This week we are having lunch with John McGee (www.gentleteaching.com).  John was the first "authority" that I spent time with in the field, quite accidently ending up with a spare ticket to one of his workshops and being completely blown away by his ideas.  I was working for an agency that was a bit lost - in a group home that really had no idea of how to support folks who...

Hi Aaron;

That's a great way to start the discussion. I'm always amazed at how simple John can make it appear, and how many strategies and rationales he has behind that simplicity.  It's all about being present for the people we support, being in the moment, but also having a sense of place - be with the person, then help them take care of their house by doing the dishes and folding the towels.

my daughter, who is autistic, recently did a project in a class on self-awareness and assertivity.   the kids were supposed to pick photographs of people in magazines that represented "passive" "aggressive" and "assertive" and glue the photos into those three groups.  she was thrilled with her work but we were having trouble figuring out which was which...