Belonging Matters Podcast

Series 1: Ep 9) How We Built An Inclusive Life For Alex - Bridget Sneddon

How do you assist your daughter or son with intellectual disability to lead an inclusive life? A sound starting point is to learn from other families who have been in your position and negotiated the barriers, established a vision, and made a life-long commitment to social inclusion. In this episode Bridget shares how, as a family, they assisted their son Alex to build a rich and meaningful life in community.
Bridget Sneddon
Bridget Sneddon leads the Paradigm Initiative, a small agency based in Auckland that was established in 2011 to walk alongside and assist families in creating and sustaining good lives for their family member with a disability. She has also been actively involved in the disability sector for over 20 years in a variety of roles. The mother of three, her eldest son Alex has an intellectual disability and with her husband has encouraged his individual autonomy, self-determination and dreams. This has been the result of his family having a lifetime commitment to his full social inclusion and a vision that his life would reflect that of his siblings.
 
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Original publication: Sneddon, B. (2014). Living my own life. In Thinking About how to foster a life enriched by community. Issue 18, pp 16-19. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Series 1: Ep 10) More Roles, More Community Life - Jane Sherwin

Have you heard of Social Role Valorisation? Social Role Valorisation, (SRV) is a helpful framework because its central idea is that if someone with a disability wants a life in community that is meaningful and brings participation and belonging, then being in valued roles will be crucial. In this podcast, Jane Sherwin expands on the ever more relevant theory of Social Role Valorisation and it's vital role in defining the standing in community of people with disability.
 
Jane Sherwin
Jane Sherwin is one of two accredited teachers of Social Role Valorisation in Australia. She works as a consultant and her objective is to make social change through values based organisational improvement and transformation strategies, training, mentoring and supervision, evaluations and writing for various newsletters and journals.
 
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This podcast is based on an article by Jane titled “Making the Most out of the NDIS” which appeared in Voice December 2013. The Journal of Down’s Syndrome Australia.
Original publication: Sherwin, J. (2013). More roles more commiunity life. In Voice The Journal of Down Syndrome Australia. December 2013, pp U/A. Down Syndrome Australia: Australia
 

Series 1: Ep 11) Writing My Own Script! It‘s No Drama - Hanna Beard

Are you following your life passion? It is not always easy to be in a position to 'do your thing', barriers can emerge in a variety forms. In this podcast Hannah, who has Down Syndrome and her mum Jackie explain that, with the right attitude and good supports, you can live the dream and, write your own script in community. 
Hannah is 13 years old, lives in Adelaide and attends the local primary school with her younger brother and sister. In this podcast Hannah talks about her really cool drama group called Prospect Theatre for Young People. She has been going to classes since she was 5 years old and has been in many productions. She loves being on stage and being part of the theatre, creating stories and having fun. Hannah’s Mum Jackie helped record this podcast.
This episode is introduced by Hannah and narrated by Hannah and her mother, Jackie.
 
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Original publication: Beard, H. (2018). Writing my own script: It's no drama. In Thinking About recreation. Issue 35, pp 7-9. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
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Series 1: Ep 12) I Believe in Inclusion but Don‘t Want to Ask - Deb Rouget

We all want to be included right? But where is the best place to start? This can be a difficult question for all of us, but particularly challenging for people with disability. The trap is to fall into traditional offerings but these inevitably lead to segregation and isolation. There are alternatives and they work, as explained in this episode by Belonging Matters CEO Deb Rouget.
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 Belonging 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. (2014). I Believe in Inclusion but Don't Want to Ask. In Thinking About The Art of Asking . Issue 21, pp 23-29. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
 

Series 1: Ep 13) No Bias, Brother - Owen Hourigan

Did you know that lawn bowls is the best game in the world? Just ask Michael Bush! Michael has been a member of the Elwood Bowls Club for over a decade. In this podcast Owen Hourigan, President of the Elwood Bowls Club, reflects on how Michael’s initial introduction to lawn bowling led to a passion and finding a place in the community where he is valued and belongs. Owen describes Michael’s valued and long-standing contribution to the club through the many ways in which he volunteers he holds and the many life-long friendships he has made.
Owen Hourigan
Owen has been President of the Elwood Bowls Club since 2015 and a member since 2005. He has worked with Belonging Matters as a documentary producer, web designer, and publisher since 2011.
 
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Original publication: Hourigan, O. (2018). No Bias, Brother. In Thinking About recreation. Issue 35, pp 4-6. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
 

Series 1: Ep 14) Recreation and Leisure: Lessons From People With Developmental Disabilities - Deb Rouget

Have you actually thought deeply about the benefits that stem directly from our recreational and leisurely pursuits? It's easy to succumb numbly to a routine, turn, do them, go home. But as Belonging Matters CEO Deb Rouget explains in this episode, many benefits are freely available through recreation and leisure, friendships, safety, a place to belong, and self esteem, to name but a few.
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. (2018). Recreation and leisure: Lessons from people with developmental disabilities. In Thinking About recreation. Issue 35, pp 20-24. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Series 1: Ep 15) Valued Roles and Their Likely Benefits - Dr. Michael Kendrick

Have you ever paused to consider the benefits a valued role in community offers? It doesn't matter who you are, what is important is finding a valued role you enjoy, embracing any natural or freely given supports that may be attached to the role, and getting on with it. The benefits are many and varied and always fluid and expanding. The longer you can maintain a role the more benefits you will enjoy, as outlined in this episode by Dr Michael Kendrick.
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. (2015). Valued roles and their likely benefits. In Thinking About valued roles. Issue 22, pp 4-9. Belonging Matters: Melbourne
 

Series 1: Ep 16) More Than An Onlooker - Glenys Mann

You know you don't have to be a spectator, right? We all have a passion and we all should pursue that passion with everything we have. Don't let negative thoughts or obstacles block your pathway, go and do it! Explore what is possible; Such an approach ensured that Glenys Mann's son Jack, who has intellectual disability, was able to pursue his passion, playing drums. Glenys unravels their story in this episode of the Belonging Matters Podcast.
Glenys Mann
Glenys Mann is currently a lecturer in inclusive education at the Queensland University of Technology and has a background in primary school teaching and is currently working and studying in the School of Education at The University of Queensland. Her long-term interest has been inclusive education and she has worked in voluntary and paid positions with parents and teachers, supporting them to include students with disability in regular classes. Her knowledge of Social Role Valorisation (SRV) has come through the informal mentoring and modelling of other parents and allies, formal training with the Brisbane organisation Values in Action, and through practice, trial and error!
 
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Original publication: Mann, G. (2015). More than an onlooker! How valued roles enabled Jack to finally take his place on the stage. In Thinking About valued roles. Issue 22, pp 10-13. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Series 1: Ep 17) On Becoming: Developing And Acting On A Vision For Valued Social Roles - John Armstrong

Do you need assistance in finding valued social roles in your community? Our roles shape every aspect of our lives and define who we are. Valued roles facilitate every relationship and open doors to community participation. In this episode, John Armstrong provides advice about developing and acting on valued social roles.
John Armstrong
John Armstrong has been involved with people and families of people with a disability for over 40 years. He has worked as a trainer and consultant across many settings with individuals, families and agencies throughout Australia and New Zealand, affording him a large scope of experience and learning. John has also been a Senior Social Role Valorisation Trainer and extensively involved with Citizen Advocacy as an advocate and board member.
 
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Original publication: Armstrong, J. (2015). On becoming: Developing and acting on a vision for valued social roles. In Thinking About valued roles. Issue 22, pp 14-17. Belonging Matters: Melbourne