WE DO THIS BY:
- Offering individual-centered programming
- Responding to our clients’ wishes
- Being conscious of our clients’ needs
- Helping our clients access the community
- Continuously educating ourselves and our community
- Communicating responsibly and courageously
- Advocating with and on behalf of our clients
- Encouraging self-empowerment
- Teaching vital and expedient life skills
- Allowing the “Dignity of Risk” (link to explanation here)
- Hiring and training capable and energetic staff
- Networking politically and socially
- Partnering with others in our community
Dignity of Risk
Anyone who leads a life of dignity and meaning takes risks. Each of us, in the pursuit of our jobs, our personal and romantic relationships, our leisure activities and our adventures has stepped into the unknown and risked failure, rejection, and even our physical well being. The benefits of succeeding in these situations, or from learning from our mistakes, is a crucial element in our development as independent people.
People who work and live with people with disabilities – usually with the best of intentions – often try to eliminate all of the risks and prevent any opportunities for failure in these individuals’ lives. What can result is a life where an individual has never been tested, has never had opportunity to grow, has never experienced the satisfaction of achieving something that was not certain to be achieved from the beginning.
Allowing individuals to take risks and step into the unknown is part and parcel with treating them as dignified adults. This is not equivalent to encouraging recklessness – allowing risk does not mean being unsafe or setting people up to fail. Rather, by supporting individuals in prudent risk-taking, and utilizing the wealth of teaching opportunities it unearths, we can bring meaning into people’s lives.
Imagine for a moment what it would be like if you were never allowed to take a risk, if others made all of your decisions for you, if others, not you, had the last word on what you were capable of. You certainly wouldn’t deserve such a life; nor do the people we support.
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