Universal LifeStiles, L.L.C.   ...Overcoming Life's Obstacles

This session will discuss in detail the practical aspects of distinguishing between good and evil, right and wrong as well as virtuous and hedonistic conduct.  Tom will provide attendees guidelines as to that conduct which is morally bad vs good.  Tom will also emphasize throughout the presentation that staff desire and strive to behave ethically in all their interactions with individuals they support. Using short stories and vignettes, Tom will help the staff gain insight that the desire to behave ethically does not always assure ethical behavior.  The staff must be armed with knowledge and insight that will allow them to translate their desire to behave ethically into action.  Most importantly, Tom will detail numerous examples of ethical conduct as manifested in staff advocacy, celebrating the gifts of the individuals supported, being emotionally connected and promoting full participation in life’s activities.

Abuse and neglect prevention, guaranteeing individual rights, assuring sensitivity in our interactions with those we support, promoting self-determination are representative of the many significant topics in training staff who support individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD).  In this session Tom will bring together the common thread that connects all these subject areas and many more – ethics. 

Ethics have and should always serve as the underpinnings of all staff training. The views and perspectives of staff at all levels regarding individuals with I/DD are formed in part by their varied backgrounds, cultures and religious beliefs/faith.  There should be ethical principles that transcend these influences that govern the behavior of all staff as well as the organizational culture in which they work.  Yet staff training curricula leave this topic unspoken, when in fact it should be the first thing addressed in staff training. It serves as the kick-off to all other training - how can staff truly appreciate and value the purpose of the training if they cannot make sense of it within the ethical framework of the organization?