Friendship as a bridge from loneliness to connection
Friendship as a bridge from loneliness to connection
Self-advocates with Down syndrome explore friendships
Friendship is a universal human experience that plays a significant role in shaping individual well-being, social inclusion, and our sense of belonging. Research consistently shows that friendship is among the most meaningful interpersonal relationships people form, contributing to connection, belonging, and life satisfaction.
This presentation shares findings from a research project in which self-advocates with Down syndrome and activist researchers worked together as co-researchers to explore friendship formation and experiences. The research highlights what people with Down syndrome value in a friend, the importance of friendship in their lives, and the barriers they encounter in maintaining friendships. Importantly, the project centres the voices and lived experiences of people with Down syndrome, with self-advocates taking an active role in interviewing their peers and bringing their perspectives into the research process. In doing so, the project demonstrates the value of inclusive research, where people with lived experience are not only participants but also actively contribute to creating knowledge about issues that directly affect their lives.
Presenters
STRIVE members and Dr Franco Vaccarino
Biographies
Erin Smith is a founding member of STRIVE, the NZDSA self- advocacy and leadership and advisory group.
Andrew Oswin is a founding member of STRIVE, now a founding member of STEP-UP and currently the New Zealand representative on the Down Syndrome International Ambassador programme.
Dr Franco Vaccarino is a researcher specialising in intercultural communication and has been involved in several international collaborative research projects. He is also passionate about inclusive research, in which people with learning disabilities are actively involved as co-designers and co-researchers in research that concerns their lives and experiences.
As an activist researcher, Franco seeks to challenge traditional power relationships between researchers and people with learning disabilities by supporting them to become active contributors, leaders and producers of knowledge. Emerging research paradigms, models and methodologies have increasingly opened the research process to people with learning disabilities, recognising the value of their lived experience and expertise.
For Franco, inclusive research means conducting research with and by people with learning disabilities, rather than simply conducting research about them. It therefore places their voices, experiences and active participation at the centre of the research process.
Theme: Friendship
Audience: All welcome