Wearing Many Hats: Personal Outcome Measures Rally Highlights the Many Ways We Show Up in the World
As part of Compass Validation Week, 70 self-advocates gathered at the Brookville Mansion ballroom for a Personal Outcome Measures (POMs) Rally exploring and celebrating the many ways a person can show up in the world.
“Today is all about you,” said Christopher O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer. “Your goals, your dreams, your roles that you’d like to play in life. Every single one of us has something valuable to offer, and every single one of us deserves the chance to be known, seen, and included for truly who we are.”
The POMs Rally was an opportunity for people supported and self-advocates to consider what is important to them and what social roles they enjoy that connect them to friends and neighbors. Attendees cheered as they shared hobbies and the many hats they wear they serve in the community, from church usher to food pantry volunteer.
The Rally was also an opportunity to discover new opportunities through POMs person-centered tools. Rally activities assisted with uncovering goals and considering steps toward accomplishing them through the support of staff, including personal outcome interviewers, as well as hearing how other people receiving services reached new goals.
Matt Hofele, who receives residential support at the Greenlawn residence, shared his story about becoming a POM Interviewer and Training Clerk for the agency.
“I liked to advocate so much that after I was asked to do a POM interview. I shared that advocating was part of my goals,” Matt said. “Another goal of mine was to have a job, so what I did was combine the goal of being a POM interviewer and asked if I could have that as a job.”
During one of the rally exercises, Michelle Rudoff, Quality Assurance Trainer and Camp Loyaltown Camper joined fellow self-advocates in wearing hats labeled with roles like “leader,” “employee” and “volunteer.” She also took time to explain what the various roles mean to her.
As hats were handed to Michelle during the exercise, she gamely put each one on her head.
Gesturing to Michelle, Bridget Cariello, Assistant Director of Project Development, then asked, “How many social roles can you have?”
Michelle responded, “As many as you want,” adding that you can get a social role simply by “asking and advocating!” A statement that received cheers from the crowd.
During the rally, self-advocates had the opportunity to create their own hats, writing social roles that they fulfill in the community on them and leaving with new ideas about what they’d like to achieve in the future.