Making Complex Ordinary

Elaine McTaggart shares lessons in inclusion, advocacy and resilience from 21 years of learning alongside her son.

Making complex ordinary - Meet my Greatest Teacher 'For more than 21 years, I have been learning from someone who has transformed the way I see the world.

He has taught me about inclusion, resilience, diversity, and human rights. He has shown me how to find strength in the face of overwhelming challenges, navigate complex systems, challenge barriers, and create opportunities where none appeared to exist.

He has taught me how to live a "new normal" when surrounded by complexity and uncertainty. Through him, I have encountered obstacles within systems and bureaucracy that I never knew existed, and learned how determination, creativity, and advocacy can overcome them.

The remarkable thing is that my greatest teacher is not a professor, an expert, or a leader.

My greatest teacher is my son.

A young man with additional support needs, whose lessons have reached far beyond me, our family, and our community.

He has taught me to be a better mum, a stronger advocate, and ultimately, a better human being.

Come and spend the evening with me and meet my greatest teacher. '

In this moving, honest, and inspiring talk, you'll hear the story of a family shaped by one young person who became a teacher not just to those closest to him, but to everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Expect laughter, reflection, practical insight, and a fresh perspective on disability, inclusion, resilience, and human potential.

Whether you're a parent, carer, educator, professional, family member, or simply someone interested in building a more inclusive world, this evening is for you.

Join us for a conversation that will stay with you long after you leave.