Peer Connect

The Peer Connect initiative reflects our belief that people with intellectual and/or developmental disability can contribute and participate in meaningful social roles in their communities.

Historically, the people who have the most influence on creating a good life for people with disability – and thereby building connected and inclusive communities – are families, especially parents and siblings. So, at its heart, this project connects families at various stages of the journey towards inclusion. It was designed to provide many ways for families to share stories and experiences and build their confidence and skills.

The initiative will commence with a series of workshops and peer groups, some of which will be co-designed with and presented by people with disability and their families. We’ll support people in sharing their stories across various platforms, thereby building their confidence and leadership skills. We believe that by investing in family leadership, we’ll create momentum, influence, and, ultimately, positive change and genuine belonging throughout our communities.

Every workshop and peer group we deliver in this project provides an opportunity to capture unique ideas and tactics. We’ll make these available to families as digital recordings and downloadable fact sheets on our website. Throughout the project, our team will support families through one-to-one consultations.

We hope Peer Connect will help people with disability and their families to

• think more creatively and expansively about what a good life in the community could look like
• lead self-directed lives, making the most of the abundance of typical and freely-given supports within their communities
• understand their rights and feel more confident to advocate for themselves and others
• support other like-minded people by sharing their experiences in workshops, peer groups, and other platforms.