System versus Community

As Seen by the System versus the Community

In a social service system:

people are known by what’s wrong: by their condition or label

In community:

people are known as individuals.


In a system:

people are incomplete and need to be changed or “fixed”

In community:

people are as they are, with opportunities to follow their own dreams.


In a system:

relationships are unequal; service workers do things “for’ clients and don’t look for any contribution in return

In community:

relationships are reciprocal, give and take, and the diverse gifts of many people are recognized.


In a system:

people are broken into parts and separated into groups

In community:

people have the chance to be accepted as whole persons, and viewed as part of the whole society.


In a system:

problems are solved by consulting authorities, policies , procedures

In community:

people seek answers from their own experience and the wisdom of others.


In a system:

there is no room to acknowledge mistakes and uncertainty; information is communicated in professional jargon that distances individuals from their actions

In community:

people can make honest efforts and acknowledge honest mistakes and fears.


In a system:

all problems have a rational solution

In community:

there is room for confusion and mystery, and recognition that some things are beyond human control.


from: The Gift of Hospitality: opening the Doors of Community to People with Disabilities.
Written By: Mary O’Connell, produced By: The Community Life Project, Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research, Northwestern University Evanston, IL.
From the newsletter ‘Sharing of the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group in Phoenix, AZ,

Information & Resources for People with Disabilities

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