Person Driven: Community of Practice

This Community of Practice (CoP) Lave and Wenger will provide an opportunity for participants to develop competency in being Person Driven, and increase provider capacity to support people with intellectual disabilities who we may find “challenging” to support. However, the competencies associated with being Person Driven can be helpful in any relationship. The Community of Practice will bring together people who want to learn and share the competencies and organizations that support the practice. Participants will have the opportunity to have multiple sessions over a 6 month period, accounting for 30 hours of training in total. While being Person Driven is simple and powerful as a means of connecting, it is not habitual for most people. The opportunity for ongoing practice through the CoP is a helpful way to connect with others interested in learning and becoming comfortable with the 12 core competencies associated with being Person Driven. According to Lave and Wenger “Members of a community of practice are practitioners. They develop a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems—in short a shared practice. This takes time and sustained interaction”. It is through a series of opportunities to connect and practice over several months that participants will have the sustained interaction and ongoing practice to become comfortable practicing in being Person Driven on a daily basis. The CoP will not end at the close of training, but participants will be encouraged to continue to connect and practice together and maintain continuous opportunities for deepening their understanding.

Outcome

To provide individuals and organizations with the tools that will assist in assuring the principles of “Everyday Lives” as we partner with those who choose our services. Effective and ongoing practice of being truly Person Driventhe PDF will prevent crisis, provide the necessary skills for staff to respond and assure the ongoing mentoring and modeling for direct support professionals as they support those who choose our services.