Including Seniors and Members with
Acquired Disabilities
February 29, 2012
www.serviceandinclusion.org
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The session will be recorded.
Introduction
Ms. Robin Fisher
• Program Manager for the
Delaware Foster
Grandparent Program
• Works on the national and
local level to promote Senior
Corps programs and
disability inclusion
• Working on development of
Delaware’s Inclusion Team
Webinar Objectives
1. Define a “Person with a Disability”
2. Disclosure in terms of people with
acquired disabilities
3. Potential barriers to addressing
acquired disabilities, faced bya. Programs and sites
b. Members and volunteers
4. Helpful solutions
Who is a Person with a Disability?
1. A volunteer who uses non-prescription reading glasses.
2. An applicant for service who recently broke their leg.
3. A member who, because of a stroke, needs a little more
time to speak.
“Disability” as Defined by
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act &
the Americans with Disabilities Act
• A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities
• A history or record of such an impairment
• Being regarded as having such an impairment, even when
no limitations exist
• Someone who has an association with someone with a
disability
“Substantially limits”
…unable to perform, or significantly limited in the
ability to perform, an activity as compared with an
average person. Factors to be considered are:
1. Its nature and severity
2. How long it will last or is expected to last, and
3. Its permanent or long-term impact, or expected
impact
“Major Life Activity” is Anything an Average
Person Can Do with Little or No Difficulty
What is an example of a
Major Life Activity?
“Major Life Activity” is Anything an Average
Person Can Do with Little or No Difficulty
Major life activities include, but are not limited to: caring for oneself,
performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing,
learning, working, sitting, standing, lifting, reaching, sleeping and
mental/emotional processes such as thinking, concentrating and
interacting with others.
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) additions:
operation of major bodily functions such as the immune system, normal
cell growth and the endocrine system.
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/bulletins/adaaa1.htm
Defining Person with an
Acquired Disability
Of or related to a disease, condition, or
characteristic that develops after birth; not
inherited.
-Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009.
Part 1 of the definition of a person with a disability:
• A physical or mental impairment that substantially
limits one or more major life activities
Why not simply
disclose?
Why not simply disclose?
• Culture of program environment
– “Gossipy”
– Excessively competitive
– Racially insensitive
• Fear of potential reactions
• Refusal by others to share equipment
• Not relevant
• Stigma associated with disability
• Need to disclose to other people outside of
service program first
How Willing to Self-Disclose Are
You?
5
4
3
2
1
=
=
=
=
=
would definitely self-disclose
would probably self-disclose
don’t know
would probably not self-disclose
would definitely not self-disclose
Rate on a scale of 1 – 5 the following questions:
1. What are your hobbies?
How Willing to Self-Disclose Are
You?
5
4
3
2
1
=
=
=
=
=
would definitely self-disclose
would probably self-disclose
don’t know
would probably not self-disclose
would definitely not self-disclose
Rate on a scale of 1 – 5 the following questions:
1. What are your hobbies?
2. What is your worst fear?
How Willing to Self-Disclose Are
You?
5
4
3
2
1
=
=
=
=
=
would definitely self-disclose
would probably self-disclose
don’t know
would probably not self-disclose
would definitely not self-disclose
Rate on a scale of 1 – 5 the following questions:
1. What are your hobbies?
2. What is your worst fear?
3. What aspects of your personality do you dislike?
How Willing to Self-Disclose Are
You?
5
4
3
2
1
=
=
=
=
=
would definitely self-disclose
would probably self-disclose
don’t know
would probably not self-disclose
would definitely not self-disclose
Rate on a scale of 1 – 5 the following questions:
1. What are your hobbies?
2. What is your worst fear?
3. What aspects of your personality do you dislike?
4. What is your level of income?
Johari Window
The Johari window is a way of showing how much
information you and others know about yourself.
Known to Others
Unknown to Others
Known to Self
Unknown to Self
Open Pane
Known to self and
others
Blind Pane
Blind to self, seen by
others
Hidden Pane
Open to self, hidden from
others
Unknown Pane
Unknown to self and
others
Window Perspective of
Member/Volunteer
What does the member know about himself/herself
and what are they willing to disclose?
Known to Others
Unknown to Others
Known to Self
Unknown to Self
DISCLOSUREMay or may not ask for/
need an accommodation
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not consider
themselves a PWD
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not be aware of ADA
protection and/or RA
NON-DISCLOSURESomething yet to be
learned about ourselves
Window Perspective of
Member/Volunteer
What does the member know about himself/herself
and what are they willing to disclose?
