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Well, in January of 2012, a cross ministry committee of deputy ministers
released a report
about
how community living services could be improved
and one of the key recommendations was that
people with developmental disabilities themselves should be directly consulted
about their experiences in the service system
and
uh... their thoughts about how the
system could be improved
the consultation began with establishing a reference group of people with
developmental disabilities
People on the reference group helped to guide the process and ensure it was
designed in a way that accommodated to the needs of people with disabilities
and included the range of people that make up the uh...
community of people with development disabilities in the province
after the reference group uh... mentioned uh... we proceeded with a
series of
interviews and meetings in the community
meetings were held either one to one or in small groups
the participants were asked series of questions that have been
tested with the reference group and asked people about the kinds of services
they received
what worked well, what didn't work well and what an ideal
service system would look like
i think that
the most important thing that happened in this consultation is that
new leaders emerged, people
who have not been asked for their opinions in the past
and it reaffirms that people with developmental disabilities
have tremendous insights into their own experiences into their communities into
how more inclusive community can be created
one of the best known of these leaders was Barb Good and I've had the
opportunity to be involved with Barb in a number of activities and projects
over the last twenty years
So Barb is really
I think a central figure in this process She was part of the reference group she
was one of the community
meeting participants
and her values make up all of the good things that this
report reflects
Well Barb, thanks for sitting down
and chatting with me, we're going to have a little conversation about our experience over the last
two months
uh... with the self-advocacy engagement process
I was very
honoured to be involved
but i think
for me having
hearing people's stories over the years
It was
neat
because there were so many different stories that have been changed over the years
Barb, why do you think it's
important to have self-advocates involved in the process
I just think it's important to have people involved with the services it
to help with the planning
and
be involved as much as possible
Why do you think was important that we went to
uh... communities maybe that
didn't get visited and didn't get
uh... involved in things like this very often
because not everybody like
people that are uh... out in the boonies
they might not
they have different stories, yeah like being
isolated
more isolated than down here
So we went to twelve communities in every region of the province and
and there were very different experiences so people in Vancouver
uh... have different issues in getting services then people in Dease Lake, for example
where there is a very small population and not very many services
and it would be harder for people to get around to services, yeah
transportation
Good point
and relying on other people to take them
We also asked people, you know, what services they received and how they were
planned and there was a big difference between
uh... the satisfaction of people who
had a voice in planning their own services and others who were
you know forced or required to live with uh... other people just
because that was that was done a long time ago
Or having a program planned
when you're not even there in person
someone else plans it for you
What else do you think needs to happen to to give people more
uh... more choices more meaningful
unemployment or volunteer work?
More choices out there
like I can remember
that years ago it used to be
janitorial and
certain jobs that
people thought they could do only
Now people are doing a whole bunch of duties
So how will you
know that that
people have been heard
after this process is done
I seen people and
working with people
or seen people happier with what they're doing
in their lives
I think that
it reinforces the notion that services are are not the answer, they're essential, but
that the real ingredient comes from relationships and uh... philosophy of
inclusion
So, I hope it serves as a a model for
ongoing consultations which I know is important
to you to ensure that
self advocates
have a voice in making the service system better and the community more
inclusive so i want to thank you again for everything that you contributed to
the process
It is my pleasure
I like doing this kind thing, educating people about what's going on
hopefully everyone
that wants to do this will get a chance to tell thier
tell people how they're feeling about issues
that concern all our lives
with someone
as supportive in the government like Fred and other people