Inclusion is your responsibility; but there’s help!

All service providers have legal and ethical responsibilities to make their services inclusive for people of all abilities. 

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It is your responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to enable people with intellectual disabilities to participate. 

 

If a person with intellectual disability comes to your service with a carer or disability support worker, you should work in partnership with them. This is the best way to help a person participate in your service.

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But do not leave it to the carer or support worker to take full responsibility for supporting the person when they use your service. They might not know how to provide effective support in this context. 

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How to work in partnership with carers and support workers?

You can learn from carers and support workers how to most effectively include the person in your service; they should know the person well, and can share valuable information with you about practical ways to assist.

There are no rules about how such partnerships work. Start by having an open conversation with the person and their supporters about how you can all work together.

 

You can also teach carers and support workers how they can help support the person to use your service. You know your service well, and can share valuable information with supporters about what to expect here.

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What if someone comes to your service without a supporter?

Some people with intellectual disability will come to your services without a carer or support worker; or they might prefer to do the activity without their support worker. You should respect their wishes. 

You must not deny a person access to your service just because they do not have a support worker or carer with them. The law says you are responsible to make reasonable adjustments to enable any person use your service. 

If you don’t think you can make reasonable adjustments, offer to assist in connecting the person with advocacy groups which may help them. In Australia, you can use the Disability Advocacy Network Australia website to find out what support is available in your area. 

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In this interactive video, Dave – a person with intellectual disability – comes to the gym with his support worker, Blake. You are asked to help the gym instructor choose how to assist Dave to participate in his class.