newcastle on inclusion for children with disabilities
DESCRIPTION
How do you build a bridge between children and young people who are labelled by their disabilities into the centre of community life? How do you build hospitable communities where such bridge building is common place? These are the questions we address in this presentation through the lens of Asset Based Community Development.TRANSCRIPT
Changing the Narrative on Inclusion for Children with Disabilities in Newcastle-
upon-Tyne , Cormac Russell
Why the shift?
Why the shift?
Social inclusion? Where it matters?
Participation
Friendship
Intimacy
Economic Exchange
Full circles indicate capacity to deal with life andare a powerful measure of health in our society.
Spot the difference?
My Vision
Kevin Russell
My Good Life
• Real friends• A relationship like Cormac
has• A real job• Enough money to do the
things I like
My Good Life begins at Home
• No 27 Ballykeeffe Estate,Dooradoyle,Limerick.
• I live at home with my wonderful Mom and Dad
• I am a proud Limerick • man
Roles for Individuals:
• Leader – someone that can bring people together to work on an issue
• Gift Giver – a person that is willing to contribute their asset to work on an issue.
• Invisible Person – a person that has not yet been “discovered” or been convinced to use their assets to help achieve their dreams for or fix their concerns in the neighborhood.
Roles for Individuals
• Connector – an individual that is good at discovering what people care about and where their assets can be used.– Gift centered– Well connected– Trusted– Believe they are welcome
5 Assets in Asset Based Community Development
• CITIZENS
• ASSOCIATIONS
• INSTITUTIONS
• LAND
• ECONOMY
Individual
Asset Based Community Development says that “people are the answer” the focus is:– finding who has what assets– how to connect assets– how to get people to contribute their assets
to help solve problems
Social Services vs. ABCD
The major difference between the social services model of looking at people and the ABCD model can be summed up as how each looks at the “individual”
Social Services model
the Social Services model says – we are clients (someone who is controlled)– We are deficient– We need to be fixed– We are dependent– The agency can fix us -- if we listen to
them
Asset Based CD model
• The Asset Based CD model says – we are citizens (someone that contributes to the community)– We can all make a contribution– Community can take pride in itself– Local relationships are important and
improved– We are the answer– We are equal with others – we work
together
Effective Communities
• Look inside first to solve problems
• Relationships are seen as power
• Have a good sense of assets and capacities, not just needs
• Leaders open doors
• Citizens are involved
• People take responsibility
Associations, Local Government, Business & People
Power to Change
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Neighborhoods Needs Map
Environmental pollution
Unemployment
Gangs Literacy challenges
Early SchoolLeaving
Broken Families Poor Housing
Joy riding
Drug Dealing Crime
Disability
Graffiti
Consequences of the Power of the “Needs Map”
• Internalizations of the “deficiencies” identified by local residents
• Destruction of social capital• Reinforcement of narrow categorical funding
flows• Direction of funds toward professional
helpers, not residents• Focus on “leaders” who magnify deficiencies• Rewards failure, produces dependency• Creates hopelessness
‘You can’t know what you need, till you know what you have…’
A Sample Community Asset Map
IndividualsGifts, Skills, Capacities,
Knowledge and Traits of Youth
Older AdultsArtists
People with DisabilitiesStudentsParents
EntrepreneursActivists
InstitutionsSchools
UniversitiesCommunity CollegesPolice Departments
HospitalsLibraries
Social Service Agencies
Non ProfitsMuseums
Fire DepartmentsFoundations
Physical SpaceGardens
ParksPlaygroundsParking Lots
Walking PathsForests/Forest
PreservesPicnic AreasCampsites
Fishing Spots
StoriesOf background and personal history
Of what you like to do and contributeOf existing and ongoing skills and
capacitiesOf successful community development
Of economic growthOf addressing discrimination
Of including those who are marginalizedOf recognizing the value of everyoneOf a time when you or your group felt
appreciated and valuedOf a time the community was at its best
Local EconomyFor-Profit Businesses
Consumer ExpendituresMerchants
Chamber of CommerceBusiness Associations
BanksFoundations
Institutional-Purchasing Power and Personnel
Micro enterprisesLocal Coops
Corporations and Branches
Animal Care GroupsAnti Crime Groups
Residents AssocBusiness Organizations
Charitable GroupsCivic Events Groups
Cultural GroupsEducation Groups
Elderly GroupsEnvironmental Groups
Family Support Groups Health Advocacy and
Fitness Groups
Heritage GroupsHobby and Collectors Groups
Men’s Groups Mentoring Groups
Mutual Support GroupsNeighborhood Improvement
GroupsPolitical Organizations
Recreation GroupsReligious Groups
Service ClubsSocial GroupsUnion Groups
Women’s GroupsYouth Groups
Associations
Physical Space
Local Economy
StoriesInstitutions
Associations
Individuals
My Commun
ity
My Commun
ity
My Community
Development trends
• Do development to the people• Do development for the people• Do development through the
people • Do development with the people• Developing local capacity for self-
development
Twelve Guiding Principles for Community Development: ABCD in Action
• Everyone has gifts• Relationships build a community• Citizens at the center• Leaders involve others as active members of the community• Everyone cares about something• Motivation to act• Listening conversations• Asking questions rather than giving answers invites stronger participation• Ask, ask, ask• A citizen centered organization is the key to community engagement• Institutions have reached their limits in problem-solving• Institutions as servants
The move is from services to clients
to
supports for citizens
Inclusion
Reflection points• What is your organization’s relationship to community
residents? How accountable is your organization to the people and community it serves?
