Creating Accessible Living Spaces: Modifications and Accommodations (Excerpt)

Chris Liuzzo: As the host of this impactful podcast series sponsored by the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, and funded by the New York State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Chris Liuzzo brings insightful conversations to the fore. Throughout the series, Chris engages with a variety of guests, including people who receive and provide supports, family members, administrators, and thought leaders, all while exploring the nuances of person-centered planning, work, and way of life.

Baturu Mboge serves as the Vice President for Learning and Development at the Care Coordination Alliance of New York. With an intrinsic passion for person-centered planning, Baturu leads its Person Centered Engagement initiative, guiding a vast organization almost spanning statewide. He strives to foster values-driven, person-centered practices aimed at nurturing beloved communities through innovative care management strategies. Episode Summary: In this episode, Chris Liuzzo hosts Baturu Mboge to delve into person-centered planning and its impact on care management. Baturu explains the transition towards person-centered engagemen,an initiative to transform care management practices across a nearly statewide organization. The discussion transitions into an exploration of how purpose and intentionality help foster meaningful change for both the caregivers and those they support. Baturu elaborates on how person-centered engagement is more than just a framework; it's a transformative journey aimed at enhancing community involvement and citizenship among individuals. By shifting the focus from deficits to gifts and from isolation to community connection, this initiative nurtures valuable contributions from all individuals, thereby building beloved communities as envisioned by Martin Luther King Jr. The discussion underlines how organizations like Lifeplan and Advanced Care Alliance (ACA) of New York leverage deeper listening and purposeful engagement to redefine the narrative and empower care managers. Key Takeaways: Purposeful and Intentional Work: The Person Centered Engagement initiative emphasizes being purposeful and intentional, focusing on an individual's gifts and potential rather than deficits. Building Beloved Communities: The ultimate goal is creating spaces where individuals can freely contribute and engage, nurturing a sense of citizenship and community belonging. Transforming Care Management: Real change comes from transitioning organizational behavior to foster stronger relationships and trust with the supported individuals, enabling a shift towards more person-centered strategies. Prototyping Innovation: The approach encourages prototyping shifts — trying out new perspectives and ideas to see what emerges from the process, leading to deeper understanding and innovation. Empowerment Through Listening: Genuine person-centered care stems from listening with an open mind, allowing the voices of the silent to be heard and valued within the community.

Danyetta Najoli is the founder and principal consultant of the Najoli Learning Group. She has an illustrious career as an author and thought leader in the fields of person-centered planning and cultural humility. Danyetta spent 12 years at Starfire, a Cincinnati-based organization, as a senior community builder and learning network associate. Her commitment to fostering environments that empower individuals shines through in her work, emphasizing the importance of cultural humility in human services. Episode Summary: In this episode of the podcast series about person-centered planning, host Chris Liuzzo is joined by Danyetta Najoli, an expert in cultural humility and person-centered work. The discussion delves into the intersection between cultural humility and person-centeredness, exploring how these concepts can transform relationships and experiences within human services. Cultural humility emerges as a profound theme throughout the conversation. Najoli explains this concept using the framework established by Doctors Tervalon and Murray-Garcia. It's described as a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation, personal critique, and addressing power imbalances in relationships, especially pertinent in service-oriented fields like those supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. Najoli emphasizes that cultural humility shifts the expert into a learner role, fostering deeper, mutually beneficial partnerships. The conversation touches on the challenges of traditional human services, where prevailing practices might inadvertently overlook critical aspects of individual identity — a gap cultural humility seeks to bridge. The episode elaborates on the dynamics of cultural competence, proficiency, and humility through a vivid analogy of a house with a hole in the roof, highlighting that knowing what, why, and how to fix it contrasts with having the desire to actually do it. Liuzzo and Najoli further explore how person-centered work is enriched by joy, challenging conventional practices that might focus more on control rather than holistic individual support. This dialogue encourages listeners to engage in self-reflective practices, challenge traditional paradigms, and foster environments infused with humility, understanding, and genuine care. Key Takeaways:

BJ Stasio is a prominent figure in the field of developmental disabilities. He has served as the president of the New York State Self Advocacy Association. Currently, he is a peer specialist at the New York State Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Known for his advocacy, training roles, and support for voting rights, BJ contributes significantly to nurturing a person-centered culture within organizations. As someone who receives support himself, he offers a unique perspective on systems concerning person-centeredness. BJ is also a writer and speaker, maintaining an active presence through his website, bjstasio.com.

Mike Green specializes in community development, embodying decades of experience. Currently based in Denver, Mike’s professional journey began in small business, where he managed three operations before shifting to social work. Influenced by his daughter Annie's experiences, he developed a passion for fostering inclusive communities. He collaborated with the notable John McKnight on asset-based community development models, emphasizing the importance of community and relationships. Mike, now 78, shares his expertise globally, promoting the integration of service and community life. Episode Summary: In this insightful episode sponsored by the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, podcast host Chris Liuzzo engages with community development expert Mike Green. The discussion, rich with personal anecdotes and professional insights, delves into the heart of person-centered planning and community integration. Through his journey from small business owner to social work and community advocacy, Mike shares how personal experiences, particularly with his daughter Annie, shaped his approach to community building. Mike Green explores the concept of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), illustrating how genuine community connections can bring about meaningful change. He emphasizes that true power lies in relationships, not in meticulously crafted plans, and shares key strategies for building inclusive communities that welcome diverse contributions. Through poignant stories and thought-provoking observations, the episode underscores how person-centered work is mirrored in successful community integration, pivotal for fostering greater inclusivity. Mike closes with practical advice for families seeking to navigate and improve community interactions. Key Takeaways: Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) focuses on leveraging existing community assets to foster stronger connections and achieve positive change. Person-centered work mirrors successful community development techniques, emphasizing co-creation and discovery of individual and communal assets. Establishing a two-way support bridge between human services and community integration is essential for effective inclusion. Community members, often unfamiliar with the support needs of individuals with disabilities, must be guided on how to accommodate and welcome diverse abilities. Engaging everyday community networks is crucial for fostering inclusive environments where everyone’s contributions are valued. Notable Quotes: "Power is in relationships, not in plans." - Mike Green "The problem is that people don't know they need Annie, her contribution, her gifts, her presence in their life." - Mike Green "We need love and power and that power without love is abusive, love without power is anemic." - Mike Green "Every human being’s lived experience is that power is in relationships." - Mike Green "It’s about discovery, not about manufacture." - Mike Green Resources: New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation Asset-Based Community Development Institute John McKnight - Co-founder of the ABCD Institute To dive deeper into how person-centered work can truly transform communities and individual lives, listen to this engaging episode. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on person-centeredness from our podcast series!