Our Commitment to Self-Determination
Values Into Action is about self determination: choice, authority, freedom, responsibility and self advocacy. We exist because we learned to follow the lead of people with disabilities and their families. The best thing for professionals to do is to offer information, resources and help. As professionals we can help people use their HCBS funding by sharing what we know about the policies, regulations and rules. People need to be the ones making decisions about themselves.
Many years ago, Paul and I were invited to be part of the Robert Wood Johnson Self Determination Project in Pennsylvania. We learned about individual budgets, the Supports Broker role and person centered planning. We helped people use their funding to get the services they needed to live the lives they wanted. These lessons helped us to design an organization that promotes self direction for all. One where we help people using provider managed services to have the most choice and control.
How people use Values Into Action depends on what they want, like how much control and responsibility. The more they want, they can choose to self direct and hire us to provide the Supports Broker service. Most people want control of their lives. But they may not want the employer responsibilities. In that case, they can choose to use services managed by us.
No matter what service they use, everyone we support chooses where they live, who they live with, who their staff are, and what they do each day
Never in 20 years have we backed off our commitment to people being in charge. We won’t ever compromise this. We have shown that people with a lot of support needs must be in charge of their lives. They must be able to design and control their services whether they use an organization like ours or self direct.
Impact Issue on Self-Direction
I am honored to be an Editor of this Impact Issue on Self-Direction. Please read every article in this Impact Issue, and then read them again. Read it with someone you support, or your staff. Know that you are using your power every day you choose to take control of your services. Know that you are setting an example for others. If you are a professional who supports choice and control, and helps people to be employers of their staff, you too are setting an example. Most important, we show that each of us has the power to live lives of our own design, and can make our way in this world.
Join the Conversation
I, along with my fellow Impact issue editors, Julie Bershadsky and BJ Stasio, recorded a podcast episode. We discuss the state of self-directed services for people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. I appreciate the collaboration with my fellow Editors . Most of all I appreciate the Values’ community. It is because of you that I speak about our work with integrity.
Photo Credit: BJ Stasio as pictured on the cover of the impact issue. Photographer unlisted.