Blog

When a person lives with a life-altering disability, their families may feel a sense of loss. Feelings that may be associated with this are different than those that are associated with a death-related loss. Many families and caregivers of a family member who lives with a disability may experience ambiguous loss.

Social Role Valorization: A Basic Overview & Defining Important Terms     Have you ever noticed that people who are more valued by society or who hold roles that society values get to experience more of the “good things” in life? This phenomenon is explained by the Social Role Valorization (SRV) theory. SRV says that those who are in social roles that are valued by society and determined by societal norms, they are more likely to have access to and receive the “good things” that society has to offer (Osburn, 2006). On the other hand, individuals and groups who do not hold valued social roles, or who hold roles that are devalued, have very little access to the good things; therefore, holding a valued social role is essential in order to gaining access to the good things (Osburn, 2006).  What Exactly Are The “Good Things” In Life? The good things in life include how individuals are treated by society, ability to access opportunities and resources, and ability to participate in society. According to Osburn (2006), some examples are: ·      “Being accorded dignity, respect, and acceptance; ·      A sense of belonging; ·      An education; ·      The development and exercise of one’s capacities; ·      A voice in the affairs of one’s community and society; ·      Opportunities to participate; ·      A decent material standard of living; ·      An at least normative place to live; ·      Opportunities for work and self support.”Who Are Considered Devalued Groups? People who are devalued by society include individuals and groups who experience negative treatment systematically, and often have a similar pattern of experiences: 1.     “Being perceived and interpreted as deviant, due to their negatively-valued differentness. The latter could consist of physical or functional impairments, low competence, a particular ethnic identity, certain behaviors of associations, skin color, and many others. 2.     Being rejected by community, society, and even family services. 3.     Being cast into negative social roles, some of which can be severely negative, such as subhuman, menace, and burden on society. 4.     Being put and kept at a social or physical distance, the latter most commonly by segregation. 5.     Having negative images (including language) attached to them. 6.     Being the object of abuse, violence, and brutalization, and even being made dead.” (Osburn, 2006). It is beneficial to understand SRV and the perspective it provides because by recognizing that devalued groups are having consistently negative experiences, it can then eventually help to avoid these negative experiences from continuing, at first on an individual level and then on a larger scale over time. For individuals and groups who are devalued, the good things in life are often seen as unattainable and the bad things in life become every day experiences. This is why understanding that all social roles in society should be valued; so that the good things can be more equally and equitably distributed, and that everybody can be treated with dignity and respect unconditionally.

One way that Integrate for Good works with the communities we serve is through our Empowerment Lab program. Empowerment Lab is designed based on the doctoral research of IFG’s founder and executive director, which demonstrated that individuals who are connected to their communities are more likely to be employed, more likely to have better mental and physical health, and have a better quality of life. Empowerment Lab consists of a series of workshops where students and adults learn about strategies for self-advocacy, learn to identify areas of interest, build self-efficacy, and ultimately create a digital portfolio that they can use as a tool for self-advocacy to gain employment or a volunteer position.Empowerment Lab was designed to be in a format of three half-day long workshops. However, due to COVID-19, IFG has had to adjust and transform the curriculum to an online format. This means Empowerment Lab participants have to be on Zoom for a long time at the beginning of the day. Sitting on Zoom for long periods of time is difficult for anybody! Many people find it helpful to get up and move around in order to take a break and re-energize. For this reason, IFG has incorporated something called a movement break into Empowerment Lab sessions.  A movement break is a quick break that involves very light physical activity. Research continues to show a variety of evidence for the benefits of breaks for students. Breaks do not have to include movement to be beneficial. A study by Immordino-Yang et al. (2012) showed that any time we take any type of break or any time that the brain is resting, the brain is still processing information. Their research showed that the brain’s rest mode is essential for “consolidating memories, reflecting on past experiences, and planning for the future (…) breaks play a key role in cognitive abilities such as reading comprehension and divergent thinking” (Terada, 2018). Breaks, in particular movement breaks, have also been shown to decrease behavior considered “disruptive” in school students (Terada, 2018).  Breaks are also beneficial in areas other than cognitive abilities. Movement breaks that focus more on physical activity could improve the brain’s oxygen levels which in turn improves the activity in neurons and growth of cells in the hippocampus, “the center of learning and memory,” (Terada, 2018). Movement breaks such as recess can also serve as opportunities for students to improve social and play skills. Benefits to allowing breaks that incorporate play for younger students include learning “how to take turns, resolve conflicts, and solve problems. They also learn how to manage their own emotions and behavior,” (Terada, 2018).Breaks can improve different aspects of functioning and skills. Because of the brain’s ability to still process information even while resting or not being consciously stimulated, any type of break, whether it be movement or unstructured, should be incorporated into lessons or between long periods of focus. -Bayley Saffier, MSW

