This page includes:
~ stories of people who began with whatever
resources they could use.
~ a list of ideas and links that might help you get
started.
Stories
Story 1 - Planning for Mena
Margaret tells about the early planning that went
into Mena moving into her own home. From the time Mena
was quite young, her family, with the help of a
support 'circle' has thought about how they could
achieve work, relationships and a home for Mena. At
28, Mena has now lived in a home of her own, with
support, for 9 years.
> Read
more
Story 2 - David's home
David, now 43, acquired a brain injury 20 years
ago. After attending a workshop and thinking about the
material it presented about social roles, Brenda had a
bright idea. "We'll build him a house", she decided.
With very little funding, no knowledge about building
and not much of an idea how they were going to achieve
this outcome, they set out nevertheless. They received
assistance in realising the dream from the Community
Living Project and David now lives in his own mud
brick house.
> Read
more
Ideas
This is a collection of all kinds of ideas that
might suit some people and not others. It is not a
checklist of things to do.
- Support Circles - A group of family,
friends and allies could help you think about the
life your family member wants. Some families have
found they get great ideas, commitment and moral
support from a circle of friends.
- The Community Resource Unit's CRUcial times
Newsletter had an issue
on this in March 2007.
(Also
see Planning Tools)
- Think about what kind of home the person would
want; what kind of roles and connections the person
would ideally enjoy in the community. Build a
vision of the life they would want so you are clear
about what you're working towards.
- Help people understand supported living.
Family and friends may never have heard about
people being supported like this. Some ideas for
getting your support network on the same track
might include - sharing this website with them,
talking to them about why you think this is the
best option for your family member or getting them
to come to seminars in which theses ideas are
discussed. This site will be updated with details
of coming events, but you can also contact advocacy
organisations that run seminars. Some
are listed here.
- Think creatively about your community.
Think in a detailed way about your family
member's interests and skills. Who do you and
others in your support network know in the
community? What groups and activities, work or
volunteering possibilities does the community
offer? (Think about anything and everything from
the local conservation volunteers to the musical
society, from the local the church to the soccer
club.)
What are some potential starting points are to
forge community connections for the person you're
thinking about?
You may find yourself starting very modestly with a
few activities and connections may grow with time
and effort.
- Can you get help with domestic support or
personal care through services like
~ Home
Care Service of NSW
~ Attendant
Care Program
- Are you eligible for any help through new
Commonwealth In-Home Support announced 28
June 2007?
- Look
at Dept of Housing website.
- You might apply for public housing. Discuss
your interest in community housing.
- Go to meet your local Community Housing
Association or look at community housing or
cooperative housing ideas on the Community
Housing NSW website
- The Benevolent Society of NSW has a
Homeshare
Program where older people or people with a
disability can be 'matched' with someone who can
provide some support in exchange for free housing.
Could this kind of co-residency work for you? If
you have your own house to work with, could you
organise something like this yourself?
- Can you rent a home or flat on the open
market? Can you access rental assistance or
subsidies to achieve this?
- Do you know of other families in your city
who want the same kind of thing? Could you set
up some get-togethers to talk about what you want?
Maybe sharing your dreams about what you want with
other people thinking about similar things will
help you. Homes
West in Qld and the Community
Living Project in SA are examples of agencies
that actually began from groups of parents getting
together with a shared vision. You can read about
Homes
West's history on its website.
- Talk to family/friends. Is there an opportunity
to use someone's 'spare' accommodation (in
someone's holiday home or an opportunity to house
sit while people are away) to set up a 'trial'?
- Think about whether you have friends who might
help form part of a volunteer dinner roster. (See
Mena's
story for what one family did.)
There is no 'quick fix'. Reading what others have
done may give you some ideas, but the first steps you
decide to take will depend on the person with a
disability you are thinking about and what they
want.
More Links:
Community Resource Unit, Queensland:
www.cru.org.au
CRU states it aims to: Challenge ideas and
practices which limit the lives of people with
disabilities, and inspire and encourage individuals
and organisations to pursue better lives for people
with disabilities. The website provides a variety
of resources which might assist families in
pursuing supported living.
The CRUcial Times Newsletter 38, March 2007 was on
Circles of Support: www.cru.org.au/crutimes/
Queensland Disability Housing Coalition
(2005). A home of my own: right, rhetoric or
reality? Considerations for housing and a
sustainable future for people with disabilities.
www.qdhc.org.au/docs/HomeOfMyOwn.pdf
This is a comprehensive resource that is
designed for people with disabilities and their
families. It describes in some detail the idea of
supported living and will answer many common
questions.
Family Advocacy: Inclusion Collection.
Family Advocacy houses a range of articles
for personal study on supported living and other
subjects related to inclusive lives for people with
disabilities.
Research and Training Center on Community Living.
Through Asking the Right Questions You Can Reach
Your Destination - University of Minnesota
rtc.umn.edu/questions/
A page of questions that might help
individuals and families think about what they
want.
Weatherow D (2003). From a Four-Bed 'Placement'
to a New Life. www.communityworks.info/articles/4bed.htm
Not
waiting, beginning….
