Changing the Narrative on Inclusion for Children with Disabilities in Newcastle-

upon-Tyne , Cormac Russell

Why the shift?

Why the shift?

Social inclusion? Where it matters?

Participation

Friendship

Intimacy

Economic Exchange

Full circles indicate capacity to deal with life andare a powerful measure of health in our society.

Spot the difference?

My Vision

Kevin Russell

My Good Life

• Real friends• A relationship like Cormac

has• A real job• Enough money to do the

things I like

My Good Life begins at Home

• No 27 Ballykeeffe Estate,Dooradoyle,Limerick.

• I live at home with my wonderful Mom and Dad

• I am a proud Limerick • man

Roles for Individuals:

• Leader – someone that can bring people together to work on an issue

• Gift Giver – a person that is willing to contribute their asset to work on an issue.

• Invisible Person – a person that has not yet been “discovered” or been convinced to use their assets to help achieve their dreams for or fix their concerns in the neighborhood.

Roles for Individuals

• Connector – an individual that is good at discovering what people care about and where their assets can be used.– Gift centered– Well connected– Trusted– Believe they are welcome

5 Assets in Asset Based Community Development

• CITIZENS

• ASSOCIATIONS

• INSTITUTIONS

• LAND

• ECONOMY

Individual

Asset Based Community Development says that “people are the answer” the focus is:– finding who has what assets– how to connect assets– how to get people to contribute their assets

to help solve problems

Social Services vs. ABCD

The major difference between the social services model of looking at people and the ABCD model can be summed up as how each looks at the “individual”

Social Services model

the Social Services model says – we are clients (someone who is controlled)– We are deficient– We need to be fixed– We are dependent– The agency can fix us -- if we listen to

them

Asset Based CD model

• The Asset Based CD model says – we are citizens (someone that contributes to the community)– We can all make a contribution– Community can take pride in itself– Local relationships are important and

improved– We are the answer– We are equal with others – we work

together

Effective Communities

• Look inside first to solve problems

• Relationships are seen as power

• Have a good sense of assets and capacities, not just needs

• Leaders open doors

• Citizens are involved

• People take responsibility

Associations, Local Government, Business & People

Power to Change

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Neighborhoods Needs Map

Environmental pollution

Unemployment

Gangs Literacy challenges

Early SchoolLeaving

Broken Families Poor Housing

Joy riding

Drug Dealing Crime

Disability

Graffiti

Consequences of the Power of the “Needs Map”

• Internalizations of the “deficiencies” identified by local residents

• Destruction of social capital• Reinforcement of narrow categorical funding

flows• Direction of funds toward professional

helpers, not residents• Focus on “leaders” who magnify deficiencies• Rewards failure, produces dependency• Creates hopelessness

‘You can’t know what you need, till you know what you have…’

A Sample Community Asset Map

IndividualsGifts, Skills, Capacities,

Knowledge and Traits of Youth

Older AdultsArtists

People with DisabilitiesStudentsParents

EntrepreneursActivists

InstitutionsSchools

UniversitiesCommunity CollegesPolice Departments

HospitalsLibraries

Social Service Agencies

Non ProfitsMuseums

Fire DepartmentsFoundations

Physical SpaceGardens

ParksPlaygroundsParking Lots

Walking PathsForests/Forest

PreservesPicnic AreasCampsites

Fishing Spots

StoriesOf background and personal history

Of what you like to do and contributeOf existing and ongoing skills and

capacitiesOf successful community development

Of economic growthOf addressing discrimination

Of including those who are marginalizedOf recognizing the value of everyoneOf a time when you or your group felt

appreciated and valuedOf a time the community was at its best

Local EconomyFor-Profit Businesses

Consumer ExpendituresMerchants

Chamber of CommerceBusiness Associations

BanksFoundations

Institutional-Purchasing Power and Personnel

Micro enterprisesLocal Coops

Corporations and Branches

Animal Care GroupsAnti Crime Groups

Residents AssocBusiness Organizations

Charitable GroupsCivic Events Groups

Cultural GroupsEducation Groups

Elderly GroupsEnvironmental Groups

Family Support Groups Health Advocacy and

Fitness Groups

Heritage GroupsHobby and Collectors Groups

Men’s Groups Mentoring Groups

Mutual Support GroupsNeighborhood Improvement

GroupsPolitical Organizations

Recreation GroupsReligious Groups

Service ClubsSocial GroupsUnion Groups

Women’s GroupsYouth Groups

Associations

Physical Space

Local Economy

StoriesInstitutions

Associations

Individuals

My Commun

ity

My Commun

ity

My Community

Development trends

• Do development to the people• Do development for the people• Do development through the

