Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley
"...working with children, individuals, families and communities to achieve their potential."
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Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley "...working with children, individuals, families and communities to achieve their potential." |
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Students and Teachers in a Northeast PA elementary school learn that disability is not “bad” – just “different”Center of photo/standing – Diana Morris Francis Co-Creator/Director DisAbility is a natural part of the Human Condition – but many people are fearful or don’t comprehend when they are face to face with an individual who lives with a disAbility. The purpose of Project A.B.L.E.© is to break down the barrier of fear that isolates people and help them understand, empathize with and respect people with disabilities. Experiential in nature, A.B.L.E.© offers typical individuals the opportunity to “try on” a disability through various devices and simulations. Although this part of the concept is not new in nature, the attitude behind it is. The premise of A.B.L.E.© is that everyone has skills and abilities – they just take different forms. Everyone would agree that it takes a high degree of skill to navigate a wheelchair through a crowded shopping center or festival! There is NO PITY allowed in Project A.B.L.E.© presentations. Based on a tries-and-true series of 5 main stations, A.B.L.E.© offers exposure to and information on many common disabilities. Individuals get to experience: 1) Mobility devices – wheelchairs, braces, 2) Mobility issues - poor balance, weak or over-tight muscles 3) Fine Motor/Activities of Daily Living – using your hands and fingers/ self-care/eating 4) Learning DisAbilities/Attention Issues/Autism – Learning and concentration differences 5) Communication – alternative means of being understood – sign language, touch talkers, PECS cards Over-arching issues such as People First Language (the person first – then the disability), respect, word meanings, and the true Art of Welcoming all abilities and ethnicities into our communities. Many people with disabilities live alone with few friends and little family –isolated by other people’s misunderstanding of their disability. Project A.B.L.E.© was developed by families of children with disabilities, and is presented by these families as well as by self-advocates. Project A.B.L.E.© is respected in Pennsylvania – winning the Department of Health’s “Reaching Out” award, and capturing the attention of numerous prestigious colleges and Universities where the program is part of the curriculum for childcare and early intervention instructors, future teachers, social workers, guidance counselors, nurses, aides and paraprofessionals, administrators, certified rehabilitation counselors, and more.
(Photo: Dr. Lori
Bruch with the University of Scranton
Diane Smulligan, Physical Therapy Assistant and Diana Francis Co-Direct the program which also offers consultation to Child Abuse and Advocacy organizations, 1st Responders (Fire/EMS/Police), Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities programs in several states. They will present at the International Child maltreatment Conference in San Diego California in January of 2008 along with the Children’s Advocacy Center at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY. and a disabilities studies professor from Columbia University. Abuse and Disability: an unfortunate, frequent combination. 
(Diane
Smulligan, PTA , discusses class size with Project A.B.L.E.© presentations are available on a sliding scale to civic and community groups. Consultation fees vary depending on travel and time.
Please contact:
Diana Francis –
momdee@ptd.net
THANK YOU Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley 
Masters students in
Rehabilitation Counseling look
Disability Related Resources: PA Developmental Disabilities Council – www.paddc.org Disability is natural – www.disabilityisnatural.org Northeast PA Center for Independent Living – www.nepacil.org National Council on Independent Living – www.NCIL.org
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Family
Service Association of Wyoming Valley Web
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