I Remember Wolf -- Fred Harshman

I first came to know about the man with the unusual name, Wolf Wolfensberger, when his book "Changing Patterns In Residential Services" turned up in the library at the Saskatchewan Training School where I was the new Chief Social Worker.  The ideas in it capivated me, especially the concept of "normalization".  Then in 1970, I believe, I heard him speak at the CAMR national conference at Vancouver.  I was more than a little impressed with his vision of the future and analysis of the past and present.  I heard him speak again in Toronto on "citizen advocacy".  I was working at the Edgar Rehab. Center near Barrie, Ontario at the time.  I stood up and expressed my agreement with citizen advocacy and ended up being quoted in the Toronto Globe and Mail -- a situation that caused me considerable grief with my superiors.  However, a few weeks later I received a call from perhaps Diane Richler,  to meet Dr. Wolfensberger and Dr. Roeher at NIMR.  I knew this would be a key moment in my life.  We talked for about an hour and I took that  "vocabulary and spelling test" Wolf loved.  Not long after I began my 10 year career as an NIMR change agent in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

Working with Wolf, Allan Roeher, John Elias, Aldred Neufeldt and the wonderful team of "Wolf's Warriors" was an incredible experience in ways described so well by so many others.  I just want to add a few rememberances that come to mind that were perhaps unique to Wolf:  that spelling test he used to screen prospective staff;  the little note book we had to carry at all times;  his love for low cost hotels;  his love of precise language;  the paper saving notes with writing going up and around the margins;  the little scraps of paper he pulled out of the drawer recording your assignments and due dates;  the crushing post mortems we endured and learned from;  video taping every presentation for posterity and a teaching tool;  doing up those ever changing OH transprences;  pushing ourselves to be able to handle the long hours and heavy work load;  always being prepared and expecting equipment failures, forgotten organiztional assignments, and crisis moments;  the need for laughter and socialization;  how to use slide and OH presentations;  the endless touring of facilities and programs during our travels looking for cutting edge programs, work and ideas;  how to recruit leaders and potential change agents into the fold;  and the importantance and use of training events to shape people's thinking and our own;  how he generously included many of us by name in his books and writings.

These are a few of the unique and defining little things I fondly recall about this most influential and beloved

Fred Harshman,  Calgary, Alberta
E-mail address -- fredand helene@shaw.ca