The song ‘Seven Ways to Cause a Crisis’ highlight what do we do that actually causes a crisis to happen in someone’s life? What do we (ie: support staff, team, system. support plan) unintentionally do that causes crisis in the … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Open Future Learning
Three Things
Gallery
This video explores what we can do to better listen to people who are in direct support roles in order to improve the quality of life of both the support professional as well as the person being supported. Direct … Continue reading
Welcome to Holland
Gallery
Welcome to Holland is a brief essay written by Emily Perl Kingsley about her experience of raising her son with Down Syndrome.
Everyone Can Learn
Gallery
Heather Simmons shares an insightful story illuminating the idea that people of all abilities have the ability to learn giving the opportunity. Although Heather was originally from Scotland she now lives in Perth Australia where, with her husband Richard Hill, … Continue reading
How Not to Handle Rejection
Gallery
Enjoy this short excerpt from our series of Side by Side modules on Relationships, Dating, and Intimacy written by Dave Hingsburger. There is no “best way” to deal with rejection, but there are a lot of bad ways. The module … Continue reading
A Thought about Sex and Disability
Reply
SEX…have I got your attention? In this video, Gary Kent gives everyone something to think about. Kent sheds light on the idea of how people with disabilities have a lack of control over their own lifes. His blunt and straightforward example of how even the opportunity to have sexual relations is controlled by others, gives us all something to think about.
SPEAK TO THEM
Gallery
This video explains that although we trust doctors and psychologists, who have extensive years of education to inform us about disabilities, the reality is, sometimes the best way to learn from and understand the people we support is to SPEAK … Continue reading
Understanding and Promoting Rights
Gallery
Your staff can now learn about “Understanding and Promoting Rights” with either our long or new short version module. But first watch this fun music video we made about rights, community and more! Our new module “Understanding and Promoting Rights … Continue reading
Our Great Working Relationship – Part 2
Gallery
This Side by Side module is the second part in a three-part series. It has been designed to help you and the people who support you learn how to have a great working relationship. Any good relationship requires work, care, … Continue reading
Our Great Working Relationship – Part 1
Gallery
This module is the first part in a three-part series. It has been designed to help you and the people who support you learn how to have a great working relationship. The relationship between you and your staff can be … Continue reading
My Rights
Gallery
This module will explain what some of your most important rights are. This module includes presentations from a range of leading professionals and self-advocates, including Simon Duffy, Harvey Pact, and Peter Leidy After completing this module, you will be able to: … Continue reading
Finding and Building Friendships
Gallery
This module shares some ways that you can find and make friends. Friendships can make a big difference to your life. Friendships can make you happier, healthier, and help you to live longer. This module features presentations from a range … Continue reading
Finding and Building Community
Gallery
This module will help you to understand the many ways to find out who are the people, where are the places, and what happens in your community. This module will help you to explain how you can use your interests … Continue reading
Circle of Friends
Gallery
We all have and need people in our lives. A circle of friends is a good way to make your life better. This module describes how to start a circle of friends, how you can keep control over the process, … Continue reading
About Friendships and Community
Gallery
You may have a lovely home in a nice community, but you could still be lonely. Some people with disabilities have experienced abuse and discrimination, and have been not allowed to have ordinary opportunities to be part of community life … Continue reading
About Being in Control
Gallery
This module explores why being in control of your own life is important. This module features presentations from a range of leading professionals and self-advocates, including Patti Scott, Simon Duffy, Bernard Carabello, and Dave Hasbury. After finishing this module, … Continue reading
Understanding and Promoting Rights
Gallery
This module presents a clear and matter-of-fact approach to the rights of the people we support. Beyond describing and defining rights, this module gives the user first hand knowledge and expertise on how to maintain and promote the rights of … Continue reading
Supporting and Understanding Communication
Gallery
Communication is the most complex human skill. It is the way we understand the world, express ourselves as individuals, make choices, develop relationships, build trust and control our lives. In this module, the renowned speech and language specialist, Sue Thurman, … Continue reading
Building Friendships and Community
Gallery
In this module, leading expert Kay Mills frames her personal experiences with stories of people she has worked with to comprehensively explain how we can help people to build friendships and community. Kay begins by defining both friendships and community … Continue reading
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
Gallery
Repeated exposure to abuse, social exclusion and rejection has had a devastating affect on the people we support. Trauma affects the way our brains develop and function and it leaves a lasting impression. Welcome to our new module titled ‘Trauma-Informed Care’ … Continue reading
DROWNING BY DAVID PITONYAK
Gallery
It might seem odd that a professional would ignore someone who is drowning. But as David Pitonyak explains, this happens all the time in our field. People who have disabilities and difficult behavior are often overboard and terrified, and we … Continue reading
Relationships, Dating, and Intimacy by Dave Hingsburger
Gallery
Relationship, Dating and Intimacy expert, Dave Hingsburger, shares with you his knowledge about the importance of assisting the people we support with developing positive relationships, experiencing dating and intimacy in order to have a fulfilled life. This side-by-side module allows the people who receive support and the people who provide support to learn together. Continue reading
DOES YOUR TONE OF VOICE CHANGE?
Gallery
Written by David Pitonyak, this module offers all staff members insight to the role of the support staff person. This module provides the perfect platform to embed understanding, respect, and person-centered values. Continue reading
FASD SUPPORTING SUCCESS!
Gallery
Many people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, also known as FASD, have not been understood or properly supported. This module will provide you with information and basic practical adjustments that can lead to good lives for the people you support who live with FASD.
HANDS OFF IT’S MY HOME!
Gallery
Learn how everyone can take control of their lives and watch this trailer from our module “Self-Determination”. In this module, the author Simon Duffy uses his expansive knowledge to explain what self-determination means. A combination of graphics and short films combine with Duffy’s easy read writing style to highlight the importance of control and the understanding that everyone can take control of their lives.
TRAINING GROUPS OF STAFF JUST GOT EASIER
Gallery
We just made it a lot easier to train groups of staff. Gather a group of staff, choose one of our modules, and then using our new administrative functions you can assign and issue certificates to all learners. Warning this … Continue reading
HOW TO BE PERSON-CENTERED?
Gallery
Being person-centered helps you to learn about and understand the uniqueness of each person that you support. With the aid of both Beth Mount and Simon Duffy, your staff will have a better understanding of how being person-centered helps the people we support to take control of their lives and make their own choices. Continue reading
Autism and Sensory Processing
Gallery
Understanding and gaining insight into your processing system takes time and effort. In this module, with the help of Judith North and Simony Haywood, we use insightful films and commentaries to help staff workers to understand their own processing abilities in hopes of them being able to better assist and understand the people they support. Continue reading
Johnny ran. That was his problem. He was what the staff called a runner.
Gallery
Open Future Learning gives your staff three ways to learn: 1 = With the people they support: Our Side by Side Modules let your staff use the time they spend with people to learn with people. 2 = In groups: Our … Continue reading
Five More Things You Can Do
Gallery
David Pitonyak is back with another five things you can do to support someone who has behavior that is challenging. When the person you support is going through a difficult time, friendships, a positive identity, fairness, and fun are commonly … Continue reading