Archive for category: November

Lutheran Services has been serving individuals and communities in Queensland since 1935. The organisation offers a range of disability support services across six centres. These services include supported-living accommodation, day services, in-home care services, employment and personal growth programs, health and wellbeing programs and behaviour support. Graceville Centre on the Sunshine Coast serves people living with intellectual, cognitive, or psychiatric disabilities through accommodation and support programs. Client Kylie and case managers Daniel and Mary share their experiences with disability and offer their thoughts about inclusion, acceptance and working for positive change in our society and our church.

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Kylie Drinnan knows firsthand how important it is for people living with disability to feel safe. Accessible and accepting environments can be hard to come by. However, the members and staff of St Luke’s Lutheran Church and Lutheran Services’ Graceville Centre at Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are working hard to help everyone feel welcome and valued. Kylie shares her thoughts on how we can all better walk alongside people with disability.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST?

Feeling safe is very important to me. I have been at Lutheran Service’s Graceville Centre for 15 years because it’s a safe place to live – both physically and emotionally. The people there are lovely and kind and treat me well.

I also really appreciate feeling accepted. It’s one of the reasons I look forward to going to St Luke’s Lutheran Church, which is just across the road from my unit. I go as often as I can because I always feel good when I am there. It’s a place where I am welcome and valued. I enjoy the services and music, but the morning tea is also a real highlight! The pastors and other parishioners are always willing to stop and have a chat too. Simple things like offering a chat and a biscuit in a friendly, safe environment can help make people with disabilities feel included.

HOW IMPORTANT IS CHURCH TO YOU?

Going to church is a big part of my life. Our faith encourages us to accept everyone and treat all people equally, and I definitely feel that at St Luke’s. Everyone there is welcomed and appreciated for who they are. I even go to their events – like the Annual General Meeting – to show my support and gratitude for what they do.

HOW COULD WIDER SOCIETY BETTER WALK ALONGSIDE PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY?

I think we could all be much more accepting of each other. I spend my time in places where people take the time to listen and understand me – where everyone is treated as individuals.

The Nambour Community Centre, Compass Connections Café, St Luke’s … these are all really special places. The people there are lovely and kind; they get to know you personally, right down to the type of milk you like in your coffee (lactose-free, thanks!).

They see me, and not my disability.

HOW COULD SPACES BE MORE DISABILITY-FRIENDLY?

Physical access is a big issue for me. I use a walker and don’t like lifts. So, if there isn’t a ramp, I am automatically excluded from places. You’d be surprised how many places are not designed to cater for people with a disability and unintentionally make us feel unwelcome.

WHAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?

I think more awareness and acceptance would go a long way. Everyone is different and has different needs. But feeling safe, welcome and wanted is important to us all.

Lutheran Services has been serving individuals and communities in Queensland since 1935. The organisation offers a range of disability support services across six centres. These services include supported-living accommodation, day services, in-home care services, employment and personal growth programs, health and wellbeing programs and behaviour support. Graceville Centre on the Sunshine Coast serves people living with intellectual, cognitive, or psychiatric disabilities through accommodation and support programs. Client Kylie and case managers Daniel and Mary share their experiences with disability and offer their thoughts about inclusion, acceptance and working for positive change in our society and our church.

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Daniel Miller and Mary Moffat are case managers at the Graceville Centre in Nambour whose personal and professional experience have given them a deep understanding of living with disability. They share their thoughts on how we can all help create a more inclusive community.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WITH DISABILITY?

Daniel: I have experienced disability as an individual, a parent and a sibling, so I recognise the challenges and know what can make a difference to people living with a disability. Lived experience means I bring a great deal of understanding, empathy and compassion to my work.

Mary: My brother has a history of mental health challenges, so I have spent my life witnessing how society and the system cope with disability. This has certainly inspired me to help make a difference. I am now extremely committed to and passionate about advocating for people with disabilities.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS FIELD OF WORK?

