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less powerful than showing them a video that gets people to engage with their own emotions about the issue. In a rather circuitous example, I have been introducing Video Interaction Guidance (www.videointeractionguidance. net) to professionals in Australia, a practice using video to reflect and enhance good interactions. I can send out all the research evidence and talk about projects abroad, but it is seeing videos of people involved in the practice that has drawn people in far more than anything else. 6 The humility to take time to understand the perspectives of others Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , talks about the need to seek first to understand and then to be understood. He says, “We typically seek first to be understood. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They’re either speaking or preparing to speak”. Empathic listening involves a shift to really listening to the other first. In lobbying for any change, it is helpful to have a good understanding of the people to whom you are talking. It is not just about having a distant understanding, but taking it to the next step. Letting the person know that you are trying to understand is important, particularly when you do not necessarily agree with their opinions. Policy-makers and service deliverers have many competing demands and life experiences that affect the decisions they make. Take time to understand these and then share your perspective. 7 Resources on rights There are many resources on human rights. It is helpful to have an understanding of both local and international rights’ discussions. Victorians should know about the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006. Australians should know about UNESCAP’s work looking at Disability Policy in the Asia and Pacific regions (http://www.unescap. org). Importantly, we should also know about: • The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our- work/disability-rights/international/disability-rights- international-convention-human-rights-and). Jo Watson’s work on Listening to Those Rarely Heard has been an important example of showing the Convention in practice for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (http://www.scopevic.org.au/index.php/site/ resources/listeningtothoserarelyheard). 8 Speech Pathology Australia I have been a member of Speech Pathology Australia for many years. As a speech pathologist supporting adults with

disabilities, I have been very pleased with Speech Pathology Australia’s increasing involvement in the disability sector. The Facebook Speech Pathology Australia Disability group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPADisability) has been particularly useful for knowing how members and the association can work together to support people with disabilities. This is a great resource for promoting change. 9 A safe environment for debate and discussion Trying to force people to take on your opinion does not work. People need to be in environments where they can discuss and debate contentious issues. Condescension and ridicule are not helpful for changing opinions. For many years I have worked on something called HOP: The Hanging Out Program (available via http://cddh. monash.org/assets/documents/hop-a4iso-1.pdf). The idea of HOP is very simple: just spend 10 minutes with someone giving them 100% of your attention. The real benefit of HOP is, however, the opportunity to discuss the issues that might act as barriers to this seemingly simple task of being with someone. In HOP workshops, I try create an environment where people can discuss issues. For example, How do you interact with someone who smells? Can you use touch in interactions? What do you do if someone pushes you away? There is no one right answer to these questions. They are issues of ethics that need to be discussed and explored. Without discussion, issues like these can operate as permanent barriers to interaction. 10 Lunch and a cuppa If you are looking to influence service provision, taking time to have lunch and a cuppa with people is important. When I worked for a government department many years ago, I found huge value in going out having lunch at different day services. The value came from many directions: my own well-being in being connected to what was important to me (the people), the service providers could see that I had integrity in my work (I didn’t just talk about interaction; I did it), and the people that I served were able to get to know me, and me them. Correspondence to: Dr Sheridan Forster Speech Pathologist, Private Practitioner (Attentive Engagement), and Researcher 74 Karingal Drive, Eltham, North Victoria 3095 phone: 0405 190 509 email: sheri@sheridanforster.com.au

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JCPSLP Volume 16, Number 2 2014

Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology