Stories to Tell

Everyone has stories to tell at Thanksgiving, either about past holidays or about things they are grateful to have in their lives.  Stories are powerful tools.  The stories we share with other people help define who we are and they color the perspectives people have about us.

This week, I want to tell you about a storytelling organization my colleagues and I have started specifically for people who have developmental disabilities.  It is called the SoCal Storytellers Guild.

Membership in the Guild is free.  All it takes is someone who is willing to be a leader and a few people who want to be part of the group.  We have produced a leader’s guide that provides all the information needed about how to run a group.  We even have resources leaders can access about what to do during group meetings. Anyone, anywhere can start a group—we hope to have lots of them starting in day programs, schools, group homes, speech therapy groups, and neighborhoods.

The Guild sponsors an annual festival in early summer called StoryFest where individuals can compete for awards, invite their friends, have some good food, listen to a few professional storytellers, and generally have a great day.  Here’s the best part:

You don’t have to be verbal to tell your story

We have 3 divisions of storytellers: Those who can tell their stories at festival without assistance; those who may need prompts, pictures, or some assistance from a coach; and Dos Voces for people who need a partner in order to tell their story. There is lots more information about these divisions on the website at: www.teriinc.org/storytelling

There are three categories of stories members can choose to tell—True stories; fiction stories; or stories designed to teach the community about the lives of people with developmental disabilities.  We’re excited about this last category.  We plan to film these stories (with permission) and post them on a website we will call StoryShare, over time collecting a library of these stories that the community can access.  We hope this will help get rid of some of the misconceptions the general public has about those who have autism and other developmental disabilities.

Please note:  The Guild is for individuals who are 16 years and older.  If you know anyone who might be interested in starting a group, spread the word!  Till next week, Happy Thanksgiving—Dr.K.