Daniel: I have always been drawn to helping others, without passing judgement. This tendency, coupled with my own experience, has no doubt led me to this vocation. I know how critical it is to have people walking beside you – someone who cares and has faith in you to achieve greater things. I was lucky enough to have that support and am humbled and grateful now to be able to offer that to others.

WHAT DRAWS YOU TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY?

Daniel: I love my job and really enjoy coming to work. There are challenges, but I know I am genuinely making a difference to the lives of some truly awesome people. The best part is that every day I get to help intelligent, motivated people achieve goals – both big and small. I know from my own background that reaching your goals can be hard work, but it is so much easier, so much more attainable and enjoyable, when you have someone walking beside you.

Also, working at Lutheran Services is a great fit for me, as we share a common value – that of grace.

Mary: For me, this is not work! It’s a vocation and something that I put my heart and soul into. Being able to make a positive impact on someone’s life really is an honour. Often, it’s the seemingly small things that are the most rewarding. To the people I support, just feeling heard, valued and appreciated is an achievement.

HOW DOES LUTHERAN SERVICES HELP CLIENTS BE THE VERY BEST THEY CAN BE?

Daniel: We make people with disabilities more visible in the community. That could be through employment or just supporting them to have an active role in society by providing confidence, belief and opportunities. Hopefully one day we won’t even be talking about disability as a differentiator anymore.

Mary: We use community events to showcase the strengths of people with disabilities. Our art shows not only show off the value and amazing skills of our people but also involve and educate the community. I think this is really important because people with disabilities are generally not seen in the mainstream. They are not represented in products, advertising, employment, television shows, or politics.

Making disability a part of the everyday is key to creating a truly inclusive community.

WHAT ROLE DO CONGREGATIONS HAVE IN WALKING WITH PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY?

Daniel: Congregations naturally have empathy and an ethic of caring based on what Jesus did and taught. They play an important role in providing support and guidance, and just ‘being there’ for people who need support. They also create environments driven by acceptance and compassion, where there is no judgement, and no-one is any better than anyone else. It’s not just about faith though; it’s having grace – making everyone feel welcome and that they belong.

Mary: I think we can all do better at recognising and playing to each other’s strengths and promoting and celebrating the positives. Unfortunately, our society gives people labels – puts them in boxes. We tend to generalise and judge, rather than looking deeper and seeing the actual person and what they have to offer.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY?

Daniel: We are just human beings! People with disabilities have a lot to give and are already doing so much in the community. We have experienced judgement and discrimination, and don’t pay that forward. There is no ‘them’ and ‘us’ … it’s just us.

Mary: If the community could see even half of what I see every day, they would have no qualms in socialising with and employing people with disabilities. We all need to just open our hearts and our minds and embrace all people … not fall into the trap of the label divide.

Find out more about Lutheran services: www.lutheranservices.org.au
Get in touch: 07 3858 3000 contact@lutheranservices.org.au

by Bianca Dubois

Inclusion often begins with understanding the diversity of disability; that it can be in how we communicate, our mobility or the way we process the world around us.

People and families who experience disability can at times feel isolated because community spaces are not always designed for their needs.

Most people and families report that community spaces that allow them to feel like they can be themselves can support them in feeling accepted and connected to their community.

Some practical steps to make your space inclusive can be:

• having a quiet area for a person to access if they are feeling overwhelmed
• including visual aids (basic and clear pictures) with your service information to help individuals with communication challenges
• having a space in your church building where a person can walk or stand if they require more sensory input (your five senses that require stimuli)
• providing a printed order of service (with visual aids) to share with attendees the different parts of the service and what happens at each point. This can include items such as times to sing or when everyone will sit and listen.

If ever you are in doubt as to how to support someone in your congregation, asking respectfully how you can make your communal space more accessible for them will always be a welcoming gesture of inclusion and support.

Bianca Dubois Is Principal Clinical Lead for Lutheran Care’s Positive Behaviour Support service, which is offered through its Elcies Disability Care branch.

HOW CAN ELCIES HELP?

