Shaping the Future of Disability Support
The University of Melbourne, National Disability Services, Scope Australia, and a network of disability organisations and universities convened the First National Virtual Disability Conference on the 21st of March, 2018.
The conference brought people together online in real time from around the world to share best practice and discuss ways of supporting people with disability, their families and service providers.
The conference presenters and panellists included people with disabilities, their families, professionals, administrators, policy makers and researchers.
Access was an important consideration of the conference with an Easy English conference summary, plain language versions of all abstracts, Auslan interpreters, and captions.
Scope gave two presentations: “A Pain Awareness Intervention for Adults with Severe or Profound Intellectual Disability” and “Positive Behaviour Support: How do we know we are making a difference?”. Scope staff also participated in panel discussion.
Zane McKenzie, Scope Community Educator and conference panellist said:
“I certainly hope to be involved in future! While it is certainly a different platform, virtual conferencing provides a unique opportunity to converse and engage with people and concepts worldwide. I think this empowers people and organisations all over the world to educate each other- and learn what works, where, and why! Then, hopefully, we take all the best bits of each, and develop a truly worldwide approach to key issues that affect people with disability! If this is the approach, perhaps the future can provide universal access and inclusion for all people.”
Scope Senior Psychologist Nick Hagiliassis presented at the conference and reflected:
“The virtual disability conference was a first, and great to see Scope a part of it. An innovative way to hear about some of the great work being done locally and internationally in the support of people with disabilities. Scope presented its work (and that of our partners) on outcomes measurement in positive behaviour support, and research into recognising and responding to pain for people with communication difficulties. Gauging from the questions and comments received, presentations stimulated much thinking and discussion – and that’s just the aim of a conference like this. Congratulations to all presenters and the organisers, a major effort to coordinate an online forum in real time from presenters around the world, but well worthwhile.”
If you would like more information on the First National Virtual Disability Conference, contact Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre on 1300 472 673 or email circ@scopeaust.org.au