Tools for Living Well Toolkit - Canadian Association of Occupational ...

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Chapter SIX - Approaching and Working with Businesses
Tips:
It may not be appropriate
or feasible to expect all
businesses to progress at
the same rate.
For example it may not
be feasible to expect all
retailers to carry a variety of
assistive devices once they
are on board.
For some, simply beginning
to carry one brand may be
success.
Similarly, the notion of
providing grab bars as a
standard amenity to new
homebuyers may be quite
novel to homebuilders and
you will not likely be able to
convince them all, but you
may have success in getting
them to begin displaying
bars in their model homes.
Tools for Living Well
assistive devices, for example, helping them to better display
what they offer or helping them with promotional materials.
● Diffusion of innovation. Businesses in this stage are
working toward supporting other businesses or head office
and are serving as models. Your goal may be to reinforce
their leadership role and to help them in their desire to
reach out to their head office (if they are part of a chain) or
other businesses. Program Tool 11 addresses the stages
of change more explicitly according to each business type
(retailer, homebuilder, hotel), along with a description of
concrete ways to help you approach the business at each
of these stages.
Supporting businesses in making changes
The diagram on the next page illustrates the stages of change, as
we have adapted and applied them to the Tools for Living Well pro-
gram, along with the goal at each stage.