Table at the Opening: Inclusiveness

[ROCHELLE ENGLAND]

Maggie

My response to your suggestion is that people with disabilites would feel
that once again they have to identify themselves as being different. What
is wrong with having a table in the centre that everyone can use?

In making this comment, I am still agreeing with asking people before the
event if they have any special needs.

Regards

Rochelle England

>In a message dated 5/10/00 5:01:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time, dgp at cyberus.ca
>writes:
>
><< I facilitated an OS last week and a disabled person who's disability was
>not evident came to me after feeling quite upset that a small table had not
>been in the centre for people like her who cannot bend even to pick up a
>sheet a paper and who does not want to ask others to bring her a sheet, not
>wanting her disability to be known. She felt deprived having not been able to
>participate and indicated that others with similar problems had made the same
>comment.  A young person with the same complaint having a physical problem
>that limits  kneeling or bending movements to the floor. >>
>
>Interesting story.  I've been out of the country for three weeks, so forgive
>me for sending a response so long after the initial comment.  I'm the OD
>consultant who has specialized in disability rights organizations for many
>years now and your story made me think of many dilemmas I've faced in doing
>Open Space.   Let me add just a few words to what may have been a long thread
>(that I'm yet to read).
>
>One of the hardest parts of educating the public about disability and the
>Americans with Disabilities Act is getting recognition for the shared
>responsibility of making accommodations.  Under the law, the person with the
>disability must request an accommodation and then the employer/public
>accommodation/government agency is required to respond to the best of its
>ability (financial and otherwise).  In your situation, it appears that the
>person felt "left out" but she failed to tell you this until the Open Space
>event was over.
>
>I'm not implying that you had a "legal" obligation here -- I read your
>comments as more personal and that you were concerned that she felt she could
>not partipicate fully (and I would agree) -- but the ADA helps all of us
>think about these issues in a "professional" and "moral" way in addition to
>giving us guidance for legal purposes.  So, one of the things you might say
>in opening the space could be,
>
>  "Now, there may be people with disabilities in the group of whom I'm not
>aware and
>   for whom we have not planned.  If this is the case, please let me or
>others in your
>   discussion groups know if you need an accommodation to participate more
>fully.
>   We'll find ways to accommodate you to the best of our abilities."
>
>And, keep those tables near by or available in case that is one request that
>is made.  I hope this helps.  If you would want to hear of other
>accommodation situations where I was a part, let me know.
>
>Maggie Shreve
>magshreve at aol.com


Rochelle England                                Email:
Lecturer                                             rochelle.england
@newcastle.edu.au
Organisational Development                        Phone: Austr. 02 4921 6311
Learning & Development Program              Int. +61 2 4921 6311
University of Newcastle                               FAX:   Austr. 02 4921
6994
Callaghan  NSW  2308  Australia                              Int.  +61 2
4921 6994
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