““Living An Inspiring Life…”Living An Inspiring Life…”BeliefsBeliefsShiftsShifts

FrameworkFrameworkPrinciplesPrinciplesActionsActions

Presented by: Gail Fanjoy, Executive Director KFI

1024 Central St., Suite A, Millinocket, ME 04462

gfanjoy@kfimaine.org

On the Road to Regular Lives…On the Road to Regular Lives…Beliefs:Beliefs:

Work in the community (real jobs), Work in the community (real jobs), Be part of the community (use its Be part of the community (use its

resources), resources), Live in the community (apartments or Live in the community (apartments or

homes like anyone else), homes like anyone else), Contribute to the community (give back Contribute to the community (give back

to the community as well as take from to the community as well as take from it).it).

On the Road to Regular lives…On the Road to Regular lives…Beliefs:Beliefs:

As a human service agency, resist As a human service agency, resist the temptation to be the employer, the temptation to be the employer, the landlord, or the sole supporters the landlord, or the sole supporters of people with disabilities. It is a of people with disabilities. It is a formula for disaster.formula for disaster.

Act as an aid to community Act as an aid to community inclusion, not as the barrier to it.inclusion, not as the barrier to it.

On the Road to Regular lives…On the Road to Regular lives…Beliefs:Beliefs:

Change one person at a time. Move into Change one person at a time. Move into the community one person at a time. the community one person at a time. Change services one person at a time.Change services one person at a time.

Abandon the notion of “readiness”, the Abandon the notion of “readiness”, the continuum of services, and the idea continuum of services, and the idea that people need “fixing”.that people need “fixing”.

Assure that there are no double Assure that there are no double standards (services should reflect what standards (services should reflect what you’dyou’d want and need.)want and need.)

On the Road to Regular lives…On the Road to Regular lives…Beliefs:Beliefs:

Scrap groups, programs and Scrap groups, programs and buildings. It only works for buildings. It only works for individuals, around supports for individuals, around supports for individuals in the community.individuals in the community.

Invest in Invest in values trainingvalues training. It is the . It is the most important investment you can most important investment you can make.make.

On the Road to Regular lives…On the Road to Regular lives…Beliefs:Beliefs:

Listen to the gurus.Listen to the gurus. Talk about dreams – the person Talk about dreams – the person

supported and yours; set your goals supported and yours; set your goals high.high.

Work in a state of positive Work in a state of positive discontent. Celebrate discontent. Celebrate accomplishments, but know that accomplishments, but know that there are always betters ways.there are always betters ways.

“Nothing is less productive than to make

more efficient what should not be done at all.”

Peter DruckerPeter Drucker

FromFrom ToTo

1. Business as 1. Business as usualusual

Making the vision Making the vision workwork

2. Sheltered work2. Sheltered work Real jobsReal jobs

3. Artificial 3. Artificial training in artificial training in artificial environmentsenvironments

Real skills Real skills acquired in real acquired in real environments environments (home & (home & community)community)

4. Programs for 4. Programs for groupsgroups

Supports for Supports for individualsindividuals

On the Road to Regular Lives…On the Road to Regular Lives…

SHIFTS IN SERVICES

FromFrom ToTo

5. Training 5. Training curriculumcurriculum

Supporting valued Supporting valued role around person role around person centered servicescentered services

6. Foster, group, 6. Foster, group, boarding, ICF’s, boarding, ICF’s, anything anything controlled by an controlled by an agencyagency

The person’s own The person’s own homehome

7. Wait until 7. Wait until THEYTHEY fix the funding, fix the funding, find more money, find more money, etc.etc.

Doing what’s right Doing what’s right and figuring out and figuring out the money as we the money as we go alonggo along

““None of us makes our life alone We each rely on None of us makes our life alone We each rely on a variety of formal and informal resources to a variety of formal and informal resources to create better life experiences.”create better life experiences.”

John O’Brien, John O’Brien, A GuideA Guide to Lifestyle Planning to Lifestyle Planning

5 Essential Areas of 5 Essential Areas of Accomplishment:Accomplishment:

Community PresenceCommunity Presence ChoiceChoice CompetenceCompetence RespectRespect Community ParticipationCommunity Participation

Community PresenceCommunity PresenceThe sharing of ordinary places The sharing of ordinary places

that define community life.that define community life.

