Organized Session, Workshop or Roundtable Title
Integrating, Empowering and Caring for Our Diverse, Local Communities for the Common Good
Participation Type
Organized Session
Participant Type
Multi-presenter
Organized Session, Workshop or Roundtable Abstract
This session has been convened by the Southern Anthropological Association.
Organizer
Hillary M. Adams, SAS Convener
Type of Session
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Needs Assesment of Disability Service Providers within the San Fernando Region of Trinidad and Tobago.
Presentation #1 Abstract
Persons with Disabilities are often a marginalized population as many societies have yet to understand and develop the language, paradigms, structures, and social support necessary for cultivating an integrated society. Our research team studied the social fabric concerning the lived experiences- in terms of availability, access to, and barriers to services- of Persons with Disabilities in the context of Trinidad and Tobago. Our study consisted of conducting a Needs Assessment for five non-profits, one national organization, and one governmental agency with the aim of developing a holistic understanding of the needs of Persons with Disabilities as perceived by service providers. We conducted in-depth interviews with service providers to collect data, and then analyzed the data for patterns and perceptions. Once identified, the themes served as a foundation for the researchers to offer service providers recommendations to assist in filling some identified gaps in serving Persons with Disabilities. The project culminated in a report given to the participating organizations with the hope that they will be able to use the report to acquiesce more resources, further organize services, fill perceived gaps in services, and other aims as identified by the organizations.
At-A-Glance Bios- Participant #1
Chloe Moore is a senior Anthropology and Sociology major attending Rhodes College in Memphis Tennessee.
Presentation #2 Title
Becoming an Ally: How Communities can Empower and Embrace Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Presentation #2 Abstract
The United States demographic is changing; The Center for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (2015). As the number of individuals with ASD rise, we, too, must realize our responsibility to understand, support and embrace this growing population into their communities. Across the U.S., adult services for employment, therapy, housing, community living and education are available, but limited. Checking out in a grocery store, applying for a job or eating at a restaurant can be a daunting task for an individual with ASD. But it doesn’t have to be. What if the cashier understood that not being able to purchase a brand of cereal could throw off desired routines? What if the interviewer recognized that speech delays are due to slow processing speed, not low IQ? What if the server showed empathy to the patron overstimulated by clanging dishes and loud chatter? The WV Autism Training Center, located at Marshall University, created “Allies Supporting Autism Spectrum Diversity” to help with common misconceptions. This program champions efforts to inform and educate individuals who wish to provide a safe and accepting environment for individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our mission is to advocate diversity and promote understanding in order to support and develop awareness. The focus of this session will be to discuss the need for citizen involvement to create change – to shift responsibility from mental health experts to citizens who wish to spread autism advocacy into our communities.
At-A-Glance Bios- Participant #2
Hillary Adams, M.A., is a Student Support Specialist for The College Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, located at Marshall University. Ms. Adams holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and is a student in the doctoral program for Education Leadership in the Graduate School of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University.
At-A-Glance Bios- Participant #3
Eugenia Damron, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor at Marshall University, South Charleston Campus who earned her Ed. D, in Leadership Studies, Ed. Specialist in Educational Administration, Master’s in Preschool Special Needs, and Bachelor’s in Special Education; all from Marshall University. Eugenia began her teaching career at Kellogg Elementary where she became Principal, left Kellogg to serve as the Director of Special Education at RESA 2 and was then blessed with the opportunity to teach at Marshall University.
Presentation #4 Title
The Work of Providing Care: Domestic Violence Service Provision
Presentation #4 Abstract
Based on participant observation and interviews, this paper presents the myriad forms of labor that advocates working for a domestic violence service provider in central Kentucky perform and the impact of that labor on those performing it. Advocates’ work is largely understood as providing care and safety for women and families fleeing domestic violence. Care in this context takes many forms: legal advocacy, housing advocacy, support groups, one on one meetings, shelter. Advocates report being caught between the needs of their clients and the capacity of the organization they work for. In such a crisis centered work environment with such high demands and such restricted resources, advocates negotiate the limits of the care they can provide. This negotiation includes not just the needs of the client, but also the impact of performing this kind of labor on the advocates themselves. Based on participatory methods, I have included some recommendations from the advocates for their work, both as a means of taking better care of their clients and themselves.
At-A-Glance Bios- Participant #4
Olivia Spradlin is a graduate student in the University of Kentucky's Department of Anthropology. Previously, she has worked for nonprofits focused on eliminating violence against women.
Keywords
Activism, Advocacy, Agency, Citizenship, Disability, Discrimination, Human Growth and Development, Violence
Start Date
4-8-2016 8:30 AM
End Date
4-8-2016 10:00 AM
Needs Assesment of Disability Service Providers within the San Fernando Region of Trinidad and Tobago.
Big Sandy Conference Center - Tech Room 01
Persons with Disabilities are often a marginalized population as many societies have yet to understand and develop the language, paradigms, structures, and social support necessary for cultivating an integrated society. Our research team studied the social fabric concerning the lived experiences- in terms of availability, access to, and barriers to services- of Persons with Disabilities in the context of Trinidad and Tobago. Our study consisted of conducting a Needs Assessment for five non-profits, one national organization, and one governmental agency with the aim of developing a holistic understanding of the needs of Persons with Disabilities as perceived by service providers. We conducted in-depth interviews with service providers to collect data, and then analyzed the data for patterns and perceptions. Once identified, the themes served as a foundation for the researchers to offer service providers recommendations to assist in filling some identified gaps in serving Persons with Disabilities. The project culminated in a report given to the participating organizations with the hope that they will be able to use the report to acquiesce more resources, further organize services, fill perceived gaps in services, and other aims as identified by the organizations.