Adam's journey in Reseach and Innovation
Post Created: 20 November 2024
Adam joined Onemda's Research & Innovation Team in 2023 as a lived-experience researcher, bringing a unique perspective to the Silos project. Funded by the NDIS ILC grants program and supported by Australian Catholic University, the Silos project supports young students with disability by helping them secure school-based apprenticeships, paving the way to meaningful employment much earlier than traditional post-school approaches.
In a recent conversation with Janice O’Connor, Onemda’s Research & Innovation Manager, Adam shared why his lived experience as a researcher holds vital importance for the Silos project. Adam emphasised that having direct experience allows him to connect on a deeper level with the challenges and aspirations of the students the project serves. This connection informs his approach to research, ensuring it’s grounded in the real-world needs of young people with disability. His insights offer invaluable authenticity to the project’s goal of creating inclusive employment pathways from a young age.
What is a lived experience researcher?
Someone who is researching in a field where they have lived experience. My lived experience is in disability – my area of expertise and interest is in the treatment and experiences of people with a disability.
Why is it important?
I am an advocate for the equality of opportunities for people with a disability to be involved in all aspects of community life and work. People with disabilities need to be seen and heard, need to breakdown stigmas and create opportunities for people with disability. Roles like these are important as they are inclusive of people with disability. It is important that these roles are paid, as they are important. Roles like these help promote the human rights of persons with a disability
What project are you working on?
Silos is helping young people get meaningful employment while they are transitioning from school to the workforce.
Why is it important to have a lived experience researcher on a project like Silos?
I can add my lived experience to the project. I have skills and experiences that are different from the rest of the project team, and they are important. I also remember what it was like for me coming out of high school, moving into work. I have experience of being employed in a shelter workshop after I finished that wasn’t right for me and some of my other co-workers. I wanted working opportunities better suited to my skills and interests, that were non-existent.
What is it you do on the project?
I work alongside Janice, and we go through the different ideas and data and how best to present that to people. I help create content for workshops. I help to create things into easy to read and understand documents.
What is my superpower?
Using condensed language to get the message across. Using 10 words to get a key message across rather than 100. This is important as most people who prefer to read 1 or 2 pages rather than 100. For people with intellectual disability this is important as too much information is hard to absorb. Everyone has the right to information. If you don’t know what is out there, you don’t know what help and support you can get.
What is it you hope to achieve?
Advocating for equality of opportunity for people with disability. Advocating for human rights. Building awareness of various disabilities. Trying to build awareness so there is more understanding and inclusion of people with disability.
What is your dream job?
I don’t know what this is yet, but I know it would involve advocating not only for people with disability but people on the fringes of society. I am passionate about the equal rights of all people.
We look forward to hearing from Adam in the future and learning about the impact of his contributions to the Silos project in helping young people with disability gain sustainable employment.
