<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Rochelle - <div><br></div><div>What I am hearing you saying is that this is a case study you are developing - rather than an actual event. Yes?</div><div>Of course who knows - the event may become a reality when it is clear that the diversity of elderly people with different abilities are simply a way to learn and think about access and inclusion just like for any different-than-oneself potential participant - and a real event may become delightfully apparent in the near future, eh?</div><div><br></div><div>I also hear you asking about including these folks in the planning of such an event. Right?</div><div>So it is 'using OST' but it is also a planning event. What I am not sure of in what you are saying is if you also wish to use the participants in the planning of the OST itself.</div><div><br></div><div>So if I were to think of my own experience working with individuals of diverse abilities... perhaps you can include in your case study having conversations with people with diverse abilities about including people with diverse abilities in the planning. That was a funny sentence - but you know what I mean? The very people you serve may no doubt have great ideas and insight.</div><div><br></div><div>So if you explain to them what planning is for - such as a garden or how to work together for something that happens in their cafe or..?</div><div>Part of it is about the process used in the event - Open Space. How to make the things that happen in Open Space accessible to all who are present.</div><div><br></div><div>- larger type when you print things out</div><div>- placing notes lower on the wall so people seated in wheelchairs can read them or people without a lot of upper arm strength or neck arthritis, etc. can read them</div><div>- having pre-registration ask them to share anything they wish to share about their own physical, mobility, dietary or other needs so you know whether to provide a sign language interpreter or unscented markers</div><div>- looking for a physical site that has mobility access, transport access, and room enough to keep pathways clear for people who may be in wheelchairs</div><div>- maybe a place to label and 'park' walkers or canes for those folks who only use those to enter but do not need them at all times</div><div>- thinking about saying things louder, or more slowly, or naming what you are doing so that those who cannot see can visualize what you are doing when you are not speaking</div><div>- doing documentation design in a way that is accessible in different ways to participants - printed Book of Proceedings, another version in larger font? audio files? in-person reading circles post-event so those who can read and see can go through the documentation with each other?</div><div>- careful attention to food and beverage - protein and complex carbohydrates and not just pastries and fruits and things that turn into sugar (for diabetics and others); food on time.</div><div>- selecting a time for the event that allows people to attend even if they have to take naps on a regular schedule</div><div>- providing a quiet room or a place to go away to take one's medications or inject one's insulin - for some folks who may not feel comfortable doing so in front of everyone</div><div>- 'buddies' who can come along with any of your participants who might need language or writing or mobility or thought process assists</div><div><br></div><div>Part of it is universal for any dialogue event - what information do you feel they need to have in order to work on the task in the dialogue event ? </div><div>That is something you might want to provide them with before the event - because you ideally need all your time in-person for that which can only be accomplished with others - not for delivery of info.</div><div>So for example if you feel they would benefit from receiving some information or learning about gardens - or cafes - or healthy food - or whatever - in order to then meet together in Open Space and explore that issue - then you might want to create other little meetings or experiential learning opportunities to bring that information to them as a preparation for what they will then do later in Open Space.</div><div><br></div><div>If I am misinterpreting please do correct me.</div><div>And pPlease let our thoughts and sharing here inspire other questions you may have,</div><div><br></div><div>Lisa</div><div><br></div><div><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Lisa Heft</div><div>Consultant, Facilitator, Educator</div><div>Fellow, Columbia University Center for International Conflict Resolution</div><div>Opening Space</div><div><a href="mailto:lisaheft@openingspace.net">lisaheft@openingspace.net</a></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></body></html>