Ria wrote
> I'd like to involve less-empowered people with disabilities in
> self-advocacy-- people still living in institutions, people in
> community residential units, people in adult training and support
> services, people in sheltered workshops, people at home with
> over-protective parents. Other self-advocates would like this too.
> We've talked about it amongst ourselves.
>
> It's so hard, tho, to reach some people. The services they use often
> don't want us to spend time with them. And even when we do-- some
> people have been so disempowered for so long, it's hard for them to
> see that things could be different. They can have choices, and
> *should* have choices. That they can and should be able to speak up.
> It sometimes takes a long time for people to realise that.
This brings back memories of my first employment experience as a recreation
worker for people with intellectual disabilities who were living in an
institution. I recall how difficult or impossible it was for many of the
residents of that institution to be able to express their choice. I would
ask the huge group of 50 or so people just sitting in the recreation room
wating for the dinner bell to go, "who would like to go swimming?" I would
watch as the people who were keen would become agitated but would not say
yes or stand up. Their eyes would dart around the room looking for the cues
of approval. I would ask out loud again "who would like to come swimming?"
and there would be more silence and the same people "chomping at the bit".
I would then ask individually "Sally would you like to go swimming?"...."Oh
Yes Please!".."what about you John" and John would go to the door eager.
"What about you Lynn?" and Lynn would burst into tears and scream holding
her stomach as if in tremendous pain and lash out at the person next to her.
"A simple yes or no will do Lynn - do you want to go swimming?"
..."NO!!!!!!!" she would shout. I would then praise Lynn for saying "no"
and go off with the others.
Five and a half years later, many of the residents of that place felt
comfortable enough to say no without having to feign illness, throw a
tantrum or completely ignore me. The majority however remained compliant to
earlier teachings - no choices. There are people still in this place who do
not talk...not 'cannot' talk...DO not talk. I understand that...why bother?
The ability to be able to even conceive that you have the right to speak on
behalf of yourself is a challenge to many people. It works against the many
many years of teaching the exact opposite. I think many of the people Ria
mentioned are demonstrating this same thing. Convincing people that they
*can* make choices is the first hurdle.
Laurence Bathurst
University of Sydney
School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
PO Box 170
Lidcombe NSW 1825
Ph: 61 2 9351 9509
Fax: 61 2 9351 9166
Home Ph: 61 2 9818 2050
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