Family Advocacy, an advocacy organisation that supports families across New South Wales to promote and defend the rights and interests of people with developmental disability, is heading to Armidale this month to run their flagship workshop, One of the Kids – Building Inclusion at School.
This workshop is for parents who are interested in learning about inclusive education and what it can mean for their child with disability approaching or already attending school.
The workshop, which is free of charge, will run from the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place Armidale on March 27.
The guest speaker is Ms Annette Bush, a parent from Nambucca Heads, whose son Jacob, now an adult, lives with disability. Ms Bush will be sharing Jacob’s experience attending a regular classroom, and how it set the foundations for his inclusive life as an adult.
“We wanted Jacob to be immersed in ordinary life experiences. Going to school in the regular class with his peers was the starting point of that journey into adulthood,” said Ms Bush.
“Over the years that have passed since Jacob started school, I have come to realise just how much we learnt from the workshops Family Advocacy provided to families. It’s many years since I attended my first One of The Kids workshops, but I still remember how much it helped me in honing my advocacy skills and being able to articulate just why we needed our son to be in the right learning space, and to understand that he was part of not only the school community but also the community at large.”
“I also personally benefitted from being able to make lifelong connections and friendships with other parents who also had the same whole life vision we had, wanting an ordinary and fulfilling life for their sons and daughters.”
Topics covered in the workshop will include:
- Inclusive education – what is it and how will I know when it’s real?
- Adjustments – reasonable and practical classroom strategies
- Communication, collaboration and planning – building a good school relationship
- Meetings – skills and strategies to advocate effectively
- Education and beyond – what do we want from our child’s schooling?
- How the school years can lead to a meaningful life
This workshop includes refreshments available on arrival, lunch and a resource pack.
For details and to register, please visit Family Advocacy website.
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