Individualised Living Story

You don’t know, what you don’t know, until you know… about individualised living

By Linda Hughes

“You don’t know, what you don’t know, until you know.” This was a comment from a parent who came to a recent My Home My Way workshop. She was saying something we hear often when talking about people with disability living in a home of their own.

Often families believe, or have been told, their son or daughter will have to live in a group home.  Families are often not happy about the idea, but don’t know other ways.

I am exceptionally pleased to be part of the Team at Resourcing Inclusive Communities, talking about home, individualised living arrangements, and working with people with disability and families. We know people with disability can thrive, living in a home of their own, in the heart of community. We also think more people need to hear about the many ways a person with disability can live in a home of their own.

I first heard about individualised living arrangements when my son Jacob was very young. I met a family whose son, in his 20s, was moving out of a group home to his own home and sharing with housemates who did not have a disability. I was intrigued, and over the years have met many more people with disability who are living good lives, in their own home.

It was valuable for our family to hear the experiences of others and to know Jacob too, could live in a home of his own. A seed was sown and gave us confidence and became part of our vision for Jacob’s future.

Let’s think about home for a moment. Home is not just the roof over our head. Home is about who we are and how we want to live and share our lives with others. Home is about fun times, making memories, building skills, feeling safe, and grounded. Home is our secure base from which we can explore and connect in our communities.

This is a personalised approach to creating home with a person with a disability. It takes time, discovery and planning. It is truly person centred. There is no model. An individualised living arrangement is unique to each person.

Creating a vision: An important starting point is to develop a vision. A vision is our dream of what a makes a Good Life.  A vision gives you clarity and direction, it helps you work out the steps you need to take to move towards the vision.

“A vision is a mental picture of life in the future that is life-giving, helps us to reach our full potential, and builds on our strengths, interest and gifts.” - Michael Kendrick.

With my son Jacob, family and friends we began to create a vision of how he could live in a home of his own, where it would be his place, where he decided who he lives with and who comes to his home, and where he was in charge of his life. 

Now living in his own home, Jacob is an excellent host. He loves nothing more than a ‘gathering’ of friends and family, music, love, fun and connection. 

If you would like to know about individualised living and creating home, please get in touch with Resourcing Inclusive Communities on 1800 774 764 or attend one of our Individualised Living events.