The Ontario Independent Facilitation Network believes that Independent Facilitation is guided by the following Values and Principles:

    Values

    We believe that our values are the deeply held beliefs and ideals that serve as the foundation for our work.

    • Belonging through a variety of relationships and memberships.
    • Contributing by discovering, developing and sharing gifts and investing energy in meaningful activities.
    • Sharing ordinary places and activities with other citizens, neighbours, friends, classmates and co-workers.
    • Being respected as a whole person whose history, capacities and future are worthy of attention and whose gifts lead to valued social roles.
    • Choosing what one wants in everyday situations and especially to dedicate oneself to contribute to one’s own community in ways that matter.

    Principles

    We believe that principles are the guides that transform our values into action.

    • Visioning – the person and those important to him or her describe his or her vision for the future in a plan. The goals are to anticipate life transitions and create a meaningful life in the community.
    • Strengths-based – builds on the strengths, gifts, abilities and interests of the person.
    • Person-driven – the person drives the planning process.
    • Sustainability – the planning process considers avenues that can be pursued over the long term, and enables the person and his or her family, through knowledge transfer, to continue to keep the plan alive/updated.
    • Accountability – there is ongoing review, evaluation, monitoring and modification of the person’s plan to support personal goal attainment.

    Excerpted from:

    The PATH and MAPS Handbook: Person-Centered Ways to Build Community. Inclusion Press, Toronto. 2010. See p 17. (John O’Brien, Jack Pearpoint, and Lynda Kahn)

    For more on these values and the original paper, see “What’s Worth Working For?” a monograph by John O’Brien, 1989, pp 19-23.