One way that Integrate for Good works with the communities we serve is through our Empowerment Lab program. Empowerment Lab is designed based on the doctoral research of IFG’s founder and executive director, which demonstrated that individuals who are connected to their communities are more likely to be employed, more likely to have better mental and physical health, and have a better quality of life. Empowerment Lab consists of a series of workshops where students and adults learn about strategies for self-advocacy, learn to identify areas of interest, build self-efficacy, and ultimately create a digital portfolio that they can use as a tool for self-advocacy to gain employment or a volunteer position.Empowerment Lab was designed to be in a format of three half-day long workshops. However due to COVID-19, IFG has had to adjust and transform the curriculum to an online format. This means Empowerment Lab participants have to be on Zoom for a long time at the beginning of the day. Sitting on Zoom for long periods of time is difficult for anybody! Many people find it helpful to get up and move around in order to take a break and re-energize. For this reason, IFG has incorporated something called a movement break into Empowerment Lab sessions.  A movement break is a quick break that involves very light physical activity. Research continues to show a variety of evidence for benefits of breaks for students.Breaks do not have to include movement to be beneficial. A study by Immordino-Yang et al. (2012) showed that any time we take any type of break or any time that the brain is resting, the brain is still processing information. Their research showed that the brain’s rest mode is essential for “consolidating memories, reflecting on past experiences, and planning for the future (…) breaks play a key role in cognitive abilities such as reading comprehension and divergent thinking” (Terada, 2018). Breaks, in particular movement breaks, have also been shown to decrease behavior considered “disruptive” in school students (Terada, 2018).  Breaks are also beneficial in areas other than cognitive abilities. Movement breaks that focus more on physical activity could improve the brain’s oxygen levels which in turn improves activity in neurons and growth of cells in the hippocampus, “the center of learning and memory,” (Terada, 2018). Movement breaks such as recess can also serve as opportunities for students to improve social and play skills. Benefits to allowing breaks that incorporate play for younger students include learning “how to take turns, resolve conflicts, and solve problems. They also learn how to manage their own emotions and behavior,” (Terada, 2018). Breaks can improve different aspects of functioning and skills. Because of the brain’s ability to still process information even while resting or not being consciously stimulated, any type of break, whether it be movement or unstructured, should be incorporated into lessons or between long periods of focus. -Bayley Saffier, MSW

