Who Knows Best?
[SARN Memo for March 17, 2010]
Who makes the big decisions in our lives? Sometimes parents do it. Sometimes professionals do it. Sometimes teachers do it. Sometimes employers do it.
But, as self-advocates, we say: “No. We should do it.” We’re just like everyone else. We can get advice, but then we decide.
Hey, it’s our life. Who doesn’t want to decide for themselves? It’s a human right.
Respond to this memo!1. Group Activity: Help/No Help Line
At your next meeting, try this exercise. It’s a way to get people talking about when they need support—and when they don’t—in making decisions.
- Ask one member to make two signs: one that says “Help” in large letters and one that says “No Help.”
- On one wall of your meeting room, tape up the “Help” sign. On the opposite wall, tape up the “No Help” sign. Make sure there is no furniture along an imaginary line between the signs.
- Talk briefly about how some decisions should only be made by the individual. Some decisions need to be made with lots of advice from others who know key information.
- Tell folks you’re going to describe a decision that needs to be made. If they think they need no help to make it, go stand by the “No Help” sign. If they need advice from others to make a good decision, go stand by the “Help” sign. If unsure, stand somewhere in the middle to show their indecision.
- Read the scenario: “What to wear to the annual party.” Ask folks to go stand where they choose.
- Ask one person to play the role of “interviewer.” After all are positioned, the interviewer should ask one or two folks to tell why they chose to stand where they did.
- Before the meeting, come up with a list of 8-10 decisions—some easy, some more ambiguous. For example: What to eat for breakfast, how often to take prescribed medication, when to go to bed, how often to clean the kitchen, when to cross at the intersection, etc. Think of some that will be relevant to your group. Be sure to invite folks in the group to suggest situations once the exercise gets going.
2. Resource
None this time. Let us know if you find a good resource to help self-advocates decide when they need support and when they don’t.
Today’s Trivia Question:
True or false: A mushroom is a plant.
(The answer will be published in the next Memo.)
Answer to March 10th Trivia Question: False. A whale is a mammal.
Question was: True or false: A whale is a fish.
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