Unpicking the Discourses of Disability in everyday practice - Live Webinar

Live Webinar Wednesday 3rd December 2025 6.30pm-8.30pm

An image speaks a thousand words: Unpicking the Discourses of Disability in everyday practice.

This live webinar will address the dominant discourses of disability and what each might look like in practice. We will unpack the history of disability and expose the ways in which the past, shapes our future. We tease out some of the misconceptions about disability culture today and finally, we will talk about the ways we can become change agents in our community using a rights-based approach.

This workshop is for anyone in education, social work, or whānau member, grandparent, kaiako who has an interest in disability advocacy and wants to know more about inclusive practices while becoming a change agent in their local community. It is always helpful If you want a safe space to talk about disability issues, unsure of what is politically correct these days, or are curious to learn more about disability and inclusion in general please do join us.

In this PLD webinar you will:

• Develop an understanding of the language of disability and how attitudes can shape and position disabled communities.
• Reflect on the dominant discourses of disability and what each can mean in practice for example: in a centre, school or in the community. Foster ways to become change agents in one’s community.

Presenter

Ashlie Brink, Lecturer | Kaiako, Te Rito Maioha

Ashlie is a lecturer in the Bachelor of Education programme which examines education through a social justice, bicultural and equitable lens for learners from birth-to-18- years-old. Her two passions are centred around Human Development and Disability and Inclusive practices across sectors and disciplines. She is based in Kirikiriroa and ‘walks her talk’ when it comes to advocating for people with disabilities, minority groups, marginalised and disenfranchised peoples from a rights-based perspective.

Ashlie has a Masters in Special Education and has been involved in early childhood, primary and tertiary education for approximately 20 years. Her Doctoral research explores the ways in which children construct, navigate their social worlds in the classroom in order to construct their sense of belonging.