"Toward Full Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities"
Developmental Services Inclusion - What Can I do?
What Can I Do To Help Someone Share Their Gifts In A Community?
Sometimes people need assistance to find places within their community that they are able to share their interests and gifts. Inclusion believes that all people have gifts and abilities and these can be valued within community when we find the right place and people. Whether we are direct support staff, family members or caseworkers we can all provide bridges for people we support to become valued community members. Employment, Spirituality, Volunteering, Health/Wellness, Education, and Recreation allow all of us opportunities to connect to community and find a place to belong, give back and be valued.
1. Get to Know Someone
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Spend time with the person - ask about interests and hobbies, find out what new things they might want to try
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Go for a walk in a town or at a mall together- this may spark conversation and people can share their thoughts
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Listen – hear what someone is saying, repeat it back to them if you need to clarify what they mean
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Ask Questions- “what would you do if you could do anything?”
“ if you won a prize what would it be for?” This is a time to talk to families and support staff-have them share their knowledge
2. Find out about a Community
- Gather resources - hunt down the free paper, the local newspaper, look at Bulletin Boards,
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Visit the Town Hall, Chamber of Commerce- ask about the town, find out what goes on, what businesses are there,
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Go to the Library - ask about groups that meet there, what the library offers,
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Go on line - most towns have web sites and list everything from the upcoming meetings, to the 4th of July Parade,
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Ask people you know - what do they do in the town, where do people go on Friday night’s, how do you recycle.
3. Make a Connection
- Approach people who you consider allies and have similar values - YMCA’/YWCA’s, churches, service groups,
- Assist people with learning about the group, place or association - try it on, ask questions,
- Gauge how to start based on what works best - social people may like groups, others may enjoy quieter times, join in where it makes sense,
- Introduce someone in a way that promotes their gifts as a valuable member of a community - This is John, he has a wonderful voice and is interested in your choir, This is Mary, she enjoys children and we wanted to find out about your volunteer reading program.
4. Support the Linkage
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Plan for supports such as transportation, fees or dues so that these don’t get in the way,
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Teach people about friendships- they need to be nurtured,
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Stay connected to the group, or organization for as long as needed. Some people will need support for a long time or potentially forever,
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Be Flexible- be willing to back up or start over, sometimes our interests change,
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Celebrate with people- enjoy the journey toward community.
