(25) Community Inclusion

From social programs to social change: building a welcoming community.

Keenan Wellar, MA and Julie Kingstone, MEd LiveWorkPlay (Ottawa, Canada)

From 2008-2010, the LiveWorkPlay charitable organization engaged in a successful process of “de-programming” by making a shift from congregated programs to authentic community-based supports and outcomes based on flexible and individualized person-centered planning. They have been living this new way of being for the past three years and will share what they have learned, with a particular focus on life-changing outcomes for individuals who have an intellectual disability, as well as partnerships with citizens and organizations in support of a more inclusive community.

15,000

It always seems impossible

until its done.

Nelson Mandela

100 MINUTES

PLEASE NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE NOTES FROM SLIDES OR SOURCES CITED, WE ARE

MAKING THE PRESENTATION AND SOURCES AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:

http://liveworkplay.ca/YAI

AGENDA

Introduction: Neurodiversity & Belief

Background: About Us

LiveWorkPlay Background: The Early Years The Program Years De-Programming (Why Change?)

Being The Change: Person-Centered & Community-Based

Tools & Tips: Keeping Our Focus & Never Standing Still

Communications: How Sharing The Day To Day Is Building A Movement

Conclusion: Questions & Follow-Up

NEURODIVERSITY

The acceptance and embrace of people with cognitive differences is an idea whose time has come. The sudden prominence of this term is an indication of how rapidly our field is evolving and how dramatically parents and practitioners are shaping the public dialogue. What these change agents have in common is a determination to open minds long closed to the potentials and possibilities of people once dismissed because of their differentness.

Remediating Accommodating Valuing

CONTEXT Country: Canada (population 35 million) Province: Ontario (13 million) City: Ottawa (820,000) 7.5 hours north of NYC 60% Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, our total annual budget $1 million (by budget we are one of the smaller of 16 agencies in Ottawa) Serving between 80-100 individuals per year 11 full-time staff (some casual and part-time staff) 120 volunteers not including contributions of family of the people we support (members) 30+ employment partners (employers who have hired at least one of our members) 30+ community partners (United Way, Rotary, YMCA, non-profit housing, etc.) Why 16 different agencies in a city of 820,000 it’s a strange history that has to do with different disability populations and other factors but why LiveWorkPlay exists has to do with dissatisfaction with the systems approach taken by most of those 16 agencies.

JUST WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

1998

2007

2013

http://j.mp/ablastfrompast

What Did You Think Of Our Video?

Doing A Wrong Thing Can Be Immensely Popular

Prison of Protection Protect from

Sexual Information

Protect from Society

Protect from Relationships

Protect from Decision-Making

Vulnerable

Person Adapted from:

David Hingsburger

(Google him)

Abuse information:

Dick Sobsey

(Google him)

SCARCITY ABUNDANCE

Not about fixing people with intellectual disabilities so they can be more normal

and fit in with others

Exclusion is everyone’s issue and as a community we must

all work together to be welcoming and inclusive

Social Services Approach

Social Change Approach

We have learned to appreciate that people considered “different” often bring important contributions to society (e.g. racial differences) and there is lots of work in progress (e.g. sexuality). Neurodiversity is at a very preliminary stage. How many people honestly believe that people with intellectual disabilities truly BELONG (and will take action to back up that thought?).

“Some things have to be believed to be seen.” ― Madeleine L'Engle (A Wrinkle In Time)

When Dan Heath and his brother Chip started their research for their best-seller Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard , the two of the most common comments they heard about change were:

“Change is hard.”

“I hate change.” 18

We Are Family

(Medical Model)

Social Services (Community Model)

Social Change

Decisions = Paid Staff and/or Family Education = Day Program/Special Ed Recreation = Segregated Program Employment = Sheltered Work Home = Institutional Setting Relationships = Paid Staff and/or Family

Decisions = Self-Directed Education = Inclusive Classrooms (All Ages) Recreation = Playing In Community (With Others) Employment = Work/Volunteerism (With Others) Home = House/Condo/Apartment Relationships = Family, Friends, Neighbours Unpaid Support, Paid Support

TRANSFORMATION

A Transformative Journey

Thank you for choosing Acme Support Services, where we proudly facilitate individual independence through person-centered planning!

