VATT CHAT: Series 1 Inclusive Meeting Practices
Welcome to Voice at the Table’s VATT CHAT podcast!
Here we talk about how to make meetings and working groups accessible for people with cognitive disabilities. VATT developed the 10 Top Tips of Inclusive Meeting Practices and this series explains what they mean.
Podcast Team
Co producer and Host
Co producer
Editor and Composer
Working Group Members
Resident Comedian
Episode 1 – Welcome
In this episode we explore how organisations can properly welcome Consumer Advocates to the meetings.
Episode 2 – Role
Warren talks to our guest Eva Sifis about all things meetings and disability politics. Eva is a part of the training team at VATT and has a whole lot of insight to share. More on Eva here
Episode 3 – Culture
Warren talks to our guests Peta Ferguson and Heather Smith about the importance of creating a culture where everyone is valued, seen and heard. Peta was the president of Brain Injury Matters Self Advocacy Group and Heather is a Peer Worker at Reinforce Self Advocacy Group. They have great stories and insight in how to create an inclusive culture in your organisation or workplace. More on Reinforce (click here). More on Brain Injury Matters (click here)
Episode 4 – Culture
Warren continues his conversation with Peta Ferguson and Heather Smith, they explain what it’s like to not be included. In Back Chat we hear from Eva Sifis and Amy Sue Lasslett about how VATT started and what the project does.
Episode 5 – Information
How important is accessible information? The answer is VERY! This episode Warren chats to Bec Biddle from All Abilities Self Advocacy Group and Graham Binding from New Wave Self Advocacy Group. They talk about how to share information so everyone understands. Ann gives her great tips on how to write Plain English and Easy English.
More on All Abilities (click here)
More on New Wave (click here)
Episode 6 – Information
In this episode we keep on exploring good information sharing. Michael Mayne, from Voices for Change Self Advocacy Group comes on to talk with Warren about access needs and the importance of reminders. In Back Chat we talk about the amazing Self Advocate Doug Pentland with Sue Smith from SARU.
For more on SARU(click here) For more on Voices for Change Jennifer Black – jblack@fls.org.au
Episode 7 – Barriers
Cameron Bloomfield is our guest today. He is a Trainer at VATT and a member of Rainbow Rights Self Advocacy Group. In this episode Warren and Cameron talk about support needs, the importance of Peer Support and technology. In Back Chat we have Kathryn Bartlet (VATT CHAT working group member and New Wave Self Advocacy Group Gippsland Peer Worker) and Rachel Walters (one of the founding members of New Wave) in to talk about the history of New Wave and some of the great advocacy they have done in their community. For more on Rainbow Rights (click here) For more on New Wave (click here)
Episode 8 – Barriers
VATT Trainer Cameron Bloomfield returns to discuss tokenism, social barriers, sensory sensitivity and how to use the traffic light card system. Warren and Cameron also discuss a big barrier people are often too scared to discuss – money and payment. In Back Chat we hear the story of how New Wave Gippsland came to be. For more on Rainbow Rights (click here)
