Belonging Matters Podcast

Series 2: Episode 1) Overview of Customised Employment - Michael Callahan

What is Customised Employment and what is its' application for people with disability?  In this episode Michael Callahan outlines the key components of Customised Employment; discovery, profiling, planning, representation, and job development.
Michael Callahan
Michael Callahan has consulted throughout the US, Canada and Europe in the area of employment and transition for the past forty years. He has worked with Marc Gold & Associates (MG&A) for forty-three years, and has served as president of the organisation since Marc Gold’s death in 1982. MG&A is a network of consultants that provides technical assistance to systems, agencies and families interested in ensuring the complete community participation of persons with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.  In 2000, Michael joined three other colleagues to form a non-profit organisation, Employment for All. Michael’s current work focuses primarily on Customised Employment, Discovery and Systematic Instruction/Job Coaching for adults and youth with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities. 
 
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This podcast is an edited version taken from:
Callahan, M. & Shumpert, N., (2016). Overview of Customised Employment. In Thinking About Employment. Issue 29, pp 24-27. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
 

Series 1: Ep 3) A Desirable Future - Lisa Bridle

What parent doesn't hope for a desirable future for their children? Lisa Bridle has been on a quest for a desirable future for her son Sean, who has Down Syndrome. In this podcast, Lisa shares her learnings of recognising opportunities, finding people who 'click' with Sean, and other key learnings to assist Sean to build an inclusive life from high school to early adulthood.
Lisa Bridle
Lisa lives in Brisbane with her husband, Terry, and her three children, Amelia, Sean and Declan and works at Community Republication Unit in Brisbane as a Senior Consultant. Lisa has a social work background and since the birth of her son, Sean, 18 years ago, Lisa has been actively involved in a number of parent support and disability advocacy organisations, including Queensland Parents for People with Disability, the Down Syndrome Association of Queensland and Queensland Advocacy. She is passionate about building communities which more routinely welcome people with disability and has a keen interest in bioethical issues impacting on people with disability.
 
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Original publication: Bridle, L. (2014). A Desirable Future. In Thinking About the Good Life. Issue 14, pp 4-11. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
 

Series 1: Ep 2) The Art of Belonging - Hugh Mackay

Are you leading the good life? Are you actively involved in your local community? This episode explores what is at the heart of a thriving community, how do we find people we trust, and build belonging and mutual respect. Drawing on 50 years of experience as a social researcher, Hugh Mackay expands on The Art of Belonging.
Hugh McKay
Hugh Mackay is a social researcher and bestselling author of 21 books, including What Makes Us Tick, The Good Life and Australia Reimagined. He has had a 60-year career in social research, and was a weekly newspaper columnist for over 25 years. Hugh is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of NSW. In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by Charles Sturt, Macquarie, NSW, Western Sydney and Wollongong universities. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.
 
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Original publication: Mackay, H. (Interviewee). (2015) The Art of Belonging. In Talks That Matter website.
 

Series 2: Episode 7) Capitalising on Community Capacity, Normative Pathways, and Partnerships to Create Employment” - Bruce Uditsky and Anne Hughson

Why have traditional pathways resulted in a very low rate of employment for people with intellectual disabilities? In this episode Bruce Uditsky and Anne Hughson provide an overlay of their theories around employment for people with intellectual disability focusing on keys areas of Community, Partnerships and family.  Two extremely successful examples are summarised to highlight the urgent need for different mindsets around employment for people with disability.
Bruce Uditsky, M.Ed. is the CEO of Inclusion Alberta, Canada and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary. He is internationally recognised for his leadership and advocacy in social justice and inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. Bruce is also an author, has consulted in many countries, and is a parent of two adult sons, one of whom has intellectual disabilities. Anne Hughson, Ph.D., is the Director and an Associate Professor, Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. As a researcher in disability studies and program evaluation, her work is focused on consumer driven services, community inclusion and inclusive education.
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This podcast is an edited version taken from:Uditsky, B & Hughson, A. (2016). Capitalising on Community Capacity, Normative Pathways, and Partnerships to Create Employment. In Thinking About  Employment  Issue 29, pp 28-35. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Series 1: Ep 1) Activating Life Giving Vision - Dr Michael Kendrick

How can a vision be defined and implemented to enhance the life of people with disabilities? This episode will help you understand what a vision is and why vision is important in the lives of people with a disability and how to imagine better. Dr. Michael Kendrick's career as an international disability consultant expands many decades and in this podcast you will access extensive advice on how to activate life giving vision.
Dr Michael Kendrick
Dr. Michael Kendrick is an independent international consultant in human services and community work who resides in Massachusetts. His interests have included leadership, service quality, the creation of safeguards for vulnerable persons, social integration, change, innovation, values, advocacy, the role of individual persons and small groups in creating solutions, alternatives to bureaucracy, personalised approaches to supporting people, and reform in the human service field amongst others.
Original publication: Kendrick, M. (2011). Activating Live Giving Visions. In Thinking About Families and Building Visions for the Good Life. Issue 10, pp 17-20. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
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Series 1: Ep 4) Life Tasting and Peoples‘ Development Potential - Dr Michael Kendrick

Have you reached your full potential? Are you sustaining continuity of happiness? Life tasting rejects assumptions on how people with disabilities should live their lives, rather it focuses on revealing the hidden potentials which lie within all people.  Dr. Michael Kendrick is an international disability consultant and explains in detail the benefits of exploring new experiences.
Dr Michael Kendrick
Doctor Michael Kendrick is an independent international consultant in human services and community work who resides in Massachusetts. His interests have included leadership, service quality, the creation of safeguards for vulnerable persons, social integration, change, innovation, values, advocacy, the role of individual persons and small groups in creating solutions, alternatives to bureaucracy, personalised approaches to supporting people, and reform in the human service field amongst others.
 
