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"Unless we can imagine something we cannot undertake to achieve it."
- Edward de Bono
from "New Thinking for the New Millennium"
Welcome to a future world. A different world. A better world. Perhaps even the best world for disabled children, young people and families. Welcome to a world where disability is embraced as an opportunity for development, awareness, learning and the global development of humanity - where the journey between ability and disability is cyclical - a natural manifestation of the perfect order of things. A world where the wealth invested in families by disabled children is celebrated. Where disabled people are proud to be perfect along with everyone else. In this future world, disability is accepted, valued and encouraged. As you read this vision you will notice that it does not always reflect "what is" now and that, sometimes, it departs from "what is" now quite distinctly. Keep an open mind at these times and remember that this vision suggests a design of "what can be"
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It is 9am at a Conceptual Learning Centre. A group of 14, 15 and 16 year-olds are beginning the first session of a 10-week Development Path called "Constructive Thinking around Love, Relationships and Parenting". The group nominates a facilitator and begins brainstorming the areas of learning they wish to pursue.
The third point they raise to be explored is the benefits of having a disabled child.
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A few years later, a fifth-year trainee Well-being Facilitator is majoring in Child Potentiality at the Well-being Learning and Development Centre. He is one of 100 trainees from around the country who have just arrived at a core one-week Development Path retreat run by the Disability Pride Project. He can't wait to attend the training. A team of highly skilled disabled facilitators will run the retreat. He glances at the programme, skimming eagerly the menu of workshops, seminars and one-to-one coaching sessions:
Disability as a family learning experienceThe culture of disability
Disabled creativity
The soul purpose of disability
Loving someone disabled.
His eye stops at the workshop that will change his and others' lives:
Introducing parents to their newborn disabled infant with love, respect and dignity.
• • • • •
A couple arrive at the fourth session of an antenatal programme. They have already learned about foetal development, breathing techniques, constructive visualisation, stress management and natural pain relief. This evening, a disabled woman and a disabled child with her parents present a session on the joys of disability in families. They also talk about the support available to ensure families benefit from the learning that disability offers and give detailed information on how to contact the Disability Pride Project.
The couple leave the session open to the possibility that their twins might be disabled, amazed at the development in support opportunities since they discussed disability at their Conceptual Learning Centre seven years ago.
• • • • •
Two months later, twins - a girl and a boy - are born in the City Well-being Centre. The parents are excited and expectant during the birth. At the antenatal class they learned how to cope with the many natural configurations of birth. The twins both have significant impairments...
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