Epilogue: Forging a New Reality in a New Century
As we fully enter the new century, it is important to explore the dynamics of what is truly important for people with developmental disabilities, and how the community generally and community services specifically can support them to obtain what is truly important. A new way of thinking about home, learning, work and relationships has supported new directions in community services. The importance of people with disabilities having control over their own lives, with whatever supports that requires, has become much clearer.
The challenge is to forge a new reality with and for people with developmental disabilities based on these understandings. Fundamentally, this means focusing efforts on a single agenda – a meaningful life in the community – rather than continuing to maintain the dual systems of congregation/segregation and integration/inclusion.
It means constructing a system based on values and leadership, and using public dollars to secure outcomes that actually serve the public good and respect the dignity and citizenship of people with developmental disabilities.
It means involving the rest of the community in the lives of people with developmental disabilities, including recognition by community organizations and agencies that people with disabilities have a right to the same services and supports as other citizens.
A New Way of Thinking
In 1987, the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities released A New Way of Thinking. It summarized changes in our thinking and ways of acting based on a great deal of learning about the nature of disability, what people with developmental disabilities are capable of doing, what is important in their lives, and how they can be supported in communities.
A New Way of Thinking described a straightforward agenda of outcomes:
- A home of my own
- Learning for life
- Real work for real pay
- Friendships and relationships.
The challenge is to forge a new reality with and for people with developmental disabilities based on these understandings. Fundamentally, this means focusing efforts on a single agenda – a meaningful life in the community – rather than continuing to maintain the dual systems of congregation/segregation and integration/inclusion.
It means constructing a system based on values and leadership, and using public dollars to secure outcomes that actually serve the public good and respect the dignity and citizenship of people with developmental disabilities.
It means involving the rest of the community in the lives of people with developmental disabilities, including recognition by community organizations and agencies that people with disabilities have a right to the same services and supports as other citizens.
People with developmental disabilities are, first and foremost, people with ability. Without special assistance, some people with developmental disabilities cannot take advantage of the freedoms and opportunities of our society. They are, however, fundamentally more like the rest of the population than they are different from it.
We have learned that services are most successful when basic needs are met in the context of addressing special needs. People with developmental disabilities, like all people, need:
- To be seen, first of all, as people.
- To experience love and friendship.
- To experience continuity in their lives, especially in relation to the people who are important to them.
- To be respected and treated with dignity.
- To have access to opportunities and information, to make choices, and to exercise their rights.
- To learn those skills which are needed to participate, as much as possible, as valued members of their community.
- To have a decent and appropriate place to live.
- To have meaningful employment and contribute to the community.
- To have opportunities to continue to learn throughout their lives.
In response to these basic needs, our hopes for the future and our thoughts about the quality of our lives are often concerned with three basic issues - HAVING A HOME, not just a roof over our heads; LEARNING skills which are useful to our lives and careers, not just going to school; and WORKING, not just keeping busy. There is a fourth issue which gives vitality and fullness to our lives - DEVELOPING AND SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIPS with people who depend on us and upon whom we can depend.
A real home is a place to live the most personal moments of our lives. A home provides security and comfort, allows us to make choices and express ourselves. The people who share our homes are usually the people with whom we choose to spend time, be ourselves and feel close.
Real learning is life long. It means learning to understand ourselves. Learning involves developing skills which are useful to us both as individuals and as members of communities. The people with whom we learn are also teachers. Many become friends we can count on through our lives.
Real work means earning a living, being productive and making a contribution to our community. The relationships we develop with the people with whom we work are important to us.
Having a home, learning and working – each involves us as members of a community who both receive the support of others and make contributions to the community. Each involves us in the continuing process of individual growth and expression. Each involves us in developing relationships.
Having a real friend means being involved with someone who chooses to spend time with you just because they want to and not because they are paid to do so. Real friends broaden our opportunities and enrich our lives. Real friends are hard to find. It takes most of us a long time through contact with many different people to find that small group of friends who really matter. Opportunities that lead to friendships are essential.