narpaa e-class module 6 - philosophy values

National Association of Residential Providers for Adults

with Autism

NARPAA ECLASS

Autism Education for Direct Care Staff

www.narpaa.org

MODULE SIX

PHILOSOPHY VALUES

www.narpaa.org

MODULE SIX

As a result of completion of this module,

the participant will be able to:

• Explain the principles that underpin the

philosophy and values of developmental

disability support services.

• Compare what advocacy IS and IS NOT.

INTRODUCTION

While all organizations providing services to people with disabilities are most likely to have their own philosophy, value statements and policies, there are some internationally accepted principles that should apply to all services. We are not suggesting all organizations should adopt the following principles, but rather that organizations should understand the purpose of philosophy and value statements.

INTRODUCTION

Philosophy and value statements are not just concepts, but are statements of purpose and should underpin the nature of the support received. Indeed, our very performance should be measured against these statements.

INTRODUCTION

The following provides some basic principles that you may find useful when reviewing or developing philosophy and value statements, and policies. Please feel free to use these as you see fit.

ENSURING OPPORTUNITIES

Encouraging individuals to exercise an

increased amount of control and choice

in their lives, services and support.


Providing opportunities to maximize

personal growth, talents and

responsibilities.


Assisting individuals and their families to

plan and assess services and supports,

and participate in the community.


Increasing the knowledge, skills and

abilities of everyone whose actions

impact the lives of people who have, or

are at risk of having, a developmental

disability.


Promoting responsibility, accountability

and interdependence in all service

system participants, thus fostering

dynamic, responsive and creative

programs.


Promoting and utilizing broad public

participation in the design, development

and provision of services and other

support opportunities.


Promoting the use of local resources and

natural supports for individuals so as to

reduce reliance on external services

and supports.


Encouraging the use of best clinical

practices and understanding that

everyone has the right to effective

support.


Ensuring an environment free from harm

and promoting dignity and a belief in

human values.

EMPHASIS

An emphasis on human dignity and a

conviction that each person is unique and

capable of growth is the key to

Developmental Disabilities Programs. The

thrust for providing services to persons with

developmental disabilities calls for instilling a

sense of self-determination and individual

participation in life’s decisions about where

to work, how to play and where to live.

EMPHASIS

It also calls for community settings and

integration with people who do not have

disabilities (The Developmental

Disabilities Program (DDP) of the

Disability Services Division of the

Department of Public Health and Human

Services (DPHHS)).

ADVOCACY IN RELATION TO

PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES

It is this role that allows us to support

people with disabilities and in some

ways advocate for them. It is through

this role that allows us to exercise and

promote the philosophy and values

outlined above.



As Support Professionals we should all

work to relate to the public in a way that

assists the people we support in getting

their needs met. Our role, in this sense,

is to help the community in general to

better understand and develop healthy

informed attitudes about and toward

people with disabilities.



The following is adapted from “Public

Relations” in “A Competency Based

Training” (LaVigna and Willis, 1999)

although the original source is

unknown. It provides an overview of

what your role as an advocate is and

perhaps more importantly, is not.

ADVOCACY IS

1. Helping people help themselves.

2. Building confidence so people are able to

help themselves.

3. Supporting efforts toward independence.

4. Providing necessary tools for appropriate

decisions and appropriate action.

5. Informing people of their rights.

6. Helping people have their rights recognized

ADVOCACY IS

7. Analyzing a problem and pinpointing areas of

responsibility.

8. Stating options available to resolve a problem.

9. Providing technical assistance and training.

10.Providing assistance in locating appropriate

services.

11.Referring to appropriate agencies.

ADVOCACY IS

12.Lobbying for necessary legislation.

13.Agitating to get legislation implemented.

14.Organizing for change.

15. Initiating new services.

16. Investigating grievances.

17.Following up on complaints.

ADVOCACY IS

18.Going to court when other avenues have failed to get results.

19.Bringing groups together for mutual support and action.

20.Advocating and/or interceding on behalf of people only when they are unable to help themselves.

21.A partnership with mutual sharing of information, tasks and action.

ADVOCACY IS NOT

1. Taking over a person's life (or problem) and

making all decisions for him/her.

2. Squelching efforts of self-help.

3. Reinforcing feelings of helplessness and

dependence.

4. Keeping people in the dark while doing

everything for them.

5. Keeping people uninformed about their rights so

they will have to rely on the advocate for

everything.

ADVOCACY IS NOT

6. Discouraging people from becoming activists.

7. Making excuses for unavailability or inadequacy

of services.

8. Making decisions for people.

9. Controlling people.

10.Persuading people to accept "make do"

services.

11.Closing the door to people because "there's

nothing I can do to help."

ADVOCACY IS NOT

12.Keeping "hands off" of politics.

13.Accepting the status quo when legislation is not

implemented.

14.Seeking individual solutions to group problems.

15.Accepting unavailability and inadequacy of

services.

16.Denying existence of problems reported.

ADVOCACY IS NOT

17.Dropping a complaint after initial contact.

18.Filing a lawsuit as the first approach to a

problem.

19.Working only with individuals when others share

a mutual problem.

20. Interceding on behalf of people who can help

themselves.

21.A parent/child relationship.

narpaa e-class module 6 - philosophy values

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