|
UDaily
National developmental disabilities leaders attend UD institute
4:22 p.m., July 29, 2009----Leaders in the developmental disabilities field met at the University of Delaware this summer to help assure the  quality and commitment of the next generation of leaders for organizations serving people with developmental disabilities.
The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities (NLCDD) at the Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) at the University of Delaware held the Summer 2009 Leadership Institute, a conference featuring some of the biggest names in the field of developmental disability supports, from July 12-17.
The NLCDD is co-directed by Steven M. Eidelman, H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership at the University of Delaware, and Nancy Weiss, a researcher at the Center for Disabilities Studies.
The 29 participants, who came from across the United States and as far as Italy and Canada, spent the week participating in group discussions, exercises and lectures in order to develop and enhance their leadership skills.
Eidelman came to UD in the fall of 2005 with the goal of focusing on developing the next generation of leaders for this quickly changing field. With that goal in mind, he developed the first National Leadership Institute, which took place in July 2006, and there have been two to three conferences held every year since then.
The leadership institute was partly created because there are concerns that many leaders of disability  organizations are reaching retirementage and there is not a “next generation” of leaders prepared to move into these roles.
“We wanted to bring national and emerging leaders together and see what was possible,” Eidelman said. “So far, feedback has been very positive, and the institutes will be spreading throughout the country, led by UD.”
Goals of the leadership institutes include that participants learn about how to bring about the shift to individualized and responsive supports, rather than inflexible and congregate services, and that they commit to self-direction and the need for people with disabilities and their families to function as full participants and leaders in service delivery and system reform. Ideally, the participants will use the knowledge they have gained to become more effective leaders and use the connections they have gained to network around topics of system reform and the provision of quality supports.
“People come away with an understanding of their own leadership styles, their strengths and the areas on which they need to focus,” Weiss said. “They leave with a much fuller understanding of the ways in which the field is shifting -- including changes in the ways supports are offered, demographic changes, changes in funding and changes in service models.”
Weiss said the conferences have many advantages for individuals who want to make a bigger impact in the field.
“People are able to form a community and a network to help move their understandings and the field forward,” she said. “They can use the network of the 250 past graduates of the Leadership Institute to seek information, discuss ethical issues and to request resources.”
Tim Quinn, from The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region in Maryland, is a regular faculty member of the NLCDD leadership institutes and says he keeps coming back because the message of the institute is so valuable. At this summer's institute, he spoke about the transformation from traditional group home and sheltered workshop services to individual support services.
“We hear pretty unanimously that participants are terribly moved and get a positive impact out of these conferences. For some, it is even career-changing,” he said. “Many participants are state government officials and others who have impact on policy. The passion and energy they get from the leadership institutes go back to their organizations and they have an incredibly positive influence.”
The National Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities is a partnership of nine major national developmental disability organizations. The goal of the consortium is to offer the necessary training for emerging leaders in the developmental field to embrace the values and build the skills necessary to work in government and nonprofit organizations that support people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Article by Jon Bleiweis
Photos by Ambre Alexander
merseycares
Volume 5
Issue 2
April/May 2009
LYNNE SEAGLE, one of the country's leading consultants in organisational development and supported living services, spearheaded a special day for learning disabilities staff and partner organisations held at Aintree Race Course.
Service manager Irene Byrne¬Watts said: "Lynne has worked with learning disabilities services over the last 20 years and has done considerable work with both the leadership team and other teams within the directorate so has a real understanding of our work with people and what we are aiming to achieve.
"Her focus is on the importance of openness and honesty in human services, the importance of knowing yourself and the impact that emotions and behaviours can have on teams and ultimately the people we support."
Lynne consults widely throughout the US, UK and Asia and was awarded the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation's International Future Leader Award and was honoured as Virginia Administrator of the Year. She served as a member of the President's Commission on Learning Disabilities and is on the advisory Board of the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation. She has served as executive director of Hope House Foundation for over two decades.
At Aintree, Lynne covered:
• What it takes to make organizations great
• The key to success as teams and services come together
• In human services, training is an important requirement; ongoing personal development is a necessity!
• Effective communication – what is it?
• Functions of leadership and management – what’s the difference?
Irene said: 'We were delighted that the day was attended by a number of staff from throughout the Trust, both corporate and clinical, and representatives from partner agencies in Liverpool, enabling us to share information and 'best practice' to ,a wider audience."
The feedback from all those who attended was extremely positive with people feeling both inspired and motivated by the day and requests for further events.
New Hope House CD Now for Sale- Click here to check out a review of the CD by Veer Magazine
When we throw open the doors, we welcome friends and neighbors, celebrating inclusion and acceptance, friendship and joy. With that in mind, Hope House Foundation is presenting Open Doors, a thoughtful musical compilation by artists who support the mission of Hope House: to break down barriers and embrace every member of our community through open doors.
All musicians on the CD have performed at Hope House events over the past 25 years. A full 20 original tracks are included; filled with musical messages of hope and community. Musicians include well known artists, such as Joan Osborne and Dar Williams (who played Hope House fundraisers at the Naro Theater in Ghent in the ‘90’s) and many local favorites such as Julie Clark, Narissa Bond, and The John Toomey Trio. Also included are beautiful instrumentals from Steven Bennett, Lewis McGehee, the Tidewater Guitar Orchestra, and BJ Leiderman.
The CD can be purchased at the Hope House Thrift Shop (on Monticello Ave., opposite Doumars, in Norfolk), at Birdland Records in Va. Beach, at DnD music in Chesapeake, and at the Hope House Administrative Office at the corner of Boush St. and Olney Rd. in Norfolk. Additional locations will be added. A limited number of copies are available and all proceeds go to support services provided by Hope House Foundation.
The diverse and eclectic spectrum of musical genres on this compilation reflect Hope House’s belief in the rich magic we create when we open doors to all our community members. This CD is dedicated to the people supported by Hope House Foundation, in tribute to the value everyone brings to our community.
For more information please contact Jan Larson Kenny at 255-0989 or jlarson@hope-house.org
LOCAL GROUP BECOME SELF-ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
March 19, 2009
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Self-advocacy comes to life as a group of adults with developmental disabilities gathered together for the purpose of forming relationship, in the end a partnership was formed - “People for People”. The group broke into five smaller groups and set out on a fact-finding journey to public venues in the area – their goal – to find new social and volunteer opportunities, as well as, research accessibility, affordability and inclusion for people with disabilities.
Group members are supported by a variety of local agencies such as Hope House Foundation, Eggleston Services, Virginia Beach Supported Living Program, Support Services of Virginia, Virginia Beach Community Services Board and the Southeast Virginia Training Center.
“People for People” were pleased to see that many venues were accessible, people they encountered were very welcoming and helpful and some businesses even offered discounts for people with disabilities. However, they discovered despite improved access and increased public awareness they encountered significant barriers that still exist. Some of their findings include: not all public locations were accessible due to lack of accessible parking, curb cuts and safe sidewalks, getting into these locations was complicated and hazardous at best. Once inside, they found doors, bathrooms and fountains were not always ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. Transportation within the community often was inadequate or costly and some employees in the public venues were not welcoming.
Through this endeavor the group realized the project was more than a fact-finding journey, but a reason to form a self-advocacy group. The group will continue to meet and work as a team towards a common goal, to be more active in their community, using their abilities to give back to others and seek better access to public venues, increasing their freedom to go where they choose.
For more information about “People for People”, please contact Paula Traverse Charlton at 757/625-6161 or ptcharlton@hope-house.org.
Click here to read our news archives
|
