Helping staff support choice

byMichael W. Smull  As more and more people with significant disabilities are moving from group homes to supported living the challenges in supporting them in their choices increase. The staff involved with these individuals are often told to simultaneously support choice, build community relationships (and acceptance) and assure health and safety. Staff blessed with uncommon … Read more

Choice and Control

by Michael Smull April 2017 We seek to have a system where people who use long term services and supports have lives of their own choosing within their own communities. We want a system where support is offered to develop and maintain the web of relationships that defines “community.” For adults, we want employment to … Read more

Considerations for Regional Centers Implementing Person-Centered Organizational Change

For a variety of reasons, many of California’s regional centers are currently considering or have implemented a person-centered organizational initiative.  Moving towards a person-centered system requires considerable thought and planning to be effective. This brief article present some factors to consider in the early stages of planning, implementation, or efforts to sustain the initiative. There … Read more

Circles of Support and Personalisation

by Max Neill and Helen Sanderson ‘Circles of Support’ already improve the lives of a small minority of people in thousands of diverse ways. How can we share the effectiveness of circles so that they touch the lives of many more people, and become a tool for building connection and resilience in our communities? circles of … Read more

Your SLS Training Tool Box

by Connections for Information and Resources on Community Living (CIRCL) April, 2001 This document can help supported living agencies develop a toolbox of information, materials and resources for learning about supported living. Included in this document are: Ideas for setting up a staff training program including requirements from the SLS regulations History of residential and living … Read more

A Guide to Training in Decision-Making for People with Developmental Disabilities

Developed for Horrigan Cole Enterprises by Sherry Beamer, M.S.W. with consultation from Carolyn Reggio Sherry Beamer & Associates Based on Recommendations, Literature and Research Review by William T. Allen, Ph.D. Allen, Shea & Associates This Guide is a simple script for people to teach individuals with developmental disabilities to learn and practice a basic problem solving … Read more

What Is Community Anyway?

By David M. Chavis & Kien Lee Our understanding of community can help funders and evaluators identify, understand, and strengthen the communities they work with. The meaning of community is complex. And, unfortunately, insufficient understanding of what a community is and its role in the lives of people in diverse societies has led to the downfall … Read more

friendship and community

by jo kennedy, helen sanderson, and helen wilson Despite the undoubted progress that has been made by public services in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, one aspect stands out as being very much the same. People with learning disabilities are, on the whole, still not part of their local communities in terms of … Read more

Families planning together

by Michael W. Smull, Mary Lou Bourne, Amanda George, and Shelley Dumas Karrie is a young woman who is described by those who like and admire her as a helpful, hard worker, with great stamina. Not too long ago she was also seen (by the staff of the agency that supported her during the day) as … Read more