating a small, powerful core group of people, and managing her supports so they are flexible and agile but still function within a service structure.
This presentation will identify ways Narissa has sought opportunities and cultivated her self-managed supports and services to live a life she chooses.
Narissa Wilson Bio
Narissa Wilson is a leader, designer, manager and passionate foodie. Born and raised in Mount Isa, she now lives on the Sunshine Coast. The founder and managing director of Narie Creations, Narissa has a Bachelor of Information Technology (e-commerce & design).
Narissa has been self-managing her supports since 2009. She is deeply passionate about people with disabilities having valued roles. She is committed to challenging preconceived attitudes and stigmas impacting on people with disabilities.
3:30PM – 4:00PM Afternoon Tea
4:00PM – 5:00PM “Positive Futures: The Stronger Smarter Way” presented by Chris Sarra
Chris will draw on his own personal and professional story to talk about the Stronger Smarter approach to leading change – a story and philosophy with significant parallels, lessons and challenges for those trying to effect authentic change in the lives of people with disability.
Chris Sarra Bio
Dr. ChrisSarra is an internationally recognised Indigenous Education Specialist. He has a Master of Education and a PhD in Psychology with Murdoch University and was the first Aboriginal Principal of Cherbourg State School. Under his leadership, the school improved the educational and life outcomes of its students.
Dr Sarra is passionate about effecting sustainable change through positive leadership and mentoring with high expectations for a strong and smart Indigenous population. His leadership has inspired transformation in schools across Australia.
5:00PM Close of Conference Day One
5:15PM – 7:00PMOptional Social Function – Conference Drinks
“Leadership for the Future” presented by Anne Cross
Anne Cross Bio
Anne Cross is the CEO of UnitingCare Queensland. She is also Chair of Australian Regional and Remote Community Services (ARRCS Ltd), UnitingCare Queensland’s aged and community services in the Northern Territory.
Anne is passionate about the wellbeing of people with disabilities and contributing to improving the opportunities for people with disabilities to live good lives. She was the director of Community Resource Unit for twelve years from its foundation in 1988. She says that her life has been enriched by her many connections and relationships with people with disabilities and their families and that this inspires her and keeps her grounded as a service provider.
Anne was a member of the 2015 Queensland Government Domestic and Family Violence Taskforce led by Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO.
She is the Telstra 2014 Australian Business Woman of the Year, and is also the 2014 national winner for the government and community category.
Day Two: Saturday 21st of May
9:00AM – 9:15AMCRU Welcome
9:15AM – 10:30AM“The Future of Inclusion: Harnessing Possibility” presented by Dan Habib via Skype Call
Before his son Samuel was born, Dan Habib rarely thought about inclusion. Now he thinks about it every day. In this session an edited version of Dan’s film Including Samuel will be shown. It is a highly personal film which captures Dan’s quest to understand the promise and challenges of inclusion through interviews with his own family, other parents, disability advocates and educators. The film is also a family love story, featuring not only Samuel but Samuel’s mother, Betsy, and brother, Isaiah.
Dan will discuss and answer questions on how we might disable segregation and really achieve inclusion – in education and elsewhere.