Problem Solving Scenarios as an Approach to Carer Empowerment

Strategy of presenting carers with problem scenarios that draw on the knowledge of all participants in the room provides opportunity for participants to apply knowledge acquired in their own journey's in disability navigation. It allows for collective problem solving and situates carers as intellectuals sharing the journeys they have walked. 

This approach also allows space for normalising practices that are "not typical" when pitted against ableist child development. Normalising feeding journeys will help alleviate angst, pressure, parental self deprecation and the full embracement of child development being unique to each child and family situation. Its not a one size fits all approach. Too often parents and carers have to contend with ableist assumptions and models of developmental milestone that situate their child as an outsider. Holding space and discussion to normalise divergent ways of development and divergent ways of journeying to a milestone will provide comfort and normalisation amongst the participants. 

During the process of discussion, participants will learn off each other, find commonalities and also differences in approaches. This creates consolidation of experiential knowledge to address the scenario presented. It also foregrounds the importance of parental/carer voice when it comes to problem addressing and solving, and also respecting parent/carer perspective on the disability journey. 

For future activities with such an approach, surveys where participants can submit scenarios based on own experiences they face or know of can be done anonymously and be deidentified. 

Discussions and time to research will be facilitated and documented during the session where this activity is run. 

*Note: Activity provides sharing of narrative journeys that provide comfort, normalisation, consolidation and validation of knowledge. Knowledge shared is not designed or suggested as a replacement for allied health support. An activity such as this builds confidence for carers to engage in addressing the scenario presented. It is assumed participants will find information useful and comforting along whilst engaging in allied health support as per their disability journey.