Throughout American history, many groups have been oppressed due to their identity. But as history moves forward, diversity is becoming widely accepted—Pride Month celebrates diversity within sexuality, Black History Month celebrates racial diversity and accomplishments of Black Americans and Jewish Heritage Month celebrates religious diversity and the fight against anti-Semitism. Yet, one type of diversity still has a lot of stigma surrounding it. Neurodiversity. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statics, in 2019, only 19.3% of adults with disabilities were employed. In contrast, the average unemployment rate in the United States was around 3.5% in 2019. This means that the unemployment rate of individuals with disabilities is 23 times higher than the average United States employment rate.  Whole Latte Love Café, a coffee shop non-profit organization based in North Canton, Ohio, is trying to combat this drastic inequality in unemployment. Much like Integrate for Good, Whole Latte Love Café sees the untapped talent in individuals with disabilities and helps provide an avenue into the workforce. Their mission is simple. They hire adults with disabilities 18 years or older who have graduated high school to work in their coffee shop for up to two years. During that time, they receive paid vocational training where they gain real work experience that can be applied to future jobs. This work experience includes learning customer service skills, problem solving, task completion, motor development and how to effectively communicate with supervisors and coworkers. Additionally, they gain self-advocacy skills, allowing them to be more independent and integrated within the community.  Not only does Whole Latte Love Café help develop working experience through having employees work in the café, they work 1:1 with employees to help develop a plan for after their two-year contract with the café. Through career discovery—a 6-to-12-week program, employees are encouraged to explore their vocational themes of interest, preferences, strengths and strategies to success. They learn about types of jobs that might interest them and visit with potential employers. From there, each individual has a career profile, which summarizes everything learned in the career discovery process and recommends next steps for this individual. They can then use their career profile to explore a career of choosing. Individuals are offered job shadowing at potential new jobs, and even given the opportunity to preform actual job duties to determine whether or not they enjoy this profession Whole Latte Love Café is breaking barriers surrounding neurodiversity by providing individuals with disabilities an opportunity to showcase their talents and challenging society to see them as more than their autism or down syndrome. Their vision of the future is one that we at Integrate for Good wish to see as well—a world where no matter what one’s ability is, everyone is welcomed into the work force and able to share their talents and unique abilities with the community.  To learn more about Whole Latte Love Café, visit their website at https://wholelattelovecafe.orgWhole Latte Love Café

What is an Empowerment Lab?Integrate for Good’s innovative programs employ a strengths-based approach to professional and interpersonal development for people of all abilities. Empowerment Lab, having just celebrated its fifth cohort of graduates, is no exception. Empowerment Lab is an initiative designed for transition-age high school students aimed at identifying their unique passions, employable skills, and work environment preferences. The culmination of Empowerment Lab is marked by the creation of a carefully curated digital portfolio, which uses photography and videography to highlight facets of each student which are often uncaptured by a traditional paper resume. The testimonies of the student’s advocates (teachers, advisors, coaches, etc.) and the student themself included in these portfolios make them powerful tools for self-advocacy. Why does our work matter? Historically, the value of neurodiverse talent in the workplace has been overlooked. Not to mention, modern hiring processes are not conducive to the needs of people of all abilities who may require modified working environments to perform at their best.  As DEI becomes an increasing priority to corporations and local businesses, we aim to ensure that disability, which we view as a valued kind of diversity, has a seat at the table. Why does it work?  Given people with disabilities are labeled as “special” from a very young age, many are conditioned to believe these individuals should be recipients of service from others. The primary focus of Empowerment Lab is to overcome this stigma, by encouraging and guiding program participants to identify their passions and innate leadership potential. The research-based curriculum of Empowerment Lab gives students a pathway to finding meaningful, paid employment through instruction, collaboration, and portfolio development. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected Empowerment Lab?  We believe there is no stronger tool for community connection than face-to-face interaction, but the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions necessitated the creation of an online Empowerment Lab program. While we hope to continue Empowerment Lab as an on-site program in local schools, the adaptation of the Empowerment Lab curriculum to a virtual format has shown us a promising way in which our curriculum can be shared with schools in other geographic jurisdictions and even other populations seeking access to employment.

Recently, our 2021 cohort of students graduated our Empowerment Lab program. We are so proud of them and we know they will accomplish so much!Get to know them by reading their bios below.Andy Lyle  Andy enjoys staying active and tries to build any type of movement into his day. He also likes to help with daily tasks such as cleaning, organizing, and cooking/baking. In his free time, He likes to swim, observe the weather with a close eye, and spend time with his family. Andy has a great knack for memorizing information such as details about past events, geographical and directional locations, and songs and music. Andy is currently looking for employment or volunteer opportunities where he can be active and use his organizing skills!          Andy Lyle Anthony Staggers Anthony has a variety of interests including math, spending time with his family, playing with animals (especially kittens!) and playing video games. He is always open to trying new things, but also really enjoys working on tasks that are familiar. Anthony enjoys being social and hanging out with his friends and his peers. Anthony is currently looking for volunteer and employment opportunities in his community where he can share his talent and interact with others!Anthony Staggers   Jack Charters Jack loves doing outdoor activities. His favorite things to do are swimming with his family, riding his bike, going to the beach, and walking on trails. He has a deep love for animals and enjoys visiting the pet store when he has free time. Jack is currently looking for volunteer and employment opportunities where he can be active and work with others!Jack Charters

