Social Innovation in the Ability World

Al Etmanski is the founder of PLAN in British Columbia (Personalised Lifestyle Arrangements Network), one of the most innovative family-based organisations in the world in driving change in disability. Al Etmanski has posted this news item:

"The federal government has made PLAN an offer we can't refuse - to take over the running of the Federal Office of Disability Issues. The Board of PLAN has agreed to the takeover - with two conditions:

1.the majority of employees must be based in BC. We will maintain a skeleton office in Ottawa but since BC has been the major source of disability innovation in the past three decades (think Rick Hansen; Sam Sullivan, Jack Collins; Ted Kuntz; Joan Laurence; Barb Goode, Stephanie Cadieux) it makes sense to be headquartered where innovation thrives.
2.the emphasis will shift from advocacy and rights to families and networks

... Individuals with disabilities will still have a role - a big role - but not the only role. Families will now resume the preferred status they've lost after five decades of being ignored.

"Essentially this is a back to basics - return to families agenda," says Federal Minister Marg Delahunty.

"Families know what's in the best interests of their loved ones," says newly elected PLAN President Bernie MacDonald.

The focus will now shift to family inclusion best done by establishing a planning innovation laboratory.

As of today the Office of Disability Issues will become the Family Of Origin Lab.

Its main purposes will be:

•to reunite adults with disabilities and their families, preferably in the same house

•to create simulated family of origin networks for people with disabilities who have no families.

http://www.aletmanski.com/al-etmanski/2012/04/my-blog-has-been-silent-these-past-two-weeks-because-ive-been-engaged-in-confidential-negotiations-with-the-federal-governmen.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+aletmanski+%28Al+Etmanski%29