Grocery storesGrocery stores Clothing storesClothing stores BanksBanks RestaurantsRestaurants LibrariesLibraries Hairdressers/barbersHairdressers/barbers Recreational facilitiesRecreational facilities

ChoiceChoiceThe experience of autonomy both The experience of autonomy both in small, everyday matters and in in small, everyday matters and in

large, life-defining matters.large, life-defining matters. what to wearwhat to wear what to buy for grocerieswhat to buy for groceries what to eat for mealswhat to eat for meals with whom to spend timewith whom to spend time personal possessionspersonal possessions what to do for workwhat to do for work if or how one worshipsif or how one worships

CompetenceCompetence

The opportunity to perform functional The opportunity to perform functional and meaningful activities with and meaningful activities with

whatever level or type of assistance whatever level or type of assistance is required. Without focused effort, is required. Without focused effort,

people with disabilities will be people with disabilities will be deprived of: deprived of:

expectationsexpectations opportunitiesopportunities instructioninstruction assistanceassistance

RespectRespectHaving a valued place among a network of Having a valued place among a network of people and valued roles in community life.people and valued roles in community life.

having a regular job versus working in a having a regular job versus working in a sheltered workshop with only people who are sheltered workshop with only people who are disabled.disabled. having a regular home or apartment in the having a regular home or apartment in the community versus living in a group home or community versus living in a group home or boarding home where only people with boarding home where only people with disabilities live.disabilities live. having opportunities for recreation that are having opportunities for recreation that are not limited to only people with disabilities.not limited to only people with disabilities. having friends and acquaintances that having friends and acquaintances that include people without disabilities.include people without disabilities.

Community ParticipationCommunity ParticipationThe experience of being part of a The experience of being part of a

growing network of personal growing network of personal relationships that includes close friends.relationships that includes close friends. Without focused effort, Without focused effort, people with disabilities will have unusually small people with disabilities will have unusually small social networks whose membership is restricted to social networks whose membership is restricted to clients and staff of the services they use and perhaps clients and staff of the services they use and perhaps immediate family members.immediate family members.

many of the contacts of people with disabilities will many of the contacts of people with disabilities will be impersonal and temporary.be impersonal and temporary.

typical community members will not have the typical community members will not have the chance to meet and get to know people with chance to meet and get to know people with disabilities.disabilities.

Valued activities provide opportunities for people to

meet and develop a variety of relationships with an

increasing number of people.

““It is important for us to It is important for us to remember that we have allowed remember that we have allowed public dollars to become an public dollars to become an instrument of isolation and an instrument of isolation and an artificial barrier between the artificial barrier between the person with a disability and the person with a disability and the wider community.”wider community.”

~ Beyond Managed Care: Self Determination For People With Disabilities by Donald Shumway and Thomas Nerney, September

1996, UNH Institute on Disability/UAP

KFI, 1024 Central St., Millinocket, KFI, 1024 Central St., Millinocket, ME 04462ME 04462

Community Community is is

relationshipsrelationshipsNOT placesplaces

-- the real hurdle-- the real hurdle

Eight Assumptions about the Need Eight Assumptions about the Need for Building Communityfor Building Community

1.1. Everyone needs friends.Everyone needs friends.

2.2. Individuals with disabilities typically Individuals with disabilities typically have few real friends.have few real friends.

3.3. Individuals with disabilities Individuals with disabilities frequently spend most of their time frequently spend most of their time segregated from their communities.segregated from their communities.

4.4. Communities are typically deprived Communities are typically deprived of the participation of individuals of the participation of individuals with disabilities.with disabilities.

5.5. When individuals with disabilities When individuals with disabilities participate in community activities, it is participate in community activities, it is often as part of a group which makes it often as part of a group which makes it difficult for them to connect with difficult for them to connect with others.others.

6.6. The community is a welcoming place, The community is a welcoming place, although our initial attempts to connect although our initial attempts to connect people may not always meet with people may not always meet with success. success.

7.7. Individuals with disabilities will benefit Individuals with disabilities will benefit from developing new friendships and from developing new friendships and connecting with others. They will connecting with others. They will respond with rewards that new respond with rewards that new friendships and community friendships and community opportunities have to offer.opportunities have to offer.

8.8. The community will benefit from the The community will benefit from the gifts and talents that individuals with gifts and talents that individuals with disabilities have to share.disabilities have to share.

Center for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies, University of MaineCenter for Community Inclusion & Disability Studies, University of Maine

Principles of Principles of Connection in the Connection in the

CommunityCommunity

Principle #1: Presence in Principle #1: Presence in the communitythe community

Although obvious, one needs to be in the Although obvious, one needs to be in the community at some point to make community at some point to make connections. Having goals, meetings and connections. Having goals, meetings and documentation does not create the documentation does not create the connections. Being out there, talking connections. Being out there, talking with people, interacting with others and with people, interacting with others and participating in everyday life of the participating in everyday life of the community is what builds connections. community is what builds connections.

