Empowering Ability Podcast

#108: Understanding the Impact of Disability Only Workplaces

There's a cafe a few towns over that hires mostly individuals with developmental disabilities.

You may have seen these types of businesses in your area: a cafe, a thrift store, or a packaging facility.

The family behind the cafe started it to provide employment for their daughter and to create opportunities for other people with disabilities.

A heartwarming story...

BUT once you look past the feel-good story, you can see the challenges with this model of employment for people with a disability.

In this podcast, I teach you how to think critically about employment for your loved one with a disability and set them up for success.

🚀 If these strategies resonate with you, Subscribe for Weekly Goodness here: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll
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About Eric Goll:
Welcome to Empowering Ability! I'm Eric Goll, and my mission is to help you ensure your loved one with an intellectual/developmental disability lives an Awesome Ordinary Life! As a family member and coach, I support families touched by autism/ developmental disabilities. I provide the knowledge and tools to cultivate an awesome, ordinary life for your loved ones, ensuring their care and support now and in the future.

🎁 Download my FREE copy of my “Life Planning 101 Guide” to start your loved one's Life Plan Now:  https://www.empoweringability.org/life-planning-guide/
🎙️ Follow the Empowering Ability Podcast: https://bit.ly/EmpoweringAbilityPodcast
🌐 Visit the Empowering Ability Blog: https://www.empoweringability.org/blog/
🔔 Subscribe to this YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll
👨‍👩‍👧 Join the Empowering Ability Family Members Only Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringabilityfamilygroup

#098: Why a Special Needs Trust is NOT a Good Enough Plan: Do These 3 Additional Things

Worried about what's ahead for your loved one with a developmental disability?

It's totally okay to feel unsure, especially when you are trying to plan for their future.

In this episode, I share Jamie's story—a powerful reminder of why just having a Special Needs Trust might not be enough.

Jamie's parents did what they thought was best and set up a special needs trust, but when they were gone, Jamie's life got tough. It took her 3 years to find her way again. I don't want that for you or your loved one. That's why I'm talking about three necessary steps you can take alongside a Special Needs Trust. These steps can really make a difference for your loved one's future, even without you.

I also describe what a Special Needs Trust (USA) and Henson Trust (Canada) are, and why they are important to set up for your loved one with a disability.

Come join me in the video as I explain these steps. Let's face the future together with hope and possibility.

 

🚀 If these strategies resonate with you, Subscribe for Weekly Goodness here: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll

 

About Eric Goll:

Welcome to Empowering Ability! I'm Eric Goll, and my mission is to help you ensure your loved one with an intellectual/developmental disability lives an Awesome Ordinary Life! As a family member and coach, I support families touched by autism/ developmental disabilities. I provide the knowledge and tools to cultivate an awesome ordinary life for your loved ones, ensuring their care and support now and in the future.

 

🎁 Download my FREE copy of my “Life Planning 101 Guide” to start your loved one's Life Plan Now: https://www.empoweringability.org/life-planning-guide/

🎙️ Follow the Empowering Ability Podcast: https://bit.ly/EmpoweringAbilityPodcast

🌐 Visit the Empowering Ability Blog: https://www.empoweringability.org/blog/

🔔 Subscribe to YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll

👨‍👩‍👧 Join the Empowering Ability Family Members Only Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringabilityfamilygroup

#097: How To Make 2024 Your Best Year Yet | For Families with Developmental Disability | Autism

Download a FREE copy of my “7 Strategies for More Independence” guide to boost your loved one's independence: https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/

To get more videos like this, Subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll

As a caregiver, you dream of your loved one leading an independent life, meaning more freedom for your loved one... and for you! In this video, I share insights from families who are making significant progress towards independence with their loved one month after month.

Discover three key strategies for more progress:
1) Persistence with Intention
2) Patience for Your Loved One's Pace
3) Embrace Positivity

Listen to this podcast to learn how to implement these strategies to make 2024 the best year yet for your family.

🚀 If these strategies resonate with you, Subscribe for Weekly Goodness here: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll

About Eric Goll:
Welcome to Empowering Ability! I'm Eric Goll, and my mission is to help you make sure your loved one with an intellectual/developmental disability lives an Awesome Ordinary Life! As a family member and coach, I support families touched by autism/ developmental disabilities. I provide the knowledge and tools to cultivate an awesome ordinary life for your loved ones, ensuring their care and support now and in the future.

🎁 Download my FREE “7 Strategies for More Independence” guide to boost your loved one's independence: https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/
🎙️ Follow the Empowering Ability Podcast: https://bit.ly/EmpoweringAbilityPodcast
🌐 Visit the Empowering Ability Blog: https://www.empoweringability.org/blog/
🔔 Subscribe to this YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll
👨‍👩‍👧 Join the Empowering Ability Family Members Only Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringabilityfamilygroup

#096: How To Teach Social Skills To People with Autism or a Developmental Disability

Download a FREE copy of my “7 Strategies for More Independence” guide to boost your loved one's independence: https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/

To get more videos like this, Subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll

Do you want your loved one with Autism or a developmental disability to have better social skills so that they can have more friends and better relationships with family members?

In this podcast, I give you 3 game-changing strategies to improve social skills by enhancing communication and relationships for your loved one with a developmental disability or Autism.