It’s early Tuesday morning.As the sun is rising,the nursing staff is wheeling my mom down to the operating room to remove a large brain tumor today.My dad woke up at 4 am to drive with her to Jefferson Hospital.Because of COVID, he will be the one to represent our family, having to sit alone for the next five hours while we wait. But the reality is, he is not alone, and neither am I.Last night, I posted a few lines on Facebook.No engaging photo.No video.Just a simple request for positive thoughts and prayers. My eyes were swollen from crying as I sat on the edge of my bed feeling helpless and terrified.And then, I started to receive the notifications.What struck me enough to share this with you, was the diversity of those who responded.My mom retired many years ago as an office manager from Batesville casket company. One of the truck drivers wrote to me saying he would rally all of the other truck drivers to send good thoughts her way.There were friends she made in high school, neighbors, lifelong friends from the synagogue, people we met on our family trip to Israel last year when we celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with my dad.There were people she’s served with on nonprofit boards, on committees, and in volunteer activities.The ladies she plays mah-jong with sent their prayers our way, along with all of the people she knows through my sister and through me. Within a few minutes, I didn’t feel alone.Even during a time of physical distancing, I felt wrapped in support.I felt hopeful for the first time in days. It made me think.How would things be different if my mom had a disability?Likely, there wouldn’t have been all of the work-related friends.She wouldn’t have had access to community leadership opportunities, so all of those good people she knows through volunteering and board involvement would never have met her or benefitted from her talent, generosity, and compassion.She likely wouldn’t have married, so my dad’s relatives, friends, and colleagues who became her own wouldn’t exist in her life.She wouldn’t have become a mother, so my sister and I wouldn't be here, nor would all of the people who have grown to love her through us. Social capital matters.Relationships matter.Opportunity matters.This morning, my mom is lifted in prayer and positivity and hope.The diverse people surrounding her are praying to their own God, or to the Light, or to their own Higher Power.They are thinking of her and I was able to share those thoughts with her this morning at 5 am as she made the drive into the city with my dad.This support made her smile.I could hear her smile over the phone.It strengthened her in a powerful way.It mattered. So this is my hope:On your worst day, or on your best, you have a community to surround you.To ease your fear.To give you strength.To listen.To raise you up.To cry with you.To celebrate with you.To rally with you. And if you don’t, you’re not alone.It’s why Integrate for Good exists.Everyone should be as lucky as my mom.(Everyone should be as lucky as me to have a mom like her). She’s surrounded by love and support today because she had the opportunity to become a valued, and treasured part of diverse communities.We’ll keep fighting until everyone has those same opportunities.

When people with disabilities engage in volunteer opportunities, the joy they experience is evident. The rewards don’t end there. People who work alongside these volunteers also gain from the experience. Read on to learn three ways people of all abilities benefit from volunteering together. Volunteerism builds connections between people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Gathering in the same space for a shared activity invites conversation. Over the course of an hour or two, volunteers often find they have common interests—movies, sports teams, music, food, travel. For example, one of Integrate for Good’s young adult volunteers with autism recently connected with a group of homeschool students by sharing his passion for Disney movies. In volunteering, we find that people who look different on the outside may have more in common with us that we realize. Maybe your passion is gardening. Maybe it’s baseball. Sharing your interest can build connection with other volunteers. Diversity broadens how volunteers see themselves and others. Many people engage in volunteer service, often with colleagues or friends. Yet, people with disabilities seldom get that opportunity. They are more likely to be recipients of services. When people of all abilities volunteer together, this imbalance starts to change. People with disabilities begin to see that they can be providers of a service to the community, not just recipients. They feel good about helping other people. They take pride in what they do. Sometimes, they take on leadership roles. Integrate for Good volunteers talk about some of the services they provide and why they like to volunteer in this video. When volunteers working alongside people with disabilities see them share their talents to strengthen the community, they gain a new perspective. They, too, begin to see people with disabilities as providers of services, not just recipients. Everyone has something to learn. Libraries and colleges are valuable learning hubs. When they are the sites of inclusive volunteer events, they open up new learning opportunities. Integrate for Good recently expanded its community volunteer events from libraries to colleges with its Opening Doors on Campus initiative. Volunteering at these venues can introduce people with disabilities to settings that they might not experience elsewhere. They learn new skills while meeting people outside of their usual circles. They also get the chance to teach others what they’ve learned. Students or community members might teach a skill to a volunteer with a disability. Or, they might learn from them. Volunteering with people from different backgrounds and generations can teach us to appreciate each person’s unique abilities. When people of all abilities contribute their talents, the community grows stronger.   Integrate for Good is a 501(c)(3) with a mission is to strengthen local communities by creating opportunities for people of all abilities to contribute their time and talent through volunteerism. Learn more about us at our website, join us at one of our virtual events, or sign up to receive our email updates. You can also find us on: Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

