The Gifts of Strangers: Understanding the Benefits of Diversity Discover the transformative power of diversity in this insightful piece by John McKnight, co-founder of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute. McKnight explores how welcoming outsiders—those with different cultures, perspectives, and practices—can enrich communities and strengthen democracy. He highlights...
John McKnight Tribute This heartfelt tribute by John McKnight honors the life and legacy of Judith Snow, a visionary thought leader and faculty member of the ABCD Institute. Known as the “rainbow friend” among the Circle of Friends, Judith’s vibrant spirit illuminated countless lives, places, and ideas. The...
This document, What Are We Learning About Bridge-Building? , dives into the inspiring work of “bridge-builders”—people dedicated to creating genuine community connections for individuals with disabilities. It explores how traditional human services often fall short, focusing on deficits and segregation, while bridge-builders champion inclusion, relationships, and empowerment. Through...
This insightful document, What Are We Learning About Circles of Support? , dives into the transformative power of building Circles of Support for individuals with disabilities. Written by Beth Mount, Pat Beeman, and George Ducharme, it’s packed with tools, stories, and reflections to help create meaningful, person-centered networks. ...
Life Building: Opening Windows to Change Using Personal Futures Planning by Dr. Beth Mount, is a practical and inspiring guide for people with disabilities, their families, and supporters. It introduces Personal Futures Planning as a person-centered approach to help individuals envision and create meaningful, community-connected lives. Through six...
What’s More is Possible? A Guide to Person-Centered Practices This insightful document by John O’Brien and Beth Mount explores the transformative power of person-centered practices for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It challenges readers to ask, “What more is possible?”—of themselves, their communities, and the services they rely...
Person-Centered Planning: Finding Directions for Change Using Personal Futures Planning by Dr. Beth Mount, is a practical guide to creating meaningful, person-centered lives for individuals with disabilities. It contrasts traditional system-centered approaches with person-centered methods that focus on individual gifts, dreams, and community connections. Through tools like relationship...
Wish Fulfilling Justice: Creating Individualized Residential Supports with HomeBuilders, shares inspiring stories of people with disabilities living independently through AHRC New York City’s HomeBuilders program. It highlights the transformative power of person-centered planning, individualized supports, and community relationships. The program focuses on breaking cycles of poverty, disability, and...
Building New Worlds: A Guide to Transitioning for Students with Disabilities This inspiring sourcebook, Building New Worlds, is a practical and heartfelt guide for students with disabilities transitioning from high school to adult life. Authored by Beth Mount and Connie Lyle O’Brien, it shares real-life stories and strategies...
Moving On: A Personal Futures Planning Workbook for Individuals with Brain Injury, is a practical guide designed to help individuals with brain injuries rebuild their lives and create a positive future. It introduces “Personal Futures Planning,” a step-by-step process that empowers users to develop mental maps for achieving their...
This document is a comprehensive guide to discovering “what more is possible” in person-centered planning, aimed at fostering meaningful change for individuals relying on long-term support. It introduces a step-by-step framework inspired by Theory U, emphasizing deep listening, adaptive leadership, and co-creation. The guide explores how to build relationships,...
This document dives into the inspiring work of Beth Mount, a pioneer in person-centered planning and community inclusion for people with disabilities. It explores key concepts like citizenship, community, leadership, and the transformative power of art in creating meaningful connections. Beth emphasizes the importance of seeing people for...
This document, titled “Setting My Direction,” is a thoughtful exploration of community-building and social inclusion, written by Judith A. Snow. It reflects on the journey to create meaningful change for people labeled as disabled, emphasizing the importance of diversity, vulnerability, and connection. Judith shares her vision for fostering resilient...
Two Eulogies – Judieht Snow This heartfelt document features two eulogies by Judith Snow, honoring the lives of Dani Harder and Scott Christianson, two extraordinary individuals who defied challenges and inspired countless people. The first tribute, “To Dani Harder, A Hero,” reflects on Dani’s remarkable journey as a young woman...
This document is a personal letter from Judith A. Snow, M.A., sharing her transformative journey with Landmark Education and her advocacy for inclusion. Judith reflects on her experiences in Landmark’s programs, including the Communication – Access to Power (CAP) course, the Forum, and the Introduction Leaders Program. ...
