Transcript - slide 7

Interviewer:  Could you describe briefly your values-base related to your organization and the delivery of services?

Danny Cowart:  We have a core set of values that we have developed over a period of time, from what I think is termed best practices. In best practices, I mean those defined by university level courses, by current literature, and just by common sense practice. At the core of those values are five distinct values. The person that we serve must have a choice. They must have dignity in everything that we do with them. They must participate. They must have a community presence. And I think the last one is probably all encompassing, that they are making a contribution, instead of us making a contribution in what we can do for them. When you are teaching and they get to the contribution level, then you have accomplished the other four.

If I have one statement that would exemplify our core value, it is that the individual with a disability should be supported to [participate in] a meaningful day. It is kind of a cycle; because that meaningful day would have all five of those core values in it. The culture that is developing, and I don't know if we will ever get there, is evolving and trying to produce that meaningful day for individuals with disabilities. It’s also an adventure, to be honest, because you run into barriers and challenges that change. The change has a lot to do with society’s core values. In reality, we are in a social change. There is a paradigm shift going on. I believe that it is a good thing, and certainly it is for the person with disabilities.

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