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Research, articles and links on supported living


"Research shows health and happiness outcomes
when individuals with disabilities live in the community
and control the provision of their services."

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (2004).
Supported Living: A cost effective model of independent living for people with disabilities.


An increasingly large body of research is emerging that supports the expectation that people experience better outcomes when they have choice, control and flexible tailored supports.

The following is a list of articles from both Australia and Overseas:

Research articles:

Stancliffe RJ & Keane S (2000). Outcomes and costs of community living: A matched comparison of group homes and semi-independent living. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 25(4), pp. 281-305.

This study compared outcomes for people with comparable profiles in the low to moderate support needs range. It was found that where differences were significant, on five indicators, participants in semi-independent community living had significantly better outcomes than participants in group homes. This finding was deemed consistent with previous research findings cited which report superior outcomes in semi-independent settings. People living in the community had lower social dissatisfaction, more independent use of community facilities and more empowerment.

Kappell B (1995). Making the Impossible Possible: Reflections on Individualized Approaches With a Focus on Ontario. Journal of Leisurability, 22(4).

This provides a discussion of lessons learned after 20 years of advocacy for and initiatives in individualised support in Ontario, Canada. Kappell argues that after "ongoing attempts, reviews, research, and policy development, the idea of what 'individualized approaches' is all about is becoming clear" and concludes, "Individualized approaches should lead to the following outcomes: having a physical presence in the community; being involved with community activities/groups; having personal relationships and friendships; learning & developing skills and abilities; making decisions and taking control of one's own life; being respected and having a good reputation." He then identifies some trends and issues that arise from the last fifteen years' experience in Ontario.

Lucyshyn J, Olson D & Horner RH (1995). Building an ecology of support: A case study of one young woman with severe problem behaviors living in the community. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (JASH), 20(1), pp. 16-30.

This study used quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate the outcomes for a young woman with life-threatening self-injurious behaviours before and after her move from an institution into community living. Authors note that challenging behaviours are the most common reason for people being placed in institutional living arrangements, and say there is a common presumption that the problem behaviours need to improve before community living is viable. However, the study found that outcomes for this young woman were significantly improved after the move. After the move 'substantial improvements in Emma's behavior, community participation and social relationships' were observed and after 2½ years of community living Emma was 'more alert, verbally assertive, conversational and affectionate… more independent, socially competent and happy.' She was not 'cured' of challenging behaviours, but these significantly reduced at times when staff was stable and knew her well, and they increased at times of major disruption to staffing patterns, indicating that the behaviours were 'contextually bound'. Authors note: "Her problem behaviors may require continual adjustment of the type and quality of support she receives but not the elimination of her opportunity to work, play and learn in the community."

Gruhn R (2005). Everybody Needs a Home. People from a non-English speaking background with disability and their families living in communities - a research project about their concerns and hopes and their implications for public policy, Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW

This paper documents the hopes and concerns of people in NSW from a non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability and their families about their accommodation and more broadly the circumstances in which they live. 53 people were interviewed about what they most wanted. The report concludes, "What participants reported about their current accommodation confirmed the need to change the way support for living in the community is currently provided. As we explore later, the challenge for providers and funders of support programs such as supported accommodation is to create systems that strengthen meaningful relationships and networks which form the foundations for community support within local communities.”

Berkman K & Meyers L (1988). Alternative Strategies and Multiple Outcomes in the Remediation of Severe Self-Injury: Going "All Out" Nonaversively. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (JASH), 3(2), pp. 76-86.

The case study describes various treatments implemented over a three-year period to reduce and eliminate multiple and severe self-injurious behaviours in a 45-year-old institutionalized man with intellectual disability and psychotic illness. Community involvement and eventual community living, with the increased control over his circumstances this gave him, was associated with positive behavioural change in the individual studied.

Roeher Institute (1994). Violence and People with Disabilities: A Review of the Literature.

Among the systemic changes recommended to reduce the likelihood of abuse of people with disabilities are "support services that are more widely available, affordable, portable and subject to consumer control so that people with disabilities are not required to participate in delivery sites that may involve risks (e.g., sheltered workshops, group homes, special care homes, multi-service institutions) and the "deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities and integration into the community".

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (1998). Supported living and supported employment: opening up opportunities to people with learning difficulties. Ref 728.

This article examines barriers to inclusion of people with learning disabilities in the community and suggests solutions. It recommends, among other things, "A clear national strategy and framework for specialist services to enable more people with learning difficulties to access supported living and employment options."

Online articles, manuals and reports:

Queensland Disability Housing Coalition (2005). A home of my own: right, rhetoric or reality?

Croft D (2006). Innovation in the provision of accommodation support services for Western Australians with a disability. A Discussion Paper. Accommodation Think Tank ACROD WA.

Connections for Information and Resources on Community Living (CIRCL) (2000). Developing Supported Living Services: A Guide to Essentials for Service Agencies and Regional Centers.

This is a comprehensive manual for those seeking to set up a Supported Living Agency and ensure good practice.

Allen Shea Associates. Supported Living Service Quality Review Process. Self-Assessment for SLS Service Providers.

This is an evaluation checklist for service providers to check whether they are implementing good practice in supported living services.

National Resource Center on Supported Living and Choice (2004). "Community for all" Tool kit resources for supporting community living. Syracuse University

A full copy of the 405 page 'toolkit' (15Mb) can be downloaded from this site.

Hulgin K, Shoultz B, Walker P & Drake S (1996). Innovative practices in supported living: an overview of organizations, issues, and resource materials. Center on Human Policy Syracuse University.

Describes innovative agencies around the USA and addresses a number of issues that are important to continue to address in the effort to develop supported living services.

O'Brien J (1995). The Transition to Supported Living. Realizing the Moment and Moving On. Report of an Evaluation of Supported Living Services at Jay Nolan Community Services.

O'Brien J & C with Brost M (1999). Guiding People Home. The Role of Wisconsin's Supported Housing Specialist.

Cyr B Full Inclusion or Full Disillusionment: Including People With Disabilities In Our Communities, University of Maine, Machias.

Taylor S J Chapter 15. 'Supporting Adults to Live in the Community: Beyond the Continuum' in Pueschel S. M. (Ed.) Adults with Down Syndrome. Paul H Brookes. Baltimore.

Useful websites

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.

Community Resource Unit

Kendrick Consulting: Michael Kendrick's website contains a large number of articles on person centred supports and service transformation.

The Center for Human Policy, Law and Disability Studies: Has a page of Supported Living links

Paradigm UK Articles

Links to pages on supported living at Pardigm UK

Connections for Information and Resources on Community Living (CIRCL)

Inclusion Press

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