Community Living Project was established in 1984 after a group of families came together with a vision. They wanted for their young adults living with disabilities to live in their local communities in a life as typical as possible.
CLP continues to be guided by and foster family leadership. Building the capacity of the person and their families to manage their supports is at the heart of what we do.
“Assist people with disability to live their own unique and purposeful life of inclusion through having: home, relationships, competencies and highly valued roles in their community.”
In this video produced around CLPs 30th anniversary, families talked about the values underpinning CLP.
We are proud that the values and mission have not changed.
In 2024 the Family Council published the 10 underlying principles for the organisation.
An inclusive life happens when a person is embedded in their local and wider community in familiar and typical ways – one person at a time, based on the interests of the person and following natural rhythms and patterns especially where home is the anchor, starting and ending one’s day from home with natural breaks and rests happening at home.
It is essential to always begin with the person and their interests – who they are, who they might be, their deep qualities, their skills and gifts – and then to listen deeply, again and again as they reveal more and shift and grow over time – these will provide the common ground with other citizens in their neighbourhoods and communities and afford the opportunities for genuine contribution that will be welcomed and valued by others.
CLP supports and plans will be individualised – focussing on arrangements uniquely designed to bring out the best in the person and what they have to offer – not separate and apart, or grouped with others with disabilities.
Typical and diverse settings in familiar community places will provide natural safeguards, and other community members will be role models, teachers, potential friends, and become appreciative recipients of the person’s presence and contributions.
Relationship is an important part of a rich full life and provides essential safeguards where people are marginalised. Ways to focus on developing the kinds of situations where relationship will arise will be interwoven into all discussion – situations where a person is present among other citizens frequently and regularly, in places and ways where they share a common interest with others and where they have a role which offers their own contribution to others.
The goal for each person is to get beyond mere presence – just being there – and to facilitate authentic participation and real inclusion. These things are only possible when we help the people we serve to hold and build upon valued roles which include contribution, take place in community and involve other citizens.
Support for decision-making is an essential part of the listening and learning process – the voice of the individual is important and supported decisions will be made by the individual alongside the important and trusted people in the person’s life
Simple everyday choices are a given within the everyday limitations we all experience, but these are also within the larger context of figuring out how each person can be truly supported in governing the direction of their lives
This good life in community is for everyone regardless of ability or support requirements, and in fact, may be especially powerful for and suited to those with complex support requirements
Because we believe that ours is and can be an abundant community, our search for belonging and relationship will seek out groups and opportunities where there are not yet people with disabilities because these will be richer with more unique opportunities with the greatest potential, and where community members stand to gain the most benefits from coming to know this one person.