Gary taught us that having presence in an Gary taught us that having presence in an area establishment over time could result area establishment over time could result in a lasting friendship and an in a lasting friendship and an unforgettable vacation.unforgettable vacation.

Principles #2: Knowing namesPrinciples #2: Knowing names

When you know someone’s When you know someone’s name, the relationship or name, the relationship or connection switches from the connection switches from the anonymous to the personal. anonymous to the personal.

Robert taught us that when someone knows Robert taught us that when someone knows your name, the relationship switches from your name, the relationship switches from the “anonymous” to the “personal” and the “anonymous” to the “personal” and good things – like paid employment – can good things – like paid employment – can happen!happen!

Principle #3: PersistencePrinciple #3: Persistence

The work is not easy. The work is not easy. Relationships and connections Relationships and connections don’t happen overnight. don’t happen overnight.

Kathy taught us that if we stick with it and Kathy taught us that if we stick with it and allow time and creativity, new friendships allow time and creativity, new friendships can blossom and a new valued roles can can blossom and a new valued roles can emerge.emerge.

Principle #4: Go to Principle #4: Go to Connection Making PlacesConnection Making Places

There are places and events in our communities There are places and events in our communities where people tend to make connections. In where people tend to make connections. In past years people used to hang out at the local past years people used to hang out at the local barber shop, game arcade, church, etc. Every barber shop, game arcade, church, etc. Every time period and every neighborhood seems to time period and every neighborhood seems to have places that act as a natural meeting or have places that act as a natural meeting or gathering place. You may not make gathering place. You may not make connections by taking someone to a movie or connections by taking someone to a movie or shopping. We need to identify where the shopping. We need to identify where the natural gathering places are in our natural gathering places are in our neighborhoods and communities. neighborhoods and communities.

Shirley taught us that identifying a rather unusual Shirley taught us that identifying a rather unusual natural gathering place in her small town could natural gathering place in her small town could open the door to a volunteer job.open the door to a volunteer job.

WHY ARE WE WHY ARE WE WAITINGWAITING??????

THE THE TOP TENTOP TEN ACTIONS YOU, ACTIONS YOU, AS PARENTS, CAN TAKE AS PARENTS, CAN TAKE

TODAY…TODAY…1.1. Ensure your son/daughter is referred Ensure your son/daughter is referred

to Vocational Rehabilitation. They to Vocational Rehabilitation. They have no waiting list!have no waiting list!

2.2. Maintain regular contact with your Maintain regular contact with your son/daughter’s case manager or son/daughter’s case manager or appropriate state agency personnel. appropriate state agency personnel.

3.3. Contact your legislators if you’ve been Contact your legislators if you’ve been told there is no money for services.told there is no money for services.

4.4. Become familiar with the availability Become familiar with the availability of low income housing in your of low income housing in your community. community.

5.5. Brainstorm with your family or talk to Brainstorm with your family or talk to friends and relatives about potential friends and relatives about potential job opportunities for your job opportunities for your son/daughter.son/daughter.

6.6. Create and encourage a “circle of Create and encourage a “circle of friends” for your son/daughter that friends” for your son/daughter that includes people without disabilities.includes people without disabilities.

7.7. Encourage your son/daughter to Encourage your son/daughter to participate in home and community life. participate in home and community life.

8.8. Work on competencies. Make two lists…Work on competencies. Make two lists…

9.9. Become familiar with the services to Become familiar with the services to adults in your area. Is what you have in adults in your area. Is what you have in mind for your son/daughter even offered mind for your son/daughter even offered in your community? Are your ideas for in your community? Are your ideas for services outdated? Are services outdated? Are theirtheir services services outdated? Will your son/daughter have outdated? Will your son/daughter have to “fit into” their services or will they be to “fit into” their services or will they be personalized to fit your son/daughter’s personalized to fit your son/daughter’s needs? Become knowledgeable about the needs? Become knowledgeable about the “art of the possible”.“art of the possible”.

10.10. Get support for yourself. Isolation can Get support for yourself. Isolation can lead to despair. Others are struggling lead to despair. Others are struggling with many of the same issues. Seek with many of the same issues. Seek out other parents, surf the net, borrow out other parents, surf the net, borrow literature and read about the latest literature and read about the latest developments, or run an idea by developments, or run an idea by someone who may be able to help you someone who may be able to help you pursue it. pursue it.

Most importantly, seek out Most importantly, seek out success stories and dream big!success stories and dream big!