👉 Key Points:
1) Highlight Your Loved One's Value
2) Practice Conversations
3) Use Social Stories

Implementing these strategies not only enhances how others perceive your loved one but also boosts their confidence. More connections mean increased safety in times when you can't be there. Watch the video to learn how to use these 3 strategies to help your loved one improve social skills and have more connection and relationships in their life.

🚀 If these strategies resonate with you, Subscribe for Weekly Goodness here: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll

About Eric Goll: Welcome to Empowering Ability! I'm Eric Goll, and my mission is to help you make sure your loved one with an intellectual/developmental disability lives an Awesome Ordinary Life! As a family member and coach, I support families touched by autism/ developmental disabilities. I provide the knowledge and tools to cultivate an awesome ordinary life for your loved ones, ensuring their care and support now and in the future.

🎁 Download my FREE “7 Strategies for More Independence” guide to boost your loved one's independence: https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/
🎙️ Follow the Empowering Ability Podcast: https://bit.ly/EmpoweringAbilityPodcast
🌐 Visit the Empowering Ability Blog: https://www.empoweringability.org/blog/
🔔 Subscribe to this YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/YoutubeEricGoll
👨‍👩‍👧 Join the Empowering Ability Family Members Only Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringabilityfamilygroup

#095: 3 Strategies to Make the Holidays Easier For People with a Disability

Looking for more strategies to nurture your loved one’s independence? Download my free “7 Strategies for More Independence” guide: https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/

The holidays can be tough when you have a loved one with a disability, but guess what? I've got your back! 🤍

In this podcast, I'm sharing 3 incredible ways to make this festive season a bit brighter for both you and your loved one.

✨ Key Points:

Give: Discover how a thoughtful, effort-filled gift can showcase your loved one's capabilities and spread joy.

Contribute: Learn how to help your loved one find a valued role at gatherings, supporting confidence and connections.

Space: Navigate the holidays with ease by understanding and respecting your loved one's comfort level with other people.

🌈 Subscribe for Weekly Goodness! If these strategies resonate with you, hit that subscribe button! 🚀

🎁 Free Gift for You! Looking for more ways to nurture independence? Dive into my '7 Strategies for More Independence' PDF guide. https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/


Let's make this holiday season a little more joyful! I'm Eric Goll, and together, let's take a small step forward toward an awesome, ordinary life. 🌈💖

#094: Unlocking Job Success for People with Developmental Disabilities, with guest Milton Tyree

Are you seeking fresh, effective ways to support your loved one with a disability in finding a fulfilling paid job? I've got you covered.​​

In this new podcast episode, Milton Tyree, an Employment Specialist for people with developmental disabilities, teaches us the best practices of customized employment that you can use to support your loved one with a disability to get a job and keep it. There are people with all sorts of disabilities and disability levels that have paid employment, and paid employment is possible for your loved one, too.

There are all sorts of jobs for people with disabilities.

Also, you don't have to accept substandard disability employment support or disability vocational support any longer. Milton's best practices in this episode will help you support your loved one with a disability to land their next job!

With gratitude,

Eric


P.S. Ready to unlock a brighter, more independent future for your loved one with a developmental disability? Click below for your FREE copy of the "7 Strategies for More Independence" guide. Each page is packed with actionable tips to boost their capabilities and confidence.

Download Your FREE Guide Now: https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/

#091: Breaking the Caregiving Dependency Cycle

Ever catch yourself worrying that you’re loved one isn’t capable of independence?

Trust me, you’re not alone. My mom felt the same way about my sister Sarah.

Mom was so worried that Sarah couldn’t even get out of bed on her own. The truth was something else entirely.

… the lengths I had to go to prove it? Let’s just say it’s a story you don’t want to miss!

AND it could very well change how you approach your own caregiving journey.

​Let me tell you the story… listen to this episode!

 

with gratitude,

Eric

 

P.S. Transform worry into action – Prepare your loved one for independence and a secure future:

Register for the Life Plan Workshop [FREE]

#089: Building Independence for People with a Developmental Disability with Routines & Failures

You’re a loving mother committed to your loved one’s growth.

I know it’s challenging, but there’s a way to help your loved one’s independence flourish.

This short podcast reveals two stories, from family members like you, who transformed their loved one’s lives using daily routines, consistency, and even failure.

Growing your loved one’s independence is possible, and I’ve got the next steps for you in this podcast!

 

With gratitude,

Eric

 

Claim your free guide to help you grow your loved one's independence: Download here

#088: Small Steps = Big Progress, for your Loved One with a Developmental Disability

Is your loved one's progress feeling slow?

I want to share a story with you, one that offers a path to independence that you've been looking for.

In this podcast, you'll learn from Lori's journey, a mother who started breaking down bigger tasks for her daughter into small, manageable steps. Lori's patience and pacing paved the way for her daughter's growing confidence and independence.

This story isn't just about Lori's daughter; it's a process you can use with your loved one.

Listen to learn how you can use small steps to help your loved one make more progress.

 

With gratitude,

Eric

 

Claim your free guide to help you grow your loved one's independence:

Download here: https://www.empoweringability.org/independence-tips/

#086: The Secret Sauce to Motivating Your Loved One

Tired of the constant nagging to try and motivate your loved one with a developmental disability to do more at home?

Imagine a world where your loved one is interested in growing their independence without resistance.

