This blog was originally developed for a service learning course at Indiana University in order to explore researching and writing's roles in civic engagement. It reflects on my experience as a service learner at Stone Belt in Bloomington, Indiana. Stone Belt is a not-for-profit organization that provides resources and supports for individuals with disabilities. My objective as a service learner was to observe the overall atmosphere of Stone Belt, and gain access to the Stone Belt community with the help of my "informant." My informant, Ms. Vicars, welcomed me into the Stone Belt community by introducing me to staff and clientele, defining terminology unique to the organization, and giving me extensive tours of the facilities.
My individual service to the community involved interviewing a twenty-five-year-old client over a five week period, and synthesizing a biography of his experiences as a young man with a developmental disability. My experience meeting with this client not only alerted me of the false assumptions I had of persons with developmental disabilities, but also how my views had been influenced by society's false assumptions. This blog explores the false assumptions society holds of persons with physical and intellectual developmental disabilities, and defines these assumptions as limiting to the advancement of these persons in the community and in their daily lives.
