Making My Home
Introduction
Our home is a personal reflection of ourselves. It's a place where we can establish our own routines and it reflects our personal taste and preferences. However, for some people with disability, others can take over that private space. For example, services, workers or even families.
Creating the personal and private nature of the home also means that the person is able to spend time in their own home doing the things that they want to be doing. This might be the opportunity for down time and relaxation, or pursuing individual interests or hobbies.
Ideally, all people would also have secure tenure in their home. This means that they're not at risk of losing their home or having their tenancy linked with a specific service provider.
Key Points
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Homes are private and personal spaces, not public ones and not workplaces.
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Homes should reflect the personal interests and tastes of the people who live there.
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People with disability should have secure tenure of their homes.
Watch Videos
What Home Means to Me
Produced by Imagine More
We asked 9 Australians with disability about what 'home' means to them. Some have been living in their own place for years and are thriving in the homes they've created. Others are actively testing their options, and some are still imagining the possibilities. Like anyone else, they explain that each person's vision for their own home uniquely reflects their interests, lifestyles, and preferences. And because they are in the driver's seat, their homes are a place of pride, comfort, and joy.
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Dee's place
by Deearne Holmes (Produced by Australian Human Rights Commission and Belonging Matters)
When Dee turned 18 years of age she told her parents she was not going to live with them for the rest of her life. She did not want to live with a "carer", in a group home or with another person with a disability. She wanted to live in her own home just like her brothers. Watch this video to see what happened! You will see that Dee’s home reflects her preferences and tastes.
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Moving Out.
by Lisa Bridle (Produced by Imagine More)
Lisa Bridle discusses the planning that led her son to move into his own home with a flatmate. It started with the family's clear vision for Sean to lead an independent and typical life. The planning process addressed many things, including the choice of location, the style of accommodation, and the safeguards that might be necessary. An important part of this story is the selection of Sean's housemate. Lisa explains how they advertised and selected the person. She also describes the innovative rental agreement. While NDIS funding has been used to support Sean's move, the most important part of the equation has been the family's thoughtful approach.
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My Share House
by Ruth and Rhonda Faragher (Produced by Imagine More)
Ruth Faragher is in her 20s and lives in Brisbane. She and a friend were excited about the prospect of moving into a sharehouse together. They did much of the planning themselves before presenting the idea to their parents. In the first part of this video, you'll hear from Ruth as she describes her new home and how much she enjoys her independence. Then her mother, Rhonda, describes the nuts and bolts of the move and of the supports that are in place to safeguard the arrangement. It's a powerful story that illustrates the importance of keeping the person at the centre of the planning.
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Individualised Supported Living (ISL)
by Keith McVilly (Produced by Belonging Matters)
In this presentation, Dr Keith McVilly introduces the Indivdualised Supported Living framework as a guide to imagining, planning and ensuring people thrive in their own home.
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Listen
Whose Home is it Anyway
by Sherryn West and Marisha Targett
How do you support someone with disability to be the ‘boss’ of their home? How can a house or a flat feel and look like a home, and not a workplace? And how can you support your family member with disability to take on being a host to visitors, a neighbour or a housemate? Rather than the negative (and only) label they're often given, like ‘client’ or 'program participant.''
Read
Home Tipsheet
by Belonging Matters
Since 2003, Belonging Matters has journey with many people with intellectual disability and Autism to move beyond tradition group home living to imagine and create a home of their own. This tip sheet shares the wisdom of individuals, families and others and helps us to think about what home really is and isn’t.
How Jo Moved Out
by Sue Boyce
Sue Boyce describes how she supported her daughter to live in her own home with her husband and a flatmate - and how they experimented to find out what worked for them.
Housing and support for people with 'challenging behaviour'; some guidance
by Michael Kendrick
Michael Kendrick explores how people with behaviours that are challenging can be best supported to live in their own home.
A home of my own.
by Cameron Skinner and Deb Rouget
In this article Cameron Skinner shares his story about living in his own home and Deb Rouget refects on how the Individualised Supported Living (ISL) guides Cameron's living arrangement
Exercises
My Home, My Way Workbook
by NACBO
The My Home, My Way Workbook has exercise to help you think through what is important to a person in creating their own home or place. Insert link to workbook