At the plenary session, learning how to use these tools. Enjoyed playing my yellow part in the recycled plastic tube band.

Thanks to Gord Tulloch, from MAPCL, for welcoming Jesse and I to the conference, and for helping us to get sorted out on our tweets and blogs. We are wishing Richard Faucher a lovely day as he walks back to Vancouver from Seattle, carrying his son's hockey equipment. Gor has just done his 30 second pitch for our session.

Gord will appreciate that I have changed his name to "Gor" (see above post) Sounds like a character from a science fiction comic. Session pitches are ongoing. No quite sure what a session pitch is, but no doubt the youngsters, who shall inherit the earth, know, and they will explain if I ask...

Jesse is gone. I think he has evaporated into cyber particles. He has become one with the Tweet!

One of the session pitchers just made another "camp" joke. The gathered laughed out loud. Or, if you prefer; LOL'ed.

Folks over 25 are a minority at this conference. One of the pitchers, an older one, has been cut off. He was on and on about something that sounded important, but somehow inappropriate. I will investigate this matter. Phaser is set on "stun".

Daphne is wrapping up the plenary. The words; spontaneous, innovative and mash have been used, together, in this opening.

There are eight participants; four lap tops open, two Blackberries at the ready, We are introducing ourselves. I am typing. Good grief. We will share our experience and strength and hope.

I need to learn the names of my co sessionaries. A woman from L'Arche is speaking.

I am listening to these words: social responsibility.

Gord Tulloch, from MAPCL, is introducing himself, giving some background of his organization's interest in the area of foreign policy, disability, social responsibility. Gord is telling a story about a colleague's experience in Tanzania...

Marni is describing L'Arche's involvement in the developing world. Providing background, and explaining how the attacks of 911 impacted on the way groups and organizations like hers fund raise. Marni says the folks who are receiving support services through her organization provide the lion's share of the energy that drives efforts forward. Marni is describing how monies raised by L'Arche are audited by Revenue Canada, how this kind of accountability process has it's own challenges.

Marni: the "receiver" of the funding (eg country in Latin America) most often uses funds for training purposes, as well as rebuilding infrastructure (homes, schools...) in the event of disasters. Funds are requisitioned from L'Arche groups abroad, oversight is handled by L'Arche Canada. Marni made the point that folks with disabilities are much more "pushed to the side..." than are folks with disabilities here in Canada.

Marni: we call our groups abroad "L'Arche communities..." Marni is talking about the cultural component of doing work abroad, giving an example of how a L'Arche community in Palestine was confronted by the cultural expectations of a Muslim population as regards men and women housed together. I'm going to ask Marni to say more about "training..."

Marni: the training referred to is, generally speaking, training of the people who are running the L'Arche communities. Marni says the biggest challenge is recruiting new "leaders" for the communities they are establishing.

Jules: is speaking about training materials, and wondering if it would be "useful" to package training resource materials and share those abroad. Another session participant makes the point that developing countries have their own "norms" and ideas about how to organize themselves, and we (westerners?) need to be aware/careful that we do not assume we have the "answers" or superior knowledge when trying to help.

Disability is not, currently, one of the "Millennium Goals".

A participant is suggesting a case study might be a good idea, in terms of educating ourselves.

Jules: offered an example of an individual he knew who came from Europe, who received informal, but in some fashion, natural supports from others in the community. This individual spent his time swimming and riding his bycycle, others would sometimes "toss him an apple..." It's clear, I think, that we have very little information about disability in the developing world.

Jules: talks about connecting with other cultural groups here (eg Nepalese) and asking them to share information about themselves and how they deal with disability within their own communities.

I'm going to ask Marni to speak about her experience with disabled folks in Palestine: and I am wondering what "safe" assumptions I can make about disabled folks in developing countries. By assumptions I mean how folks with disabilities are accepted/included or rejected/excluded in their communities.

Marni: it's difficult to generalize, from country to country, but we can say the where ever economic resources are scare, social services are lacking. As well, the involvement of folks with disabilities in developing countries is much more informal than we see here at home. There are few, if any, structured supports for disabled individuals unless those individuals are fortunate and have relations who have resources. Marni noted that many of the folks who come to the attention of L'Arche have come from the "streets..."

Now we are talking about the folks we support here at home. We are talking about how many of our supported individuals are living their lives, in fact, quite apart from the rest of us (the non-disabled population). Gord described "living behind walls..." in residential settings.

Jules: is talking about, and giving examples of, "natural supports". Marni is talking about L'Arche's program; Neighbours for Neighbours. These are very simple, but important ideas, shovelling snow for elderly neighbours, helping with grocery shopping. And socializing. Marni notes that these programs operate without government funding.

Gord is asking: how do we promote/generate the self-energized approach L'Arche has within their communities. (Marni has noted that it's the folks with disabilities themselves who drive the energy at L'Arche. Marni is talking about the partnership between L'Arche and P.L.A.N. (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Networks). Again, it's being noted that we need more information about disability in developing countries before we can move the conversation along.

Jean is talking about the struggle of disabled people in Africa. Because of the ongoing wars new disabilities are being "created" all the time. He is also talking about the emotional damage that survivors of war atrocities experiences.

Jean makes this quick comparison: he has heard someone complaining about living on ten dollars a day. Where he comes from people will live on one dollar a day. He is confirming Marni's experience that most folks with disabilities will need to survive without social assistance of any kind. He received help from Doctors Without Borders. These doctors repaired his broken jaw. Jean worked in South Africa as a motivational speaker, talking with high school children about the wars going on in other African countries. Jean says that rich countries like Canada can help developing countries by funding their efforts to advance their education.

Gord has asked Jean if he (Jean) has had much experience with individuals who have mental handicaps. Jean's experience has been limited by his own need to work on his own very significant challenges. He did mention that in his view, all people need to have their self-worth validated. I'll use my own words to describe what Jean has said, in part: Love is all you need. I lifted that line from the Beatles, of course. It's a good line. We are wrapping up now. Jean's story changed the room. His story made things "real".