Book a conversation with someone who understands your vision for a fulfilling and meaningful life for your family member with disability.
“One good conversation can shift the direction of the change forever.” — Linda Lam.
“Conversation is a catalyst for innovation.” — John Seely Brown.
Imagine More began with Jan Kruger chatting with individual families over a cuppa at the kitchen table. Each of these families wanted more for their child with disability than was being offered.
They didn’t want the segregated schooling, sheltered workshops, group homes, and day programs that were widely available for people with disability.
Instead, they dreamt of a life where their loved ones would thrive in the community – with quality education, meaningful work, and a typical life filled with friends, interests, and opportunities. They just weren’t quite sure how to help their child achieve it.
By meeting with people in coffee shops or their homes, Jan
- got to know people with disability and their families
- heard about their goals, fears, challenges, and accomplishments
- helped them brainstorm and plan as they moved towards their goals around education, employment, home, relationships, and more
- connected them with ideas, resources, tools, professional networks, and other families on a similar path.
As a result of these gentle conversations, families usually found ways to tap into their motivation, energy, creativity, and networks. We’ve seen powerful visions crafted, hurdles jumped, and goals achieved in many domains as families became more confident and skilled in forging ahead with their dreams.
We’re still having conversations with individual families – on the phone, via Zoom, and in person. We offer both one-off conversations and ongoing mentoring.
If you’re struggling to help your family member achieve a goal, need a sounding board, have specific questions, or need a gentle push, perhaps we can help. And if we can’t, we’ll do our best to connect you with someone who can.
What topics can we help with?
Each member of our team of facilitators is available to chat during business hours. It can be about any aspect of seeking the good things in life for your family member with disability.
Common topics of conversation include
- Inclusive education
- Navigating work experience
- Finding and keeping employment
- Setting up a Circle of Support
- Expanding social circles and nurturing relationships
- Creating a home
- Challenges with self-managing the NDIS
Who can book a conversation?
People with disability, their family members, allies, and the professionals who support them are all welcome to reach out.
How to book a conversation
You can either
- call our office during business hours on 0491 645 816, or
- Send an email to one of our facilitators. You’ll find their emails at the bottom of this page.
You can choose to meet
- On the phone
- On Zoom
- In-person in our office
- In-person at a coffee shop located in the ACT.
There is no charge for our mentoring sessions as the Department of Social Services funds us to provide this support through our Typical Pathways Initiative.
Our facilitators
Fiona McIntosh
- Moving from school to work, work experience, microenterprise, and Customised Employment
- Fiona is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
- Contact Fiona at fiona@imaginemore.org.au
Anne Keep
- Inclusive education, Home, and community connection
- Anne is available Monday – Thursday
- Contact Anne at anne@imaginemore.org.au
Erosha Bakmiwewa
- Inclusive education, the early years, and microenterprise
- Erosha is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
- Contact Erosha at erosha@imaginemore.org.au
Jan Kruger
- Employment, Home, community connection, and self-managing
- Jan is available Monday – Friday
- Contact Jan at jan@imaginemore.org.au