The secret is in identifying the perfect opportunity. Let me guide you through it, drawing inspiration from Karen’s story.

In this podcast, I’m going to help you find that right opportunity to engage your loved one.

with gratitude,

Eric

 

 

Claim your free guide ‘Growing Independence in 7 Simple Steps.’

Download Guide

#083 A Lifeline in Your Pocket: Smartphones & Disability

Are you a caregiver for your adult child with a developmental disability? Do you ever feel overwhelmed and scared, wondering who will love and care for your child when you’re no longer able to?

 

I know your fears and struggles, and I’m here to help you discover the power of smartphones in redefining communication, safety, and independence for loved ones with developmental disabilities.

I initially doubted the impact of a smartphone on my sister's life, but it became a gateway to her independence.

In this podcast, I explore how smartphones enhance independence through communication, safety, and organizing life.

Together, we can create a plan for their safety and care in the future. 

 

Are you ready to boost your loved one's independence?!! Click the link below to download your free guide.

Download Your Guide: 10 Tech Tools - To Transition Towards Independence

#078: No one dreams of going to a day program

Are you feeling frustrated with the limited options available for your loved one with a developmental disability?

Do you feel like they're just going through the motions at their day program without really growing or experiencing life to the fullest?

If so, I'm here to tell you that there are better options out there.

 

Why is a day program presented as the only option for adults with developmental disabilities?

The truth is, there are better ordinary options available for your loved one. We're here to help you explore and discover the possibilities that exist to help your loved one live an Awesome Ordinary Life, with more independence, real friendships, and even paid employment.

 

To help you learn more about these options, I've created this podcast to explain why there are better options than a day program and what those options look like.

 

With gratitude,

Eric

 

 

P.S. Want to create an Awesome Ordinary Life with your loved one?!

Click the link below to join our free upcoming workshop:

https://www.empoweringability.org/workshop/

#077: Learn How Elaine Shifted From Caregiver to Coach and Created an Awesome Ordinary Life with Spencer

Spencer and his mom Elaine joined me in this conversation to share how they went from butting heads with each other to collaboratively creating an Awesome Ordinary Life for Spencer.

For them, it felt like other people were picking up their lives after COVID restrictions eased, and they were stuck in isolation.

Spencer shared that he didn't want to leave his bedroom and was on the edge of depression.

Elaine and I started to work together, and Elaine learned to shift from being the caregiver to the coach. When Elaine started collaborating with Spencer, they took some big steps forward.

One big step forward was starting Spencer's support circle of friends, which is a group of people in intentional, reciprocal and freely given relationships with Spencer.

Spencer's confidence has grown; he's exploring his interests in community, and even landed a paid part-time job!

 

P.S. Want to create an Awesome Ordinary Life with your loved one?!

Click the link below to join our free upcoming workshop:

https://www.empoweringability.org/workshop/

#075: From dependence to independence, hear mother Alina’s story.

Alina, the mother of 17-year-old Juliana, joined me to talk about their experience of going from complete dependence on Mom to Juliana growing her capability and independence.

Alina was doing EVERYTHING for Juliana. The idea of independence was there, but Alina was locked into the habit of doing everything.

When Alina thought about Juliana's independence, her fears kicked in, creating a state of overwhelm and keeping them stuck. This resulted in Juliana learning that she couldn't do things.

Then things started to change when Alina and I began to work together. Alina's awareness and mental outlook shifted, which was the key to unlocking Juliana's independence.

Alina no longer feels like the caretaker and has to solve all the problems. Juliana and Alina are now on an equal footing, having more open dialogue, and Juliana is starting to lead her own life!

 

P.S. Want to create an Awesome Ordinary Life with your loved one?!

Click the link below to join our free upcoming workshop:

https://www.empoweringability.org/workshop/

#073: How Chloe left the high school transitions program and gained paid employment

To help you see more ordinary life possibilities for your loved ones with developmental disabilities, I will share stories of families working with their loved ones to take steps forward to create an Awesome Ordinary Life.

Chloe was in a high school transition program for students with disabilities in her final years of high school.

She became increasingly frustrated by the lack of opportunity the transition program provided and felt like it was holding her back.

Chloe, supported by her mom, Laura, decided to leave the support of the transition program and pursue paid employment.

Today, Chloe is gainfully employed, building meaningful relationships with peers at work, and enjoying her interests in ordinary places in the community.

 

Want to create an Awesome Ordinary Life with your loved one?!
Click the link below to join our free upcoming workshop that Laura took to start building an Awesome Ordinary Life with Chloe!

https://www.empoweringability.org/workshop/

#061: The Power Of Positive Vision, with Lorna Sullivan

Lorna Sullivan, a global disability leader who is making significant changes inside the New Zealand social system. Lorna is the founder of the International Initiative for Disability Leadership (IIDL) and Director of Mana Whaikaha. I had the pleasure of learning from Lorna when she was part of the faculty in Michael Kendrick's Optimal Individualized Service Design Course. 

 

In this podcast, we cover a wide range of topics, including: 

• doing away with deficit-based assessments, 
• enhancing a person's mana (explanation inside the podcast), 
• the power of holding a positive vision, 
• the rights of people with disabilities,
• tools for social inclusion, 
• and much more!

