CANCELLED Narrogin - 'Is there a better way?' Using Positive Behaviour Support to respond to people with disability who can have behaviours which cause us stress or concern

Microboards Australia: Is there a better way?

Using Positive Behaviour Support to respond to people with disability who can have behaviours which cause us stress or concern

Would you like to learn more about:

· Why some people do things which can be harmful to themselves, others or to property, or which make it hard to include them?

· What current research says are more effective ways to respond?

· Why there are many different approaches to behaviour and how to decide what’s best for the person you love or support?

· How families and services can get on the same page?

If your answer is yes, then Is There a Better Way? might be a helpful workshop for you.

Is There a Better Way? explores:

· What is challenging behaviour?

· What does the research say are the most common drivers for behaviour, and how can we use this knowledge to help the people we support?

· Which teaching methods work best?

· How can we understand and support communication?

· What is restrictive practice and how can we make better decisions about how it is used?

· What does a good behaviour plan look like, and how can we make plans which set us up for better long term outcomes?

A TWO DAY WORKSHOP which includes online learning and discussion before, between and after each workshop.

You will have the chance to make some plans to try out between the two workshops and to get support to reflect on the strategies you use.

You’ll also be invited to join an online discussion forum moderated by

Is There a Better Way? facilitators so that you can get support and feedback in the months following the workshops too, as well as hear the ideas and experiences of other families.

Who should attend: It’s ideal if as many people involved in supporting the person as possible attend ‘Is There a Better Way?’ so you can work together. Please feel welcome to invite other family members, friends, support workers and professionals involved in supporting the person.

About the presenter: Jaquie Mills — is the mother of a son with complex disability and behaviours which can be challenging. She’s been exploring the research and talking with families with lived experience to find better ways to respond to challenging behaviours. In this workshop Jaquie presents the learnings she has found and real stories and examples of better ways to respond to behaviour. Jaquie has a Master of Education in the area of Emotional Intelligence, and in 2017 was a WA finalist in the Australian of the Year awards in recognition of her work with people with complex communication needs and those who experience challenging behaviours.

She is managing director of Microboards Australia, an organisation which supports people with disability to develop a strong network of people in close relationship with them who help them to achieve their dreams and wishes, as well as to be safe throughout their lives. Microboards Australia has been delivering Is There a Better Way? for the past 5 years across WA. You can find out more about Microboards Australia here: http://microboard.org.au

What people say about Is There a Better Way?

The ITaBW? approach is something I could do. The traditional approaches we tried didn’t work - and what we learned in Is There a Better Way? was, well, it was a better way!

Being part of the Is There a Better Way? workshops allowed us in a collaborative way to sound out other people in similar and sometimes worse circumstances. It allowed our co-ordinator to be present and enabled us to engage her to work with our family as well. It reinforced with us some of the things we’re doing are ok, it’s not all doom and gloom, and it’s not our fault.

‘Is There a Better Way?’ has given me hope that things can be improved for our family. I have been reluctant to ask for help even though I could feel us slowly ‘going under’ as the challenges grew. Society seems to forgive them easier when they are younger but as they get older the expectations get greater, especially when their disabilities are ‘unseen’.

Thanks to the ‘Is There A Better Way?’ training, I have been encouraged to not feel guilty to ask for and receive help and that my children’s needs and challenges are valid even though they are different to the next person’s.

I feel empowered now to stand up and say that, as their family members, we actually know and understand them the best.”

Info: mary.butterworth@ddwa.org.au or 9420 7230 (Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri)

Time: 9:30am—2:30pm each day

Become a Member of DDWA: FREE for individuals https://ddwa.org.au/membership/