Written by Dave Lawson, Executive Director of Lethbridge Association for Community Living.

When people want to access formal services to blend with their natural support, they need to prove they are eligible. This gateway promises that on the other side there will be funding, support and expertise for adults with developmental disabilities. The problem is that the gatekeepers want to know what people can’t do, what the limitations are and through assessment, categorize clients. All of this information is used to put resources in place that will meet immediate needs. Annual support levels and budgets are set, staff are assigned, service plans are signed dated and filed, all to fulfill that promise of inclusion in the community but in most cases will it creates a system that not only maintains the person in place it indeed resists innovation or opportunity beyond the created complex of disability services. This becomes the day to day support available to the person with a disability. When opportunities are found to have the person more naturally involved in the community, they often have to apply for extra supports while they learn the routines of the new and exciting endeavor. These requests are all too often me with the response that if there is no threat to health and safety of the individual, no changes can be made.

If maintaining the status quo takes the full dedication of existing resources then the support people need to explore new and desired activities will not be available. This will never allow for spontaneous success unless people with disabilities are fully involved in all of their affairs. There must be a plan in place that can blend formal and informal supports. People with disabilities need to discover the role of natural supports in their growth and development. They need to observe firsthand and be supported in contributing to activities that affect their daily lives. People need to be in the parts of the community where limitations have no currency. They need to frequent places so they can become “regulars”. We need to extend the invitation to others to be in the lives of citizens with different abilities. If we plan to surround people with their own affairs, they will live more self-directed, fulfilling lives. After all, that is the way we all have become connected to our fellow citizens.

The Lethbridge Association for Community Living has the tools and strategies to help families create a plan for the future that will provide the opportunity to blend supports and allow our community to benefit from the contribution and potential of all people.  We are always available to help build the framework of the plan that will help prospect for relationships that create belonging.