Discovering Community Living: Learning from Innovations in Services for People with Mental Retardation This insightful document explores the evolution of services for people with mental retardation, focusing on the shift from institutional care to community-based living. It highlights the challenges and opportunities in fostering a true sense of community—defined as mutually supportive relationships […]
Navigating the Crooked Map Zone: A Guide to Quality in Disability Services This insightful document explores the challenges and opportunities in improving services for people with developmental disabilities. Using the metaphor of a “crooked map,” it highlights how outdated mental models and rigid service structures can lead organizations astray, despite good intentions. […]
Two Paths to Development: A Guide to Transforming Human Services In Two Paths to Development, John O’Brien offers a thoughtful roadmap for reshaping human services to better support people with disabilities. He introduces two essential paths—detachment and creation—that leaders must navigate to foster meaningful change. The path of detachment focuses on stepping back […]
Action Learning for Quality Improvement: A Collaborative Approach to Disability Services This insightful document by John O’Brien and Connie Lyle O’Brien explores innovative strategies for improving the quality of support for people with developmental disabilities. It challenges traditional business approaches to quality improvement, emphasizing the need for dynamic, collaborative processes that adapt to the […]
Adapting to Scarcity: Building a Sustainable Service System for Developmental Disabilities This insightful document explores the challenges of scarcity in services for people with developmental disabilities and offers a roadmap for creating a sustainable system. It highlights the growing waiting lists, funding shortfalls, and workforce crises that leave families struggling to cope. […]
This document, authored by John O’Brien, explores the transformative power of person-centered approaches in fostering self-determination, inclusion, and community contribution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Drawing from decades of experience, O’Brien shares stories, insights, and practical strategies to challenge societal norms and expand possibilities for meaningful employment, civic participation, and independent living. […]
This document explores the transformative power of person-centered planning (PCP) in creating meaningful change for individuals with severe disabilities. Authored by John O’Brien, it highlights how PCP helps people live independently, work in integrated settings, and engage fully in their communities. The paper dives into various approaches to PCP, such as Personal Futures Planning, […]
This document explores the evolving challenges and opportunities in creating systems that truly support people and families amidst societal shifts. It highlights key trends like political polarization, growing inequalities, resource scarcity, and shifting demographics, emphasizing the need to redefine priorities and adapt intelligently. The text delves into the discomfort of learning, as organizations […]
This insightful document, What’s Worth Working For? Leadership for Better Quality Human Services by John O’Brien, explores how human services can empower people with severe disabilities to lead fulfilling lives within inclusive communities. Through real-life examples like Brian’s journey to employment, the paper highlights the transformative impact of responsive services that prioritize individual […]
Doing More With More: A Guide to Inclusive Support and Social Innovation This insightful document by John O’Brien explores how to create meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in challenging times. It emphasizes the shift from traditional program-based thinking to fostering genuine social inclusion and self-direction. As public funding decreases, […]