OS for people with disabilities

[Audrey Coward]

I am interested.
Audrey Coward
-----

> 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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