A Barrhead self-advocacy support group is hoping they will be able to not only raise awareness about developmental disabilities, but also help integrate themselves more into the community.
The group, which doesn’t have a formal name, will be hosting a hot dog barbecue and free music concert July 8 at the gazebo on Mainstreet.
“One of the biggest issues for anyone, but especially those who have any type of disability, is loneliness and isolation,” said Scott Robins, adding it can be even more so for people who have an invisible developmental disability. “They might not understand what somebody wants from them, increased levels of anxiety that are increased when dealing with confrontation or new situations.”
By the same token, he added, often the public doesn’t know how to respond to someone with a developmental disability, saying that is why self-advocacy groups are so important.
Barrhead’s self-advocacy group has existed, in one form or another, for more than 40 years. In its current configuration, the group has about 30 members, consisting of people with a disability along with friends, family members along with other supporters in the community, in which Robins is one.
Although Barrhead, as a community, has a long history of supporting and including people with all disabilities, whether it be it through organizations such Blue Heron Support Services Association and non-for-profits like the Ripple Connection Support Centre and the Lighthouse, there still is a lot of work to be done before everyone truly feels like they are being included.
“So often those who are marginalized feel like they are outsiders, looking in,” Robins said. “But by taking the lead and sponsoring an event, the self-advocacy group and offering it to the entire community we are saying, we want to be part of the community and we want to belong. And one of the best ways is just by getting out there and doing things.”
Robins added the advocacy group came up with the concept on their own and don’t have the backing of an agency, which is one of the reasons why they don’t have much of a public profile.
“This is a true community endeavour to help give people who tend to be marginalized to have a voice,” he said.
The self-advocacy’s first community barbecue and band-jam starts at 11 a.m. and will run to 3 p.m. People who play a musical instrument are invited to bring it along and join the festivities. The group also meets every second Monday at 2:30 p.m. in a boardroom at the Barrhead Provincial Building.
