IDA Magazine Vol 39 Iss 3 (Sept 2018)

Paardekoopers did a wonderful job in planning and organising the
conference. Interest in the conference was so great that registrations
had to close at 160 participants. The conference attracted
presenters and participants from New Zealand and Australia and
participants were rewarded with an experience that challenged,
affirmed and pointed to new directions for those interested in
learning from quality research in the field of intellectual disability. The
atmosphere was friendly and inclusive and a team of volunteers from
People First did an excellent job in directing people to venues, acting
as timekeepers and in some instances as chair people. Delegates
were thrilled to listen to an inspiring version of Alleluia sung by South
Wellington Intermediate school’s kapa haka group as part of the
Mihi. Debbie Espiner, Aotearoa NZ ASID Chairperson welcomed
delegates and reminded them of the importance of being responsive
and developing partnerships in a time of change and uncertainty.
The four keynote speakers challenged and inspired the delegates
with both the quality of the content and the delivery of their keynote
addresses. The programme included three workshops and 38
presentations on a wide range of conference themes.
Dr Sarah Leitch from BILD in the United Kingdom ( UK) gave the
opening keynote and provided an overview of Positive Behaviour
Support ( PBS). Sarah presented UK data on the challenges of
implementing PBS and described strategies for ensuring quality
delivery and sustainability of PBS through applying practice
leadership using coaching. Sarah also provided information on
BILD’s partnership with Explore in New Zealand. She described
an evaluation model that measures the effectiveness of PBS
programmes for both individuals and organisations. A number of
papers during the conference further elaborated on how PBS has
been implemented in New Zealand in partnership with BILD.
On the Monday afternoon, Dr Sheridan Forster from Australia
gave a powerful presentation on the work that she is doing to build
partnerships when interacting with people with profound intellectual
and multiple disabilities. Dr Forster was able to draw on research,
clinical practice and her own experience of sitting down with the
person and thinking “how do I need to be in order to be with you?”.
She was able to illustrate her presentation with videos that provided
important clues as to how to work with people with profound and
multiple disabilities in a way that builds respectful and enriching
partnerships.
Judge Andrew Becroft opened Day Two of the conference with a
powerful call to New Zealanders to do something different to address
the high rates of criminalising and imprisonment that occurs for
young people with neurodevelopmental disorders. Justice Becroft
presented sobering statistics showing the much higher prevalence
rates of these disorders among young people within the New
Zealand prison system compared to the general population. He
Judge Andrew Becroft
Martyn Mathews
Sheridan Forster
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