Ageing Well Network – Wednesday, Ageing Well Network – Wednesday, March 25March 25thth 2009 2009 (Speaking Notes)(Speaking Notes)

Key co-ordinatesKey co-ordinates

* “* “What people want is usually modest. When critics say we cannot afford choice, they have typically What people want is usually modest. When critics say we cannot afford choice, they have typically

confounded what is important to people with what might be nice to have.”confounded what is important to people with what might be nice to have.” John O’Brien & Connie John O’Brien & Connie

Lyle O’BrienLyle O’Brien

* “People will make a life with whatever there is …. That is the great gift of people with an intellectual * “People will make a life with whatever there is …. That is the great gift of people with an intellectual

disability…”disability…” John O’BrienJohn O’Brien

* A diagnosis is not a vision….* A diagnosis is not a vision….

* The dangers of under-expectation are much more serious and life-limiting than any dangers of over-* The dangers of under-expectation are much more serious and life-limiting than any dangers of over-

expectation…..[we must] be a friend of people’s potential, not an obstacle to it.”expectation…..[we must] be a friend of people’s potential, not an obstacle to it.” Michael KendrickMichael Kendrick

“Ireland, a great country to have an intellectual disability in”

A primary commitment to self-determination…A primary commitment to self-determination…aa life onlife on their own terms; their own terms;

An intentional An intentional and sustainedand sustained focus on inclusion; focus on inclusion;

ActivelyActively mobilises and sustains “natural” mobilises and sustains “natural” and “freely given”and “freely given” supports; supports;

Is not enthralled byIs not enthralled by the professional perspective; the professional perspective;

Designs and supports individual arrangements Designs and supports individual arrangements one person at a timeone person at a time;;

Supports direct funding and family-governanced arrangements.Supports direct funding and family-governanced arrangements.

Core Elements of Person-Centred Practice

““What kind of show are you putting on What kind of show are you putting on here?”here?”

1.1. What are we building here? Are we building anything of enduring value, What are we building here? Are we building anything of enduring value, anything that extends beyond serviceland?anything that extends beyond serviceland?

2.2. What would be left behind if we removed the scaffolding? (Sand castles or a What would be left behind if we removed the scaffolding? (Sand castles or a firm foundation?)firm foundation?)

Safety IssuesSafety Issues

Safety is a bottom line but Safety is a bottom line but safety onlysafety only kills all possibility of kills all possibility of getting a life. getting a life.

Uncertainty and risk are joined at the hip to opportunity and potential.Uncertainty and risk are joined at the hip to opportunity and potential. If one tries If one tries

to eradicate all risk, one cuts off the oxygen of life;to eradicate all risk, one cuts off the oxygen of life;

What’s key is the active presence of people who are not caught up trying to balance What’s key is the active presence of people who are not caught up trying to balance

their interest in and commitment to you their interest in and commitment to you across and alongside across and alongside their interest in a their interest in a

wider group of people.wider group of people.