A Guide to Launching a Political Campaign if You Hold a Disability contributed by Ed Carter, Able Futures (www.ablefutures.org)   According to Pew Research Center, approximately 19 percent of the U.S. population held a disability in 2016 — but the number of elected officials with physical, communicative, or mental disabilities still remains unclear. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any disabled candidates in office. In fact, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) has recently started tracking this information for future use. At the federal level, several elected officials with disabilities include Shannel Pittman (California), Darren Aquino (Florida), Soren Sorensen (Minnesota), Amanda Siebe (Oregon), and Joshua Collins (Washington). If you’ve been thinking of running for office, your physical, mental, or communicative disability shouldn’t hold you back from launching a political campaign of your own. With the right team of professionals to assist you in planning and launching a campaign, you’ll have everything you need to show the world that individuals with disabilities are just as equipped to run for office as anyone else. For some advice on launching your political campaign, read on! Connect with Local Organizations If you’re thinking of running for office, it’s important to start by connecting with organizations that work to empower individuals with disabilities. Through its portfolio-building workshops, for instance, organizations like Integrate for Good can help you to identify your greatest strengths, passions, abilities, and talents — and connect you to other leaders in the community. Additionally, the NCIL recently launched its first campaign training program for individuals with disabilities. Through this training program, individuals with disabilities can learn how to run for office, hire and pay for a campaign manager, and overcome some of the challenges they’ll likely face along the way. Door-to-door canvassing, for instance, can be a challenge for wheelchair users, but some creative thinking and a good team of volunteers can help you to overcome these common types of barriers. Build Your Political Team Next, you’ll need to assemble a team to assist you in running for office and making your campaign more accessible to other voters with disabilities. Your team will typically depend on your budget and the size of your campaign, but a campaign manager will be essential to your success as a candidate with disabilities. As you assemble your team, you’ll want to look for essential staff members such as: ●    Campaign managers. For small campaigns, this could be the only staff you have on your team. However, campaign managers can typically help to hire other staff members, run ads, and manage your schedule. ●    Finance or fundraising directors. To secure funding for your campaign, set revenue goals, and identify potential donors, you’ll need a finance or fundraising director to assist you. ●    Copywriters. As you get ready to launch your political campaign, you’ll need a copywriter to help you with things like writing speeches, press releases, and website content. To find freelance website copywriting professionals with the skills you’re looking for, head to online job boards like Upwork. ●    Web developers. As a candidate with disabilities, your campaign website must be accessible to you and other disabled individuals. Like copywriters, you can find freelance web developers on Upwork. ●    Volunteers. If you’re looking to include other individuals with disabilities in your political campaign, you could hire them as volunteers. In addition to helping you with things like calling donors and setting up for events, your volunteers will obtain the skills and training they need to launch their own political campaign in the future. Launch Your Campaign for Office If you’d like to run for office, you shouldn’t let your disability hold you back from pursuing your dreams of making a positive difference in the world around you. Your disabilities may mean you’ll need to take a more creative approach to running for office, but organizations like the NCIL can help to prepare and empower you as you get ready to launch your political campaign.