Home is a vital part of our lives.  It not only provides us with security, privacy, comfort and control but it reflects our identity, our deep sense of who we are and how we connect and belong in our neighborhood.  Yet for many people, particularly those with an intellectual disability or autism, home is designed by others or there is an assumption that people need to live in group homes, or a need to be fully “independent” to live in their own home.

In this webinar, Teresa Micallef  and Lauren Mandel from Belonging Matters will provide an introduction to some of the fundamental things to consider when helping someone move into their own home.

Topics covered include:

  • What does it really mean to have your own home and is it really possible for people with intellectual disability and/or autism?
  • Some of the common widely held myths that prevent people from living in a home of their own
  • Creating and holding a personalised vision for home
  • Key considerations when assisting people to have their own home
  • Exploration of the Individual Supported Living (ISL) framework

This webinar will use interactive exercises, reflection and discussion.  We recommend attending with your Zoom camera on.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop will be of interest to those who support people with an intellectual disability and/or autism including families, advocates and professionals.  It will be of interest to those engaged with NDIA’s Individualised Living Options (ILO) as a way of thinking through how to assist people to thrive in their own home.

This webinar is only available to people living in North Central Victoria and the City of Hume, including Kyneton and the surrounding areas of Sunbury, Romsey and Woodend.  This also includes the municipalities of Buloke, Gannawarra, Loddon, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Mount Alexander, Macedon Ranges and the City of Greater Bendigo.

Speakers

Teresa Micallef has always chosen to work at the cutting edge of change in the community and has worked alongside people with disabilities and their families for over 20 years.  For nine years she was the co-ordinator of a family governed group called Living Distinctive Lives in which each person with intellectual disability and/or autism developed their own vision for home and then moved into their own place with a range of personally tailored support.  Currently, Teresa is the Project Manager of Building Community Networks at Belonging Matters which facilitates Circles of Support.  Teresa has been impressed by the power, creativity and resilience of people who experience disability, their families and networks to foster community pathways and opportunities for genuine inclusion.

Lauren Mandel has developed a deep appreciation for how ‘home’ is at the heart of who we are; our relationships, valued roles, passions and learning can all stem from home.  Lauren has journeyed with many individuals with intellectual disability and their networks to understand, establish and maintain a home of their own.  This has involved being part of the progressive Individual Supported Living project with Curtin University, as well as supporting people to move from segregated group accommodation into homeshare or indiviudalised arrangements.  Lauren has a Masters Degree in Social Work, and is an avid Social Role Valorisation student and practitioner.

To book your place

Tickets are free. To book a ticket, please visit Eventbrite

Further Information

For further information please phone 03 9739 8333 or email info@belongingmatters.org

This webinar is brought to you by Belonging Matters through the financial support of a Department of Social Services (DSS), Information and Capacity Building grant.