Kindness and Inclusion Are One in the Same
By: Autumn Boaz
“My job is my joy, it’s always been a gift”
-Pam Fisher
A Virginia native, mother of two daughters, wife, and daughter of two incredibly loving parents, Pam Fisher strives to create a world that makes inclusion the default for building communities with adults that have developmental disabilities.
Fisher has dedicated her entire life to creating community programs that are designed to give individuals with developmental disabilities their autonomy back. As Director of Day Support Services for Meadowcreek Center in the Region Ten Community Services Board, she has witnessed the power of inclusivity and independence that is often overlooked for individuals with developmental disabilities. Fisher’s 40 years of experience with Region Ten have given her the opportunity to shift this narrative to better embody kindness and inclusion in the Charlottesville and UVA communities.
Getting her start at the University of Virginia’s Special Education program, Fisher helped teach a night college program to 60 adults with developmental disabilities that focused on skills such as driving, cooking, and theater. Through this experience, she was able to see the impact of autonomy and independence on adults with developmental disabilities. After graduating from UVA, Fisher joined the Region Ten Community Services Board and began creating training programs for people in group homes and the broader Charlottesville community that cater to the specific interests of the individual. These programs teach adults with developmental disabilities how to advocate for themselves and build confidence through their autonomy.
Fisher helping our wonderful friend, Monica, at the annual Best Buddies holiday party
Fisher works at the Meadowcreek Center, a community integration program that provides training, support, and supervision to adults with developmental disabilities. As with many community programs, Meadowcreek took a significant hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The center has lost about half of their staff since the beginning of the pandemic, however, Fisher has used this opportunity to concentrate Meadowcreek’s resources to hire staff that truly embody the mission of the program. Fisher explains that Meadowcreek residents provide her relief from the bureaucratic difficulties. She finds that the most rewarding part of her work is giving adults with developmental disabilities a space that is truly theirs. Fisher says that she and other staff members are able to create this space for residents by “respecting where they are, where they want to go, and who they want to be.” It is through this comprehensive approach that Fisher is able to build courses and programs for residents based on their own interests.
In 1989, Fisher joined Best Buddies at UVA, the second chapter of Best Buddies International, a non-profit organization that creates opportunities for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and advocates for inclusivity. At the time, there were only 8 members, however, Best Buddies at UVA now connects 64 local adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with 90 college students - making it one of the biggest chapters in the country. Fisher says that Best Buddies is another way to connect with the community and helps to build relationships between community members and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of building these relationships, which are more meaningful than the relationships Meadowcreek residents have with paid staff because Best Buddies creates opportunities for genuine friendships that are only contingent upon kindness and inclusivity.
Fisher and our sweet friend, Kristine, at the Best Buddies Valentine’s Day Event
With her over 40 years of experience actively practicing inclusivity, Fisher offers some advice for creating a kinder world. She explains that actions speak more than words, so actively modeling inclusivity is the best way to spread kindness. Through her career in Region Ten and volunteer work at Best Buddies, Fisher knows the power of genuine friendships and the value of being able to really listen, interact, and learn from people with developmental disabilities. These relationships give individuals with developmental disabilities a sense of value, acceptance, and respect that radiate throughout the entire community. Therefore, prioritizing human connection and inclusion is the key to kindness.