The Expanding Worlds Podcast

What's the difference between a service user and a service owner? Quite a lot according to Padhraic   Dormer from Enable Ireland. Padhraic explains the difference, as well as talking about his role as a virtual service support worker. He also discusses reasons why virtual services have proven to be so valuable in combatting social isolation. Padhraic is an early adopter of smart home technology an...

Using technology to support independent living seems an obvious choice. However, it isn't as this week's guest Siobhan Long from Enable Ireland explains. What we consider mainstream technology can also be assistive technology, and with this become more accessible and more affordable. Siobhan also discusses the importance of knowledge, not just how to use technology but what's available to enable p...

Technology is often developed with the focus on what it does rather than how it will be used. This week's guest Lee Blemings explains why that approach is wrong and why it also needs to be about enjoyment, about fun, and about connecting people in a meaningful way. He also talks about AI, the impact AI has already had on creating technology solutions, and the possibilities that AI will help open u...

Even with technology all around us there are still barriers in place which lead to digital exclusion. In this episode with Jane Seale we explore some of the reasons for this and what needs to change. She discusses why attitude is so important in creating digital inclusion and why it's not just about access to technology, it's also about use, empowerment and participation.  Technology is a great wa...

With technology changing so quickly, we are often unsure of what is available and what is possible. In this episode Wendy Harkins Davis of Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) explains why no question is ever wrong, and that because with so many options available most questions can be answered in the positive. Wendy and I discuss a variety of topics from what technology is available...

Welcome to a new series on Technology – Changing the Future. From assistive technology to help aid communication to smart home devices that help make people safer, technology can change lives. In this first episode of the series, I'm talking to Libby Wilkins, Head of Accessibility and Digital Applications at The Oaks Specialist College. Libby outlines how they are using technology to support young...

Planning the future for our children with additional needs is not only challenging, it's crucial. In this final episode of the Planning the Journey series, I'm talking about how to navigate each of the four lines Daily Living Relationships, Purpose and Financial using the VOCAL method. VOCAL stands for Vision, Options, Create, Assess and Legacy. Using this model helps identify the end goaI, identi...

Providing financial security for our children with additional needs when we are no longer around is one of our greatest challenges. In this episode I talk about why it is achievable once we decide how much is enough. I also discuss the levels of control to consider,  the tools available and the factors to consider when thinking about who will support them after you. I also look at some strategies...

Having a purpose provides meaning and direction to our lives. In this episode I talk about ways to support our children to find purpose and the importance of a Presumption of Purpose. I also discuss the role of mindset in developing a presumption of purpose for both ourselves and our children. When we support our children to find purpose, paid or unpaid, we are helping them develop their sense of...

Relationships matter. Without them our young people can become isolated. We all have our stories of challenging family relationships and friendships lost. But as our children get older, we need to focus on helping them independently manage the reality of social interactions. In this episode I talk about the difference between dynamic and static relationships and why it matters. I also discuss the...

In this series I will be focusing on exploring in more depth the 4 core topics that the podcast has always focused around: daily living, relationships, purpose and financial. In this episode the focus is daily living skills. I will be sharing some techniques I used to successfully support my own daughter to build these skills. These techniques, which include scaffolding and habit stacking, can be...

Where will my daughter live when I'm no longer around? It's a big question, and some of the ideas explored in the Housing Options series just might help answer that question. In this episode I discuss some of those ideas, and why we might need to rethink our assumptions around support. I also talk about why choice and community must sit at the center of any of the housing solutions offered to our...

It's difficult to develop better housing options if we don't know what people want and need. This week's guests Chris Hatton and Lauren Blood were involved with a research project which will in part help to address this issue. The 200 Lives project looked at the quality of supported living and residential care in England. Chris and Lauren discuss the research findings and some of the implications...

For too long housing solutions for young people with additional needs have failed to consider the importance of inclusion. This week's guests Paula Manion and Donna Budway, from Our Stomping Ground, are changing that by developing housing solutions that have inclusive communities at their heart. They discuss how the housing model has evolved, why Our Stomping Ground uses the housing first model, a...

Creating a housing model for young adults with additional needs that really works means doing things differently. This is something Lisa Liberatore from US Autism Homes understands. We discuss the three-pillar solution they developed and how that has helped create an inclusive community.  Lisa also discusses the important role science can play in helping young people develop the skills to live mor...

Finding somewhere to live is about more than just about finding a place, it's about building a life. Community is an important part of that life and how to build communities is the topic of this episode with Kathy Meyer from Everyone Needs A Community. We talk not only about why community matters so much but also about understanding that communities need to be a reflection of where they are and ho...

Finding Supported Living that works means bringing together many things, from finding a property in the right location with the right access, to identifying a support provider and accessing the right level of support. This week's guest Lisa Brown is determined to build a network that brings together the different people and organizations involved, so everyone can work together to increase the chan...

When we imagine where our children might live, when we're no longer around, it isn't just the place they will live, it's the community around them and how they will live their daily lives that we also imagine. In this week's episode I'm talking to Mike Sweeney about how he, and other parents, are working together to bring all these things from imagination into reality.     Find out more  https://w...

No matter how alone we sometimes feel there is always someone who understands our journey even if they are taking a different road than us. In this episode, as part of the series on Housing Options, my guest is Eliza Factor, author of Strange Beauty, who shares her story, the story of her son Felix and the story of Lonely Worm Farm. Lonely Worm Farm may have started as a place for Felix to live an...

Continuing with the series on Housing Options, this week the focus is on Supported Living with Jonathan Spencer the CEO of Zetetick Housing. We discuss what supported living involves and the challenges faced in finding the right homes as well as the importance of having a choice in where and who we live. The model of Zetetick is much more than simply finding someone a place to live; it's about sup...

Moving into our own space is part of becoming an adult and embracing the independence that brings. In this new series on Housing Options I'm exploring some of the housing models that are available for people with additional needs. The series starts off with Main Street, an innovative project literally built from the ground up. Jillian Copeland the founder of Main Street talks about why Main street...

Solo episode this week where I talk about what I've learnt in the conversations I've had as part of the  Grace Eyre Profile Series. This has been about acknowledging the past, celebrating the present and focusing on the future. Supporting our children towards a better future needs to be a joined up approach and this is why hearing from organizations like Grace Eyre who offer that more holistic sup...

Everyone should have the right to decide their own future but too often people with additional needs simply aren't given a voice.  In this episode my two guests are Cleo Dibb,  the Our Voices Manager and Jenny Good who was involved in the Rethink Disability campaign.  Both are discussing the imperative of giving people the opportunity to share their lived experience, be listened to and be actively...

Getting into paid employment is a major challenge for people with additional needs. Programs that support people to develop their employability skills and enable them to break down the barriers into work play an essential role.  In this episode with Evie Halligan and Stuart Leaney we discuss the Work Buddy and Let's Work Together projects run at Grace Eyre, how these operate, the challenges, the s...

One of the core skills for an independent life is independent travel. At Grace Eyre the Travel Buddy Project focuses on supporting people to develop the confidence, self awareness and knowledge they need to travel independently. In this episode with Gary Cunningham, the Travel Buddy Team Leader,  we are discussing exactly how the scheme works and the impact it has on increasing the opportunities f...