Hello folks
I want to comment about the posting and its relevance to the concept of
self-determination. I don't feel comfortable talking about people like they
are some object of writing - however I will do my best in making these
observations:
I believe we can find ways to accommodate most differences given appropriate
resources. I also concede that it is possible that the Earth is actually
flat. What I cannot see is that self -determination in this case, was
comprimised.
If there was any indication, in any way that could be given interpretation -
even considering the strong motivation to participate in this singing
workshop - that singing in the performance while having seizures was her
preferred option and if such indication was given - and she was taken to
hospital against her wishes - articulated or otherwise - then she was not
'self-determining'.
If however, the decision to go to hospital and miss the performance was
either initiated or agreed to without coersion then the action was
self-determining. No amount of accommodation could have recreated what was
supposed to be and sometimes second best just won't do.
The seizures were what interfered with self-determination in this case it
seems. Barriers to self-determination are not always exterior to the person
and not always able to be negotiated - specially when they are not
anticipated. The important thing is that decisions and choices are always
effected within the realm of possibilities - and perhaps a bit beyond to
stay positive.
Laurence
Phil wrote about Ria's response
> Ria wrote a story from her life:
> " I went to a day-long singing workshop. It was to end in a performance,
> which I badly wanted to be involved in. Instead, tho, I started having
> seizures, and spent several hours in hospital.
>
> My inability to sing in that performance was *entirely* because of my
> impairment, as far as I can see. There is just no way it could have
> been accommodated, nothing that would have made it possible for me to
> perform on that day."
> I'm pushing it here, probably, but I can see multiple accommodations. What
> if the performance happened at the hospital? What if the performance was
> rescheduled to another day? What if seizing was understood as a kind of
> singing?
> The principle accommodation from my perspective is something like unless
all
> participants can participate in the performance, then the performance
> doesn't reflect everyone. How can we design a performance so that everyone
> can participate, regardless of "impairment"? In my own work, the question
> often asked of me is, how can someone who doesn't speak determine for
> themselves what their life should be? Since we can't know, they say, they
> can't be self-determining. I reject this idea, seeing it as a
> misunderstanding about the self in self-determination. It's never just
self,
> it's always also a circle of support.
> But maybe I digress.
> Phil Smith
> Vermont Self-Determination Project
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