 

 

About Lorna Sullivan:

Lorna became involved in being an advocate for people with disabilities by accident. She began her study in the field of Psychology, where she was first exposed to people with disabilities who she didn't know existed because they were hidden from the rest of society. 

 

Lorna realized the damage that is done when a group of people, through no fault of their own, are marginalized from the rest of society and have no mechanism to find their way back.

 

Lorna shares, "If we continue to view disabled people as human tragedy and the best we can do for these people is to care for them; we will continue to deny them every aspect of life that we hold to be valuable." 

 

Lorna helps us understand people with disabilities are the same as every other person, the same human needs, aspirations, and desires. She is on a mission to include people in all areas of society.

 

 

Lorna on Inclusion 

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Lorna shares:

 

There is a fear of rejection, and in many cases, actual rejection is true.

 

My experience has been society wants to engage with people that have disabilities, but they don't know how to. We need to give them [people] the tools to do that [engage]. 

 

The best tool that we have to create more inclusion in society is to keep people close. If a person with disabilities is with other valued people in the Community, it makes it easier for other valued people to communicate with a person with disabilities. It normalizes the person.

 

 

Tweetable Quotes from Lorna:

 

"Never resort to the special, unless you have exhausted the ordinary. If we start in the special, we will always end in the special."

 

"The only thing that will change the trajectory of the lives of people with disabilities is where you have strong families, with strong vision - you have competent disabled people. Where you don't irrespective of the capacity of that person, you have dependency."

 

"Holding a very strong vision for a positive, meaningful, and full life isn't a trivial thing. If you don't hold this vision through the hard times, you will get blown anyway the wind is blowing."

 

This podcast with Lorna Sullivan is jam-packed with wisdom and is a must listen!

 

Also, if you like ideas discussed in this podcast, you are going to love the upcoming FREE Masterclass Workshop Series that guides families to build a strong vision for a positive, meaningful and full life that Lorna was talking about! Click Here to Sign up for free.

 

 

Love & Respect,

Eric

 

 

 

Resources:

Mana Whaikaha website: https://manawhaikaha.co.nz/

 

The International Initiative for Disability Leadership (IIDL) website: http://www.iimhl.com/iidl-homepage.html

Bonus: The two things successful families are doing

Over the past few years, I’ve been thinking deeply about how to best support families with a loved one with a disability to create a happy and full life for their loved one - and a good life that isn’t dependent on parents (forever)…

I know this is possible because I have friends with disabilities who have created this life - my family is going through this transformation, and the families I work with are going through this transformation. In this video, I share one of their stories with you.

 ... and I've found that there is there is ONE key thing in common for all of these families… They have Created a Vision!

As families, we need to be able to imagine the best possible life for our loved one with a disability so that we can then create it.
 

Well, actually there are TWO things all of these families have in common. There are two paths that you can choose as a family (and neither is risk-free). In this video, I tell you about these two paths - and I share with you the ONE path that these families are choosing to create the best life possible for their loved one.

#054: Ben Drew's Mission to Fight Oppression and Create Ordinary Lives for People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

Learn about the Open Future Learning training resource for supporters of people that have an IDD, & how Ben Drew is fighting the oppression of people with IDDs.

 

In this podcast/ blog I had a pleasure of speaking with Ben Drew, Founder of Open Future Learning. Ben has over 20 years of experience working with people with an intellectual or developmental disability starting as learning disability nurse, then going on to create an individualized housing and support service, and he is now the Founder of Open Future Learning. Ben is also an incredible storyteller and even though this podcast is lengthy, it is a pleasure to listen to.

 

Due to the length of the podcast, the blog is broken down into Part 1, and Part 2. In Part 1 of the blog, you will learn about the Open Future Learning training resource for supporters of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs), and Ben's life journey to fight oppression and create ordinary incredible lives for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. In Part 2 of the blog, you will learn about 3 foundational support principals for exceptional support. As always, all of these insights can be heard by clicking play on the podcast player below.

 

 

You can listen to this conversation in its entirety by clicking play on the player below, OR by clicking one of the following links to listen on your favourite podcast player; iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.

 

What is Open Future Learning?

 

Open Future Learning is an Online learning resource 100% dedicated to the field of intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs). The platform is developed for support staff, but anyone that touches the lives of people with IDD can benefit from the resource. The platform has a wide range of learning modules (for example: abuse prevention to social valued roles) which are delivered as interactive multimedia books. Open Future Learning is known for their short films and they have an on-demand video library with just over 700 short films featuring the leading global thinkers on IDD. They have also created a new product called Side-By-Side learning. 

 

Ben explains, “ We have the saying from self-advocates, ‘Nothing about us, without us’, but we don’t live up to this. Training is one of those things. So we developed ‘side-by’side’ learning. The person that receives the support and provides the support do the learning together. They are short 30-minute interactive learning modules."

 

Ben continues, "Much of the content is created in collaboration with many of the leading minds in the developmental disability community. It is a really financially efficient way to get people to access these leading minds, compared to only the select few that were able to go to a conference."

