When Families and Paid Supporters share a vision of the role and value of paid support in bringing about a fuller, contributing life in the community, then anything is possible!

Families don’t have time or resources to waste, so this session will focus on tactics that are immediately actionable. You’ll learn ways to ensure that paid support leads to meaningful and rich lifestyles that are filled with opportunities for contribution and relationship.

During this two-hour presentation, Janet will focus on the unique role of paid support. She’ll explain how the role can be powerful when both family and paid supporters understand what “effective support” actually means.

You’ll gain clarity about the most crucial role of the supporter: being a bridge to community and relationship. Janet will share stories, strategies, and examples of effective bridge-building. These are based on many years of combined experience with families and supports.

You will learn:

• about support as an essential bridging role
• how to create situations that will provide rich opportunities for building a bridge.

Then Janet will provide some practical tactics, including

• how to turn everyday situations into moments of possibility
• how to think through all support actions and requirements using the “bridge lens”, and
• how to provide direct support to make a lasting difference in people’s lives.

This presentation is a must-see for families and the support workers, coaches, and mentors they employ.

This session has been split into four parts. This is part one.

This session was introduced by Gus Reichelt

Hi, my name is Gus. I would like to tell you about Janet Klees. Janet lives in Canada. Her work is very important. It is based on SRV (Social Role Valorisation). She helps people with disability to get the good things in life. Janet believes that it's important to build strong communities that welcome everyone. People with disability do best when they live in their local community. Janet is very good at teaching the best way to support people with disability.

Today Janet will speak to us about "Building a Powerhouse Team: Families and Their Support." I hope you enjoy listening to Janet.

Janet Klees is the Executive Director of the Durham Association for Family Resources and Support, a family-centred, SRV-anchored resource and support centre for families interested in building good, ordinary lives in community for and with their family members with disability.

Janet has spoken many times at our events over the years. She is a popular presenter because of her ability to communicate the nuances of supporting people with disability to enjoy the good things of life.

• Building a Context for Relationship - Janet abbreviates this to "BCR" during her presentation
• Social Role Valorisation (SRV)
• Resources on SRV on the Imagine More website
• International Social Role Valorisation Association
• Australian SRV Association (ASRVA)