“The highest forms of pleasant playful

consciousness are in rainbows.”

- Blair Brown

Helping: Perspectives and Lessons from a College Experience

Transition Summit

Cal Stat Regional Institute

January 23, 2013

Session Overview

• Introductions• About the course• Blair’s typed comments• Peer reactions to and insights from

Blair’s words• Reflecting upon the class – two

years later• Questions for Blair

Introductions

• Blair Brown, college student• Karisa Gaston, Blair’s support staff• Dawn Hunter, professor

Introduction - Personal Statement

My name is Blair Brown and I enjoy living in my own apartment. I like Disneyland and music (and) finding new places to develop my personal likes and dislikes. I want to do whatever it takes to get back into school to continue to write poetry and be with student peers. I love being in the middle of great live music and love to dance. A dance class would be awesome.

(Personal Statement Continued)

Currently I am frustrated with the lack of predictability in my daily life. We are operating in crisis mode yet we are okay. Today is better. I have better staff.

- Blair Brown, 1/22/13

IES 103: The Philosophy of Helping

In this course students explore:

(a) foundational questions, motivations, and concerns about what it means to help another;

(b) personal, community, and societal levels of helping;

(c) examples of professionals that have successfully translated a philosophy of helping into caring, competent, empowering, authentic, and effective practice; and

(d) the tensions that inevitably arise when we try to formalize the helping relationship.

Students were required to:

• visit three community non-profit agencies and write a reflective paper on what they learned about the agency, their peers, and themselves,

• complete a case study, • write three reflective pieces on

various aspects of helping, • complete a mid-term and a final

exam, and• develop their own personal

“philosophy of helping statement”

“I love and respect each human being who values all meaning all. We are one and must figure out finding our

sameness.”

- Blair Brown, 9/21/2010

Context: Class debate on the “professionalization” of the helping professions

“The biggest problem is the beurocracy [sic] of getting through the very systems meant to support someone like me. The money allocated gets spent on people in between. The gatekeepers of money. Liability issues, hours, overtime, restrictions that affect my freedom and how my life is supported. They have the money, the control and no idea.”

- Blair Brown, 11/4/10

Context: Class debate on the “professionalization” of the helping professions

“Last year they told me I couldn’t go out of state with my staff because of hourly overtime and the staff was under California law and non working staff was not allowed to voluntarily go because of liability. My mom said wrong figure it out.”

- Blair Brown, 11/4/10

[Fortunately Blair did go to the PEAK Center in Colorado in Feb., 2010

Regional Center figured it out for Blair]

Prompt: Write about a time you had courage and took a risk.

“I take risks every day that most people don’t even think are risks. Putting my life in others hand of hopeful trust every minute.”

- Blair Brown, 9/23/10

Context: The history of the almshouses and the rise of “asylums” in the US

“The truly judged may have sensory integration issues or medical issues and that can become pattern that also needs the healing of understanding. Why can’t we all live life and help each other. Real hearts all want the same thing to be loved and live in peace. Try to get help for judging.”

- Blair Brown, 10/26/10

Context: The “helping prison” people can find themselves in

“I live in a sort of helping prison all the time. Pleasant well meaning people help me their way. Sometimes I don’t want help, yet I cannot do most things independently so require the bondage that my body requires while my spirit screams for freedom. My thoughts will always be free.”

- Blair Brown, 11/2/10

Context: Small group activity on “people first language”

“I have lived my life with regular people who have treated me with respect because they didn’t know any different. I am the unusual person now learning that I am different and that the experts think I am ‘disabled’ and that their job is to make sure I stay disabled. The world needs to learn that we all belong. I am so full of love.”

- Blair Brown, 10/5/10

Context: Class discussion on how important it is to be aware of and monitor our thoughts

“The mind is only one part of thinking.”

- Blair Brown, 10/12/10

Context: Class discussion about service being a “journey”

“Service is something that has delicate balance endless opportunity to change and learn.”

