This May Be The Answer

Those of us who have worked for many years with people with intellectual disabilities know that, while they are physically in the community, they often still have no place of belonging—they aren’t PART of the community.  There is a new social movement that may be at least part of the answer to changing this problem.

This social movement is connected to sustainability. Most of us are familiar with sustainable agriculture, sustainable fuel, and sustainable building. This is the “green” movement.  There is, however, another part of sustainability that has to do with sustainable well-being. These  folks believe that we need to place greater value on the QUALITY of our social lives—on caring attitudes, a slower pace in life, and to taking action collaboratively.

This has led to creative communities that are coming up with new ways we can connect with each other socially and provide mutual help.  One idea that some of these creative communities are using is the time bank.

As the name suggests, a time bank uses time as a form of currency.  If I spend an hour running an errand for someone who is unable to drive, I earn one hour in the time bank.  I can use this hour to pay someone else in the bank to cut my hair (for example).  The idea is pretty simple, but what is interesting is how it is being used in social services work.

Right now, there is very much a “top down” and deficit based approach to the services people with developmental disabilities and their families receive.  The system is based on deficits (the more “problems” you have the more services you get) and is based on funds that are controlled by someone else.  These funds are continually cut, so people lose services they very much need.

In our current social services system, we focus primarily on people’s needs. If you switch to a sustainable community way of thinking, you start with the idea that everyone has assets they can contribute to their communities.  The primary beliefs are:
•    Everyone is an asset
•    Some work is beyond a monetary price
•    Helping is based on reciprocity (not on dollars)
•    Social networks are necessary to quality of life, and this system increases social networks
•    A respect for all human beings

If we believe that everyone can make a contribution, let’s imagine how this might work for people with developmental disabilities.  Suppose that Dan, an adult with autism, lives in his own apartment with 20 hours a week of coaching support.  He works part time at a supermarket, but has no friends there.  After work, he pretty much comes home and looks forward to the time when his coach will stop in to see how he’s doing. 

Let’s say that the coach calls a meeting of people in Dan’s apartment building.  She proposes that they start a time bank, and 10 people agree.  Each of these people list the ways in which they can make a contribution to the others in the bank.  Dan’s coach helps him make his own list, which includes running errands to local businesses, grocery shopping, walking and grooming dogs, cleaning windows, and watering plants, among other things.  Dan, with his coach’s help, makes an offer to the people in the bank to groom their dogs over the coming weekend, and three people agree.  When he’s done with the grooming  Dan has 3 hours in the time bank, and the following weekend he “spends” them by asking his neighbor to show him how to make spaghetti from scratch (one of her contributions was cooking).

To me, what is most important in this scenario is not that Dan got a cooking class without having to pay cash for it.  It is that he is spending time one on one with a new person who may, over time, become his friend and mentor.  Through participating in the time bank,  he will get to  know more and more people which will increase his social capital  (http://www.bettertogether.org/socialcapital.htm)

At the risk of making this blog entry too long (people complain about having to read too much…yikes…), let’s also look at someone with developmental disabilities who would struggle to make up a list of things he can contribute to a time bank.  My son, Jarred, is a great example.  He is dependent on someone else for pretty much everything.  He needs to be fed, dressed, and pushed in his wheelchair. He can’t use his hands for anything other than grabbing and holding things.  He doesn’t talk or use a communication device.  How could he participate?

Here’s my idea.  Since Jarred always has to have a careprovider with him, the two of them team up to list things they can offer as a team to the bank. This really opens things up.  When it is time to “buy” something from someone else—say a haircut—then the careprovider acts as a bridge between Jarred and the person giving the service. She shows them what makes him laugh and  what engages his interest.  She shares the things about him that make him unique and valuable. She helps the other person see the value in spending time with him.

I’m believe there IS value in spending time with Jarred.  I feel good when I do it, and it looks like his respite workers do, too.  His current worker, Engracia, seems to be having a great time when she lays on the floor with him and plays tug of war with one of his toys.  She plays him songs on her cell phone and sings to him while he laughs and laughs.  She’s smiling during all this, so my guess is that she’s doing something she finds enjoyable.  Given the principle of reinforcement (we do things more often if something we think is good happens as a result of what we do), then it is likely that she might want to continue spending time with him.  Why couldn’t the same be true of the person who cuts his hair (or does some other service through a time bank)?

I’m not sure this is THE answer to finding a place of belonging in communities for people with intellectual disabilities, but I’m encouraged when I read about the innovative ways people are coming up with to support each other in this world.  What do you think??  Till next week—Dr. K.