Caring for and about other people and having other people care for and about us is what makes our lives meaningful. Many people who receive services have lost touch

with or never developed relationships with people who are not paid to be with them.  Organizations can intentionally assist people in building relationships with people they

already know or can facilitate meeting new people in order to create new relationships.

Q u a l i t y i n P r a c t i c e

* Recognize that our connections with other people      

who love and care for us are central to our well-being.

* Believe that everyone can have relationships with

people who are not paid to be there.

* Understand that successful relationships are reciprocal

– both parties benefit from the relationship.

Reciprocity can take many forms, but both parties

must feel connected to the other.

*Assure that reciprocity occurs:

* support people to recognize and celebrate

significant events in the lives of family members

and friends

* assist people to send cards for birthdays,

anniversaries and holidays

* share accomplishments so that family members

and friends can celebrate together

* Listen to what people are interested in and support

them to meet other people who are interested in the

same things. Every community has a host of groups

that people can join.

* Make sure that when people do join the activities of

a group that they become a member of the group.

If there are dues to pay, pay them (even if reduced

because of their financial situation)

 

In supporting people, assure that their disability –

whatever it may be – is secondary to who the person is.

*This is Jane. She loves animals, dogs especially,

and she wants to walk the dogs at the local animal

shelter. Yes, she uses a wheelchair, but don’t worry,

it is electric and she can operate it with one hand,

so she can hold the leash with the other. Do you

have any other questions, Jane and I can answer

for you? Jane has used a wheelchair all her life and

she is comfortable talking about it.”

*Be extremely respectful when talking about a person

you support with community members. Assure that

you are always sharing that person’s gifts and contributions as a community member, rather than asking for

charity for a recipient of some service.

*Make sure that people are known for the social role

they hold, not the disability they live with.

“This is Joan, a volunteer at the soup kitchen” or

“This is Keith, an employee at Ace Hardware”

or “This is Peter, an artist who paints with

watercolors”.

* The social roles of volunteer and employee and

artist are much more relevant than the fact that

Joan and Keith and Peter have disabilities.

 

Support relationships within families and make sure to include extended family members, even if they live far away.

Writing, emailing or phone calls are all easy ways

to stay in touch. Long distance relationships can be very

fulfilling and may offer a travel destination someday.

* Be creative when thinking about how to support

relationships for people who do not speak in traditional

ways. Think about creating a web page or a newsletter

that can be the avenue for sharing information on a

regular basis. Create a photo album that a person can

share with others to help them get to know each other.

Assist community members in becoming comfortable

to talk with someone who uses a communication

device or signs or communicates with eye contact and

body language.

*Support staff to recognize when relationships are

developing and teach them ways to maintain those

relationships.

 

 

QUALITY IN PRACTICE GUIDE:  Natural Supports