• How does your work foster communication and relationship-building among the people you serve and residents in your community?
• How does your service define and engage constituents? What power do they have?
• How does your service strengthen community relationships and social capital?
• What can you do to make your service more asset-based?
Tips on Working with NeighborhoodsWays that inhibit engagement How we work differently with
neighborhoods and residents
We know who to contact by position We have to research who to contact (sometimes it is not obvious)
We give them timelines and deadlines
We ask them to give us a reasonable time frame
We write things up – give them memos and job descriptions
We meet with them and have face to face conversations (preferably in their community)
We often take the lead in projects We need to allow the neighborhood to lead us
We set up meetings during the day We go to meetings at nights or on the weekends and when appropriate help to figure out childcare and transportation
Tips (cont.)
We offer a list of possible roles for our organization
We ask how our organization can be most helpful
We use our leadership structure to help us make relationships
We look to current relationships to help introduce us into new communities
We manage projects We negotiate our role, offer suggestions and learn to be flexible
We reach our objectives in a way that is most efficient
We follow the lead of residents with patience, as work takes much longer, is not efficient, often involves several players and lots of twists and turns
We assume authority is in the person with positional power
Authority rests in the one with the most relationships
Adapted from Untied Way of Metro Atlanta
Tools for asset based change
How can we make this happen?
• Appreciative Inquiry/Learning circles
• One-on-one learning conversations
• Asset Mapping
• Matching Grants
The 5 Ds Process of Strength Based Community Work
D1- DISCOVER
D2 - DREAM
D3-DESIGN
D1- We have done it before.
D2 – We have a vision for our future.
D3 – We agree on what could be done.
D4 – We have a list of our resources to draw from.
D5 – action plan & start implementing it.
D5 – DELIVER/DO IT
D4 -DEFINE
Untapped potential……
Asset Mapping
• Individuals have:
– Gifts– Talents– Dreams– Hopes– Fears
Personal “assets”
• Gifts of the head – things you know about (birds, movies, art history)
• Gifts of the hands – things you know how to do (carpentry, gardening, cooking)
• Gifts of the heart – things you care deeply about (environment, education )
Asset Mapping Questions
exercise
• What gift (skill, interest, hobby) do you have that would surprise most people?
• What makes you a great family member?
• What “absorbs” you enough that you lose track of time?
• What really good thing is going on in your neighborhood?
Why do asset mapping?
• It is a guide for relationship building, not just data.
• Knowing others in your community that have similar interests allows groups to gather for a common cause
• Asset mapping is a very powerful tool in community building.
What motivates people?
Think about a book drive to help a youth center.
Someone that contributes may care about:
• the kids having something safe to do• learning about a particular subject
such as art• understanding the history of their
ancestors• getting rid of some old books…
Matching Grants
Taking ABCD Home
• Determine community goal• Find allies• Determine additional players• Decide how to bring them on board• Identify assets to contribute from your institution,
association, and/or individually• Utilize these resources to map and mobilize
community• Come back to ABCD Intensive to share stories,
successes and challenges
How can we make this happen?
• Appreciative Inquiry/Learning circles
• One-on-one learning conversations
• Asset Mapping
• Matching Grants
Key message
• Asset based
• Place based • Relationship based
• You can do this: human beings have been doing for thousands of years
Thank You!
Now go connect!