Thread by @PWDAustralia

Good morning everyone!

It's day 2 of the Disability Royal Commission into "the use of psychotropic medication, behaviour support and behaviours of concern". We'll be live tweeting from here again today using the hashtag #DisabilityRC

We heard some harrowing testimony yesterday and we encourage everyone to look after yourselves as we go through this together.

We invite you to follow along on the journey with us, but also remember you can temporarily mute the hashtag or a thread if you need to. #DisabilityRC

@FrancesPWDA will be live tweeting for us from her account this morning. Check out the thread here:

#DisabilityRC

@VMIAC are also continuing with their coverage of the hearing here:

#DisabilityRC

For anyone who wants to watch the livestream, you can find it here: disability.royalcommission.gov.au

#DisabilityRC

We're back from the break, going to Brisbane. The next witness is Joyce-Lyn Smith, interviewed by Ms Zerner. Ms Smith is the Clinic Director of PoDDSS (Professional Disability Development Supports & Services). We're going to be talking about support plans. #DisabilityRC

"Positive behaviour support" plans specifically. The language here is already ableist, focussing on our behaviour rather than our environments. #DisabilityRC

Ms Zerner says we have heard a theme today that behaviour support plans are the gateway to use of chemical restraint.

We're talking about the different definitions in "chemical restraint" between NDIS and Queensland, creating confusion with reports from doctors.

#DisabilityRC

Ms Smith is describing the process of spending time with a person with a disability in different setting over time in order to set up a behaviour support plan. #DisabilityRC

Focus on "person centred approach" talking to many of the "stakeholders" including family, support workers, allied health ... #DisabilityRC

Talking about proactive and reactive strategies to manage "behaviours of concern". Talking about giving support workers strategies to use language in ways to avoid upset. #DisabilityRC

The language here is concerning. One moment we're talking about improving quality of life for the PWD (good), the next we are talking about reducing "displays" of "concerning behaviour". #DisabilityRC

Talking about data collection now as a way of identifying why particular behaviours are happening. E.g one person had a "behaviour of concern" at a similar time every Wednesday ...

Turned out the support workers on at that time were consistently having conversations that were upsetting to the PWD that were being overheard. #DisabilityRC

Ms Smith is talking about a case where a person centred behaviour support plan was effective. The general theme is that figuring out *why* people are behaving as they do, and actually talking about that with support workers is helpful. #DisabilityRC

An anger management program was helpful in another case. EMDR therapy is also identified as one option to support people who have been impacted by trauma. #DisabilityRC

The focus now is on effectively reducing the need for psychotropic medication as a restraint. We are still qualifying with "reduce the need", implying there will inevitably be *some* need for chemical restraint even with behaviour support plans. #DisabilityRC

Now discussing how behaviour support can help PWD to stay out of the criminal justice system, making effort to support people in their interpersonal relationships in particular. #DisabilityRC

Talking about quality control of behavioural support plans. In Ms Smith's understanding 1 in 5 plans are checked for quality control. #DisabilityRC

Now talking about challenges with regulation. Differences between the NDIS and the Queensland Framework. E.g. regulation that applies to under 18s in the NDIS not under the Queensland Framework #DisabilityRC

One method that may be used to justify use of psychotropic medication under the NDIS regulation is adding a diagnosis so it can be identified as treating a condition rather than a form of chemical restraint. This is very *very* worrying! #DisabilityRC

Post NDIS, more cases of chemical restraint used on children have become apparent, as they are now covered by legislation. Dept. of Child Safety still do not acknowledge use of chemical restraint though. #DisabilityRC

Sackville asks (paraphrasing): Is a behavioural support plan not so much about the PWD's behaviour, as much as the behaviour of the people around them and the environment?

Smith agrees it is. It's about educating the people around the PWD.

#DisabilityRC

Smith confirms that a behaviour support plan is about improving quality of life and reducing the need for restrictive practices including chemical restraints. #DisabilityRC

Adjourning for lunch. Back at 2pm. #DisabilityRC

@gdevera is tweeting for us this afternoon:

And they're done for today! Big thanks to @gdevera @FrancesPWDA and @VMIAC for all their work live tweeting today.

We will leave you with one last thought from VMIAC for the day:

#DisabilityRC

We'll be back at 9:30am tomorrow. #DisabilityRC

Be kind to yourself everyone! We'll see you in the morning.