Dignity in Accommodation

Decision Making &

Choice

Ross House,

1st Floor, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

Telephone: 9650 2722 Fax: 9654 8575

Email: amida@infoxchange.net.au

Reviewed………………..

Amended………………..

Approved………………..

Background

AMIDA believes people with disabilities should have a real say in running AMIDA, in making decisions about the advocacy work we do and in checking up on how we are going with this work.

People with disabilities know what they want for themselves. We have spent a lot of time talking to people with disabilities to find out what their needs are. This has helped us to work out what we should be doing.

Meetings of people with disabilities have worked out:

· a Bill of Rights

· a list of what ‘Good Housing’ means

· statements on institutions and other important issues

AMIDA is continuing this process of working for, and with people with disabilities to help us make good decisions about what we will work on in the future.

AMIDA wants to enhance people’s power and have a real say in all our activities.

How do we make sure people with Disabilities have a Real Say about AMIDA’s activities?

In 1987 AMIDA did research into consumer participation and wrote a report called ‘Having a Real Say’.

Consumer participation means that the people who use a service have a say in how that service is run. We found there are practical things groups can do to make sure people with disabilities are involved.

The things you can do are:

· encourage consumers to be involved

· value the things done by consumers

· have personal contact with consumers so that they know what’s going on

· share information so consumers know what’s going on

· give consumers opportunities to work on things that interest them

· give people power and a chance to have a real say in the group

HAVE A REAL SAY!

There are many ways people with disabilities can get involved with AMIDA and have a real say in what happens there.

· using opportunities to tell us what you think about AMIDA’s services - you could do this by answering a questionnaire or taking part in a review of the service.

· join a working group

· get involved with the radio program on 3CR

· working on an Advocacy Action Plan

· write or speak to the Committee of Management or a worker to let them know what you think about the service - we will pay attention to what you say

· make a complaint if you are not happy about the service

· become a member of AMIDA. Members can join the Committee of Management

· come to general meetings, workshops or social functions and talk about your opinions

If you think this policy, or any other policy should be changed please let us know!

You can see our policies at any time.

They will be made available to you in a way that you can understand, for example in large print or on audiotape.