Principles of the Building Full Lives Supports at Connections
The following principles are essential in the Building Full Lives model of supports. Staff members must be trained on these values and shift their mindset from system based thinking to individualized, outcome based supports. In the Building Full Lives model, staff work side by side with the people they are supporting.
Principles of the Building Full Lives model of support at Connections:
- Individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities can fully participate in typical valued social roles side by side with people without disabilities
- Staff members engage and embrace full diversity
- Activities take place at typical resources that are available to anyone in the community during regular business hours.
- A person-centered planning process and individual needs and preferences are used as the driver of all activities
- Staff support individuals to actively pursue opportunities to explore relationships with community members
- Staff view their role as support facilitators of inclusion and fully accept individuals with disabilities
- All activities and interactions are age appropriate
- Activities that reinforce stereotypes and stigma of individuals with disabilities are completely avoided. For example, the group from the disability agency is here today”
- Avoid activities that unnecessarily segregate
- Staff focus on the empowerment of people
- Staff Provide a range of choices to individuals and guide them in making those choices
- Activities are not pre-decided with a ‘here’s what we’re going to do today’ approach. Each day, everyone decides what the day will look like.
It is important to keep in mind that BFL is also not a program where everyone just gets to do whatever they want. The activities chosen must fit within the identified goals of the individual.
