Community Reflections

People with developmental disabilities share their experiences and views about opportunities to work in their communities at the 2009 New Day Conference. Everybody Can Work was created in partnership with Eastern Los Angeles regional Center. Cary Griffin is a leading employment expert to discover how people with disabilities can achieve successful employment.

Board Resource Center (BRC) - Who we are, what we do - Boards of nonprofit organizations, state agencies, and community groups are designed to serve as stewards of community funds and their constituent interests. Responsible stewardship dictates that membership represents the diversity of the community. This diversity includes citizens with diverse abilities.

BRC evolved as an outgrowth of consulting services to California service agencies in 1995, aimed at including people with diverse disabilities on governing decision making boards, and community advocacy groups. We provide customized strategies and assist organizations to recognize that people with diverse abilities are needed in decision making and governance positions in management and the boardroom. BRC provides adaptation consultation, group process facilitation, and governance/board training to ensure community members are connected to local government and engaged in policy development.

The Center's Director, Mark Starford, has extensive experience creating simplified adapted materials, facilitating groups, training and teaching diverse groups of people. The BRC has its roots in a division of The SCILS Group, a nationally recognized non-profit consulting organization established in 1977. The SCILS Group provides facilitation, training and strategic intervention for service agencies, families and adults to ensure person-centered full community inclusion and system change that encourages participation (www.scilsgroup.org).

The Board Resource Center also assists organizations to accommodate the needs of all members to assure effective and inclusive decision making. The Center's strategies focus on leadership basics, accountability standards, financial oversight and accommodations. Our strategies include: assessment, planning and implementation; resource adaptation; and leadership training. To contact BRC, email mark@brcenter.org.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Employment
• developmental
• disabilities
• inclusion
• community