CONFERENCE HELPS DISABLED STRIVE FOR INDEPENDENCE.

Byline: Kermit Pattison Daily News Staff Writer

There was a time when Allen Barbee was angry.

Until a few years ago, the developmentally disabled man chafed under social workers who would plan out his day down to when he ate, where he went and when he went to bed.

But now he is learning to make decisions for himself and earning a new-found sense of independence. He decides how to budget his time and money, when to go out and when to pick up the house.

"It's important for people to be able to make their own decisions," said Barbee, 30. "Once you learn it, there's not too many problems."

Such success stories highlighted an annual conference Friday on helping people with developmental disabilities.

About 275 people attended the daylong conference at California Lutheran University titled "Life's Choices for People With Developmental Disabilities." They included teachers, classroom aides, workers from public and private social service agencies and parents.

The 11th annual conference focused on ushering people with developmental disabilities toward the mainstream of school, work and social life. The term developmental disability refers to those grappling with disabilities like mental retardation, epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy or brain injuries.

"It's an opportunity to learn how important it is for our students to be part of the community and have a opportunity to live like anyone," said Lisa Fox, one of the organizers of the event. "It's so they can learn to help people with developmental disabilities become part of the community."

Until the 1970s, organizers said, people with developmental disabilities tended to be ostracized from society. They usually did not attend schools and usually remained at home or in institutions.

Then the developmentally disabled began enrolling in schools, but often in segregated programs reserved for disabled students.

The current trend is to include the students in as many mainstream classes and activities as possible - a theme that was emphasized loud and clear in the conference.

"It's a fuller and richer life for the individual," said Fran Arner-Costello, one of the organizers of the conference and a special education coordinator in the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Office. "And it's a fuller and richer life for society to have different kinds of people."

It was a theme the conference struck again and again in a series of workshops and lectures. By including the disabled in more mainstream activities, experts said they were better able to adjust to society and bolster self-confidence and independence.

Workshops taught teachers how to use core curriculum in classes with disabled students. They learned how to support positive behavior in developmentally disabled kids.

In one workshop, a group of developmentally disabled adults enrolled in an independent living program with the Association for Retarded Citizens of Ventura County demonstrated decision-making skills.

"I make decisions on my own," said Dawn Badger, 30, a developmentally disabled Ventura woman. "I make decisions for myself without the staff. I can live on my own without having any help from anybody."

Jeff Kullen, a residential instructor with ARC, said the benefit of giving the disabled more control over their lives was apparent.

"We see a change in the clients themselves when you empower them to make decisions themselves," he said. "They're more confident, they're happier."

In another workshop, the parent of an autistic 12-year-old told how she had quelled her daughter's violent behavior through years of patient work with positive behavior techniques.

"Dreams come true," said Susan Fake of Seattle who spoke at the conference with her daughter Samantha. "It works. Sam is on the honor roll. I'm still stunned."