Community EngagementPart 1

Pam Treadway, M.Ed.Office of Developmental Programs

Bureau of Autism ServicesDecember 19, 2018

Description

By supporting individuals to be present, engaged, involved, and known by others in every day settings, relationships are developed and quality of life is enhanced. This first session in a two-part series will focus on the philosophy and practice of supporting individuals with ASD and other disabilities to have meaningful community engagement.

**Disclaimer: This training is not a review of the service of Community Participation.

Agenda

• What do we mean when we talk about community?

• Quality of Life• Framework for thinking about

enhancing community engagement

COMMUNITY

What is community?

• Many definitions of community a social group of any size whose members

reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage

a locality inhabited by such a group a social, religious, occupational, or other group

sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists (usually preceded by the ): the business community; the community of scholars

Dictionary.com

Examples of Community Types

Professional communities 

Ethnic communities

Faith communities

Rights and advocacy communities

Neighborhood community

Employment/work 

Health community 

Business community

What is community?

• Definitions of community involve 3 interrelated components:Place PeopleMembership or belonging

Community: Historical Service Perspective

• Narrow perspective on community• Emphasis on place or geographical

location– e.g., person lives “in an institution” or “in the

community”; “take the person into the community”

– Geography controlled by the service system– Typically segregated or “special” locations (e.g.,

special schools, group residences, sheltered workshops, recreation facilities)

Community: Historical Service Perspective

• Perceived experiences as either “community acceptance” or “neighborhood opposition”

• Failed to explore what it means to “live in the community” or what it means to have a “sense of place” within the community

• Focus on “community presence”

Community Presence

• Being seen in the same places as others in the community and sharing activities of ordinary community life

• Quality of life begins with being in integrated and typical places and activities of daily life

• Mere presence in the community does not mean the person feels connected, that he/she belongs or is engaged

What are we missing?

What are we missing?

What are we missing?

• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (PARTICIPATION)– In addition to being “present” in everyday

settings, “participation” or “engagement” implies being involved, getting to know others and being known to others

– Full membership in community, not just a “by-stander”

– Promotes developing a network of relationships

QUALITY OF LIFE

Quality of Life

How do you achieve meaning in your life?

Quality of Life

COMMONLY IDENTIFIED WAYS IN WHICH WE ACHIEVE MEANING IN OUR LIVES• Engaging in meaningful employment• Contributing to society through volunteer work• Forming friendships/relationships• Learning new things• Growing personally and professionally• Engaging in leisure activities• Engaging in spiritual activities

Comparison

Think of a individual that you are currently supporting (or have supported in the past) and contrast the things that currently exist in that person’s life that make it meaningful versus what you have in your life.

– Is there a discrepancy?

STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING COMMUNITY

PARTICIPATION/ENGAGEMENT

General Considerations

• Expand “geographies” of where individuals spend time

• Not just about number of places or frequency

• Need to cultivate places which will afford opportunities for a sense of place and community connections

• Remember – presence alone does not lead to a feeling of connection or belonging

General Considerations

• Individuals may not have had opportunities to experience community

• Exposure is key• Remember, as support staff we cannot

create friendships for the individuals we support; however, we can help them go to places were friendships are more likely to happen (Perske, 1993)

Where should we start?

• Identify participant strengths, interests, talents, gifts

• Inventory the “places” the individual already frequents and their existing social networks

• Consider “places” where others with similar interests spend time How can we tap into those places?How can we promote natural supports

in those places?

Where should we start?

• Encourage individual choice in community “places”Teach choice making if not in

individual’s repertoire• Consider private places or smaller public

places • Increase time spent in “places” that

encourage social interactions (e.g., rethink those business transaction related places)

• Encourage being a “regular”

A FRAMEWORK FOR CONCEPTUALIZING

A Perspective on Physical Inclusion

“Physical inclusion has not brought about social inclusion, full community membership and belonging, and valued social roles for people with disabilities”

Metzel & Walker, 2001

What is valued social role?

• We all have valued social roles that we move in and out of every day– Employee, neighbor, friend, volunteer, choir

member, student, camper, baseball fan, musician

• Categories of roles:Work (employee, supervisor)Recreational/leisure (skier, crafter)Family/Relationships (mother, brother, son)Community (coach, neighbor, voter)

Why are social roles important?

• Having lots of valued social roles leads to improved quality of life

• Benefits of valued social roles:Increased opportunities Meaningful relationshipsSelf-esteemFun/enjoyment/pleasureAcceptance and belongingControl

• Think of your own valued social roles. How have you benefited from your roles?

Facilitating Social Roles

Two main areas to be considered:1. Image Enhancement – helping

people to have a positive self-image and to be seen by others in a positive way

2. Competency Enhancement -assisting people to develop competencies that are needed for specific social roles

Competency = skill development through teaching

Facilitating Social Roles

• Image Enhancement Considerations:– What does a person “look like” when in

that role? (personal appearance)– Where would the person be when in the

role? (settings)– Who might they be with? – What would they be doing?

(activities/schedules)– What would they be saying? (language)

Facilitating Social Roles

• Competency Enhancement Considerations:– What skills/competencies does the

person need to develop related to a specific role?

– Competencies may take time to develop– It’s not an all or nothing approach –

consider partial participation

Why are these important to address?

• Others will easily recognize the person is in a particular role

• Promotes inclusion

• Provides opportunities for growth and development

• Promotes self-esteem

Moving Forward

• Consider the individual’s interests, strengths, talents, and gifts

• How can these be shaped into a valued social role(s) that will be meaningful to the individual?

– Identify broad interests – Brainstorm what roles might be associated with

that interest – think role categories• Analyze the role in terms of images and

competencies• Develop an action plan – what needs to be done

and who needs to help?

QUESTIONS???

References• Meltzer, D., & Walker, P. (2001). The illusion of inclusion:

Geographies of the lives of people with developmental disabilities in the United States. Disabilities Studies Quarterly, 21(4).

• Perske, R. (1993). Introduction. In: Friendships and Community Connections Between People with and Without Developmental Disabilities (ed. A. N. Amando), pp. 1-6. Paul H Brookes Publishing Co, Baltimore.

• Walker, P (1999). From community presence to sense of place: Community experiences of adults with developmental disabilities. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 42(1), 23-32.

• Walker, P.,& Rogan, P (2007). Make the Day Matter: Promoting Typical Lifestyles for Adults with Significant Disabilities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Additional Resources

Social Role:• O’Brien, J. (2006). Reflecting on Social Roles:

Identifying Opportunities to Support Personal Freedom and Social Integration.www.inclusion.com/socialroleinventory.pdf