. Funded by the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council & administered by Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services. joiningcircles.org.

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Funded by the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council & administered by Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services.

joiningcircles.org

Joining Circles Mission Statement

Joining Circles is committed to increase the natural supports and connections to the community for individuals with developmental disabilities by developing partnerships with service providers to train and provide technical assistance for their staff to achieve connection.

Training Objectives

• -What is Social Capital and Natural Support?

• -Embrace the philosophy of natural support and why friendships with community members are important

• -Introducing JC Tool Kit “how to connect”

JC Definition of Community Integration

“ integration … encompasses not only the physical presence in the community…but also the maintenance of social relationships with other community members and the development of a sense of belonging in relation to the community”

Wong & Solomonson

Community Integration Projects

• Logan Square – Chicago

• Friendship and Community Connections between People with and without Developmental Disabilities - Minnesota

• Project Friendship – British Columbia

• Mirrored community integration projects in US/British Columbia

• Developed FRIENDS Survey for Individual with developmental disability, family and support staff

. What do you do in a typical day? . Who are your friends? . How did you meet them? . Do you feel lonely? . What are you good at? . What is your passion/interests?

• Interviewed 77 individuals with developmental disabilities, 24 family and 48 support staff in the St. Louis Community

• Survey analysis on website

Joining Circles Research

Special programs Hobbies TV, Video Games, Movies @ Home

Work Household chores

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

73.9%

21.7%

13.0%

34.8%

17.4%

47.9%

27.1%

35.4%32.3%

37.5%

64.9%

48.6%

40.5%

31.1% 31.1%

Family r=23Support Staff r=48Subject r=74

Key Findings: Daily Life

What do you do in a typical day? Top 5 answers

Insight: 4 out of the 5 top answers are situations where someone is isolated or with other people with disabilities

Do you spend time with someone without

developmental disabilities who is

not part of your family or support staff?

No Yes - Rarely Yes - Sometimes Yes - Often Don't know0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

36.4%

27.3%

9.1%

13.6% 13.6%

23.4%

27.7% 27.7%

12.8%

8.5%

45.1%

11.3%

22.5%21.1%

Family r=22Support Staff r=47Subject r=71

Key Findings: Spending time with people w/o developmental disabilities?

Insight: The overwhelming answer was “No”

Do you spend time with someone without disability who is not part of your family or staff?

Qualitative Research

“I have never heard of that before.”- Pat

On being in the community?

“I liked being the only person with a disability working at Whole Foods because I was just another woman doing a job.”- Georgia

“They are so confined to a space, they don’t know what the outside world is like.” - Linda

How have people with developmental disabilities integrated into the community over

time?

Institution

Community Homes

Service Industry

People with disabilities need services

but…

Public Perception is…

PaidSupport

Natural Support

This separation provides little motivation by the community to wonder about the

absence of people with disabilities.

Special people with special needs need special places with trained staff

STIGMA

People with developmental disabilities live in a world which fails to foster participation from them due to

STIGMA.

Unless we break STIGMA by infusing natural support to teach & educate our communities, we will unlikely reach

ACCEPTANCE of DIFFERENCE in the fabric of our communities across Missouri.

The result is a lack of community based employment & equality for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Barriers, Stereotypes, Myths

Yes No Maybe Don't know0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

75.0%

15.0%

10.0%

95.8%

4.2%

73.0%

23.0%

2.7% 1.4%

Family r=20Support Staff r=48Subject r=74

Overwhelmingly, “YES!”

Key Findings: Making New Friends

Would you be interested in

making new friends within the community?

O “The real dis ABILITY is dis CONNECTION.”

- Pat Worth

Joining Circles Shift in Thinking

• From• Focus on deficits• More services• Focus on individuals• See people as clients• Fix people• Programs are the answer• Emphasis on agencies

• To• Focus on assets/gifts• Fewer services• Focus on community• See people as citizens• Develop potential• People are the answer• Emphasis on associations

System Focus - Bottom Two Tiers

Current System

Joining Circles

Scope of the Joining Circles Project

• Place: St. Louis Regional Area

• Participants: 12

• Intensity/Duration: ********************* • 97 contacts with the larger community• Average 8 potential organizations before

finding the final connection

• Sustained Connections: 8 out of the 12 have sustaining connections free of Joining Circles staff

support (monitoring)

• Time Frame: 9 month period of time

• Participant Demographics: 20’s – 60’s, diverse ethnic backgrounds

Strength based: Everyone Has Gifts!

Passion

Ownership of the passion interest

The sustainability of the connection

Examples of areas to explore in community life to pursue connection:

• Home & neighborhood• Family & friends• Work• Learning• Spiritual & religious• Community associations• Sports & fitness• Creative expression

How Does Joining Circles Work? Research & Outreach

JC Tool Kit/Research/Outreach Google/Resource Directory/Meet up Groups/

Community Newspapers/Social MediaJoining Circles Staff/Colleagues

Research opportunities &

present to participant

Participant chooses option to

try first

Make the ask!community organization

All connections had a few things in common:• strictly voluntary• level of self determination• ownership of the interest

Joining Circles Participant Examples

Joining Circles Participant Examples

Breeze Park K-Mart Easter Seals Midwest

Joining Circles Tool Kit for Connection

• -Interview Process• -Social Network • -Participant Plan for Connection• -Community Mapping Link to create a

Community Resource Directory STL

How can agencies/staff “join” the circle of support from the community?

a) One person – one worker Choose the individual on your caseload with an emerging gift or interest

b) Use the JC Tool Kit for Connection to develop an ACTION to CONNECTION Plan

c) Research! Facilitate! Document! d) Embrace “teaming” at its best!

e) Questions? Call Me! follow up/assist onsiteTO

GETHER

WER

E BET

TER!

JC Tool Kit – Interview & LISTEN!

• What things do you love to do more than anything else?• Is there something that you’ve always wanted to do or try that you haven’t yet

had the chance to do? Pay attention to behavioral cues as well as verbal.• What has the person’s life experience been like? Lived, work, school• Who are the most important people in your life?• Are there people from the past with whom you’ve lost contact with and would

like to reconnect?• What do you know about your neighbors?• What places do you like to go to --- and why? Are there any neighborhood places

where you like to spend time?• What are your skills and talents?• How has the person’s life been different from a typical, nondisabled person of

the same age?• Who’s the person you most enjoy spending time with? What is it about this

person that makes him or her so good to be with?

Jane

Connecting Strategies

Friendships (Best)-Grade School-High School-Work

Acquaintances-Butcher-Mailman-others

Memberships -Clubs-YWCA-Church

Keeping In Touch With?- - -

Social Network Tool

Neighbors--

Life Partner-Significant other -Husband/Wife

Family/Relative- In State- Out Of State

Example

Joining Circle Participant Plan Tool

Mary Beth Interests Connections Barrier Outcome

Returning to Church and singing in choir

Staff support to register at local parish

Mary Beth does notneed to take a test before she rejoins the church

Mary Beth attends Mass at her center or with her boyfriend who drives her to church

Knitting MB attends with staff forthe 1st mtg

Location too far, group too advancedfor participant

Continue to research beginner knitting groups in the Tower Grove park area

Animals Cat Shelter Boyfriend becomes ill, connection on hold

Begins volunteering at a cat shelter with staff support MB enjoys holding cats since her apt complex does not allow animals

Dolls and doll making

Example

• Local Media • Charitable Groups • Men’s Group• Women’s Groups• Church Groups • Self-Help Groups • Youth Groups• Civic Events • Neighborhood or Block Clubs• Community Support Groups • Outdoor Groups• Elderly Groups • Political Organizations• Ethnic Associations • School Groups• Health & Fitness Groups • Service Clubs• Interests Groups • Social Cause Group• Local Government • Study Groups• Business Organization

• Artistic Organization

• Business Organization

• Charitable Groups• Church Groups

• Community Support

Groups • Elderly Groups

• Ethnic Associations

• Health & Fitness

Groups • Interests Groups

Community Mapping Tool Asset Based Community Development

Important questions to answer BEFORE you think about making a connection

Is the opportunity for connection within the organization?

Will there be a time & place to meet people and get to know them?

Does the organization have a welcoming & comfortable atmosphere?

How far is the connection from the participant’s home?

Making the Ask!a. Do you know someone who might help me? I am trying to get someone connected to ……… Make sure that the focus of the conversation is on the interest, strengths, and gifts rather than on the support needs or disability label. Just think People First, Later I say, I am from the Joining Circles Project, our organization tries to connect people He/she has some support needs. I will be there…… Offer support that minimizes the disability and maximizes the interest.

b. Make the ask by email or phone. Remember, People First philosophy, strengths & interest of the individual will set the tone of the conversation.

c. Most people like to share their interest and are happy to welcome and support new members

Tips for asking!. Case the joint!

. Be courageous!

. Accompany the individual

. Address the triangle of fear

How Does Joining Circles Work? Facilitate the Connection

Facilitate the connection

Document and evaluate the connection with participant and

organization members

How Does Joining Circles Work?

Continue the connection and work on logistical

issues

Monitor the connection with regular phone calls

Sustain Connection

Try out another option

More research on opportunities

Further research and outreach

YES

Did the adult with a developmental disability

feel comfortable and enjoy the organization?

