A vital focus of CLP is supporting families to develop their leadership skills and to increase their understanding of how to bring about positive change in the life of their family member with disability.
Leadership often arises because a person with disability, family, their allies or ordinary citizens see a need or step up because they have a vision of something better.
Some common features of leadership can include:
- starting with the initial spark of an idea or belief that something could or should be different;
- making a decision or taking a stand to do something about it;
- taking the time to gather the resources needed;
- enlisting and engaging others who bring a range of skills and abilities and being committed and responsible over time.
- building links with like minded people
- sharing stories of positive inclusion achievements and how to imagine better.
What is leadership and why should parents care?
Leadership is the ability to inspire yourself and others to take positive action in life. Every individual and organization needs leadership. Resourcing and developing leadership is an essential aspect of supporting and developing a movement for change.
CLP has worked to recognize, support, develop, mentor and connect leaders and building leadership development is one of our intentional goals. As an agency we aim to both demonstrate leadership in what we do and to intentionally grow and develop leaders to lead the change that is needed to build a community in which we are all valued.
CLP supports leadership development by holding events on themes and other topics that help develop and sustain people engaged in formal and informal leadership roles.
Some examples of leadership for imagining a better life, where people have:
- written an article about their inclusion achievements for a publication. Read Jocelynne’s story of inclusion at the 19 stories website.
- welcomed visitors to their home to share their pride about how they are living in their own homes
- worked with the media to share their perspective on an issue. The Neale Family shared their story about making future plans with the ABC.
- telling their story or explaining about an aspect of their lives that were never thought possible. See a selection of videos and recordings from conference presentations at the Talks that Matter website.
- sharing their stories on video or film for CLP or other organizations promoting inclusion and citizenhood. Read Pierre’s story about how his Circle of Friends helped him move out of a Nursing Home into his own home.
- being part of discussion groups with others in the same position.
We know that there are many people with disabilities, family members and their allies, in different roles demonstrating leadership and we see the need for development and networking opportunities for all people demonstrating leadership – not just those in formal leadership roles as there are many ways to lead and many paths to leadership.