This document explores transformative initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion, diversity, and individualized support for vulnerable communities, particularly individuals with disabilities. It begins with the Ontario Enabling Communities Regional Committee’s April 2000 meeting, where members embraced a renewed identity as “The Vulnerable Mosaic,” symbolizing their commitment to building a hospitable society...
The Wonderful Life of Jusith Snow This tribute celebrates the extraordinary life of Judith Snow, a trailblazer in inclusion, community development, and human rights. Judith, who passed away in 2015, was a visionary who reshaped how society views disability, interdependence, and the power of community. Her pioneering work led...
Discovering the Power in Vulnerability In this thought-provoking essay, Judith A. Snow challenges the way we view human connection and individuality. She invites readers to rethink life not as isolated bodies but as threads of relationships that weave us into a rich tapestry of community. Snow...
This document, written by Judith A. Snow, M.A., is a heartfelt call to action for individuals labeled as disabled to embrace leadership and explore their unique gifts. Judith shares her personal experiences as someone who relies on personal attendants and has spent her life observing the challenges faced by...
The Joshua Committee Model This inspiring document shares the story of Judy Snow, a trailblazing advocate for disabled persons, and the formation of the Joshua Committee—a grassroots support group that fought for her right to live independently. Co-written by Marsha Forest and Judy Snow, the article highlights Judy’s journey...
This inspiring address by Judith A. Snow, delivered at Frontier College’s 89th Annual Meeting, explores the transformative power of community and inclusion. Snow, a visionary advocate for marginalized groups, shares her personal journey from living on the margins of society to becoming a participating citizen, thanks to the support of...
This compelling document tells the story of Judy Snow, a fiercely determined quadriplegic who has spent over a decade battling bureaucracy to secure basic rights for herself and others with disabilities. Born with severe physical limitations, Judy defied societal expectations, earning a Master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and...
This compelling document tells the story of Judy Snow, a fiercely determined quadriplegic who has spent over a decade battling bureaucracy to secure basic rights for herself and others with disabilities. Born with severe physical limitations, Judy defied societal expectations, earning a Master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and...
Right Two Eulogies – Judieht Snow This heartfelt document features two eulogies by Judith Snow, honoring the lives of Dani Harder and Scott Christianson, two extraordinary individuals who defied challenges and inspired countless people. The first tribute, “To Dani Harder, A Hero,” reflects on Dani’s remarkable journey as a young...
Personal Assistants – Discover the transformative concept of “Personal Assistance” in this insightful article by Judith Snow, MA. Over the past fifty years, society has recognized that individuals with unique abilities can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities when provided with the right support. Personal assistance is...
This document dives into the fascinating interplay between chaos theory, historical paradigm shifts, and the looming Y2K crisis. It begins with a reflection on Isaac Newton’s life and his quest for order amidst personal and societal chaos, highlighting his rivalry with Leibniz over calculus—a discovery that shaped the industrial revolution....
This insightful document by Judith Snow, written in January 1996, explores the unique gifts and contributions that individuals vulnerable to rejection—often labeled as disabled—bring to communities. It highlights how these individuals enrich society in five key areas: hospitality, grounding, skill-building, networking, economic contributions, and emotional/spiritual support. From making...
Nomination Letters for Judith Snow This document is a heartfelt collection of nomination letters advocating for Judith Snow’s induction into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. Judith Snow was a trailblazer in the disability rights movement, known for her groundbreaking work in inclusion, individualized funding, and community building. The letters,...
This document is a heartfelt nomination of Judith Snow to the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, celebrating her extraordinary life as an advocate, artist, educator, and visionary leader. Born in 1949 and living with spinal muscular atrophy, Judith defied societal expectations and medical predictions, living a vibrant life until...
Learning Together Magazine – Issue No. 4 (March 1993), is a heartfelt exploration of inclusive education and its transformative impact on students, families, and communities. It features inspiring stories, practical strategies, and thought-provoking insights from educators, parents, and advocates worldwide. The magazine champions the idea that inclusion is...
On Dreaming by Judith Snow, explores the transformative power of dreams and their role in uncovering personal gifts and contributions to society. Judith shares her journey of embracing her dream of being a truck driver, which initially seemed unrealistic but ultimately revealed deeper life themes: the importance of meaningful...
This heartfelt tribute by Jack Pearpoint celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Judith Snow, a trailblazer for inclusion, justice, and community. Judith, who defied medical predictions and societal barriers, dedicated her life to creating a world where everyone belongs. Jack recounts their nearly 40-year friendship, starting when...
