The University of Sydney

Centre for Disability Studies

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+61-2-9036-3602

+61-2-9036-3613

Sam is an Analytical Psychologist with a background in supporting adults with an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or dual diagnosis in community settings. Sam is a research affiliate and doctoral candidate with the University of Sydney and works as a research fellow with the Centre for Disability Studies. Sam spends most of his time as lead author of the I-CAN, the Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs. Sam also provides counseling and clinical services at the NSW Developmental Disability Health Unit. Sam has a background in developing policy, assessment and health informatics systems, and associated staff training. Sam conducts education about disability studies, sexuality, behaviour of concern, person-centredness and actively supporting people to live in the community. Sam is a closet nerd, and in a previous life worked as a web developer on applications used by companies such as Telstra, NEC and Ford.

Chan, J., Arnold, S. R. C., Webber, L. S., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R., & Stancliffe, R. J. (in press). Behaviour of Concern: Rethinking the term 'challenging behaviour'. Learning Disability Practice.

Arnold, S. R. C., & Forbes, R. (2011). I-CAN: A Transdisciplinary supports planning tool. Presented at the 22nd Professional Association of Nurses in Developmental Disability Australia (PANDDA) Conference: Owning Our Practice, Sydney, 3-4th November. Winner of the Inaugural Bob Weaver Award – presentation with most passion and promise.

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2011). Intelligence is as intelligence does: Can additional support needs replace disability? Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 36(4), 258–262.

Arnold, S. R. C. (2010). Is behaviour challenging or of concern? Keynote presentation at the Psychologists working in the field of Developmental Disability (PSYCHDD) 19th Annual Conference, Parramatta, NSW, 26th November. Link to Presentation

Arnold, S. R. C. & Vincent-Pennisi, A. L. (2010). Sex, disability and the DSP: Ethically supporting sexual choices. Impact: Feature issue on sexuality and people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities, 23(2), 20-21. Link to Article

O’Brien, P. M., Pryor, J., Arnold, S. R. C., Harman, A. D., Rivas, M. & Nicholl, B. (2010, September). Innovative support models, housing design and home modification for people with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury: A literature review and environmental scan. Prepared for the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Victoria. Sydney, Australia: Centre for Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney.

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., & Stancliffe, R. J. (2010). The I-CAN: Developing a bio-psycho-social understanding of support. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(5), 486. (Abstract)

Arnold, S. R. C. & Vincent-Pennisi, A. L. (2010). Intelligence is as intelligence does. Presented at Emeritus Professor Trevor Parmenter’s Festschrift: What is Intelligence? What is Intellectual Disability? Sydney, 14th August. Link to Presentation

Arnold, S. R. C. & Riches, V. C. (2009). Supports, empowerment and self-direction: The emerging paradigm in the disability sector. InPsych, 31(6), 16-17. Link to Article

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2009). The I-CAN Workshop: Positively & powerfully assessing support needs. Proceedings of the ASSID 44th Annual Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, 4-6 November 2009, pp. 39-40. Link to Workshop

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2009). I-CAN: Support needed for inclusion and empowerment. IASSID 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference Abstracts, Singapore, 24-27 June. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(2), 93. (Abstract) Link to Presentation

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2009). The I-CAN Workshop: Support, inclusion and empowerment. IASSID 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference Abstracts, Singapore, 24-27 June. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 6(2), 92. (Abstract)

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2009). I-CAN: The science of support needs measurement and it’s application to individual funding. Presented at the Social Enterprise Partnerships National Conference: Self-Directed Support and Personal Budgets, Melbourne, 18-19th March.

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2009). The I-CAN: Using E-Health to get people the support they need. Electronic Journal of Health Informatics, 4(1), e4. Link to Article

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2008). The I-CAN: Using E-Health to get people the support they need. Presented at the Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) Health Informatics Conference: Person in the Centre, Melbourne, 2nd November. Winner of Branko Cesnik Scientific Award - best scientific paper.

Parmenter, T. R. & Arnold, S. R. C. (2008). Disability accommodation and support framework report. Prepared for the Department of Human Services, Victoria. Sydney: Centre for Developmental Disabilities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney. Link to Report

Riches, V. C. Harman, A., Arnold, S. R. C., Stancliffe, R. J., Keen, D. & Pennell, D. (2008). Active Support train-the-trainer project evaluation final report. Prepared for Disability Services Queensland Accommodation Support and Respite Services Directorate (AS&RS). Sydney, Australia: Centre for Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney.

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R., Llewellyn, G., Chan, J. & Hindmarsh, G. (2008). I-CAN: Instrument for the Classification and Assessment of Support Needs, Instruction Manual V4.2. Sydney, Australia: Centre for Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney.

Arnold, S. R. C., Stancliffe, R. J. & Riches, V. C. (2008). The I-CAN: Assessing the support people need. IASSID 13th World Congress Abstracts, Cape Town South Africa, 25-30 August. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(8-9), 672. (Abstract)

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2008). The measurement of adaptive behaviour and support needs: An update on the diagnosis of intellectual disability and the I-CAN. Presented at the Psychologists working in the field of Developmental Disability (PSYCHDD) 17th Annual Conference, Parramatta, NSW, 28th November.

Arnold, S. R. C., Riches, V. C., Parmenter, T. R. & Stancliffe, R. J. (2008). The I-CAN: Assessing the support people need to live in the community. Presented at the National Disability Services (NDS) Accommodation and Social Participation Conference, Sydney, 25-26th September. Link to Presentation

Arnold, S. R. C. (2008). The I-CAN: Closing the gap. Presented at the National Disability Services (NDS) NSW Annual State Conference, Sydney, 19th February.

Arnold, S. R. C. (2007). The I-CAN: Empower people with the right support. Presented at the Psychologists working in the field of Developmental Disability (PSYCHDD) 16th Annual Conference, Parramatta, NSW, 23rd November.

Arnold, S. R. C. & Riches, V. C. (2008). The I-CAN: The right support empowers people. 42nd Annual ASSID Conference Abstracts, Fremantle, Western Australia, 5-8 November 2007. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 33(3), 278. (Abstract)

Arnold, S. R. C. & Riches, V. C. (2007). I-CAN with the right active support. Presented at the Department of Aging Disability and Home Care (DADHC) Metro North Psychologist's Symposium, Parramatta, NSW, 2nd May.

Arnold, S. R. C. & Robinson, T. (2006). The in-house development of health documentation and procedures. Presented at the Centre for Developmental Disability Studies’ Right to Right Health Care Conference, Sydney, NSW, 16-17th November.

Arnold, S. R. C. (2006). A Case study of borderline personality disorder complicated by intellectual disability and misdiagnosis. Presented at the Centre for Developmental Disability Studies’ Right to Right Health Care Conference, Sydney, NSW, 16-17th November.