The 3 E’s

By: Kim Spangler Family Outreach Coordinator Arc of Alabama

We all seek out ways to evolve as a person. I do it, you do it…we all want to continue to learn, grow, and engage with our communities. Most of us naturally find ourselves seeking out our “tribe” in grade school and that experience continues well into adulthood. We are often sharply shaped by our experiences in education, employment, and community engagement, which help lead us to find our place in this world.

What if it wasn’t that easy? What if you were not given an opportunity to participate in a regular classroom and someone else decided you’d be “protected” in a self contained classroom aka a “resource room” throughout your schooling? What if you were told trade school or college was not an option and neither was employment? What if you didn’t drive? What if your access to the community was limited to only places that were equipped with sign language interpreters or universal design? What if public restrooms didn’t have adult sized changing tables and so your time spent in the community was extremely limited? What if your daily schedule was determined by your support staff or your driver or your room-mates? What if someone else chose who you would be living with?

Those are the realities of daily life for many people living with an intellectual or developmental disability. At The Arc of Alabama, when this happens, we know it’s time to raise expectations and focus on what we like to call “The 3 E’s” (Education, Employment, and Engagement). History has shown us, the best way to learn and grow and contribute to your community is when you can sustain full access to “The 3 E’s” throughout a lifetime.

Education: The LRE or the “least restrictive environment” in school is the goal for learners who have an IEP (individualized education plan) and that means starting in the general education classroom and working with PARA’s (para-professional’s who assist the teacher for more individualized student supports) before going into a self contained classroom for the majority of the day. That percentage of time allocated to sit alongside typical learners creates a bond, and a model for expectations which is rarely able to be accessed in more isolated or segregated learning environments.

Research points to better outcomes for students who are well engaged in general education classrooms and extra curricular activities for the majority of their day at school. A recent research brief published by the Nebraska Department of Education under the NeMTSS framework shows evidence toward work happening in inclusive education environments. Go to:https://nemtss.unl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/23-The- Evidence-for-Inclusive-Education.pdf for more information.

It’s also important to note to keep a training program or a THINK college program on the table for discussion. https:// thearcofshelby.org/what-we-do/employment-services/project-search/ and https:// thinkcollege.net/ such as Project Search, or The University of Alabama’s Crossing Points Program. Post-secondary education can increase gains made toward independence through earning potential and access to the community in more ways than one. Here are a few options for those seeking to become life long learners and earn certificates or degrees in specialized areas: https://www.aidb.org/adult-services/eh-gentry-homepage, or https://www.aidt.edu/

Employment: A former misconception many people had is that someone with a diagnosis like Downs Syndrome, Autism, or Cerebral Palsy can’t hold down a job or work at a meaningful career. Still today, many people assume that if someone receives government benefits like SSI or SSDI, then that means employment is not an option. Since ,we now know these are just myths, we hope everyone with a disability chooses to explore employment before dismissing it as a possibility. While we recognize there are still challenges in finding a good job when someone has an intellectual or developmental disability… (More on the 3 F’s coming soon) we want to encourage everyone to reach for the stars and dream big with employment.

Several of our chapters throughout the state offer employment services. This includes job exploration, benefits counseling, job coaching, and on the job supports. We understand the importance of work and the way it develops a persons skills, character and finances. Several programs which offer work based training are: https:// www.arcofcentralalabama.org/programs/employment-program/  or  https://www.isable.org/

Engagement in the community: The theme song to the popular tv series titled “Friends” comes to mind when we think about finding our tribe… “So no one told you life was gonna be this way…your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s DOA….it’s like you’re always stuck in 2nd gear…well it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month or even your year…but I’ll be there for you, when the rain starts to fall, I’ll be there for you like I’ve been there before…I’ll be there for you, cause you’re there for me too!”

This bond shared within ones own circle of friends only happens when we find communities that practice acceptance and inclusion. When institutional care was par for the course, people with intellectual or developmental disabilities were often unseen and unheard. ‘Out of sight, out of mind” and so developing relationships or contributing to the community was simply not happening. The healthiest people who live the longest (as documented in this series about the world’s Blue Zones: https://www.netflix.com/ title/81214929 ) all have one thing in common…strong community engagement and accessible communities. The best way to protect someone is to have more than just one or two sets of eye’s and ears around.

Understanding the importance of reciprocal roles and the differences between caring for and caring about someone is important as described here: https:// www.lifecoursetools.com/lifecourse-library/lifecourse-framework/mapping-relationships/ Local Churches, Coffee shops, the neighborhood green space, all those places where proximity meets consistency…that’s an engagement “hot-spot”, so look for those! Work can be just as meaningful to a person and their community through volunteer work! At The Arc of Alabama, we have endless opportunities to serve our community and welcome you to consider the lives you can change for good by giving of your time and effort to one of our many chapters or programs, find one near you! http://thearcofal.org/about-us/alabama-chapters-of-the-arc/

Access to the 3 E’s can literally make all the difference in the life of a person living with a disability. If you know someone who could use this information or needs support this way, please refer them to us! Email kspangler@thearcofalabama.org We exist to inform, guide and advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Look for a group of upcoming Rockstars you may know who are all about the 3 E’s in Septembers issue of the new magazine, “Uniquely You” from Rachel Hughes.