OS for people with disabilities

[Therese Fitzpatrick]

At one point in my life, I ran a workshop business that attracted many
disabled people.  My partner and I were proud that our marketing message
conveyed a sense of inclusivity.  We conducted five day personal growth
intensives (along with some other experiences:  the 5 day intensive was our
core work) and we sought to create ongoing community for workshop
participants after the intensives ended.  The personal natural of the work
and the privilege of convening weekly community meetings led to many rich
and some life-long friendships.  Some of these friendships were with the
disabled.

I am sure many people on this list know disabled people and I am sure many
people on this list have disabled friends.  What I am about to say is based
strictly on my direct, personal experience with a number of close friends
with severe physical disabilities.  I state my opinions, not conclusions of
fact.

I handled enrollment.  I came right out and asked each person that disclosed
that they had a disability  what their needs were and how we could meet
them.  As friendships grew, I had many discussions with my disabled friends
about their ongoing struggle to feel included.  All of the people I am
talking about agreed that the mainstream, able bodied culture tends to
'disappear' the disabled.  My disabled friends tell me that they would much
rather be asked about their disability than to be unwittingly erased.  My
disabled friends tell me that they prefer open acknowledgment of their
disabilities.  My disabled friends tell me that sometimes they like help and
sometimes they dont:  they say it is ok for anyone to ask them if they want
help as long as they ask respectfully and as long as they are willing to get
turned down.  None of my disabled friends would prefer that a facilitator of
a meeting  give no attention to the fact that disabled people are in the
room.

As a convenor opens a meeting, it is an opportunity to advocate for
inclusion of the disabled by openly discussing the accomodations that are
available to the entire group:  this has the effect of educating the
"normal" people as well as openly inviting the disabled to feel included.
It is also an invitation to the non-disabled participants to see the
disabled participants as real peole, as colleagues. It has been my
experience that addressing disability accomodations in front of any meeting
is a steady way to educate.  I know I was surprised, when I first developed
friendships with physically disabled people, to learn how unintentionally
they are so often excluded.  Ever since then I have spoken openly, at
meetings I design and/or facilitate, to include disability accomodatons as a
routine part of my logistics:  sometimes even at meetings where I am not
expecting disabled participants.  Who knows who is going to show up?

I have been surprised by a few comments on this list serve. Some people have
  suggested that nothing special be done.  I would like to know what data
might indicate that no special mention of disabilities would be the right
way to go.

If we can tell a large group about toilet breaks and telephone access, we
can include the whole group and discuss EVERYONE"S needs, acting as if
everyone's needs are entitled to be met.

I have a permanent disability that is not visible to the eye.  I won't get
started on how to include those persons in an event that have invisible
disabilities . . . but I have opinions and experience if anyone is
interested.


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