Now, let me start by outlining the list of fixed choices available to you!

MORE

Family Friends

Colleagues Co-Workers Classmates Neighbours

Spouse

ONLY AS NEEDED

Workers Staff

Doctor Psychologist Psychiatrist

Social Worker

HOW TO SUPPORT INCREASED SOCIAL CAPITAL FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

An institution is any place in which people who have been labeled as having an intellectual disability are isolated, segregated and/or congregated. An institution is any place in which people do not have, or are not allowed to exercise, control over their lives and their day to day decisions. An institution is not defined merely by its size. Task force on De-Institutionalization

Found guilty of a crime Against society

Found guilty of

having an intellectual disability

Overall, the findings suggest that across datasets, people with IDD experience greater levels of unemployment, underemployment, low wages, and poverty compared to those without disabilities.

Beyond the moral and ethical issues involved, how can we continue to fund segregated programs with government funds (tax dollars) when federal and state laws (ADA, IDEA, Rehab Act, and more) mandate non-discrimination, least restrictive environment, and other basis tenets which promote inclusion, equal access, and more? - Kathy Snow, disabilityisnatural.com

“I WANT TO WORK”

“THIS IS TUESDAY NIGHT LEAGUE BOWLING. PLEASE COME BACK ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND SIGN UP FOR SPECIAL NEEDS BOWLING.”

BUT I’VE GOT A 180 AVERAGE!

Play collage

NO DAY PROGRAM?

WHAT WILL

THEY DO TO FILL THEIR TIME?

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.

Core value: people with intellectual (developmental) disabilities are valuable contributors to community diversity and the human family.

Do staff want to perform like stars? Sure! But we don’t want to be your world.

(Google Dave Hingsburger)

“Ottawa's Race Weekend (May 28th - 29th) is a popular event each year (http://www.ncm.ca/). Andrea and I are interested in

training with a team of LiveWorkPlay members to participate in this fun event - either by walking or jogging the 2K, 5K, 10K, or half marathon.”

“I never thought from this I’d make such a good friend that I send texts to all day every day!”

“Agencies trying to create and sustain person-centred services

based in the community are spectacularly more successful

at it than those agencies who believe it is impossible and refuse to try.”

(Modified quote fromDr. Michael Kendrick)

35

36

Some of what happened - by trying!

The best Insurance

for the future is a

Robust network

The Day Program?

THAT WAS EASY?

A robust network of welcoming people and places that includes a home, a job, friends, and enjoyable things to do in the community?

For EACH and EVERY person we support?

HARD!

But it’s supposed to be about doing what is right, not what is easy…

Progressing Towards the Mission?

Vision

A Community Where Everyone Belongs

Mission

Helping the community welcome people with

intellectual disabilities to live, work, and play as

valued citizens

Impact

Increase in levels of social

capital

Increase in levels of presence

to contribution in community

activities

Increased personal income

LIVE

WORK

PLAY

RELATIONSHIPS

Success rates implementing

support plans Decreased reliance on ODSP

Impact on employers,

community venues, and

neighbourhoods

# 1:1 Matches Average Length 1:1 Match

# members active in

community venues # venues

# gatekeepers developed

# members employed

# employers

# new employers

# gatekeepers developed # total affordable homes

# housing partnerships # members supported

# gatekeepers developed

# Friendships # Fri Night Volunteers

Citizenship reviews

# Friday night activities

Satisfaction questionnaires

Values

CORE: People with intellectual disabilities are valuable contributors to the diversity of our community and the human family.

LIVE, WORK, PLAY

With respect to:

homes, health care, education, personal dignity, and personal privacy

paid work at minimum wage or better, short-term unpaid work, and volunteer positions

cultural and spiritual life, sports and recreation, political life, and the full range of human relationship

People with intellectual disabilities have the right to the removal of barriers preventing them from experiencing the community on an equal basis with other citizens.

MEMBER

SATISFACTION

Outcomes Are we progressing towards the mission?

youtube.com/liveworkplayvideo

PLEASE NOTE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE NOTES FROM SLIDES OR SOURCES CITED, WE ARE

MAKING THE PRESENTATION AND SOURCES AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:

http://liveworkplay.ca/YAI