Diversity & Inclusion
Online Conference Showcases Disability Inclusion
Throughout July & August, a series of eight online sessions are being held to consider how we can make Scouting more inclusive for all the communities that we serve. In one session, we showcase Seth on how Scouting can include all abilities.
In many ways, Seth Leggatt is a typical Scout. As a Cub Scout he enjoyed camping, developing outdoors skills such as lighting a fire and playing games with his peers. He then continued his adventure into Scouts, where he has attended both AJ2019 and NZJ2020. The one difference is that Seth is totally blind and uses a white cane to get around.
Seth’s journey is one of four case studies that were showcased in the opening session of the Disability Inclusion Conference on 28 July 2020. The aim of this Conference was to help give adult leaders the skills and confidence to enable participation of all young people in Scouting, whatever their abilities.
Seth joined the Normanhurst Scout Group in NSW in 2017. The Group took a range of steps to help ensure Seth could participate alongside his peers. They had a guest speaker explain how to interact with and lead a person with vision impairment and how to help him learn to do things by himself. They also modified games (by getting a ball with bells in it for example) and ensuring he had a buddy on camps.
Seth’s journey is a prime example of what can happen when adult leaders, youth and families work together to ensure meaningful inclusion. The Disability Inclusion Conference continues until 8th August.
