Open Space with people with disabilities

[Larry Peterson]

Chris:  I've done a number of OS event where participants has some
"disabilities".  Mainstream Access, a group in St. Catherine's, used to
use OS once a quarter, after they tried it once with me and took some
training.  The folks in that residential and community service had
severe physical and mental disabilities and they loved Open Space.  At
the first event, we provided a few "recorders" who were available on
request to write on flip charts or type in reports.  Not many were
needed.  One person put up a topic and spoke for the first time in his
two years at the place when he announced it.  I guess he didn't' have a
reason to speak before. They seemed to take to the process by wheel
chair or ambling along  just fine -- and yes I called it the law of
motion.  I've led events where folks had both hearing and sight
disabilities.  In once case, the folks with no hearing, in wheel chairs
had signers to pass on the opening process and to help them put up
topics.  With sight as a disability, a guide and reader is really
helpful.

Larry

Larry Peterson
Associates in Transformation
Toronto, ON, Canada
416.653.4829

larry at spiritedorg.com
www.spiritedorg.com

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html