Welcome to the United Nations
8th February 2024, CSocD62 Virtual Side Event, organized by Young Adult Institute Inc (YAI), a US-based community service provider for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The panel engaged valuable perspectives on empowering self-determination through self-directed services; safeguarding mental capacity with supported decision-making; revolutionary personalized employment approaches; interdisciplinary, trauma-informed crisis intervention; and the power of lived experiences in healing and awareness raising.
Ailis Hardy and Tia Nelis from Inclusion International discussed the importance of including people with intellectual disabilities in organizations by using the "Listen, Include, Respect" guidelines, a toolkit for organizations to become more inclusive. The guidelines address the main barrier, lack of awareness, offering a roadmap for change.
Erica Andres, Senior Consultant at Applied Self-Direction, drew from personal experiences. She shared compelling stories illustrating the transformative impact of self-direction in her own journey, highlighting how self-direction enabled her to move into her own apartment and make independent choices in both work and life. Concluding her presentation, she underscored the key points of self-direction, emphasizing its role in empowering people to lead their lives on their own terms.
Beth Keeton, Executive Director of Griffin Hamas Associates, presented a groundbreaking approach to customized employment that expands beyond individualized job creation. Her process not only shows incredible attention to the person's strengths in all areas of life, but also values and thoroughly connects to community resources, broadening the scope of opportunities beyond individualized job creation to include unique small business cooperation and self-employment options, strengthening local communities to become inclusive and grow economically.
Dr. Diane Kaufman, ASHA Board of Directors member and storyteller, child psychiatrist, poet, and artist, introduced "https://myasha.org/" International, a beacon of hope for those grappling with mental illness. Founded by Gayathri Ramprasad, who has firsthand experience with mental health challenges, ASHA aims to normalize discussions about mental well-being and instill hope through personal stories. Using the power of storytelling, ASHA breaks through shame and stigma, fostering conversations about mental health recovery.
Stefon Smith, Director at YAI START discussed the START program, developed by Dr. Beasley. This trauma informed crisis intervention approach, grounded in positive psychology, offers mental health assessment and 24-hour crisis response specifically designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program decreases reliance on emergency interventions and builds capacity of community services within the support system.
The panel concluded with a powerful film by Positive Exposure about the impact of Supported Decision Making in people’s lives, again offering the perspective of lived experiences, capturing people’s humanity and beauty.
For more information about the 62nd Commission for Social Development (CSocD62), please visit: https://social.desa.un.org/csocd/62nd
Source: YAI