Elcies Disability Care’s Positive Behaviour Support services can assist with:

• Reducing Behaviours of Concern to minimise impact on home, education and community settings
• Educating the client’s support team on Positive Behaviour Support approaches and interventions, to ensure positive outcomes and consistency for the person
• Supporting and empowering clients, caregivers and support teams to manage Behaviours of Concern as they arise and improve quality of life for individuals

by Julie Krause

When a family lives in poverty, and also has a child with disability, life can be doubly challenging.

Niaman, a mum from Indonesia, knows those challenges. But her life and that of her family, including daughter Omera, was changed forever by support from the global Lutheran family, including through Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).

Last year through ALWS, and with assistance from the Australian Government, LCANZ members and friends supported 6,359 people with disability to better engage in the life of their communities, in countries including Nepal, Somalia and Indonesia, where Omera is from.

When Omera was born, Niaman says hospital staff did not bring her baby daughter to her for two days. ‘When she was born the midwife did not bring my baby to me’, Niaman says. ‘They kept her for two days because she was not normal like other babies. Her hands were not normal. They kept it a secret for two days.

‘But when I saw Omera, I was not sad. I saw her beautiful face, and this changed my heart. I loved her.’

Niaman says that when Omera came home from hospital, many people from their village came, wanting ‘to see this strange baby’.

‘They told me many hard things like, “How can you take care of this baby? Look at her hands and feet! What can this baby do when she grows up? You will have trouble in the future”’, Niaman says. ‘Sometimes I would think about those words, and I would cry. It was hard.

‘My sister did not want me to take Omera to the market, the local ceremonies, or even to church because she felt shamed. But I did not listen. I still took her. When I felt sad, I would tell myself that Omera is a gift from God, and that each gift he gives can be different.’

Through ALWS, in collaboration with its Lutheran partner in Indonesia CDRM&CDS, and the Australian Government, Niaman was supported to create a kitchen garden. Before this help, Niaman says she could only feed her family rice with salt. It broke her heart that her children were hungry, and that Omera might miss out on the support she needed.

Niaman joined a Lutheran-supported farm group through which she learnt about compost, mulching, organic fertiliser, weeding and effective watering. She wanted to grow enough nutritious food for her family, and to sell surplus vegetables for income to pay for any extra care Omera might need. Niaman says she loves her garden and grows chillies, beans, mustard leaves, corn, eggplant, tomatoes and her favourite – water spinach!

Each day she gets up at 5am and goes to the garden looking for bugs to remove from the plants. She says she has also been shown how to make organic pesticide from local plant materials and things like garlic, wood ash, tobacco and onion bulbs through the farm group. ‘We mix it with water and then blend it with a mixer before letting it ferment for three weeks’, she explains.

‘I am always looking and take away the weeds. Sometimes the older girls help me. I feel so very happy, because when I want to use vegetables in my cooking, it is already there! I don’t need to go and buy, especially when we have not much money. This means I can have money for sending the children to school, especially Omera in the senior school.

‘I thank the people of Australia for helping my family to make the garden, and especially for Omera, so she can keep her spirit in education and keep learning and feel confident in herself.’

Now, Omera is flourishing at school as much as the veggies flourish in Niaman’s kitchen garden!

‘If any mother has a child with disability, if your child wants to go to school, support them’, Niaman says. ‘Don’t be ashamed of them. Don’t keep them in the bedroom. Bring them out to the community. Don’t be shy to tell [others] about this child, even when they have disability.

‘Don’t stop them when they have the spirit to go and encourage them to socialise with others. Don’t limit them. Love them!’

Julie Krause is ALWS Community Action and Supporter Care Officer for South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

A beautiful artist, Omera has drawn how the love shone into her family through ALWS has transformed her family’s life. This drawing is now printed on a tea towel offered as a thank you gift for the first 500 orders in this year’s ALWS Gifts of Grace. You can give a Gift of Grace to supply another family in Indonesia with a kitchen garden just like Niaman and Omera’s at www.alws.org.au/grace or by phoning 1300 763 407.