Community Inclusion Program The Australian Way

1
Community Inclusion Program The Australian
Way

• A complementary community access model
• Hellena Hanssen
• David Zilber
• Community Programs Association Inc, Canberra,
  May 2006

2
Historical movements

• Understand why today many people with ID are
  still socially isolated
• Up to 1940s people with disabilities were often
  seen as threatening
• The community only had modest knowledge about ID
  and
• Little surplus goodwill (social capital) left
  over in day-to-day lives.
• Information about disability not readily
  available in community and there was suspicion in
  communities about ill health generally.
• Many people with ID had virtually no privileges
  or socialization opportunities.

3
Historical movements

• The human rights movement
• Post 1940s parents of children with disabilities
  starting advocacy groups for their children to
  gain recognition and rights.
• The human rights movement gave increased strength
  to parenting groups and their advocates.

4
Historical movements

• Government involvement
• In the 1970s -1980s advocates of people with ID
  organised lobby groups which promoted serious
  debate at government level.
• Governments engaged in discussions because they
  were concerned about ongoing health care costs
  for institutionalised care.
• 1982 International Year of the Disabled embraced
  by Australian governments.
• The de-institutionalisation movement
• In 1985 the de-institutionalisation movement
  emerged at government level.
• In 1986 the Commonwealth Disability Services Act
  prescribed new style services

5
Historical movements An ongoing struggle

• The legacy of historical thinking where people
  with disabilities are seen as lesser beings.
• When government policy gave people with
  disabilities the right to live as equal citizens,
  communities shifted slightly.
• Communities shifted only to the point where they
  still thought people with disabilities always
  needed professionals.
• Nowadays the issue of integrating people with
  disabilities needs to concern everybody in the
  community.
• People with disabilities live in the community
  in a physical sense, socially they are not
  included.
• Governments recognise that communities still need
  assistance in offering more inclusive
  opportunities.

6
Historical movements Still excluded

• The old thinking around people with disabilities
  mostly needing professionals to live in the
  community still exists and appears to be a
  sticking point.
• This against a resource poor human services
  industry with high demand for service that far
  exceeds supply
• People in community still believe that people
  with disabilities have fewer needs and interests
  than others and do not need as many opportunities
  for socialization.
• There is still a residual fear of
  differentness.
• The community is becoming increasingly
  individualistic.

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Community inclusion The Australian Way

• Cost-effective because it uses existing community
  resources social networks,
• Enriches social fabrics,
• Establishes and enhances strong social
  connections,
• Uses surplus goodwill and kindness,
• Encourages the community to look closely at
  itself and all of its citizens, including those
  with disabilities,
• Helps communities to shift their thinking, break
  down barriers and develop a deeper understanding
  of the importance of community diversity and
  inclusion.

8
CAPS Access The classic professional service

• Four programs
• Leisure
• Community Education
• Training Development
• Day Trips Holidays
• Most activities occur in community settings
• Manager, 3 coordinators, 22 support staff
• 94 clients

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CAPS Access The classic professional service

• General structure
• Paid workers
• Pick up client from home
• Take client to scheduled activity
• Take client home, generally after about 3 hours
• Six-monthly activity plan client participation
  expected
• Usually able to change activities mid-plan in
  response to changing needs

10
CAPS Access The classic professional service

• Swimming
• Picnic
• Volunteer at Salvos
• Horse riding
• Bus training
• Womens club
• Friday lunch
• Overnight stays
• Movies

• Pamphlet deliveries
• Document scanning
• Cooking
• Music therapy
• Bushwalks
• Tennis
• Rock climbing
• Art and craft
• Hospital auxiliary

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The circles of social exclusion 70s

• Life from the Blue circle
• Single model service
• Segregated accommodation
• segregated employment
• Little education
• Special programs
• Mass leisure/recreation
• No holidays
• No meaningful relationships
• No social networks

Professional service
Family
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The circles of social exclusion - now

• Life from the Pink circle
• Few friendship opportunities
• Little opportunity
• for spontaneous social activity
• Superficial interaction
• Little sense of belonging
• Increased social isolation
• Reduced physical activity
• Poor nutrition
• Withdrawal from society

