Rochelle - Great to see you here, and welcome! I am sure that Lisa Heft for one, and I am sure many others will have useful stuff for you. And I have a question. You said something about "Although this isn't a real life situation." and I am wondering - why not? Surely the clients think their lives are real as also the staff. And no matter where you are, the issues of life usually stare you in the face J One thing I have learned for sure - don't try a "pretend" Open Space. The usual result is that people go through the motions and at the end of the day (or whatever time period) come away with a "Is this all there is?" sort of feeling. And of course, when you are "pretending" - that's all there is, and it ain't much. Maybe pretend is the wrong word and I should be talking about "demonstrating" Open Space. You really can't do that for a simple reason. Open Space runs on passion and responsibility - both of which are (usually) absent in any demonstration or "pretend" situation. So do it for real.
I don't know your community, but I will bet my last dollar (your kind or mine) that there are real, hot issues in the community you serve. I don't know what they are, but I am sure you do. Things like respect, service, resources - something that people care about, and of equal importance, something they can solve, or at least make better by working together. I haven't done much, personally, in communities like yours, but the little experience I have had tells me that somewhere under the surface are a whole bunch of issues around Learned Helplessness - just for openers. And I do know that when the differently abled are invited to share their knowledge and insights, the results can be amazing. In one situation I remember, (and it was in an Open Space) Mary Sue, who hadn't spoken to anybody in years - suddenly came out with a lot of feeling along with great ideas for helping the community (staff and clients) provide more challenging space for people to grow in - assuming responsibility and helping themselves. It was quite a revolution. Suddenly poor old Mary Sue with an IQ of minimal proportions was the teacher and guide. Blew some folks away! Anyhow, have fun. I know you will. Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Dr. Potomac, MD 20854 USA 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) Camden, Maine 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 (summer) 207-763-3261 www.openspaceworld.com www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rochelle England Sent: Monday, March 19, 2012 7:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [OSList] Question about OST meetings/conferences including people with disabilities Hi I'm new to the OS list, living in Wollongong NSW Australia. I attended a couple of OS conferences (eg. Chicago) and training about late 1990's-2000. I am currently studying social work and working on an assignment with a case study involving community development - focusing on the needs of ageing people with developmental disabilities in a rural community. I would like to include a planning event using OST. Does anyone have experience that would be relevant? I am wondering about the logistics involved in inclusion of people with developmental delay in the planning. The people in the case study have been doing some cafe and gardening work and live in a group home run by a charity. Although this isn't a real life situation, I feel that the experience of working it up could become an opportunity to offer an OST approach to the community. Thanks in anticipation Rochelle England
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