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Building Productive Lives
Making A Buzz In The Ottawa Community
Serving People With Intellectual Disabilities Since 1995 |
ON OUR OWN TOGETHER II
Interdependence - Independence - Self-Advocacy
The Innovative LiveWorkPlay Approach To Long-Term
Housing For People With Intellectual Disabilities
June 5: Day 29
For those who aren't catching on from reading this year's chronicles, the biggest challenge to a peer support model isn't being late for work, wearing mismatched socks, or not getting enough to eat. It's all about communication.
This morning a challenging situation became an important opportunity to talk more about how peers support each other. Being a peer means being willing to help, but it also means accepting that someone might not want your help. This is definitely not easy for anyone, and for people with intellectual disabilities there is tremendous stress and anxiety that can result from trying to figure out what to say and how often to say it when you want to be supportive of someone else.
Everyone is learning so much this year, and it goes way beyond this project or housing in general, but the OOOT2 experience is going to help make programs like SMILE, Journeys, and ACES even better. The participants need more than just discussions about how to communicate, they need direct help with strategies for how to carry it out and the opportunity to practice. This is something that is already done to a certain extent, but the type of challenges seen at SMILE are a lot different than the ones coming out in the course of this 50 days. They are a lot more real, and therefore, a lot more important.
The morning was also filled with laundry and organizational tasks. Cooper was seen flouncing down the hallway with his laundry as though he had just won the lottery.
Warren earned a virtual medal this morning for the way he followed the OOOT2 problem-solving system and ensured that his peers got the support that they needed.
Elaine and Jack were back from their trip out east and Ian and Warren's aunt joined them for lunch. Then it was shopping time and figuring out plans for the evening. Most of the group decided to stick with the calendar suggestion for mini-putt and go-karts, but a smaller group organized an art and movie party. More and more the Saturday night plans in OOOT2 seem to be finding a way to offer something for everyone.
Those who stayed up to watch the end of the hockey game were disappointed with the double-overtime Calgary loss. Thankfully - for those anxious to get on with summer - the last game will be Monday night, no matter what.
PICTURES!
Not today! But don't forget to help bring out the crowds!
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