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Original publication: Kendrick, M. (2013). 'Life tasting' and people's development potential. In Thinking About Life after school. Issue 15, pp 30-31. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Series 1: Ep 5) What Does Inclusion Mean To ME? - Dean Richards

Well, what does inclusion mean to you? Despite an accident leaving Dean Richards with quadriplegia he leads a very rich life, working, socialising, and receiving life membership of his community football club. Dean remains very much included and in this episode encourages people to embrace informal supports to foster spontaneity and to develop social roles within the community. He also discusses some of the dangers that come with an over reliance on paid supports.
Dean Richards
Dean Richards lives in Melbourne and is an active contributor to his workplace and local footy club. He enjoys being a part of his local community and getting around Melbourne. Dean’s introduction to disability services came following an accident in 1987 which resulted in Quadriplegia. Originally Dean was supported by his parents who understood flexibility and providing supports when they suited him, however his family become increasingly worried about the day when they would no longer be around to support him. Inevitably, Dean learnt that services were not always flexible enough to meet his needs as more often than not they met the needs of workers or the service provider. This led to Dean working with a small group of people to develop a flexible night-time service called Nightlife in 2007. Nightlife enables people with disabilities to remain living in their own home and direct their own supports in a way that meets their needs. In this podcast, Dean discusses some of the assumptions he has faced, the strength of community connection and naturally occurring relationships and how paid supports can get in the way! Dean’s Podcast is narrated by Brett Carrol.
 
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Original publication: Richards, D. (2013). What does inclusion mean to me? In Thinking About what it means to be included. Issue 17, pp 10-15. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
 

Series 1: Ep 6) What Could Be, The Future of Our Communities - Tim Costello

How do you perceive the future of your community? Communities provide space to exchange stories, get perspective, and understand how we live our lives. Your place in your local community can have a major impact on the quality of your life. In this podcast Tim explains that our communities will be defined to a great extent by the values and roles we can establish.
Tim Costello
Tim Costello is one of Australia’s most sought after voices on issues of social justice, leadership and ethics. From 2004 to 2016 Tim served as CEO of World Vision, Australia’s largest international development agency. Trained in law and theology, Tim has practised law, served as a Baptist minister, and has been active in church and community leadership, local government and national affairs. Currently Tim is the Executive Director of Micah Australia, a movement of Australian Christians raising a powerful voice for justice and a world free from poverty, Tim is also Director of Ethical Voice.
 
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Original publication: Costello, T. (Conference Presentation). (2015) What could be - the future of our communities. In Talks That Matter website.
 

Series 1: Ep 7) What Does It Mean to Be Included? - Deb Rouget

Are you absolutely clear on what it means to be truly included? Belonging Matters CEO Deb Rouget drills down into this question to reveal vital insights into the concept of 'Inclusion'.  Social inclusion means - having a selection of opportunities, being recognised for our unique identity and contribution, abandoning segregation and congregation, and that informal supports are equally, if not more valuable, than formal.
Deb Rouget
Deb Rouget has been involved with people with a disability and their families for over 30 years. In 2003, Deb was integral in the development of Belonging Matters which sprung to life as a catalyst to prevent the exclusion of people with a disability from their communities and enable individuals to enjoy a fulfilling life that is well embedded in community, relationship and citizenship. Since that time she has been the CEO of Be- longing Matters. Deb has also been keen to foster advances that leave people who have a disability and their families with greater control over their lives.
 
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Original publication: Rouget, D. (2013). What does it mean to be included? In Thinking About what it means to be included. Issue 17, pp 32-37. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Series 1: Ep 8) Living My Own Life - Alex Sneddon

How do you lead the life you really want to live? This is a challenge we are all confronted with, the success of which depends largely on the values we live by and the supports we embrace. In this episode, Alex Sneddon shares his own story about living his own life in community.
Alex Sneddon
Alex Snedden is from Auckland. Alex has Down Syndrome and since leaving school in 2007, Alex has developed an employment portfolio, strong friendships, a home of his own, a place in community, and independence from his family. He is a committed Catholic and a very loyal employee. In his spare time he enjoys Karate, going to the gym & is an avid wrestling & Rugby fan. In 2010 he won the Youth Attitude Award.
 
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Original publication: Sneddon, A. (2014). Living my own life. In Thinking About how to foster a life enriched by community. Issue 18, pp 12-15. Belonging Matters: Melbourne