SOME  TIME AGO I FOUND A COUPLE OF  STATEMENTS   BELOW IN A COUPLE OF ARTICLE ON THE WEB……

1. ‘PROGRESSIVISTS BELIEVE THAT INDIVIDUALITY, PROGRESS AND CHANGE ARE  FUNDAMENTAL TO ONES EDUCATION. “
2. JOHN DEWEY BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE LEARN BEST FROM SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE REAL WORLD.

These articles  had nothing to do with the ‘world of disability’ but it  struck a chord  with me  and I believed that if the above was  applied the right way could be advantageous to Angela  and her understanding of the world around her where the process becomes as important as any outcomes…….

So  to cut to the chase –    “the community setting” becomes Angela’s progressivisit classroom (so to speak) which is about exploration, experience , idividuality(supported)  planning, progress and change.

With the added help of NDIS (individual funding instead of block or group funding)Angela’s community support has gone through multiple changes -to

daily individualised progressive  social inclusion which  is promoted creatively by her support workers (we call Circle of Support)   Hence support days have increased, people have increased,social inclusion has increased, opportunities to experience life have increased relationships have increased to name a few.

What do I mean about a Circle of Support?  I mean a group of people who provide support,  and get paid-for a desired amount of time in a day who focus on the worth of inclusion in the community for someone with severe disability..  Yes- it is about caring but MORE  it’s providing Angela with a life of greater purpose which constantly gives opportunities to turn potential into growth .

Continuing social experiences,relationship building all aiding health and wellbeing.

Regardless of  Angela’s  limitations imposed on her by her disability-  so to get it right- her daily support requires “progressive multiple thinking by workers of a creative nature when planning  which is an ongoing form of ‘simplicity and variety’ for the full shift,

As her website calendar shows the direct, practical ideas ,real world situations,fostering explorative learning and certainly  addresses the so called “minority” group that Angela  belongs to or seen by others  as belonging  to…….

Personalised learning is the fundamental principle and main advantage of progressive”education” or in Angela’s case “ progressive understanding.

The support hours reflecting consistent progressive  “change” during the shift   addressing Angela’s short attention span but the progressive application naturally producing  ‘variety”.   More variety- means more possibilities for learning.  The quote below says it all……

 

Written by Bev Nugent (Angela’s mum and lifetime advocate)