“I have been to lots of meetings where I didn’t get my say and that stinks in my opinion”
Amanda Millear, Reinforce Self Advocacy
Hi, I am Amanda Millear here are my top tips for making sure you run good meetings that include people with intellectual disability.
- Send out all the information before the meeting and have someone sit with us and go through the agenda and the minutes.
- Easy English from the word go.
- Have a Code of Conduct that tells you the do’s and don’ts.
- Have a support person if you want one.
- The chair must bring the meeting to order and make sure everyone is ready to start.
- The chair has to make sure that each person at the meeting gets their say and that everyone is quiet and listens.
- Always have an agenda – sometimes I go to meetings and I feel like I am flying blind that is why I always want an agenda.
- Have an agenda in Big Print.
- If no-one is paying attention to you put your hand up to indicate you want to have a bark!
- If it is a long meeting there must be a break. I have been to meetings and my mind is splattered all over the floor, where is the break!
Meeting Tips from consumer advocates:
Brain Injury Matters’ Top Tips
Chapter 5. Inclusive Meetings
5.1: Inclusive Meetings - Roll Out the Welcome MatMenu: Consumer Participation Kit
