Are you interested in developing a personal support network?

Families sometimes wonder where to begin when developing a support network for their relative with a disability. They are united in their desire for a safe and secure future for their sons and daughters. For those who are searching for options and opportunities, we recommend beginning with the Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN). This organization was created by parents engaged in the Family Movement, a larger social rights movement dedicated to advancing the economic and social rights of persons with disabilities.

There are also a number of self study tools that can be helpful, which have been prepared by Community Living BC’s Safeguards Initiative in consultation with partners like Spectrum Society for Community Living.

PLAN Institute for Caring Citizenship

PLAN creates networks, develops resources, cultivates innovation and promotes thinking to foster the contribution of people who are isolated and marginalized. Visit their website at http://www.planinstitute.ca

For more information, please visit:

Tyze Personal Networks

A service that provides secure, online personal networks to support people experiencing life challenges. Visit their website at  http://tyze.com

Josh’s Story - “We’re planning to move to Nanaimo.” As the words left Scott’s mouth I could feel my heart sink….”

Ken’s Story - “One of Tyze’s most successful networks was built for Ken, a man in his 40’s who lived in a Vancouver group home…”

Nicholas’ Story - “Through an enabling network, Nicholas lives and extraordinarily rich life…”

Familytalks

“A conversation about possibilities – about our dreams and our fears – about the futures we want – about the world that we can imagine and co-create – about what’s working and not working – about our creativity to find new ways forward – about our collective responsibility for others – about our sources of inspiration.” (Source, web-site.) Visit their website at http://familytalks.ca

The Safeguards Initiative – Community Living BC (CLBC)

CLBC’s Policy and Program Development Safeguards Initiative has created some tools to assist with network development. Here are the links:

Video: “Building Personal Support Networks: Barbarah and Zackery’s Story”
The video features Zackery and his mother Barbarah who live in Powell River. Their story was also featured in “The Power of Knowing Each Other” book created by CLBC and the Family Support Institute (FSI). The video has been developed to create awareness of support networks and inform people of the importance of making safe social connections. This is a project of CLBC’s Policy and Program Development Safeguards Initiative.

To watch the video, click on this link: www.youtube.com/user/communitylivingbc

Guide Books :

Belonging to One Another: Building Personal Support Networks
A resource booklet that is meant to inspire and stimulate your heart and head in consideration of how to support friendships, make social connections and more. http://communitylivingbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Belonging-To-One-Another-final.pdf

Support Networks: Guide for Self Advocates http://www.communitylivingbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Support-Networks-A-Guide-for-Self-Advocates.pdf

To learn more about the Family Rights Movement, visit this wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Movement

To learn more about opportunities within posAbilities, please contact our Family Services/Communications Coordinator, Monique Nelson, mnelson@posabilities.ca or call (604) 299-4001.