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.