BJ Stasio is a prominent figure in the field of developmental disabilities. He has served as the president of the New York State Self Advocacy Association. Currently, he is a peer specialist at the New York State Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities. Known for his advocacy, training roles, and support for voting rights, BJ contributes significantly to nurturing a person-centered culture within organizations. As someone who receives support himself, he offers a unique perspective on systems concerning person-centeredness. BJ is also a writer and speaker, maintaining an active presence through his website, bjstasio.com.
Episode Summary:
In this episode of the person-centered podcast series BJ and host Chris Liuzzo focus on understanding the genuine essence of person-centered planning.
BJ sheds light on the constraints that current systems impose, particularly through things like dropdown boxes in life plans, which he argues limit exploratory choices and person-centered approaches. BJ emphasizes the importance of going beyond these limitations to truly embrace person-centeredness, which involves understanding and supporting the individual beyond system-defined boxes. The podcast also touches upon the importance of having a supportive circle of trust and the risks of reverting to outdated, segregate practices if current systems do not evolve.
Key Takeaways:
Person-centered work should extend beyond system-driven constraints like dropdown boxes, advocating for individualized and expansive planning.
BJ Stasio highlights the danger of tokenism and how genuine person-centeredness involves exploring what is possible outside predefined boxes.
Circles of support—which BJ prefers to call circles of trust—play a crucial role in challenging individuals to grow by offering genuine feedback and support.
The risk of system regression to segregationist practices is real, highlighting the importance of advocacy and storytelling to promote systemic change.
BJ encapsulates self-reflection and progress with the mantra \"I am enough,\" emphasizing his commitment to moving advocacy forward.
Notable Quotes:
\"My life doesn't fit in a drop down box, nor do I being so large and I don't fit in the dropdown box.\"
\"Person centered work is about exploring what more is possible.\"
\"Why does the system even talk about dignity of risk when they don't allow you to experience it?\"
\"Systems are built to say no first and not think about the possibilities of saying yes, because no is safe.\"
\"Build your circle of trust and don't believe in you.\"
Resources:
BJ Stasio's Website: bjstasio.com
Listeners are encouraged to tune in to the full episode to gain deeper insights into developing truly person-centered systems and to stay updated with more episodes from this enlightening podcast series.
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