Connie Lyle O'Brien and John O'Brien spend much of their working lives under the umbrella of Responsive Systems Associates on projects involving a network of people who cooperate in building local capacity to include people with substantial disabilities in all aspects of community life. Projects focus on:

• Facilitating planning for people and their families, agencies, service systems, and governments that improves ability to listen and respond to people with disabilities and their families.
  

• Assisting innovators to evaluate programs and policies that open new opportunities for community participation and choice.
  

• Helping people reflect on the meaning of providing personal assistance and the work of designing and leading agencies that reveal and support capacities and mutual contributions.
  

• Supporting people to communicate what they are learning from their lives and their work. Many of these activities happen through our association with the Center on Human Policy.

Work in several countries has expanded our experience and our network beyond the United States to include people in Australia, Bosnia, Canada, England, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealands, Scotland, Spain, and Wales.

Publications by John O'Brien and Connie Lyle O'Brien