LiveWorkPlay Building Productive Lives Making A Buzz In The Ottawa Community Serving People With Intellectual Disabilities Since 1995 ON OUR OWN TOGETHER II Interdependence - Independence - Self-Advocacy The Innovative LiveWorkPlay Approach To Long-Term Housing For People With Intellectual Disabilities APRIL 27: DAY -11 This was the last of three orientation evenings for the 14 participants. They all met at Heartwood House at 4:00 and as always made their way on their own via bus to Carleton, where they waited in the Commons building until Dale, Keenan, Julie, and Fran arrived about two minutes later. It was straight to the cafeteria, where everyone is already pretty comfortable, although it still takes some thinking to coordinate your entire meal at all the different fresh food stations. It was a good time to talk about self-management issues, such as how to retrieve the food using tongs, and group management issues, like how to figure out where to sit, how long to stay at the table, and how to get organized to leave. After a GREAT dinner, it was time to walk to the O-Train for a journey to South Keys. On the way there, the group worked on strategies for respecting all members of the group and also how to get from A to B safely by keeping track of each other. Dale and Moira tested everyone's awareness by ducking out of site to see if their absence was noticed. Between counting methods and memory methods, the group identified the missing people, and had a discussion about how often the group should stop and check on everyone. The group got on the O-Train leaving the staff behind to catch up to them in the van. Sure enough, they were all waiting outside the Blockbuster before the staff arrived. Then it was time to walk the length of the mall (it's a long walk!) to the theatre area where many people were waiting for rides, some were walking home, and others would catch the bus. Group management was the theme all the way along. How often do we need to stop and make sure our peers are still with us? How will we know if someone is missing? What will we do if we notice? It was a fun evening, and useful too! PICTURES! Table one chows down Table two chows down Ryan all smiles getting on the train Some group management at south keys