Sensitivity Training: What is an Intellectual Disability and How to Work with Your Buddy Advocate

1. Best Buddies Canada 2005 National Leadership Conference “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Gandhi. Sensitivity Training: What is an Intellectual Disability and How to Work with Your Buddy Advocate

2. Defining Intellectual Disability (ID) • According to the DSM-IV, an intellectual disability is “the presence of a sub-average general intellectual functioning associated with or resulting in impairments in adaptive bahaviour.” The onset of this disability occurs before the age of 18. • A person will also have impairment in at least two areas of adaptive functioning. For example, communication, self-care, home living, social skills, community use, self-direction, health and safety, functional academics, leisure and work. • An ID should not be confused with a psychiatric disability or mental illness, although a person with an intellectual disability may also have a psychiatric disability. ■ Example of IDs include: Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome ■ Examples of psychiatric disability/mental illness include: schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, depression, anorexia, post traumatic stress disorder

3. People First Language - What It Is and How to Use It • In the disability literature it is accepted that a handicap is a physical or attitudinal constraint or obstacle which society imposes on a person with a disability. Handicap is not a term to describe human beings, but to describe a situation or barrier imposed by society, the environment or oneself. • People first language refers to the importance of using the term “people” rather than a label. • The disability rights movement has been in effect since the 1970s and has reminded everyone of the appropriate and inappropriate words to use when referring to a person with a disability.

4. Here are some simple rules to use when talking and writing to or about people with disabilities: ■ When referring to the disability, put the person first, not their disability. Emphasize PEOPLE not labels ■ Do not refer to the disability unless it is relevant ■ Use “disability” rather than “handicap” ■ Do not patronize or give excessive praise or attention to a person with a disability ■ Do not use “normal” to describe people who do not have disabilities ■ Recognize and show people with disabilities as active participants of society

5. Role of BA within the CLT According to the Best Buddies University/College Program Manual, the role of the BA is: “An individual with an intellectual disability who is a member of a Best Buddies Chapter and who helps the Campus Coordinator manage the chapter by providing ideas and suggestions and listening to the ideas and concerns of other chapter members.”

6. Inclusion and Your Buddy Advocate The role of the BA is essential to the CLT and must be as active as any other membership position. Here are some ideas about how to work with your Buddy Advocate: ■ Review the role description of the BA ■ Be sure the person wants the role and is not saying “yes” just to please you ■ Be sure the potential advocate has reviewed the role description in the manual and has support (from outside of the executive) to do the role if support is needed ■ Make sure the BA is actively included in the executive meetings ■ If you are emailing out information to the CLT and the BA does not have computer access, call him/her and verbally informed him/her of the news/information ■ Ask the BA to speak at your information session and other recruiting events ■ Talk to the BA about confidentiality and what it means