John O'Brien writes an important article for Support Brokers to review. The ideas of community engagement, individualized funding and self-determination for individuals with disabilities are ideas whose time has come. Mr. O'Brien provides five distinct reasons why this is, and why we must act now to reap the benefits of year's worth of advocacy work. Pay close attention to the two-prong approach that is needed to accomplish the goal of Self-Determined living (system change and societal change.) Most importantly, Mr. O'Brien provides tangible ideas for how we can facilitate this change within our communities.

Community Engagement: A Necessary Condition for Self-Determination and Individual Funding

Mr. O'Brien addresses the challenge that is present in reaching for a Self-Determined future for individuals with disabilities. However, by providing not only the history, but clear examples of action that we can take, he helps to prepare Support Brokers for the path ahead.

Supported Living: What's the Difference?

When discussing the idea of community opportunities and resources, one item that is consistently hard for individuals with disabilities to find is a supportive and decent home. This article by John O'Brien confronts many of the assumptions that affect how people with disabilities have been expected to live. Support Brokers should read this article as well as Mr. O'Brien's article on Work Resources (next reading) to identify how the concept of natural supports and community involvement impact the area of living and work.

Getting the Job Done: Learning to Expand the Social Resources Available to People with Severe Disabilities at Work

John O'Brien provides another way to look at accomplishing supported employment for individuals with severe disabilities. The above article discusses the access to decent and desirable housing opportunities; this article describes the facilitation of meaning work experiences for people with disabilities. Pay close attention to the sections on "If you want to discourage employers and coworkers from supporting a person with a disability." and "Ways to increase the chances that people with disabilities will receive active support."

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