Known to Others
Unknown to Others
Known to Self
Unknown to Self
DISCLOSUREMay or may not ask for/
need an accommodation
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not consider
themselves a PWD
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not be aware of ADA
protection and/or RA
NON-DISCLOSURESomething yet to be
learned about ourselves
Window Perspective of
Member/Volunteer
What does the member know about himself/herself
and what are they willing to disclose?
Known to Others
Unknown to Others
Known to Self
Unknown to Self
DISCLOSUREMay or may not ask for/
need an accommodation
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not consider
themselves a PWD
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not be aware of ADA
protection and/or RA
NON-DISCLOSURESomething yet to be
learned about ourselves
Window Perspective of
Member/Volunteer
What does the member know about himself/herself
and what are they willing to disclose?
Known to Others
Unknown to Others
Known to Self
Unknown to Self
DISCLOSUREMay or may not ask for/
need an accommodation
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not consider
themselves a PWD
NON-DISCLOSUREMay not be aware of ADA
protection and/or RA
NON-DISCLOSURESomething yet to be
learned about ourselves
Perspective of Program/Site
• Regardless of disclosure, making the availability of
reasonable accommodations known
• Difficult to initiate conversation about an issue,
performance or non-performance related
• The culture of the site may be inclusive, but there
are no signs- inclusive statements, pictures of
people with disabilities- to make someone
comfortable to disclose
Case Study
Alice, a Foster Grandparent volunteer, is in her second
year as a volunteer to youth at a local school.
• Some responsibilities include:
– Tutoring students from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
– Reading with and reviewing students’ work
She has been consistently arriving after 8:45 a.m.,
however. Alice’s supervisor has been receiving
complaints from teachers and students.
Case Study, cont.
Alice recently learned from her doctor that she
has Age-Related Macular Degeneration. As a
result, she is no longer able to drive.
• She has only stated that she is late because
she is taking the bus
• She also has expressed difficulty reading and
reviewing students’ work
Alice has always been an asset. However, the
supervisor is now having concerns about her
ability to perform the functions of the position.
Revealing the (In)visible Barriers
1. Is this a person with a disability?
Feel free to ask any follow
up/clarifying questions!
2. Where would this person be on the
Johari window?
Known to Others
Unknown to Others
Known to Self
Unknown to Self
1. Open Pane
Known to self and
others
2. Blind Pane
Blind to self, seen by
others
3. Hidden Pane
Open to self, hidden from
others
4. Unknown Pane
Unknown to self and
others
Revealing the (In)visible Barriers
3. What are some things you can do to
make the environment more
conducive to disclosure?
Feel free to ask any follow
up/clarifying questions!
Revealing the (In)visible Barriers
4. Are there any accommodations you
might suggest to the supervisor?
Feel free to ask any follow
up/clarifying questions!
Inclusive Efforts with Foster
Grandparents of Delaware
• To enable the Foster Grandparent volunteers to
remain physically and mentally active and to
enhance self-esteem through participation in
needed community service.
• To enable children less than 21 years of age
with either exceptional or special needs to
achieve improved education, physical, mental,
emotional, and social development.
www.VolunteerDelaware.org
Inclusive Efforts with Foster
Grandparents of Delaware
Personal Story- Edna Newsome
State Office of Volunteerism, Foster
Grandparents of Delaware
www.VolunteerDelaware.org
Opening the Window Panes
Examine the inclusiveness of your
program’s environment and culture
• Do you have an inclusive statement?
Do any materials mention acquired
disabilities?
• Are the inclusive images visible to
members and volunteers?
• Are members and volunteers aware of
reasonable accommodations?
Opening the Window Panes
Encourage disclosure in your program
• Ask individuals about their experience
and satisfaction
• Keep any disclosures confidential
• Support and reinforce the discloser
Opening the Window Panes
Make sure expectations for individuals with
acquired disabilities are the same as for any
other member or volunteer
• Reviewing essential and marginal
functions of the position
• Following up on effectiveness of
reasonable accommodations
Additional Available Resources
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN) site:
http://askjan.org/
• Understanding physical and mental disabilities associated with an
aging population:
http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/practices/17884
• Inclusion Weekly and Responses on Seniors and Acquired
Disabilities- 11/4/2010:
http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/index.php?page=iw#w_ad
• Foster Grandparents of Delaware: www.VolunteerDelaware.org
• National Service Inclusion Project: www.ServiceandInclusion.org
Questions?
Chad Gobert,
National Service Inclusion Project
Chad.Gobert@umb.edu
Robin Fisher
Foster Grandparents of Delaware
Robin.Fisher@state.de.us
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