 

The platform is designed for support organizations and priced accordingly, however, if you are an individual learner or a family and you want access to this resource you can email Ben and he will help you to access this resource. Email hello@openfuturelearning.org

 

 

 

Ben Drew’s Mission To Fight Oppression and Create Ordinary Lives for People with IDDs:

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Ben shares his story:

 

“I grew up in the UK in a small town called Devon. On the outskirts of the town, there was a small community for people with IDDs. It was kind of like Camphill without the farm. My best friend from school lived in that community, his parents managed the community. He lived in this cluster of houses where people with IDDs lived. It was great because we played football (soccer) on demand, it was mostly guys, and I got to know all of these people in the best way. When these guys came into the town the way that other people interacted with them was different. They teased them, they spoke behind their backs about them. This always sat with me and it was the starting point to wanting to work with people with disabilities. Went I was 18 years old I went to a summer camp for people with IDDs in the US, and really enjoyed it. Then came back to the UK and got a job with a guy named Gary Kent. He lived in a large residential home with 20 people with IDDs. It was a hospital that had been converted for people with IDDs to live after the institutions closed. Gary lived there as well but decided he wanted his own home. He left and purchased his own home in a nearby village. When Gary came back to the residential home he said he had to close down the residential home. He had seen the other side of life. He was learning how to cook, he was in his own community, he had control over his life and his environment - and he wanted everyone else to have that.

 

There was a guy that lived there [in the residential home] that was physically abusive, and there was a guy that was a runner. When the runner chose where he wanted to live, he never ran away again. The guy who was a hitter moved into a home of his own and he stopped hitting people. You can be getting really good support and if the environment isn’t right and the location isn’t right - you can only so so much.”

 

Insight: This was a huge lesson for Ben when he saw the change in people when they got control of their lives. These oppressive environments occur in residential homes, but they can also happen within our family homes. Speaking from personal experience, my parents home became an oppressive environment for my sister Sarah (who has an IDD) due to a lack of choice, social isolation, and lack of transportation. Most of Sarah’s decisions were made for her and most things were done for her. Of course, these things were done with the best of intentions, but this caused more stress and anxiety on everyone in the household, everyone entering the household, and suppressed opportunities for Sarah to grow. Sarah has moved out of her parents home and into a home shared with me where she now has choice and control of her life.

 

Ben continues with a leadership insight:

 

“Vulnerability of leaders is important. Gary was always incredibly transparent. He would always share his mistakes and things he had messed up. The residential home was just another thing. In order to empower everyone else underneath him, he had to be that way. The people underneath him could also make mistakes, they could also mess-up. I see cultures in organizations coming down on people. If you make a mistake it is a warning, if you make 3 mistakes you aren’t allowed to do things anymore. That culture just doesn’t work.”

 

Ben then when on to set up service to help 100 people with IDDs over 6 years to buy or rent their own home, manage their own supports with their own budgets, in Bristol UK, using the formula Gary gave him. Ben then moved to New York, and that is where he started Open Future Learning.

 

Part 2 of this blog is coming on December 18th, with insights on 3 fundamental support principals that are foundational to great support. If you want to learn about these core support principals now, you can do so by listening to the podcast.

 

Ben is also the creator of memes that help to nudge people in the direction of being more accepting, more inclusive, and to develop the understanding of what it is like to live with an intellectual or developmental disability. Here are a couple of my favourites:

 

 

 

 

 

If you received value from reading this blog or listening to this podcast episode I encourage you to share it with someone else you feel would benefit.

 

You can also support this work by subscribing. This podcast and blog is supported completely by listeners and readers like you. Thank you to those that have supported by subscribing!

 

 

Love & Respect,

Eric Goll

 

 

 

 

Resources:

 

http://www.openfuturelearning.org/

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/OpenFutureLearning

 

Email: ben@openfuturelearning.org

 

 

 

If you received value from this content please leave me a review on iTunes. By leaving a 5 star review on iTunes you make the Empowering Ability Podcast more discoverable, and more families will benefit. Click Here To Leave a Review on iTunes

 

 

 

The Empowering Ability Podcast is available on iTunes and various other apps so that you can listen while on the go from your smartphone!

 

Click Here To Listen on iTunes

#053: Personal Support Networks, with Rebecca Pauls

In this episode, you will learn all about Personal Support Networks! You might have heard of support circles, circles, microboards, or aroha's (there are probably names I'm missing), but theses are all forms of Personal Support Networks. Rebecca Pauls, Director of Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN), shares with us with us what a Personal Support Network is, how they can benefit you, and how to go about building one.

 

Rebecca is the Director of Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN), a Vancouver-based social enterprise that partners with families and people facing social isolation to secure their future by mobilizing relationships and leveraging community assets. Since joining PLAN three years ago, Rebecca has led a complete re-design of programming to integrate principles of person-centred planning, ABCD, narrative therapy, and independent facilitation. After demonstrating the strength and flexibility of this community approach, Rebecca is regularly invited to consult with organizations about how it can be scaled and applied to population groups across North America.

 

You can listen to this conversation in its entirety by clicking play on the player below, OR by clicking one of the following links to listen on your favourite podcast player; iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.

 

How did PLAN Originate?

 

Rebecca shares:

 

“PLAN is an advocacy group in BC, which started with a group of parents that came together and founded PLAN 30 years ago. These parents believed their sons and daughters could contribute and be included in the community. The work of PLAN is charting a new path that is full of opportunity for people with disabilities. They are thinking about the present, but also the future. What happens when we are gone? This is when the idea of personal support networks really began to mobilize.”

 

One of PLAN’s ultimate aims is to create a Good life for families, which includes; Friends and relationships, making a contribution, being empowered to make choices, a place to call home, financial stability, parents have peace of mind. The basis of all of these things is to have people and relationships to do life together with. One of the main tools used at PLAN to accomplish this is personal support networks.

