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  • Towards Inclusive Digital Futures

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    Ethical Data and AI-Enabled Decisions in the Context of Accessibility and Urban Living, hosted by Professor Dian Tjondronegoro

    A montage of colour images from the Towards Inclusive Digital Futures Conference. From left to Right: 1 - Professor Dian Tjondronegoro addresses the attendees; 2 - Keynote speaker Dr Bahita "Bobby" Rifai, an Economic Researcher for the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); 3 - Attendees from Griffith University and beyond.On Thursday, 9 November, Professor Dian Tjondronegoro (“LIVE” theme leader) and Professor Elizabeth Kendall (Director) of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability hosted Toward Inclusive Digital Futures, a bilateral workshop to foster dialogue to advance collaboration between Australia and Indonesia in the area of ethical AI and inclusive urban environments.

    We heard from keynote speaker Dr Bahtia ("Bobby") Rifai (Economic Researcher for the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)) about the roles of and interplay between different actors generating, collecting and using data, in complex regulatory and institutional environments. Overlaid on this are the social inequalities that lead to people being underrepresented or having poor access to the digital world.

    A montage of colour images from the Towards Inclusive Digital Futures Conference. From left to Right: 1 - Moderator DR Amber Marshall from Griffith University; 2 - Panelists Dr Amber Marshall, Dr Nagesh Shukla, Tim Marshall and Fiona Gaske; 3 - Breakout group engaging in discussion and brainstorming ideas on butchers paper.

    A panel moderated by Dr Amber Marshall (Griffith), and including Liz Antoine (Microsoft), Dr Nagesh Shukla (QUT), Tim Mitchell (RACQ) and Fiona Gaske (RDA) discussed data, AI and digital inclusion and ethics in different contexts including transport, supply chains, regions and education.

    We broke out into groups for in-depth discussions exploring issues including data transparency and governance, smart and accessible cities, and opportunities for bilateral collaboration.

    It was a very thought-provoking session, and we are looking forward to progressing ideas in future research collaboration.

    A montage of colour images from the Towards Inclusive Digital Futures Conference. From left to Right: 1 - Professor Elizabeth Kendall, Director of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability addresses the audience; 2 - Attendees engage in discussion in one of the breakout rooms; 3 - Attendees with disability stand chatting with their walkers and companion dog; 4 - Panellists Dr Amber Marshall, Dr Nagesh Shukla, Tim Mitchell and Fiona Gaske.

    For more information please contact us at:

    Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
    inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

    Visit our Inclusive Futures Hub to find out more about our research:

    https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au

  • Inclusive Futures Book Club: Janine Shepherd AM and Mark Berridge

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    A montage of colour images from the bookclub hosted at the Griffith University Gold Coast Campus Library. Images from top (clockwise) 1. Dr. Maretta Mann, Janine Shepherd, Mark Berridge address the audience, Mark and Janine's books 'A fraction Stronger' and 'Defiant', Janine and Mark, an over the shoulder shot of the audience facing toward the front, Jim Hogan, Dr. Maretta Mann.

    We were honoured to welcome authors Janine Shepherd AM and Mark Berridge to our Inclusive Futures bookclub event on Wednesday, 25 October for a conversation about life after spinal cord injury, hosted by Dr Maretta Mann. Janine and Mark spoke openly about losing their sense of identity, and having to reimagine and rebuild themselves. Recovery is a full-time job in a rehabilitation unit, but they found support and kindness from angels - fellow in-patients, nurses and physios, family and friends. At many times they hit rock-bottom, and spoke of reframing their demons, and setting and working towards small, incremental goals.

    Janine, who was training for the Olympics when she had her accident, said that she used skills she developed as an athlete in her recovery, but that she believes everyone "has it in them" to find their new path. For her, becoming a pilot (including an aerobatics flying instructor) "literally saved my life". Mark, who was a senior corporate leader when he had his accident, said that we need to help people to "paint a picture" for where they want to go and provide the support networks to help them get there.

    They also discussed the importance of agency in a dehumanising hospital environment, where rehabilitation patients spend a lot of time, and the opportunity to make assistive devices beautiful as well as functional. A beautiful walking stick or mobility scooter can help people to feel comfortable being themselves and being visible.

    We encourage you to read their books:

    Defiant - A broken body is not a broken person, by Janine Shepherd

    A Fraction Stronger - Finding belief and possibility in life's impossible moments, by Mark Berridge.

    Join our Inclusive Futures Book Club to find out about future events: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/inclusive-futures-book-club

    A montage of colour images from the Griffith Inclusive Futures book club hosted at the Griffith University Gold Coast Campus Library. Images from top (clockwise): Roxane Lane captioner, Dr. Maretta Mann, Janine Shepherd and Mark Berridge, Julia Robertson following live captions on her smart phone, Janine Shepherd, Maureen Sullivan.

  • Change 2023 Conference: Nothing About Us Without Us

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    A colour photo of the Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability "Nothing About Us Without Us" Panellists. From left to right: Kevin Cocks (seated in power chair), standing at back Jim Hogan, Kelsey Chapman, Sharon Rundle-Thiele, seated at front Prof. Elizabeth Kendall and Brad Kinsela (seated in his manual wheelchair).


    CHANGE 2023 CONFERENCE

    Empower, Enable, Enact

    The Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability (IFRD) team had the pleasure to lead a session at Change 2023 last Friday, 20 October at Griffith University, Southbank Campus.