people  • Do development with the people• Developing local capacity for self-

development

Twelve Guiding Principles for Community Development: ABCD in Action

• Everyone has gifts• Relationships build a community• Citizens at the center• Leaders involve others as active members of the community• Everyone cares about something• Motivation to act• Listening conversations• Asking questions rather than giving answers invites stronger participation• Ask, ask, ask• A citizen centered organization is the key to community engagement• Institutions have reached their limits in problem-solving• Institutions as servants

The move is from services to clients

to

supports for citizens

Inclusion

Reflection points• What is your organization’s relationship to community

residents? How accountable is your organization to the people and community it serves?

• How does your work foster communication and relationship-building among the people you serve and residents in your community?

• How does your service define and engage constituents? What power do they have?

• How does your service strengthen community relationships and social capital?

• What can you do to make your service more asset-based?

Tips on Working with NeighborhoodsWays that inhibit engagement How we work differently with

neighborhoods and residents

We know who to contact by position We have to research who to contact (sometimes it is not obvious)

We give them timelines and deadlines

We ask them to give us a reasonable time frame

We write things up – give them memos and job descriptions

We meet with them and have face to face conversations (preferably in their community)

We often take the lead in projects We need to allow the neighborhood to lead us

We set up meetings during the day We go to meetings at nights or on the weekends and when appropriate help to figure out childcare and transportation

Tips (cont.)

We offer a list of possible roles for our organization

We ask how our organization can be most helpful

We use our leadership structure to help us make relationships

We look to current relationships to help introduce us into new communities

We manage projects We negotiate our role, offer suggestions and learn to be flexible

We reach our objectives in a way that is most efficient

We follow the lead of residents with patience, as work takes much longer, is not efficient, often involves several players and lots of twists and turns

We assume authority is in the person with positional power

Authority rests in the one with the most relationships

Adapted from Untied Way of Metro Atlanta

Tools for asset based change

How can we make this happen?

• Appreciative Inquiry/Learning circles

• One-on-one learning conversations

• Asset Mapping

• Matching Grants

The 5 Ds Process of Strength Based Community Work

D1- DISCOVER

D2 - DREAM

D3-DESIGN

D1- We have done it before.

D2 – We have a vision for our future.

D3 – We agree on what could be done.

D4 – We have a list of our resources to draw from.

D5 – action plan & start implementing it.

D5 – DELIVER/DO IT

D4 -DEFINE

Untapped potential……

Asset Mapping

• Individuals have:

– Gifts– Talents– Dreams– Hopes– Fears

Personal “assets”

• Gifts of the head – things you know about (birds, movies, art history)

• Gifts of the hands – things you know how to do (carpentry, gardening, cooking)

• Gifts of the heart – things you care deeply about (environment, education )

Asset Mapping Questions

exercise

• What gift (skill, interest, hobby) do you have that would surprise most people?

• What makes you a great family member?

• What “absorbs” you enough that you lose track of time?

• What really good thing is going on in your neighborhood?

Why do asset mapping?

• It is a guide for relationship building, not just data.

• Knowing others in your community that have similar interests allows groups to gather for a common cause

• Asset mapping is a very powerful tool in community building.

What motivates people?

Think about a book drive to help a youth center.

Someone that contributes may care about:

• the kids having something safe to do• learning about a particular subject

such as art• understanding the history of their

ancestors• getting rid of some old books…

Matching Grants

Taking ABCD Home

• Determine community goal• Find allies• Determine additional players• Decide how to bring them on board• Identify assets to contribute from your institution,

association, and/or individually• Utilize these resources to map and mobilize

community• Come back to ABCD Intensive to share stories,

successes and challenges

How can we make this happen?

• Appreciative Inquiry/Learning circles

• One-on-one learning conversations

• Asset Mapping

• Matching Grants

Key message

• Asset based

• Place based • Relationship based

• You can do this: human beings have been doing for thousands of years

Thank You!

Now go connect!