DIGNITY & SERVICES: February 2012

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Supported Living Program: 10-11-12 Feb 2012

Activity: SEGI AIESECERS, Associates & Volunteers giving OPTIONS members a visit and some items for donation.
Objective: To enable members to interact with the community and make new friends.

Activity: Kenhan's birthday party
Objective: To celebrate each person as a unique individual and value each other as friends

Activity: Sunday morning jogging with Josh Green
Objective: To train OPTIONS members for upcoming marathon.

Supported Living Program: 3-4 Feb 2012

Activity: Current Affairs ( Whats in the newpaper today ?)
Objective: To enable members to be aware of the news all around the world.

Activity: Cleaning of OPTIONS kitchen
Objective: To enable members to take care of the OPTIONS house

Supported Living Program: 27-28-29 Jan 2012

Activity: Discussion about Chinese New Year
Objective: To enable members to be aware of the cultures of Chinese New Year and to share their excitements on their holidays.

Activity: Having lunch at Secret Recipe TTDI
Objective: To enable members to interact with each other and the community.

Supported Living Program: 13-14 Jan 2012

Activity: Sara cake making session
Objective: To learn basic baking skills

Supported Living Program: 6-7-8 Jan 2012

Activity: Changing curtains
Objective: To teach individual on how to take care of the OPTIONS house.

Activity: Evaluating OPTIONS 2011 programme activity
Objective: To get all members involved and participating in generating ideas for the programme

our MISSION

To help create a society where persons with learning disabilities enjoy dignity and respect, equal rights and opportunities to lead an independent and meaningful life within the community

our SERVICE INCLUDES

Working with Individuals
Supported Living
- Life Planning: using the principles of self-advocacy

Prevention of Sexual Abuse
- Curriculum planning for teaching of personal safety to children / adults.

Working with Families
Daily Telephone Counseling
Services Development
- full participation of families at all levels is encouraged

Working With the Community
Raising Public Awareness
- We work closely with Government agencies / media and educational institutions.
- We are invited regularly by various ministries for consultation on policy developments.
- Over the last 8 years we have been coordinating a regular monthly column on disability issues called "ONE VOICE" in the Star Newspaper
- Quarterly Newsletter distributed to 3500 individuals & organisations.

our ACHIEVEMENTS

United Voice
- The 1st self-advocacy group initiated by D&S and it is now a registered society run by persons with learning disabilities.

One Voice Column
- A monthly column in The Star paper on disability has been coordinated by us for more than 8 years ago.

Cameron Highlands
- We were involved for about 5 years helping to mobilize the local community to set up a service for children with learning disabilities.

Personal Safety Curriculum
- Have developed a curriculum on personal safety for special needs working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and a few other NGOs. We continue to be involved in this area with P.S the Children

I Play Toy Library
- Set up to serve the marginalized communities in collaboration with a private company called E2L Sdn Bhd

United Nations Award
- ESCAP (Economic & Social Commission) Award 2000
for empowerment of persons with disabilities

SUPPORTED LIVING ....learning to be more independent

Target Group: Teenagers & Young Adults (17 years and above)

The Aim
- to teach individuals skills towards independence and to help plan for their own future when parents are not around anymore.
- to help family members through the process of 'letting go'.
- to help family members to begin planning for the future of their son / daughter.
- to build a team of highly skilled support assistants
- sharing our values and philosophy with other communities

WHAT IS SUPPORTED LIVING?
It is planning for Life.......

- Originated in USA then UK in 1980s/90s

Concept based on clear values:
- Each person is a unique individual
- Have their own likes and dislikes
- Will want to make certain life choices of their own
- Most individuals will need some form of support throughout their lives, to lead an independent life
- Future Life Planning should start now with full involvement from families
- It is a fact parents as carers will not be around forever.

OPTIONS FOR SUPPORTED LIVING
- LIVING A FULL LIFE -

*Own Home: Tenancy Agreement / Ownership
* Flexible Support Assistant to meet individual needs
* Paid jobs, Saving Money, Preparation of Meals, Taking care of the house, Going out with Friends, Hobbies, Meeting Neighbours, Having Pets, Healthy Living
* With full involvement from family and friends.

OPTIONS FOR SUPPORTED LIVING IS NOT ANOTHER MODEL OR ANOTHER THERAPY! IT IS SIMPLY ABOUT ENABLING PERSONS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES TO LIVE AN ORDINARY LIFE LIKE ALL OF US !