Stories from the South
The department has recently published a collection of stories about the lives of 11 people living with disabilities in the Southern Metropolitan Region who require support of various types to lead active and fulfilling lives. The individuals have related their life stories and discuss how the support they have received has either hampered or assisted them to achieve their ambitions and do the things they wished to do.
This is a different sort of ‘instruction manual’ that complements the more typical variety and highlights the client experience in ways that emphasise the emotional and interpersonal, as well as the structural aspects of support provision. The stories reinforce the importance of a focus on client experience, which can profoundly and positively affect relationships with people who might need support services at any given point in their lives.
The stories serve to remind us of the way support should be provided and the importance of respect, dignity, flexibility and individuality. The stories apply to all organisations providing support to people with disabilities and serve to affirm current practice and inspire future service improvements.
The publication is available on the Department of Human Services Stories from the South page.
Image caption: Cover shows Disability Services' recipients left to right: Ms Samantha Dwe, Mr Raymond Pettit, Ms Lauren McLeish, Mr Aaron Elliot, Mr Stavros and Mrs Margie Kalomiris.
Go to In focus issue 9 main page