NO

An activity equates to the following:• Pleasant events• Positive interaction• Skill development

Moving from Activity To Connection

But unless they are strategically focused on deepening connections, activities alone are unlikely to lead towards meaningful relationships and community connections

• Supports self determination process• Supports independent living• Shifts away from specialization - breaking stereotypes, teaches and educates• Provides normalization• Never enough $$$$$$$$$$ paid support (waiting lists)• Breaks paradigm of parallel systems• Reduces staff burnout• Increased social capital• Health & Wellness

Benefits of Natural Supports

Training Support Staff to Sustain the Joining Circles Project

Job Description – Human Service Staff

• Build community connections and assist persons with disabilities in having more friends.

• Work towards a goal to widen the person’s circles of relationships with non-disabled people based on strengths, interests, preferences

• Know the community and the people within it

• Act as the bridge between people with disabilities and the larger community

I don’t have time to do this work!

I have too many individuals on my caseload!

I can’t spend my time in front of the computer eight hours a day!

You were two individuals that had nine months to make a connection for 12 individuals

Obstacles for Human Service Workers

• individual with a developmental disabilitya) ownershipb) level of self determination

. parents/family• service coordinator – know the resources in

your community• direct support professional• already in the community, look to their

expertise• access GOOGLE & library for resources on

interest• do ISL’s have computers in their homes?• allot time for individual & support staff

• supervisor of the agency over DSP – support staff in assisting with a connection if they can’t find one

The Team Approach

• Staff Meetings – Add an agenda item dedicated to making connection on interests of individuals with disabilities

• Brainstorm new ideas!

• Email each other on connection leads

• Give teaming awards and highlight the accomplishment of staff on connection

• Use Joining Circles website as a resource:- 100+ organizations & clubs- ask JC staff for technical assistance/questions

Changing Roles

Joining Circles – Lessons LearnedO Relationships are based on interests and skills, NOT deficiencies . Project Friendship and Friends Manual

O Provide support for everyone involved/look to the assets of your community . Logan Square Project

O Respect the independence of the relationship . Friends Manual

O Start simply, make the ASK, look for solutions . Project Friendship

CHALLENGES TO CONNECTION

O Fear of difference

O Time commitment

O Transportation

O Safety . “networks of trust”

O Support needs . open and honest discussion

Suggestions for Agency Practices

• Focus on

• Be willing to experiment and maybe take some • community relationships and friendships

• Start conversations relationships

• the staff role of supporting friends and full community belonging, staff evaluations

• Redefine staff roles, incorporating the ideas of

• Recognize that small changes can make a difference and overall change will take a long time

• More More

• Requiring community people to be volunteers, rather than “just friends”

• Turning friends into volunteers , formal training programs)

• Using “liability” as a justification for not supporting individuals in having as integrated and independent life as possible.

• Using “risk-taking” or “trusting the community” as a justification for carelessness or thoughtlessness

discovered from the Joining Circles Project

. When a group or organization is receptive to including one person with disabilities don’t flood them with all the others. Think through individual

approaches for each person – one person, one environment (location)

. Think carefully about the situations you choose to introduce individuals to in the community, and be sure you are providing support for the experience to be successful for all parties.

Beliefs for Success!

• Valuing and personal appreciations of the individual with disabilities

• Faith and trust in community members

• Belief in the importance of community building for everyone

“Joined” Leaders of Natural Support

• Center for Head Injury Services – St. Louis County• Community Choice – St. Louis County

• Bridges – St. Louis County

• Next Step for Life – Jefferson County. Boone County Family Resources – Boone County Columbia . St. Louis Arc – St. Louis County. Pike County Developmental Disabilities Council - Bowling Green

“It gave me the opportunity – to see beneath his systems, he’s a person just like the rest of us.”

What do parents say about the Joining Circles Project?

What does the St. Louis Community say about the Joining Circles Project?

What is the economic & social loss to the community when people with disabilities are not employed or volunteering in our community?

You enrich our community. Thank You!

Clayton/Ladue Rotary Club

Every single person has capabilities, abilities, and gifts. Living a good life depends on whether these capabilities can be used, abilities expressed and gifts given. If they are, the person will be valued, feel powerful and well-connected to the people around them and the community around the person will be more powerful because of the contribution the person is making.

Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993

Friendships must be carved into the professional practices with a deep recognition of its importance.

Dr. Angela Amado

A great community systematically and mobilizes the gifts of each of its members.

John McKnight

Why did you do this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it. I’ve never done anything for you.”

“You have been my friend, replied Charlotte. That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

***************************************E. B. White, American writer,

Charlotte’s Web