SINGERS UNITED FOR PEACE

Singers United for People is a group of people who come together to sing songs of peace and social justice. They rehearse weekly, and perform several times a year at concerts and alternative community events such as peace rallies, vigils, and benefits.

The membership of this choral group includes a diversity of people of varying ages, racial and ethnic background, and abilities. Although most members have no disability labels, there are some people with visual impairments, some with physical impairments and who use wheelchairs, and some labeled mentally retarded or mentally ill. What brings all of the members of the group together is: the director's interest in creating an inclusive choir, their interest in singing, and their desire to sing about current social issues.

One member of the chorus is Joanne, who is labeled severely mentally retarded and has a visual impairment. She lives in a group home and works in a day activity center for people with developmental disabilities.

Joanne needs many different types of support to be a member of the chorus, including help with transportation and personal mobility, various kinds of assistance with the music, and social support. This support is provided by her group home staff as well as by other chorus members.

The lessons that have been learned about support and friendship for Joanne in the chorus include the following:

1. A few people in the chorus provide the most intensive support, and are also Joanne's closest friends. Over time, the group of people who provide this most intensive, ongoing support has remained almost the same, and has not significantly grown in size. Those who provide this support have been exclusively women.
   

2. Several people in the chorus provide occasional, less intensive support. This type of support tends to be provided by people who are also friends, although it is occasionally provided by people who do not know her well. This group is composed of both women and men. The number of people in this group has increased significantly over the 3 years that Joanne has been a member of the chorus.
   

3. In order to maximize her participation in the chorus and make it as positive an experience as possible, it is essential for there to be ongoing communication between chorus members and the staff members in the home where she lives.
   

In Joanne's life, the chorus is one of the only places that is integrated, and where she has the opportunity to establish friendships with nondisabled people other than staff. It is critical that agency staff and others concerned with Joanne understand the dynamics that will help maintain and enhance her participation and membership in this group.

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