A friend recently shared this quote with me and it struck a chord. As someone who has spent his life working with people with disabilities I’ve come to recognize that one of the worst things we do is try to “fix” people. Disabilities are a natural part of the human condition. As we age we all begin to recognize that first hand.
Sadly, when it comes to people with intellectual disabilities, we often impose our values and beliefs upon them - trying to form them into someone they never said they wanted to be. For decades this has been the modus operandi of elected officials, the bureaucracy, the paid advocates and many service providers. Our job isn’t to fix people; our job is to give people great experiences so they can do great things. For this reason ASPIRO is working hard to create new connections all across Brown County for recreation as well as employment. If you want someone to find a dream job or discover a hidden talent, you have to allow them to experience things in a variety of ways and with a variety of people.
Our job is to help people set their own goals and then
help them
discover how to reach those goals. When someone charts their own course the conflict disappears and we can appreciate them just the way they are.
The ASPIRO Core Values
Respect
. We engage people with dignity and respect. We view disability as part of the human experience.
Choice
. We believe one size does not fit all. We support the choices people make to live happy, fulfilling lives.
Relationships
. We nurture relationships with others. Our interactions are honest, supportive and full of integrity.
The Little Things
. We do the little things that make a big difference. We go the extra mile to provide the very best in all we do.
Lincoln Burr
President