CEO
From Here to There– Exploring the “Big Sky” Future
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The Voice, April 2007
Often I find myself invited to speak to groups of people about change and advocacy. These talks are usually framed from the notion that people with disabilities are in one situation and we want to see change occur so they can be in a better position.
A good example of this is the separation, and in many ways segregation of people with disabilities from the mainstream. In many situations people with disabilities are separated out and served in special venues. Special education, sheltered employment, separate transportation, group homes, Special Olympics and the like are all powerful venues in our culture today. Our advocacy looks to have these separated folks join the mainstream of society.
It occurred to me recently, however, that much of our advocacy is moving people from devalued situations to the most basic entry point of mainstream value. As I thought more about this it seems that the actions we work so hard to accomplish, even when successful, immediately set us up to fall behind as culture generally shifts upward. Consider this example:
In the late 1960’s many people with disabilities were institutionalized. Many of us advocated to change this, but the next step up the ladder was to position people into group homes. Indeed this was a better outcome than the institutions, but in reality, was only at the beginning point of what is acceptable. Most of you reading this article would not be satisfied with a group home and have aspired to something further up the housing option continuum.
This slow progress seems like baby steps that always keep us behind the curve of cultural acceptability. Yet this is business as usual in human services. We move people up the chain, but they always remain behind the mainstream.
What pushed my thinking however, was a meeting I attended in February at the UCP national offices in Washington DC. The meeting was to introduce the platform for the “Big Sky” initiative and featured principles from the Institute For The Future. These folks introduced a 10 year Big Sky Forecast Map that speculated on issues, actions and agendas that will change within the next 10 years.
I sat somewhat stunned as these “futurists” looked at trends and pushed the agenda to the future. They were not settling for people with disabilities just catching up – but wanted to see how organizations like UCP could actually position people with disabilities for the future!
I really didn’t digest all of this until well after the meeting. What I was able to put into perspective is that we disability advocates have been caught up in the second class citizen thinking. That is, the devaluation and oppression experienced by people with disabilities and the struggle that advocates have to just get the basics has been so challenging, that most of us can not really see the future. We are caught up in just trying to get into the present. The problem with this strategy is by the time folks we support get into the present, they have lost out as others have moved squarely into the future. We are always behind the 8-ball.
As I studied the Forecast Map, however, I began to assimilate the possibilities that might be out there for us to not just be satisfied with “catch-up” but to think and prepare for a future that allows us to take advantage of the “big sky” opportunities and to build that community where each belongs.
The UCP/CLASS board has begun to explore the “Big Sky” and we are generating conversations throughout our organization. Like any future exploration what will happen down the road is still unpredictable, but our Forecast Map lessens the inevitable dips in the road and makes the journey more palatable.
There is more we need to learn about all this, and the upcoming National UCP meetings will offer a platform for better understanding, but we are excited about the journey, wherever it may take us. We look forward to not only sharing what we learn, but inviting more people and organizations into the mix.
And, we look forward to you being a part of this process!
View a Printer-Friendly Version
Go back to top