A Blogger's Perspective: Part I

West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council
Employment Projects Meeting
January 14, 2010
[Disclaimer] Never having attended a WVDD Council meeting, nor having a background in social services, the impressions recorded are admittedly written on a blank chalkboard.

First of all, the letter "D" in WVDDC stands for "disabilities." Yet the council's focus is NOT on "disabilities," but rather the person and their unique abilities to 'achieve independence, productivity and inclusion in their communities.'

The WVDDC website provides this recommendation: "Generally, in choosing words about people with disabilities, the guiding principle is to refer to the person first, not the disability. . . . This way, the emphasis is placed on the person, not the disability. "

But respecting 'the person' goes far beyond semantics, beyond merely using (or not using) certain words or phrases. It is a complete mind-set that respects the person’s right to choose, and the choices they make. It puts the person first, rather than the whim of a service provider, or the convenience of the agency or institution.

The meeting began with an overview of the DDC’s “State Plan Employment Priorities” for 2010 and beyond. The chairman stated that: “People who have developmental disabilities will have the skills, access, and support they need to obtain valued employment with competitive wages and benefits in their communities consistent with their interests.”

Just how they would go about obtaining valued employment was the subject of considerable discussion.

David Hammis, senior partner of Griffin-Hammis Associates, presented. But he handled the meeting more as a facilitator than as a presenter.

There was some polite disagreement over policy, and some rather candid remarks about the shortcomings of service provides. And so in deference to the participants, names shall not be mentioned.

The discussion began with the question: What is "real work?"

The mother of a young man, labeled as autistic, was thrilled with her son’s new job at the CAMC (Charleston Area Medical Center). Her comment that ‘the job wasn't about money’ struck me. Having a purpose, participating in the community, and making new friends, are rewards far more tangible than a paycheck. She was overjoyed by the help her son received from a Community Resource Provider (CRP) in getting what she called "a real job." She explained that a real job is not something artificially created just for a person to have something to do. Rather, it is doing work in the community along with other workers, filling a real world need and contributing a valuable service that actually benefits the local economy.

On a side note: She strongly complained (though very politely) about the insane amount of paperwork that her son's Medicaid Waiver entailed. But she raved about the benefits of community based employment, as opposed to working in a sheltered workshop.

The discussion touched on the problem of how community based employment faces the challenge of job shortages. Job creation projects for persons with disabilities often only create a limited number of jobs at locations which geographically are out of the reach of most jobseekers in rural WV. Distance and lack of transportation are huge barriers to finding work. The solution may lie in creating jobs by developing programs for self-employment, or creating jobs through what the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy refers to as Customized Employment.

This creates jobs in the communities and counties where jobseekers live, in effect bringing employment to them. It is much more practical for the job specialist to go to the local of the consumer, rather than the other way around. Taking these approaches is a far more effective way of reducing the high percentage of unemployment among West Virginians with disabilities. In 2007, the unemployment rate of working-age people with disabilities in WV was a mind boggling 73.4 percent.

In Part II of this blogger''s perspective will be the direction the discussion took regarding the viability of self-employment and customized employment in West Virginia. The principle of self-determination and person centered services and supports were also addressed. What do jobseekers want, and what works?

There were also comments on the importance of adapting to realities of the 21st century, such as embracing technology.

Stay tuned . . .