Walking/Journeying as a Methodology for Inclusion and Connection at MyTime Penrith

An approach that redefines the spaces and activities of MyTime

Mechanisms and spaces of inclusion need to always consistently seek to include. The thought of inclusion being achieved is a failure in our task of including. This is one of the flaws of the social model of disability which is universally applied to inclusive practice, however little is done to scrutinise its inherent bias and exclusionary undertones it possesses. Treated as a model suggests absolutism and best practice, that leaves little to no room for critical analysis and evolution. The social model of disability sidelines and does not help to draw attention, magnify and resolve barriers faces by the intersectional voices of Australian society within disability. Such a model's absolute inclinations negates and prevents redefinition and continues to silence those not excluded in the model. 

Same line of thinking should be applied to practices within MyTime, a carers and allies support group for those touched by disability in their lives and want to make a differences to loved one's with disability in their community and beyond. The role of a MyTime facilitator needs to consistently seek to resolve exclusion and maintaining an empowering, safe, welcoming and community responsive that equips those that attend MyTime spaces with the knowledge and skills to advocate better for their people with disability and improve the lives of families touched by disability. 

Decolonisation and the impossibilities in walls

MyTime typically operates in an indoor space. Within this space, activities, conversations and exchanges occur within this space. MyTime Penrith operationally operates in a flexihub at a public school. Public schools are accessible spaces for community as socio economic status are no barriers to accessing education and family wellbeing support. 

Schools, however, through scrutiny, have neoliberalist agendas that seek to churn out humans of economic productivity as seen through pressures and accountability on high stakes testing that ultimately sidelines critical and creative thinking and development. Where you are able bodied, heterosexual, English speaking, neurotypical and can learn in a specific way, you have been dealt a good hand to thrive in such spaces. 

Where you are the other, schools are spaces of contradictions, confusion, invalidation, exclusion, gaslighting and pain. For some these are not safe, welcoming and identity affirming spaces at all as they are spaces of fear, oppression and violence both personally and historically. 

MyTime Penrith operates in a school where there is high percentage of families who are multilingual, along with high percentages of families who are low socio economic status as well as being the school having the highest First Nations families in the Penrith area. Given this information, mechanisms and approaches for inclusion are a necessity to engage and support families and the wider community touched by disability when it comes to inclusive practice within the program of MyTime. 

MyTime Beyond Four Walls

An approach for inclusion is abandoning and dismantling the four walls of the flexihub to be with nature and exploring the possibilities of carers support. If the aim of MyTime is the provision of safe and welcoming spaces for the sharing of knowledge and skills, then the dismantling of barriers of inclusion need to actively occur. 

Benefits of Walking/Journeying and MyTime Outside

- Nature is seen as a co-facilitator and teacher to facilitate and drive activities. There is the tendency for facilitated sessions to be controlled and steered with little agency from participants. To encourage voice and participant direction and empowerment, activities relying on nature as inspiration and an influencer of curriculum will help improve a top down MyTime delivery model of support. 

- Abandoning of the walls abandons ingrained memories and inherent views of oppression that may be experienced in structured settings. Walls and schools epitomise structure, rules and certain ways of being and seeing which can be unwelcoming and trauma inducing for some depending on their personal history.

- Encourages less hierarchical and more relational leadership relationships between participants, facilitator and play leader. Removing walls disrupts the habitus of MyTime operations and encourages all to be more 'out of the box' in thinking, being and engaging. From a facilitators point of view, activities need to mould to the surroundings which encourages critical rethinking of practice and alignment with the objectives of a MyTime facilitator. 

- Walking/journeying and reimagined structure enables better body regulation for attendees which will be of benefit of neurodivergent individuals. Walking has linked benefits in processing, clarifying and communication of ideas. 

- The reimagined structure and delivery provides spaces for informal discussions and community building. It helps to build trust, friendship, understanding and a shared experience to connect. A point of communal discussion - "How did you find your walk/journey today?" as opposed to discussion on previous experiences in disability which may not be as accessible or inclusive for all. It provides a universal experience for a point of connection for all. This universal experience could be a catalyst point to link back to previous experiences of individuals. 

- Wellbeing benefits of walking/journeying as well as being with nature and people provide opportunities to be present. Activities can be embedded to encourage creative and critical thinking from participants. Such activities could  include finding objects in nature and taking pictures on your phone that represent your journey within disability, taking 3 pictures to capture how you have felt throughout the last fortnight using nature as your inspiration, or the provision of thematic word prompt cards for discussions when going for a walk to explore a local surrounding. 

Important Notes

- Important for the facilitator to embrace 'out of the box' ideas and to reimagine their practice when operating beyond four walls. Running the same activities as you would do in four walls does not embrace wild pedagogies. Exploration, creativity, critical thinking and aligning new possibilities of practice with objectives of MyTime is key. 

- Success occurs through trial and error. Such practices need reflection and refinement and feedback from attendees. Preparation is also key. Perfect doesn't exist. 

- With the building of trust, friendship and care within the group, there is the potential to enter into spaces unfamiliar to participants for MyTime sessions. Building of trust and community is key for this success. MyTime session could potentially run in spaces such as Penrith Civic Centre, a university setting, or Parliament to name a few. Why this is noted, as spaces perceived as unwelcoming and inaccessible for some need to eventually become spaces of accessibility for long lasting inclusion to occur. 

- Sessions beyond the four walls need to responsive to needs of clientele attending and be people with disability friendly. Spaces need to be scoped for accessibility and safety. The title of walking/journeying is to be inclusive of those who are unable or have difficulty walking. Planning needs to be considerate of the role of the Play Leader and the children they may have to cater for. 

-Spontaneity is encouraged. Activities that take off deviating from what was planned need to be embraced as they are participant led and nature influenced. 

Possible Activities

Ideally, activities below form part of a session as the premise of MyTime Penrith is designed to empower its participants to share their narrative and voice. It further encourages participants to co-create and drive sessions. Easily, a chosen participant could lead a discussion of their own personal journey intertwined with the methods of delivery below. 

1) Whilst going for a walk/journeying, using your phone, take 3 pictures that represent your feelings over the past 2 weeks. If participants don't have a phone, they can write down what they see and describe it. Mini group discussions occur to share ideas and then a group discussion of some findings. 

2) Whilst going for a walk/journeying, using your phone, take 3-5 pictures of objects that you find interesting and that may link to your journey in disability so far. Share with the group in a group discussion. Later, submit through online platform with brief explanation.

3) Going for a walk/journeying and exploring a space. Discussing with participants what is interesting. Later on the walk/journey, word prompt card is given to stimulate discussion around experiences in disability such as "Communication". Participants encouraged to share ideas in group discussion. 

Notes by Jenny Lai

(MyTime Penrith Facilitator)