Clarification of Natural Supports

[Guest guest]

To all policy makers, legislators, and reporters reading this I would like to

clarify what I personally mean by natural supports.  IMHO natural supports are

not meant to solve or even address waiting lists or funding.Please do not

interpret natural supports as a free way of replacing paid direct support

workers.  Natural supports are not IMHO a replacement for a personal support

worker or someone dispensing meds, giving shots, changing feeding tubes,

toileting or any support a person needs to keep their life going.

 

A caregiver, professional, or direct support worker, can however, support a

person in natural ways by getting to know their hopes and dreams and building on

their assets and gifts to help them reach out and build connections in their

community.

 

 We can all use natural supports to encourage and foster relationships and

engagement in opportunities and interests. Whether you are a paid support worker

or not, people can invest in positive changes for someone they support in many

different ways. It doesn't matter if they are a child or elderly. People can

naturally support a person who happens to have a disability, in being able to

make a contribution and a positive difference in ordinary experiences to be

valued and respected in the community. 

 

That's what I mean by natural supports.  People that show up for you in your

life as a friend, a fellow member of any organization, or team that you belong

to, that are not being paid, or a volunteer or doing you a favor.  They value

being with you and may advocate for you or build connections so you can

participate more fully in a meaningful life.  You can put a pricetag on natural

support.

 

 

Teri L. Steinberg

Chicago Regional Organizer

Illinois Association of Microboards and atives

www.iambc.org

Join us on Facebook and join the IAMC listserv

 

 

A life changed for the better is practice based evidence.

 

The Illinois Association of Microboards and atives is intended for those

who want to explore possibilities of alternative services for themselves or

their loved ones.  The project assists persons with disabilities and their

families and friends to create non-profit corporations that allow them to live

self-directed lives through the use of person-centered planning, community

supports and resource management.