International Association for Inclusive Citizenship This document announces the founding of the International Association for Inclusive Citizenship (IAIC), a global initiative led by Judith Snow. The IAIC aims to create a space of pride, celebration, and inclusion for individuals labeled as “disabled” and others committed to building a world...
Discover the transformative concept of the “culture of inclusion” in Judith A. Snow’s insightful piece, In the Spirit of Inclusion. This vibrant new culture challenges traditional notions of giftedness, affirming that every individual possesses unique gifts—ordinary or extraordinary—that foster meaningful interactions and build community. Snow emphasizes that presence...
This heartfelt document, Following the Right Star Home by Judith A. Snow, is a powerful reflection on inclusion, diversity, and the blessings of embracing differences. Delivered at the Summer Institute on Inclusion, Community, and Diversity in Toronto in 1997, Judith shares her personal journey of advocacy, resilience, and...
This issue of Learning Together Magazine (March 1993) features Judith A. Snow’s inspiring article, “Enchantment for Inclusion,” which explores the transformative power of dreaming and working toward a world of inclusion. Snow shares her experience as part of a workshop team teaching creative facilitation, emphasizing the importance of...
This inspiring document, written by Judith A. Snow, explores the profound impact of community, gifts, and dreams through the story of Peter, a young man with Down Syndrome who doesn’t speak. It highlights how Peter’s journey—from being excluded in traditional schools to becoming a vital part of his...
This insightful document explores how society perceives and interacts with individuals labeled as disabled, particularly their ability to express desires like having a home of their own. It highlights the discrimination and misunderstanding faced by these individuals, who are often excluded from typical social roles and commercial relationships. ...
This thought-provoking short story by Judith Snow explores the journey of living authentically while navigating the challenges of being different in a world that often struggles to understand. Written with a poetic and reflective tone, the narrative speaks to anyone who has ever felt unseen or misunderstood. It...
This document dives into the heart of creating meaningful lives for people with developmental disabilities (DD) by exploring practices that foster belonging, choice, valued social roles, contribution, and shared spaces. It emphasizes the importance of cultural change, urging readers to challenge societal norms like being “too busy” and embrace...
Stanley Hauerwas’s reflection on community and diversity challenges us to confront the “tyranny of normality” and rethink how we build inclusive communities. His talk, delivered to parents and workers supporting people with intellectual disabilities, calls for a deeper conviction to embrace difference and resist the temptation to segregate or...
This document dives deep into the question: “What can we count on to make and keep people safe?” It explores how to create effective safeguards for people with developmental disabilities, balancing community ties and professional systems. Through discussions, historical insights, and real-life stories, it highlights the vulnerabilities faced...
tensions between grounded relationships and abstract systems in the world of developmental disability support. It explores the values we stand for—like inclusion, person-centered supports, and community building—and the practices we stand against, such as segregation and bureaucratic imposition. O’Brien reflects on the challenges of balancing human connection with the...
Discovering the Heart of Power Sharing: A Guide to Inclusion and Collaboration This insightful document dives into the concept of power sharing between people with substantial disabilities and their assistants, exploring how collaboration can empower individuals to lead richer, more autonomous lives. It challenges traditional service models that prioritize...
This document, written by John O’Brien, explores the evolution and impact of TASH, an international organization advocating for the inclusion of people with significant disabilities, alongside the development of person-centered work. It delves into the origins, practices, and values of person-centered planning, direct support, and design—approaches that empower individuals...
This document explores the transformative work of “in Control,” a pioneering initiative aimed at revolutionizing social care through Self-Directed Support. Authored by John O’Brien and David Towell, it reflects on in Control’s innovative approach to empowering individuals who rely on social care by promoting their full citizenship. The...
This document explores the transformative work of Pathfinders, a person-centered development project helping students with developmental disabilities transition from segregated special education to active, inclusive community lives. Through personalized planning, focused staff support, and collaborative workshops, Pathfinders empowers students to uncover their unique capacities, connect with local opportunities, and build...
Discovering the Promise of Supported Living: A Guide to Transformative Change This insightful document, More than Just a New Address by John O’Brien and Connie Lyle O’Brien, explores the shift from traditional residential services to supported living for people with developmental disabilities. It highlights how supported living empowers individuals...