 

 

What is a Personal Support Network?

 

We all have a network – a group of people we depend on for companionship, support and decision making. This typically includes our family, friends, and neighbors, but also professionals like counselors or financial advisors. This group can be considered your “Personal Support Network”, and it reflects your personal interests, abilities, and needs. The specific individuals will vary by person and may change over time. Some networks will include many, while others just a few people. (Reference: PLAN website)  

 

What is the Purpose of a Personal Support Network?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast Rebecca Shares:

 

To ensure that no one is alone or so no one is stuck in isolation. Sometimes we hear the saying that loneliness is the only debilitating disability. A personal support network is to ensure that everyone can live in an inclusive community. There are all sorts of things people in the network can do together and accomplish. At the heart of it is recognizing that we have the support that we need to live the life that we want and dream of for ourselves.

 

 

What are you seeing for people with Disabilities that have an intentional personal support network, vs those who do not?
 

Paraphrasing from the podcast Rebecca Shares:

 

“I think the difference comes in when the unpaid relational support is involved. When there isn’t a personal support network they might live a life where they don’t have friends. When a personal support network is involved and parents aren’t able to be involved, there are people that are there to play important and specific roles. At PLAN we have mentors to support families with building and maintaining these Personal Support Networks.

 

In different times in a person’s life, they might depend on a person’s personal support network in different ways. When they are a young person or things are going well they might do more fun and social things. At different points in life when challenging situations come up, or there is a need for planning and advocacy it might be more formal. You can often hear these networks being called natural supports, or circle of support, or microboard (which is the most formal way of setting up a personal support network). The most important thing is not what you call it, but in the way that people are working together. It is important not only for people with disabilities, but it is more like a way of being, and a way of living our lives. It is sometimes difficult to build or maintain those personal networks. PLAN has a community connector or mentors to help keep everyone connected.

 

How does someone build a personal support network?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast Rebecca Shares:

 

“We start by getting to know who the person is, their gifts, what they think about, what they like to do, and the things that they care about. We build relationships based on common interests. When we build the network we focus on gifts and the uniqueness of each person. Then we think of who are all of the people in your life and build a relationship map. If there aren’t a lot of people in your life we think about if you did have people in your life, what roles would they play?

 

Then we look to the community. We believe that our communities are full of welcoming places and other people with gifts. When we look to build the connections we look for groups that are already in place. The role of the community connector is to create opportunities for the person to get connected.

 

Turning those relationships into a network is a matter of talking about what is important. We encourage people to share what is important in their life right now. The community connector can help to create the opportunities for people together.

 

As we reach a time where a generational shift is happening, the parents that created inclusion across the country are reaching their 70’s the rubber is hitting the road in terms of these networks and transition.

 

Building networks is a little bit counter-cultural, we are getting busier, and we are living more isolated lives, we don’t know our neighbors as much as we used to. ”

 

You can access the resources on building personal support networks (e-books and online courses) mentioned on the podcast in the resource section at the bottom of this blog).

 

 

 

Who plays the community connector role?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast Rebecca Shares:

 

“Sometimes there is a natural connector in a person’s life. In other situations, the family might hire someone to play that role (Like the service PLAN offers). Some organizations train their personal support workers to take a network approach. The supporter will ask the question, who else can we involve?

 

Personal support networks usually come together every month or every other month to do some planning and to talk about what the priorities are for that month, and how they can support each other.”

 

 

What do personal support network meetings look like?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast Rebecca Shares:

 

“Some are very structured and some are very natural. We plan based on what that person is comfortable with, what the current needs and priorities are. At PLAN every 6 months we create work plans. For the next 6 months, what do we want to accomplish? Do we plan events and celebrations, look for job opportunities, or find a new apartment. Each month the community connector will send a monthly update on the progress that is made.”

 

On the podcast, Rebecca gives examples of what support networks and roles people play in a support network can look like.

 

What are you currently learning at PLAN?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast Rebecca Shares:

 

“PLAN has done a good job helping families build networks which have resulted in friendships and community contribution, but we are starting to really work toward helping people put those networks to work. Passing the baton from mom and dad to other people in the network, before we reach a crisis point and being proactive. Identifying the key roles, and what is the succession plan. Inviting network members and transferring the knowledge to the next generation. It is succession planning, what do we need to know and how do we start to pass this along. Roles like trustee, guardian or power of attorney, or more practical things like who is going to help this person go to the bank or transportation.”

 

PLAN has also developed a new planning tool that works to answer the question, do families have peace of mind? This is an interesting question because peace of mind is dynamic and it changes. This new planning tool helps families to understand if they have peace of mind in the different areas of life, and it helps families to think about what they need to do to get there. Listen to the podcast to learn more about this thinking that Rebecca shares.

 

A final message from Rebecca, “Personal support networks are about relationships. They are about living intentionally together and supporting each other and sharing what is important to us. For me personally, because of all of the changes we see happening in families and people sadly passing away, there is a real urgency for us to begin asking the question, ‘What does this {personal support networks] really look like?’, and, ‘Are we intentionally supporting each other?’. Do we know people that don’t have any relationships?, and asking ourselves, 'what we can do?'. There are all kinds of possibilities to connect and we just need to go after them."