• Life from the Blue circle
• Many services
• Supported accommodation
• Supported employment
• Special education
• Special programs
• Planned leisure/recreation
• Fewer relationships
• Few social networks
• Reduced life choices

Community
Professional service
The inner circle Family and paid
carers/ friends
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The circles of social inclusion - future

• Life from the Pink circle
• Many friends
• Spontaneous social activity
• Optional interactions
• Sense of belonging
• Socialization opportunities
• Good nutritional options
• Open access to society
• Less chance of depression

• Life from the Blue circle
• Choice of services
• Mainstream accommodation
• Mainstream employment
• Education opportunities
• No special programs
• Many varied relationships
• Many social networks
• Many life choices

The inner circle Family, friends personally
selected support
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Why a complementary program?

• Many activities in the community, but not of the
  community
• physical presence
• social inclusion
• Scheduled
• Not at natural times
• With random staff not necessarily matched for
  activity interest or consistency
• Friendly, but not personal relationships

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Implementation of a community inclusion program

• Organizational policy framework.
• Organizational structures and direct staff
  involvement for success to help guide the
  programs development.
• Comprehensive approaches and strategies to access
  and link-up the client with community
• businesses,
• clubs,
• educational opportunities,
• recreational and leisure activities,
• families and
• individual citizens

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Classical service interactions
17
CIP interactions
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Implementation

• A supportive, skilled and professional team of
  employees to help identify appropriate clients
  and activities for the clients.
• Supportive involvement of clients, their
  families, and other agencies already involved
  with the client.
• A community with social capital which is prepared
  to share it.

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Having social capital

• Implicit in social capital is goodwill within
  social networks, enriching social fabrics, strong
  social connections and surplus benevolence left
  over in peoples day-to-day life that can
  potentially be shared with others.
• Western communities typically have lots of
  surplus social capital.
• However, communities need assistance in learning
  how to share it.

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Implementing Community Inclusion The Australian
Way (CIP)

• CIPs primary focus is on the community and not
  the client.
• CIP encourages community to share its goodwill
  with client.
• Through advertising on GoVolunteer
  www.govolunteer.com.au/default_open.htm
• Agency recruits volunteer facilitators.
• The recruitment process is similar to that of
  paid employees
• formal application and CVs, police checks,
  referee reports, first aid certificate and
• preparedness to participate in ongoing coaching,
  some training and the recording of time spent
  with clients.

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Implementing Community Inclusion The Australian
Way (CIP)

• The volunteer facilitator nominates what activity
  and contribution they wish to make.
• Clients interests is paired with the volunteer
  facilitators. This may include consultation with
  significant others.
• During the early stages of the relationship
  between the client and volunteer facilitator, the
  coordinator works closely with them to achieve
  realistic outcomes.
• Gradually the coordinator withdraws practical
  assistance but remains available for ongoing
  coaching to both the client, the volunteer
  facilitator and relevant others.

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Implementing Community Inclusion The Australian
Way (CIP)

• The volunteer facilitator has the leading role in
  the relationship, and they are encouraged to
  advocate for CIP, to influence others in the
  community (their family, friends, colleagues)
  toward community inclusiveness for the client.
• Here they are sharing their social networks,
  social fabrics and other social connections.
• Gradually their communitys change and new
  systems emerge with the development of more
  broad-scoped and inclusive community
  opportunities for others.

23
CIP Mutual Benefits

• CIP maximizes opportunities for further
  socialization of people with disabilities through
  a mutually beneficial arrangement.
• The community is supported to share its goodwill
  and to look closely at itself and all of its
  citizens.
• Implicit in this is CIPs focus to help
  communities shift in their thinking, to break
  down barriers and develop a deeper understanding
  of the importance of community inclusion.
• CIP is promoting new opportunities for adults
  with disabilities in community life. With
  support from agency volunteer facilitators are
  taking the lead in playing significant roles in
  creating a sense of belonging for people with
  disabilities, based on shared focuses and
  interests.

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Community Inclusion Action

• Where to for you?