Access & Agency

Anne Docherty and Dee McRae

Agency — a . gen . cy

1. The condition of being in action; operation.

2. A business or service authorized to act for others: an employment agency.

Adapted from: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company

Two groups of students in Houston and Hazelton in northwest BC began Phase One of a participatory action research project last year by mapping the support and services in their communities for adults and younger adults returning to school. The students wanted to find out what an adult needs before he/she is able to attend school and the services available to meet those needs.

The research team in Houston developed a list of needs (see box on next page)and invited representatives from social service agencies in the community to come and talk to the project team about the services they offer. The team interviewed the representatives and taped and transcribed the interviews. The students found there are more services in Houston than they had realized. Agency representatives found the interview process provided them with a new outlook on their services and helped them to identify gaps in their service.

Early in the research, the students realized that not everyone gets the same service when they go to an agency. It became apparent that individual “agency” (the condition of being in action; operation) often determines how well you are treated when you go to an “agency” (a business or service authorized to act for others). Indeed, personal “agency” can determine whether you ever get out your own door to arrive at the door of a service “agency.” The students found that some people do not know that they can use the services of agencies in their community, do not understand how to get service, and are not comfortable using the service. They also found that some people – for example, those who are deaf, blind, or have English as a second language – may not receive the same service as others.

The research team of young adults in Hazelton became interested in agency as personal and political power. Building on research that looks at learning as a tool to foster social change, the students articulated elements of personal power and how this type of agency provides an individual with the aptitude, confidence and motivation to engage in traditional literacy skills as well as bring about personal and community change.

Cyra Frisk, a member of the Hazelton research team, synthesized the research findings to create this poster. Full-colour posters are available for $10 from The Learning Shop, Box 34, Hazelton, BC. V0J 1Y0. Phone: 250-842-6500 Fax: 250-842-6502 Email: adocherty@upperskeena.ca