Although our stone may disappear, the ripples extend to the oceans Enhancing faculty engagement to achieve equity for disabled students Presented by Alexandra Smith Contributors Rachel Anderson Smith & Ava Gibson

Collaborative inquiry Making it work for us and Faculty Learning from each others practice Working out a similar objective - enhancing inclusive practice - encouraging student achievement Faculty Engagement: What is it?

New Zealand Code of Practice for an Inclusive Tertiary Education Environment Tool to assist TEIS create greater inclusion for disabled students Provides principles, best practice guidelines, and legislative framework Endorsed by TEC as the guideline for TEIs to use in providing support for students with impairments Victoria University has a commitment to its implementation. First step, an audit Kia Orite: Catalyst for Change

Teaching and Learning Faculty of Education Disability Liaison Person Finding a place to begin

To inform the audit Reach a wider audience To give solidity to our findings To encourage further debate and discussion Research as a tool

Creates a powerful platform for change Discovers the best of what is Every persons story is of value Draws on the traditions of narrative, strength based and solutions focused therapy, positive psychology, and social constructivism Brings the themes together, builds collaboration and shared vision Energises and inspires Choosing Appreciative Inquiry

Provide recent examples of good teaching and learning practice Gather qualitative data about successful inclusion strategies to inform practice Contribute to international and local research on students with impairments Objectives

Meetings and discussion Developing questions and research proposal, ethics Planning and practice – focus groups trial Running focus groups Review and writing up Research Process

Being aware of our assumptions What do we mean by inclusive practice and does it fit with research? Flexibility in the focus groups. Both groups bring different things to the table Challenges of Research and Practice

Joys … –Fun, laughter, sharing –Stimulating, greater opportunity for learning –Encouraging, shares the work load –Expands into other areas and interests Working Collaboratively

Challenges …. –Different expectations –Different experiences and philosophies –Working through disagreements –Achieving multiple outcomes, research agenda, vs audit, vs structural & cultural change –Deadlines & time commitments –Changes in membership –Managing the writing Working Collaboratively

Learnings… –Clarify expectations and commitments at the beginning –Review expectations and commitments as it progresses –Need to articulate assumptions and beliefs –If you throw a stone, there will be ripples –You can’t control where the ripples go Working Collaboratively

Highlighted Kia Orite in School of Education. Topic on agenda at staff meetings e.g. assessment and curriculum material More accurate information on DSS processes Greater Liaison with DSS by Faculty Administrators Qualitative findings and report Collaborated on paper and research What we have achieved

Future papers are in the planning stages to contribute to the research in the area of tertiary inclusion for Students with Disabilities Led us to thinking more about how we are working to support students How might this process work in your organisation? Future ripples for us

Enhancing faculty engagement to achieve equity for disabled students Thank You