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SCOTT FOWLER

Scott Fowler, Olusegun Victor Samuel, Beth Mount and Jackie Fowler at the Chicago TASH Conference, December, 2003.

Scott Fowler is a young man with severe disabilities who is an advocate, educator, and entrepreneur. He began his education in a highly segregated setting long before he and his family became familiar with the concept of Inclusion. Scott and his mother worked with the members of the Committee on Special Education, the high school administration, teachers and support staff to create an opportunity for him to attend the local high school.

During his first year of high school, Scott was invited to participate in the Person-Centered Planning project led by Dr. Beth Mount.

This was the beginning of his Circle of Support, a group of ever-changing friends and supporters, who have helped Scott achieve his goals.

During the last ten years, Scott has worked as a docent, a pool gate attendant, a stock boy, a greeter and a ticket taker; he has been both a volunteer and a paid employee. By the time he transitioned from high school, he had two part-time jobs which he kept for over five years.

In 2002, due to a slow economy and resulting cutbacks, Scott was laid off and cut back to one day as a ticket taker. He then began to explore the possibility of self employment which would capitalize on his energy and enthusiasm. Again with the assistance of members of his circle, especially his job developer Carol Carnevalla-Gearing, and Dr. Beth Mount, he created Scott Avery Fowler Enterprises; he now sells books and artwork that are meant to inspire people who are involved in person-centered work.

Scott has done numerous presentations on the topics of:

• Transition
• Supported Employment
• Self Determination
• Person-Centered Planning
• Circles of Support

Scott presented at the TASH Conference in Chicago in 1999 and again in 2003, where he managed a vendor booth. He is a speaker at workshops and conferences sponsored by the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Westchester ARC and the Westchester Institute of Human Development. He participates in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance training project sponsored by the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and has been an advocate for services and supports for people with disabilities to become more active in their communities.

His most recent undertaking involves moving into his own apartment and dealing with all the issues that come with living independently.

Scott is available to share his Power Point presentation about his journey with anyone or group, i.e. agency's employee orientation training, meeting of students, families and educators, including support staff, and self advocacy and family support councils.

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