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      Dan Hobbs Seminar

A Path and Community-Building Workshop
With David and Faye Wetherow

May 15-17, 2006

Rotherford Hall

East Sussex, TN6 3LX

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Article of Community-Building and Commitment-Building with PATH

Article of "Moving from Activity to connection : Stop Cooking and Start Looking

At the heart of helping people move toward lives of self-determination, companionship and contribution are effective skills in project, organizational and person-centered planning, skills in developing personal support networks, and patterns of inquiry that invite vision, build commitment and encourage collaboration.

This is an intensive practice-based training event based on the internationally recognized work of Jack Pearpoint, Marsha Forest, John O’Brien, Judith Snow,Joseph Schaeffer, David and Faye Wetherow and others.

In this three-day hands-on course, participants will practice PATH, Solution Circles, the Stone Game and graphic recording – some of the most valued organizational and person-centered planning tools in use today. Participants leave inspired, energized, and with actual tools to start using at work and in their personal lives. Each participant has their own personal PATH completed, and helps two other participants complete their PATHs.

About the tools

PATH is the most powerful personal, team and organizational planning method we’ve ever encountered. It’s a proven tool for building commitment and strengthening community.

Solution Circles is a rapid problem solving process that can be brought out at the end of a work day or conducted over coffee in one’s living room. It’s great for generating ideas, connections and action when we’re ‘stuck’.

The Stone Game is a powerful approach to changing the ‘culture’ when people are locked in conflict. It’s often the first tool that participants ‘bring out of the box’ when they return to work after the training.

Strategies for moving from ‘activity’ to meaningful connection can be brought into play at a moment’s notice and can make an immediate difference in people’s lives.

About the presenters

David and Faye Wetherow have long been involved in innovative service development, training and facilitation in the field of community living.

They created the first Microboards, inclusive housing and service cooperatives, and some of Canada’s earliest individualized residential and personal support services.

They conduct training, planning, and design sessions for individuals and families, service agencies, businesses, schools, parent and advocacy groups in the U.S. and Canada.

For many years David and Faye shared their lives with an adopted daughter who lived with complex mobility and communication challenges. She still inspires their work.

Who should attend

Staff of human service agencies, educators, family members, self-advocates and leaders in civic, church and business organizations will value this workshop. The tools are especially useful in disability, child protection, justice, substance abuse and community services.

Participants say

“Wonderful, gentle wise souls. I felt safe and respected. I was totally engaged the entire time, and that doesn’t happen to me very often in a workshop context.”

“You were an integral, energizing force in my efforts to recover from chronic sadness and rage at the ways in which my son had been marginalized over the past few years.”

“PATH training was a multi-faceted gift – not only did I come away more excited about a planning process than I had been in ages, but I also had the opportunity to experience a tiny slice of the renowned CommunityWorks magic – and I’d been pining for that for a long time.”

When times are tough

This workshop emphasizes practical tools that bring family, friends and community allies into active collaboration when formal ‘system’ resources are stretched to the limit.

Vision-based strategic planning, tools for collaboration, capacity-finding and following the ‘threads’ of individual interests, gifts and passions towards connection, companionship and contribution are universal strategies

Although the tools were forged in the search for full inclusion of persons with disabilities, they are not ‘disability tools’ per se. They are a gift from our field to the larger community, and offer valuable opportunities to discover common ground.

Cost

£100 per person includes tuition, materials, breaks, and a personal copy of the PATH facilitator’s workbook from Inclusion Press.

Scholarships

25% of the workshop spaces are offered as scholarships for self-advocates, youth, family members, and members of personal support networks.

Come as a team

We encourage people to come with at least one person who they will work with in the future. We want participants to put these tools into practice. Ideally, this means working with a partner.

People attending this workshop together go home with a deeper shared sense of understanding, collaboration and commitment. This is a team-building event!

Registration

Please complete one registration form for each person planning to attend so we can mail a registration package to each participant. Please register by May 12th. Space is limited, and there will be no on-site registration. Make checks payable to Life of Your Own, and mail to:

Life of Your Own

Suite 3 Rauter House Sybron Way

Crowborough TN6 3DZ

For more information contact Mike Dunn on 01892 611823 or email info@lifeofyourown.org
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