Capacity, Communication and Co-regulation
Capacity, Communication and Co-regulation
This interactive session explores behaviour as communication, drawing on the principle that children do well when they can (Dr Ross Greene). Grounded in the conference theme of Together Against Loneliness, we will discuss how reduced confidence in responding to expressions of distress can lead to families becoming more isolated and withdrawing from community connections.
The session will cover three key areas — Capacity, Communication and Co-regulation — and will be relevant to both whānau and professionals supporting people with Down syndrome. We will explore how to recognise early signs of distress, blocks that may arise from experience of overwhelm or communication differences, and co-regulation as a foundational skill. We will also give a brief overview of Explore’s behaviour support services and how to access them.
Presenters
Carolyn Stobbs
Behaviour Support
Explore Hāpainga Ora
Janieke de Graaf
Behaviour Support / Registered Nurse
Explore Hāpainga Ora
Biographies
Carolyn Stobbs has worked for Explore for just over two years, and has a background working in disability through education and advocacy. In a previous role, she worked with the Down Syndrome Association alongside the STRIVE Group. Carolyn is a strong advocate for people having a voice and genuine choice in their own lives and is particularly passionate about supported decision-making — ensuring people are well supported to make authentic choices about what matters to them.
Janieke de Graaf works in Behaviour Support at Explore Hāpainga Ora and has a background in holistic and integrative health, nursing and nurse prescribing in general practice, homeopathy, and supervision. She is a mother of two neurodivergent children and is an ADHDer herself. Janieke particularly enjoys the detective work of understanding what drivers lie behind behavioural expressions, and finding creative, playful ways to work with them — supporting families to find what works for them to thrive.
Theme: Communication and Education
Audience: Parents, professionals and whānau