 

 

If you received value from reading this blog or listening to this podcast episode I encourage you to share it with someone else you feel would benefit.

 

You can also support this work by subscribing. This podcast and blog is supported completely by listeners and readers like you. Thank you to those that have supported by subscribing!

 

 

Love & Respect,

Eric Goll

 

 

 

 

Resources:

 

Safe and secure, by Al Etmanski 

 

Online 6-week course called Personal Support Network Facilitation

 

Planinstitute.ca has several online resources in their learning center

 

 

 

If you received value from this content please leave me a review on iTunes. By leaving a 5 star review on iTunes you make the Empowering Ability Podcast more discoverable, and more families will benefit. Click Here To Leave a Review on iTunes

 

 

 

The Empowering Ability Podcast is available on iTunes and various other apps so that you can listen while on the go from your smartphone!

 

Click Here To Listen on iTunes

#052: Creating a Pathway to Employment, with Joe Dale

Joe Dale and I explore the untapped labour pool of people with disabilities, uncover the benefits of employing people with disabilities, and discuss approaches people with disabilities can take to gain employment.

 

Today businesses are asking, ‘Where do we find good people?’, and people with disabilities are asking ‘Where do I get a job?’. This podcast/ blog with Joe Dale, Executive Director of the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN), explores these questions.

 

Joe has worked in the field of disability for over 35 years and spent much of that time addressing issues related to employment for people with disabilities. He is an internationally renowned speaker, speaking to business, governments, and not-for-profits on the issue of strategic engagement of people with disabilities in the workforce.

 

The Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)

 

ODEN is a professional body of employment service providers united to increase employment opportunities for people who have a disability. They have over 110-member agencies, all in the business of helping people with a disability get into the workforce.

 

ODEN focuses on 4 core areas:

1. Engaging and educating businesses on hiring people with a disability. They also support businesses to develop successful hiring practices.

2. Supporting disability employment agencies with training that builds their capacities and skills.

3. Advocating on employment for people with a disability to the provincial and federal governments.

4. Engaging and educating other stakeholders that prepare people with disabilities for the workforce, including school boards and family groups.

 

 

The Employment Landscape

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Joe shares:

 

“There are a lot of barriers for people with disability to enter the workforce. However, there has been a drastic change in the last couple of years. Businesses are now moving from awareness of the benefits people with a disability can provide to their business, to how do we employ people with disabilities. And, thinking about what does it look like in our workplace?

 

We have done a lot of awareness over the last 10 years and this is starting to pay off. Businesses are also challenged with the labour shortages, so businesses are now looking at what was once considered non-traditional labour sources.”

 

 

Currently the unemployment rate is 5.5% in Canada, but what does that look like for people with disabilities?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Joe shares:

 

“Statistics Canada reported that 49% of people with disability are not in labour market. This doesn’t include people who have never had a job or have given up on trying to find a job. For the 51% of people in the labour market, we are seeing anywhere between 16 – 25% employment rate. From this, we can assume people with a disability that are not working in Canada is around 70%.

 

In the US, they do their research differently, they show about 18% of people with a disability are working.”

 

 

 

What Do Businesses Need to Know About Disability?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Joe shares:

 

“Businesses don’t know what they don’t know. Businesses aren’t fully aware of disability as a demographic. We try to illustrate what disability looks like in their community.

 

16% of Canadians identify that they have a disability across Canada. This is a very large demographic. If you add family and loved ones of those people, 53% of Canadian’s are impacted by disability. These people have a very strong connection to disability.

 

What would this look like in your place of business? We do this through case studies and by breaking down the myths and stereotypes.. 

 

We are shifting mindsets away from charity and pity, a mindset of contribution. This is what businesses need to see to get them to buy in and employ people with a disability in a sustainable way."

 

 

Learn can learn more about the Myths to employing people with a disability in this podcast/ blog with Laura McKeen. 

 

 

 

What is the business case to employ people with a disability?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Joe Shares the following case studies:

 

 

Case Study 1: Walgreens

 

Walgreens is a large pharmacy retailer in the United States that has inclusive hiring practices. In 2006, they opened a new distribution center in South Carolina. When staffing this distribution centre they started with the goal of staffing 1/3 of this workforce with people that have a disability. In the end, they hired 40% of their workforce with people that have a disability. At the end of the first year, this distribution centre was the most productive centre for all of Walgreens in the US.

 

A year later they opened a distribution centre in Connecticut and they went in with the same mindset and hired 45% of people with disability. It opened in 2007 and has had the highest production of all Walgreens distribution centers every year since it opened. They have a 63% reduction in employee costs! Lower absenteeism, lower turnover, and fewer workplace accidents. What they are seeing is higher productivity at lower cost. This equates to profits.

 

More on the Walgreens Case Study. Click Here

 

 

 

Case Study 2: Mark Wafer, Tim Hortons

 

Mark Wafer owed 6 Tim Horton’s coffee shops in the Greater Toronto Area, in Ontario Canada. 15% -20% of their staff was people who had a disability. Employees with disabilities had an 87% higher attendance rating, and no work injury claims. Mark’s coffee shops had a turnover of 38% in an industry where the average was 110%. At $4,000 per new hire, there was a significant reduction in costs. His employees with a disability had almost 0% turn over, and employees without disabilities had a 55% turn over, which was still half of the industry average. He put it down for employees being engaged because he is an inclusive employer.

