Christopher Caskey / The Citizen
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Judo instructor Peter Petrosino shows Valerie Trubilla how to defend against an attack from behind Thursday afternoon at the Holiday Inn in Auburn. Petrosino's “Self Defense Tips for People with Disabilities” was one of several learning sessions offered during the Options for Independence “Adventure Through Advocacy” conference.
Judo instructor Peter Petrosino shows Valerie Trubilla how to defend against an attack from behind Thursday afternoon at the Holiday Inn in Auburn. Petrosino's “Self Defense Tips for People with Disabilities” was one of several learning sessions offered during the Options for Independence “Adventure Through Advocacy” conference.
AUBURN - Empowerment and independence were the two biggest messages Thursday at the Holiday Inn.
During the annual Options for Independence conference, attendees were given tips on, among many things, ways individuals with disabilities can become more self-reliant and confident.
More than 160 service workers, consumers, educators and community members participated in the day-long conference, which offered a dozen workshops and more than 30 vendors. Many of the workshops focused on practical aspects of your day-to-day life - healthy cooking, employment tips, recreation options and nutrition. Others delved deep into topics like brain injuries and the issues with psychiatric systems.
Tracy Murphy, Options for Independence director, said the organization has been trying to direct the conference's focus on empowering individuals and letting them know the community has a lot to offer them.
“We also want the community to know that people with disabilities have a lot to offer,” Murphy said.
That theme falls in line with the mission of Options for Independence, a center which helps individuals with disabilities become more integrated in the community while making their own decisions.
Many times, those individuals are categorized and excluded from much of society, Jo Fenton told attendees during the main, lunchtime talk. Fenton, a coordinator for the state Commission on Quality of Care Advocacy for Persons With Disabilities who also led a workshop on the transition to independent life, said they are often referred to with an exclusionary tone as “those people.”
During her talk, Fenton conducted an exercise during which she handed to audience members name tags with conditions, ethnicities and other labels written on them. She then walked around the convention hall and playfully pointed out stereotypes and misconceptions, like the cheerleader always dating the jock or the public assistance recipient being unwilling to work.
One thing most people have in common, Fenton said, is that we likely have had someone make an untrue assumption about us at one time in our lives.
“Everybody here has been in a situation where your group has been mentioned in not such a positive way,” she said.
Fenton said people can't make others treat them better. But you can decide to improve the way you look at and treat those around you, she said.
“Sometimes, you have to work on finding a comfortable climate to do that,” she said. “If you don't start, you're going to get just so far.”
One of those comfortable climates can be in nature, and a state Department of Conservation official led a workshop about accessible spots for outdoor recreation.
Carole Fraser, universal access program coordinator for the department's Division of Lands and Forests, pointed out many of the state's public lands have accessible trails, campgrounds and facilities for those with special needs.
The DEC Web site has a page dedicated to those sites, which can be accessed by visiting www.dec.ny.gov and clicking the link for outdoor recreation and then for accessible recreation.
Being out in nature with others can build confidence and relationships, Fraser said.
“(Nature) feeds part of us,” she said.
Peter Petrosino also talked about confidence during his presentation on self defense. A local judo instructor, Petrosino discussed how the martial arts uses balance and leverage to avoid physical confrontation.
He gave those in the workshop tips on ways to avoid or break free from potential attackers or threatening situations.
“What's really important is knowing that you are worthy of respect,” Petrosino said.
Murphy praised the workshop leaders, especially Fenton and her colleague, Lyana Maher. The two had to put together the keynote talk at the last minute because the originally booked speaker had to leave due to a personal emergency.
Murphy said it is a “real coup” to have presenters who are able to improvise a quality message like that.
“In this line of work, you have to think on your feet,” Murphy said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
During the annual Options for Independence conference, attendees were given tips on, among many things, ways individuals with disabilities can become more self-reliant and confident.
More than 160 service workers, consumers, educators and community members participated in the day-long conference, which offered a dozen workshops and more than 30 vendors. Many of the workshops focused on practical aspects of your day-to-day life - healthy cooking, employment tips, recreation options and nutrition. Others delved deep into topics like brain injuries and the issues with psychiatric systems.
Tracy Murphy, Options for Independence director, said the organization has been trying to direct the conference's focus on empowering individuals and letting them know the community has a lot to offer them.
“We also want the community to know that people with disabilities have a lot to offer,” Murphy said.
That theme falls in line with the mission of Options for Independence, a center which helps individuals with disabilities become more integrated in the community while making their own decisions.
Many times, those individuals are categorized and excluded from much of society, Jo Fenton told attendees during the main, lunchtime talk. Fenton, a coordinator for the state Commission on Quality of Care Advocacy for Persons With Disabilities who also led a workshop on the transition to independent life, said they are often referred to with an exclusionary tone as “those people.”
During her talk, Fenton conducted an exercise during which she handed to audience members name tags with conditions, ethnicities and other labels written on them. She then walked around the convention hall and playfully pointed out stereotypes and misconceptions, like the cheerleader always dating the jock or the public assistance recipient being unwilling to work.
One thing most people have in common, Fenton said, is that we likely have had someone make an untrue assumption about us at one time in our lives.
“Everybody here has been in a situation where your group has been mentioned in not such a positive way,” she said.
Fenton said people can't make others treat them better. But you can decide to improve the way you look at and treat those around you, she said.
“Sometimes, you have to work on finding a comfortable climate to do that,” she said. “If you don't start, you're going to get just so far.”
One of those comfortable climates can be in nature, and a state Department of Conservation official led a workshop about accessible spots for outdoor recreation.
Carole Fraser, universal access program coordinator for the department's Division of Lands and Forests, pointed out many of the state's public lands have accessible trails, campgrounds and facilities for those with special needs.
The DEC Web site has a page dedicated to those sites, which can be accessed by visiting www.dec.ny.gov and clicking the link for outdoor recreation and then for accessible recreation.
Being out in nature with others can build confidence and relationships, Fraser said.
“(Nature) feeds part of us,” she said.
Peter Petrosino also talked about confidence during his presentation on self defense. A local judo instructor, Petrosino discussed how the martial arts uses balance and leverage to avoid physical confrontation.
He gave those in the workshop tips on ways to avoid or break free from potential attackers or threatening situations.
“What's really important is knowing that you are worthy of respect,” Petrosino said.
Murphy praised the workshop leaders, especially Fenton and her colleague, Lyana Maher. The two had to put together the keynote talk at the last minute because the originally booked speaker had to leave due to a personal emergency.
Murphy said it is a “real coup” to have presenters who are able to improvise a quality message like that.
“In this line of work, you have to think on your feet,” Murphy said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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