- Blair Brown, 11/18/10

Prompt: Identify one way you have changed for the positive.

“Being able to reach out to people who are in pain or different because I am the most different. My life has been a journey of opening doors. Please let me in. I think welcoming is easy letting people in is harder. Belonging is essential.”

- Blair Brown, 9/9/10

Prompt: What is your life’s passion and/or purpose?

“My compassion is helping people understand difference and heal the part of themselves that I mirror for them. I want forgiveness for everyone.”

- Blair Brown, 11/11/10

Context: Class discussion on the need for “quieting the mind”

“Technology puts power of images into your head. Put your own pictures in your head and slow down.”

- Blair Brown, 11/18/10

What the class meant to Blair:

“I love this class because it means people are learning to accept the like of me.”

- Blair Brown, 9/21/10

“I am grateful for the opportunity I have to be part of this class with open hearts of acceptance...”

- Blair Brown, 11/23/10

Prompt for the reflective writing #3 piece: What is the most important thing you learned in the class?

 

“I have learned to listen with more of an open heart and mind. Blair taught me so much. Her comments in class were so amazing. She had such a great understanding of the book. I wish I had her level of understanding. I learned so much from her.”

- Female student in the class

Prompt for the reflective writing #3 piece: What is the most important thing you learned in the class?

“At first I wasn’t sure why Blair was in the class. After a while I couldn’t imagine Blair not being in our class. Blair taught me so much. I wish I could express myself like she expressed herself. Her writing was so beautiful, it was like poetry. After Blair’s computer read her words I always thought to myself ‘I wish I would have said that.’ She is so smart.”

- Male student in the class

Prompt for the reflective writing #3 piece: What is the most important thing you learned in the class?

“I used to think that one person could not make a difference. But you made a difference in my life. Blair made a huge difference in my life. I now understand that there are so many different ways we can make positive differences in other people’s lives. Because of you and Blair, I know I too can make a difference. Thank you.”

- Female student in the class

 

 

Blair’s Philosophy of Helping

“I am the perfect person to talk about helping others as I am usually receiving the help. Helping is valuable to me and others. I greatly find that my capabilities are not what I’m wanting and wishing them to be.

(continued on next slide)

Help of loving angels in my life make it nearly half way normal. I believe these angels are meant to be with me so I can help them to be more in tune with dancing together in this world of dancing souls.

(continued on next slide)

Need to have willing helpers in this great life for success for me. I nicely provide these helpers with a greater joy that others might not appreciate. Helping others is often a selfish gesture that benefit both parties involved. Both people get something out of life when helping others out. One person gets help and the other gets joyful soul.”

- Blair Brown

Blair’s concluding quote:

“Bet one day at a time that we can heal with compassion and love on the moment of change. Please remember that the heart will change humanity.”

- Blair Brown, 11/18/10

Two Years LaterReflecting upon the Class

What is the most important thing you learned in the Philosophy of Helping class?

“I need help too. Yearly people help needy but forget to help themselves.”

- Blair Brown 1/22/13

How can people best help themselves?

“Need to feel completely dear offered to help.”

What does that mean?

“You have to be sincere in wanting to help.”

- Blair Brown, 1/22/13

Do you think other people should have a chance to go to college?

“Of course.”

Do you have any suggestions for others wanting to attend college?

“Find good place with good souled teachers. Good souled peers too. Most have good souls.”

- Blair Brown, 1/22/13

What do you want people in the audience to know – thoughts to take with them?

“I would say to be compassionate.”

Could you define compassionate?

“Put yourself in my shoes.”

How does someone put themselves in your shoes?

“Imagine not being able to have thoughts match words.”

- Blair Brown, 1/22/13

What else can people do to put themselves in your shoes?

“Can’t tell everybody to look past disability.”

Why can’t we tell everyone to look past the disability?

“They don’t know how.”

Do you think that is something we could teach people to do?

“Someday.”

- Blair Brown, 1/22/13

Questions for Blair?

Thank you for being part of our session

today!