 

These costs savings are often offsetting the costs of a little bit slower production or the cost of accommodations.

 

Additionally, prior to Mark selling his business, his coffee shops ranked #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 in key sales/ profitability indicators among 500 Tim Hortons coffee shops in Central Ontario.

 

 

More on Tim Hortons Case Study. Click Here

 

 

Additionally, Joe shares:

 

“Many businesses are contacting ODEN today to learn about how to employ people with disabilities. We would like to get to 16 -20% of employees in a workplace be people with a disability.

 

We also see the growth rate for people with a disability that get into the workplace their growth rate is phenomenal. Within 2 or 3 weeks they can become a different person and can exceed expectations. This is due to the opportunity, environment, and role modelling.”

 

 

 

How can families and agencies help people with disabilities to gain employment?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Joe shares:

 

“It’s really about raising expectations. Overall our expectations of people with a disability are too low. We need to identify the goal that we have for people that have a disability. If the goal is for the person with the disability to have a job, we need to create a different path. We need to change the educational system to support this goal.

 

For families, if employment is a goal what happens at home has to change. We need to ask questions like, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and we need to ask ‘Do we give them chores?’. We need to raise expectations, have high goals, and change the path to support these goals.”

 

I agree with Joe, we need to think bigger and get out of the disability box. This requires a switch from deficits thinking to contribution thinking, and we need to be a champion for that individual. Once you have people holding low expectations of you, you live up to those low expectations. We live up to expectations, so hold high expectations and be a champion for people with disabilities by upholding their dreams and influencing others to do the same.

 

 

Joe shares:

 

“There is research out of the US that shows the indicators of labour market attachment for people with severe disabilities are:

1. A single paid job while in high school

2. Family members and others around that have high expectations

 

This leads to asking the question, ‘How do we mirror the experiences for people with disabilities the same as those around them?’ Peers and siblings. This includes responsibilities, chores, and part-time jobs. This helps the person to also learn what they like, what they don’t like.”

 

 

Learned Helplessness

 

What I have observed in my work is that parents and supporters are trying to be helpful by doing things for the person with a disability, but by doing this it creates dependencies. It teaches the person with the disability that they can’t do things. Now when that person with a disability is asked to do something they have learned that they ‘can’t’ do the task, even when they are in a new environment. In positive psychology, this behavior is called Learned Helplessness. However, this can be changed with learned optimism. By the way, my family has been caught in the learned helplessness trap. I am not judging here, simply pointing out my observations.

 

 

 

Work or Activities?

 

Paraphrasing from the podcast, Joe shares:

 

“It is a challenge when activities, like bowling or swimming, get in the way of the work opportunity. Generally, we don’t do these things instead of work. This is a values proposition that needs to be considered by families. The more conditions we place on work, the more difficult engaging in work becomes.”

 

Insight: Put the job first, remove the conditions on the employment.

 

 

What suggestions do you have for people with disabilities that are 25 to 45 years old, and have never been in the job market?

 

Joe shares:

 

“It might mean backing up a bit and starting with a part-time job that many of us would have had while in school. Such as at McDonald's. But don’t let the progress start there. We need to start creating that path.

 

The more experiences a person has had the better their decision making becomes on what they would like to do 1 to 2 years from now or even tomorrow.”

 

 

 

Fair Pay for People with Disabilities

 

Joe shares:

 

“Working for free, or saying the person doesn’t need equal pay is a very bad attitude. Society values people that work, pay taxes and contribute, and much more so than people that live off the tax system. To see someone contributing to the tax system in your community brings value to that person.

 

It is important for peers and supervisors to see that person as valuable. If two people are working side by side and one person is getting paid full wage, and the other person is receiving less than full wage, it tells the rest of the world that that person is not as valuable as the person making full wage beside them. That is a real damaging long-term scenario. The perception is that the person with a disability as being seen as valued is critical. I fight against anything that looks like less than a fair wage. If the perception is that the person is less valuable, who is the person that is going to be let go in an economic downturn? The person that is seen as less valued.

 

Also, It is a myth that by working the person will earn less money with the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). No matter what the person earns they will always have more money in their pocket at the end of the day. They never lose never money by working. It is a fallacy that people will have less money if they work."

 

 

I agree with Joe’s perspective on fair wage. Additionally, consider the person with a disability that is receiving less than an equal wage. If that person is perceived by others as not valued, then they will not feel valued themselves. If I am not feeling valued I am not going to be excited about going to work.

If you received value from reading this blog or listening to this podcast episode I encourage you to share it with someone else you feel would benefit.

 

You can also support this work by subscribing. This podcast and blog is supported completely by listeners and readers like you. Thank you to those that have supported by subscribing!

 

 

Love & Respect,

Eric Goll

 

 

 

 

Resources:

 

ODEN Website: Odenetwork.com

 

Tim Hortons Case Study: Click Here

 

Walgreens Case Study: Click Here

 

 

If you received value from this content please leave me a review on iTunes. By leaving a 5 star review on iTunes you make the Empowering Ability Podcast more discoverable, and more families will benefit. Click Here To Leave a Review on iTunes

 

 

 

The Empowering Ability Podcast is available on iTunes and various other apps so that you can listen while on the go from your smartphone!

 

Click Here To Listen on iTunes