We all need people in our lives

Friendships.
Being known.
Being part of community.

For many people with intellectual disability, this is still missing.

Many people and organisations are committed to inclusion — but often struggle with how to really make it happen.

While some people are getting connected, those who are most isolated are often still missing out.

About the workshop

How do we support real friendships to happen?

This is a practical, one-day workshop focused on building connections with people with intellectual disability and community members.

Being part of community means having relationships, connection, and a sense of belonging.
But knowing this — and knowing how to make it happen — are two different things.

This workshop brings together stories, strategies, and real examples to show what works.

Participants will leave with clear, practical ideas to try.

What you will learn

Practical strategies to support friendships and community connection
How to identify a person’s interests, strengths and gifts
Ways to connect people with community members and groups
The role of staff and others as community connectors
How to support relationships to grow and last over time

Who should come

Anyone wanting practical strategies to support friendships and community connections for people with intellectual disability.

Community members
Be part of real relationships — and learn how to be an ally in your community

Service providers, support workers, support coordinators
Build practical skills to support real connection — not just activities

NDIS Planners and Local Area Coordinators (LACs)
Understand what it takes to support inclusion beyond funded supports – and how this can influence planning and outcomes

Government staff
You help shape the places where community happens — learn practical ways to support connection, inclusion, and belonging in everyday community life

Leaders and managers
Shape practice and systems that support relationships and belonging

People with intellectual disability and family members
Explore ways to build friendships, networks and community life

Researchers and Academics
Hear Dr Amado’s concrete strategies and local examples to share with students and inform your research.

If you know someone who would like to come but cannot register online, please email us at info@sidebysideadvocacy.org.au and we will organise registration by hardcopy.

About Dr Angela Amado

Angela Amado has over 40 years’ experience supporting people with intellectual disability to build real relationships and connections in community.

Her experience spans research, direct support, policy, and international consulting. She was previously based at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration and is the Executive Director of the Human Services Research and Development Center.

She is internationally recognised for her work on inclusion, community membership, and building relationships, including her widely used publications on friendships. She has delivered training across the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.

If you’d like a sense of Angela’s practical approach, this short guide is a great place to start:
Friends: Connecting people with disabilities and community members

Event details

18 June 2026
Parramatta Town Hall
Full day: 9.30am – 4.00pm

Information about how to access the venue and about local parking will be shared with ticketholders before the event.

$80 professionals
$40 people with disability, family members, advocates and community members
Free for Social Connectors and people connected to our Community For Everyone project

Fee exemptions are available on request

Cost includes lunch and refreshments

Follow-up opportunity

This work takes time. Real relationships do not happen in a day — they grow through showing up, trying things, and learning along the way.

Participants will have the option to join a live online follow-up session with Dr Angela Amado approximately 6 weeks after the workshop.

This session will take place while Angela is back in her home community in Phoenix, USA.

It will be an opportunity to:

share what you have tried since the workshop
reflect on what has worked and what has been challenging
deepen your learning with further guidance from Angela
stay connected with others putting this into practice

The follow-up session is optional and offered as a separate, paid opportunity.
Further details and registration information will be shared with participants after the workshop.

Looking ahead

Following Angela’s online session, we will be inviting people to be part of an ongoing Community of Practice.

This will be a space for people across Australia who are committed to this work to:

stay connected
continue learning from each other
share stories, challenges, and ideas
support each other to keep going over time

More information about how to be involved will be shared after the workshop.

🤝 Hosted by

Side By Side Advocacy and Hunter Circles

Part of the Community for Everyone project — working one person at a time to support connection, belonging, and community life.

Hunter Circles is hosting the same event in Newcastle on 16 June. For more information, please go to their website: Connecting with Community – a workshop with Dr Angela Amado – Hunter Circles

Contact the host of Connecting with Community with Angela Amado