2012-2013 Working with Communities & Systems II
<-- 2012-2013 MCH Competency Reflections
On 2/20/13, the LEND Leadership Seminar featured Dr. Al Condeluci, CEO of UCP/CLASS. UCP/CLASS is a nonprofit organization that offers different supports and services to individuals of varying abilities throughout the nation. UCP/CLASS values inclusion and community for people with disabilities. Dr. Condeluci held many positions within this organization before becoming its CEO, these included: attendant, caseworker, advocate, planner, program director and CEO. Dr. Condeluci leads this organization in advocacy, human services and community issues.
Dr. Condeluci’s presentation directly related to, and incorporated the MCHB leadership competencies on which our LEND program has focused. His presentation related to the competencies of: Working with Communities and Systems, Communication, and Self-Reflection. The heart of Dr. Condeluci’s lecture focused on the Habermasian theory of the “life world” and “systems” model. The life world refers to jobs, everyday living, getting around and relationships, which all people want and strive to get. The systems component refers to formal supports, services, agencies and money, which aim to get people back into the life world as a goal. The MCHB competency of Working with Communities and Systems highlights the importance of appreciating complexity and being cognizant of both the whole and the parts to understand the influence on outcomes. Dr. Condeluci stressed that most of the services we provide (PT, OT, ST, SW) aim our efforts at the “systems” level, when we really need to focus on the whole, which is the “life world” level, where people want to live and build relationships. UCP’s mission is not to change disability but rather to change community and the public’s perception of disability. This mission aligns with the MCHB competency of Working with Communities and Systems because it demonstrates the relationship between the mission, vision and goals of the organization to its strategic planning, operation and the community to which it belongs.
The other competencies that Dr. Condeluci spoke on were Communication and Self-Reflection. Dr. Condeluci reminded the group that we should “begin anything we do with the end or goal in mind.” He also mentioned that when we make judgments about people who are different from us, we create divisions and keep communities from being formed or strengthened. These statements gave our group reason to think about our own personal attitudes, beliefs and experiences towards people different from ourselves. These personal attitudes and beliefs will undeniably shape our behavior as health care professionals and will also shape our interactions with people who have disabilities. Finally, Dr. Condeluci touched on the Communication competency by effectively sharing valuable information to the group. He encouraged us to put this information into action in our own lives. He also tailored his presentation for the intended audience. Dr. Condeluci pushed our group to listen attentively and actively by incorporating discussion and the sharing of personal experiences during the presentation.