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Creating a
Home and Good Life of My Own: the GSA experience
Guelph
Services for the Autistic (GSA) has functioned as a housing trust since
1997.
Its mission and main focus is to
help adults with autism to have their own homes and to live with
dignity and
safety in our communities, supported by family and friends--and with
self-directed planning, individualized funding, and infrastructure
services as
needed. Adults assisted in this way to have their own homes are GSA’s
“active
members”, other supporting friends being “associate members.” Because
other
families and organizations are interested in following the path
pioneered by
GSA, we have compiled this guide to its various agreements and
procedures as
possible models, with some explanatory text.
What
qualities of support have we learned are essential?
1. The
person is centrally involved in planning and realization of a whole
life.
2. One’s
own home is an essential anchor of a good whole life
3. Families
(widely defined) are respected and involved for the friends and
community
connections they make for the person.
4. Each
person has a circle of support, also incorporated as an Aroha entity
5.
Individualized
and self-directed funding and independent planning and facilitation are
essential
6. Keeping
connected with others who are thinking creatively and pioneering better
ways of
supporting people who are vulnerable because of disability
From Introduction to CREATING A
HOME AND GOOD
LIFE OF MY OWN: Strategies and formal agreements developed
by Guelph Services for the
Autistic in its role as housing trust (2008).
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