    Change 2023 is an annual 2-day conference in Brisbane, Queensland hosted by Social Marketing @ Griffith, especially for practitioners, professionals, researchers and experts with an interest in making change happen.

    In our session - Nothing About Us Without Us – Kelsey Chapman (IFRD Engagement Manager and PhD Candidate) lead a Q&A panel discussion with Professor Elizabeth Kendall (Director), Kevin Cocks, Brad Kinsela and Jim Hogan.

    In this impactful discussion, they candidly shared their experiences as disability advocates and outlined challenges they have experienced in their decades of fighting for inclusion.

    To find out more about Inclusive Futures and the research we do, visit our website:

    https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/inclusive-futures-reimagining-disability

  • Dedicated Deaf Space creates greater community inclusion

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    Griffith University has launched the Deaf Space, a dedicated and safe environment for Deaf students.

    The space is fitted with features like visual smoke alarms and door-bell lights, catering to the needs of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. With a range of facilities, including one-on-one tutoring and private study areas, the Deaf Space fosters community, allowing students to study, watch online sessions with interpreters and gather as a group.

    Moreover, the Deaf Space serves as a base for the Deaf Student Support Program (DSSP), providing services such as professional support, Auslan interpreters, captioning services, access to assistive listening devices and transcription services.

    The initiative promotes accessibility and inclusivity for Deaf students, and many graduates plan to teach Auslan as a second language in Queensland schools, meeting society's ever-increasing demand for interpreters.

    Read article in full:

    https://www.bursar.live/uni-tafe/dedicated-deaf-space-creates-greater-community-inclusion-7154

    For more information, contact Cathy Easte, Student Disability and Accessibility Manager on c.easte@griffith.edu.au

    A black and white photo of Cathy Easte, Student Disability and Accessibility Manager, Griffith University. Cathy is a middle aged woman, she has a sandy bob hair cut and wears reading glasses. She is wearing a white blouse with butterflies, which is significant as butterflies are Deaf. Cathy stands in front of a garden on the Griffith University Nathan campus.Cathy Easte, Student Disability and Accessibility Manager, Griffith Universit



  • Book Club: Sexual Health, Wellbeing and Disability

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    INCLUSIVE FUTURES BOOK CLUB
    A conversation with authors Dr. Marita Heck (author of Secret Forces) and conversation partners     Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten.

    Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University hosted our latest #BookClub event on #SexualHealth, #wellbeing and #disability, with author Marita Heck and conversation partners Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten online, on Wednesday, 23 August on Microsoft Teams.


    Inclusive Futures Reimagining Disability Inclusive Futures Book Club. A conversation with authors Dr Marita Heck (author of Secret Forces) and conversation partners Lisa Cox and Chantelle Otten. The image includes a colour photo of Chantelle, a young attractive brunette woman wearing a low-cut spaghetti strap dress and Lisa a young blonde woman with curled long hair wearing a black blazer and blue top. The Griffith University logo (red) features in the bottom right hand corner.
    It is a human right to experience positive     #SexualHealth and wellbeing, yet it is a topic that is often neglected and ignored. Please join us (via our online recording) for an open, honest discussion about challenges experienced by #PeopleWithDisability and how we can increase awareness, education and support.

    Dr Marita Heck (PhD, Master of Midwifery, Bachelor of Nursing Science) is an Adjunct Research Fellow with     The Hopkins Centre, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Dr Heck is further a member of the Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures task force. In this space, Dr Heck is leading a consumer-led multidisciplinary research project in collaboration with five Australian universities promoting holistic sexual health support for people living with a spinal cord injury.

    In addition, Dr Heck conducts research into supporting women living with an SCI in pre-pregnancy, antenatal, birth and postnatal support. Dr Heck is further a very experienced     #clinician working with people living with a disability in the sexuality and fertility, and antenatal, birth and postnatal period in the Australian community. Besides her work in the research and the clinical setting, Dr Heck is a vivid romance novel author and published her first suspense romance novel Secret Forces in 2020.

    Lisa Cox is an Internationally awarded thought leader,     TEDx speaker, #authorand consultant who is working with business, government, Griffith University and others to help create solutions and change social attitudes towards disability. Her work has been recognised around the globe and featured in media like FOX, NBC News, Huffington Post, Smart Company, Vogue and AdNews Australia.

    Chantelle Otten is a Melbourne based Psycho-Sexologist who is passionate about empowering people to feel great about their sexual health, self-esteem, communication and education. With a background in scientific research, sexual medicine, and counselling, she believes that sexuality and self-esteem are an integral part of life, which everyone is entitled to. Good sexual health should always be enjoyable, pain free and without prejudice.

    For those who missed the event, you can access the recording here https://youtu.be/11DP3nz_Tn4 - A full and accessible transcript can be provided upon request.

    For more information about the author Dr. Marita Heck:
    https://www.amazon.com.au/Secret-Forces-Marita-Heck-ebook/dp/B08KTSLM2G

    https://www.sexpositivecommunity.com/


    For more information about Lisa Cox:

    https://lisacox.co/

    https://www.instagram.com/lisacox.co/


    For more information about Chantelle Otten:

    https://chantelleotten.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/chantelle_otten_sexologist/

    If you would like to stay up to date with upcoming events and join the Inclusive Futures book club community, you can join up here: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/inclusive-futures-book-club?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab


    If you have any questions or would like a copy of the transcript, please do not hesitate to contact the team at inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au.