Side by Side project and There a Better Way?’ training (family leadership) ‘Is The Commission partnered with families who shared the experience of challenging behaviours in people with disability to enduring support and advocacy networks, and to inform sector reform for the benefit of people with disability, their families and carers. Transition of medical specialist podiatry service Podiatry services for people with disability that were previously provided by the Commission were transitioned to a clinic at the University of Western Australia (UWA). The services were provided to people with disability at no cost. Providing this service through the UWA clinic was in line with the transitioning of other medical and specialist services to mainstream service providers. This ensured that people with disability could access quality and skilled services from a range of service providers, giving them greater choice. Collaboration with Curtin University The Commission engaged with Curtin University’s School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work to provide students with experience in supporting people with disability. The second-year students were completing their service learning, which is a mix of class-based learning and practical experience, and the fourth-years were undertaking research in fields that improved the lives of people with disability. It was anticipated that the students’ real life experience in supporting people with disability would translate into better access to tailored services and greater inclusion in mainstream services because of the knowledge they had gained during the project that they would carry with them into the workforce. stARTSPEAK Touch and Create app – Through engaging people with high support needs and research partners, the stARTSPEAK app was developed to assist users with little or no literacy or numeracy to communicate and create artwork. This initiative stimulated the digital and social inclusion of people with intellectual disability and provided people with high support needs with a new way to express themselves and be supported in a way that met their individual needs. Community-based accommodation The Commission completed a three-year 95 million dollars housing program that saw almost 240 people provided with universally designed community-based accommodation. The Commission worked closely with the Department of Housing to find flexible
Side by Side project and ‘Is There a Better Way?’ training (family leadership) The Commission partnered with families who shared the experience of challenging behaviours in people with disability to enduring support and advocacy networks, and to inform sector reform for the benefit of people with disability, their families and carers. Transition of medical specialist podiatry service Podiatry services for people with disability that were previously provided by the Commission were transitioned to a clinic at the University of Western Australia (UWA). The services were provided to people with disability at no cost. Providing this service through the UWA clinic was in line with the transitioning of other medical and specialist services to mainstream service providers. This ensured that people with disability could access quality and skilled services from a range of service providers, giving them greater choice. Collaboration with Curtin University The Commission engaged with Curtin University’s School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work to provide students with experience in supporting people with disability. The second-year students were completing their service learning, which is a mix of class-based learning and practical experience, and the fourth-years were undertaking research in fields that improved the lives of people with disability. It was anticipated that the students’ real life experience in supporting people with disability would translate into better access to tailored services and greater inclusion in mainstream services because of the knowledge they had gained during the project that they would carry with them into the workforce. stARTSPEAK – Touch and Create app Through engaging people with high support needs and research partners, the stARTSPEAK app was developed to assist users with little or no literacy or numeracy to communicate and create artwork. This initiative stimulated the digital and social inclusion of people with intellectual disability and provided people with high support needs with a new way to express themselves and be supported in a way that met their individual needs. Community-based accommodation The Commission completed a three-year 95 million dollars housing program that saw almost 240 people provided with universally designed community-based accommodation. The Commission worked closely with the Department of Housing to find flexible
Disability-Services-Commission-2013-2014-Annual-Report-full.docx