Abstract
This work tested an ‘Intentional invitation’ mechanism to facilitate social integration in a small scale setting.
Working with community organisations to design inclusive environments, we identified and addressed specific barriers to social inclusion and designed a series of interventions to foster engagement, from early intervention to in-situ encounters during creative community pop-up events. Intentional invitations proved effective in facilitating the engagement of disabled people. This in turn allowed for authentic interactions between disabled and mainstream participants to unfold in a community setting.
Data collected via participant observation and interviews reveal new perspectives about disability and experiences of togetherness. The implications of the research point to possible changes inp professional practice that would encompass Intentional invitation mechanisms. The latter would in turn facilitate engagement with disabled people with potential societal gain within our communities.