2026 T2 Session 1 - Making Inclusion more Inclusive

Community Engagement Update - Collaboration with Braddock PS occurring. Will develop plan with Ashlea (staff from Braddock) to present a proposal to School executive and also PGNSW. Aiming for a marriage between initiatives from both stakeholders. Hybrid version of their Braddock Public School Parent Cafe Meetups and MyTime Penrith as well as PGNSW Supported Playgroup. Development of proposal in progress.

Session:
Caught up from the holiday break and celebrated the birthday of Lawson (child with Down syndrome) who attends MyTime. Mother Nichole requested to celebrate his birthday at MyTime as they see MyTime Penrith as close friends and community of support for her and her family, especially Lawson.

Discussion on the possibilities of further inclusion in MyTime Penrith. A new participant joined who was not as proficient in English thus presented a scenario for participants to manage and foster inclusion. Thi is the facilitator's mother. Today's session focused on situating participants in a position as problem solvers on complex problems and for them to learn of the reality of many Australian's missing out in engaging in disability support.

Pamela used her skills as an EALD Teacher went to the participant Thi and introduced herself in English and discovered the participant knew a little bit of English. Use of gestures and basic English fostered inclusion of the new participant in the space. The facilitator provided translation of English to Chinese Teo Chew and vice verse throughout the session for Thi to be included. Attempts from participants to interact with Thi made Thi feel less shy and wanting to contribute in the session. How do we make all Australians included in MyTime spaces? It foregrounds that we need to address the limitations of what we think is inclusion constantly in order to further achieve inclusion and include those missing out.

Participants explored using Chagpt and other AI programs to overcome language barriers and to make inclusion more inclusive. Translating resources into language of participants and integrating all languages that exist in the space of MyTime Penrith will foster more inclusion and cultural safety. There was exploration of use of WhatTCSay App (language Thi uses mostly), ChatGPT, and Google translator.

Thi was able to share her story through translation through the facilitator and engaged in the letter writing activity through writing in her own language. Letter was translated to share to others her view points.

Pamela and Thi are both grandmothers who have a grandson with Down syndrome. Reflections of and endless love for their grand children was shared as well as the differing experiences in engaging in support for their grandchild with a disability. Pamela can be more involved in her grandson's journey of disability as disability supports and ecosystem is in English, whilst Thi cannot with her grandson due to language and cultural barriers. Thi wishes she can help her grandson who has Down syndrome more on his therapy journey. Thi informed the group that she can speak 5 languages, however where English has been tricky, it has meant a tricky life and needing to come up with ingenious ways to communicate. An example is using emoticons/emojis to communicate in family group chats in her family when there is updates or leaving voice messages. Technology has a strong potential in bridging the gap for barriers faced by Australian multilingual families.

Play Lead Afia also spoke of the advantages of being able to use language in her experience in other playgroups. Language provides inclusion and fosters stringer communities. She recounted her difficulties with grandparents/parents and children who don't speak English or her ancestral language of Tamil. Use of gestures and the fact that the space is safe and inclusive provides interesting and inclusive interactions. Safety is paramount. Support spaces like MyTime and playgroups provide the potentials for people within that space to teach each other language and culture- authentic achievement of cultural responsiveness and safety.

Participants in the later half of the session participate in an activity where they were to write a letter to a neighboring MyTime group. Sharing who they are and a little of their disability journey and words of advice. Situating participants in such a position provides a soft approach to placing them in leadership and advocacy positions - imparting their story and knowledge onto others for hope and encouragement. The letters represent the spaces of possibility in MyTime carers support.

Happy 3rd Birthday to MyTime Penrith's beautiful Lawson!