News

Encouraging others towards independence
Wed, Oct 17 2007

It doesn’t matter what your age or ability, nearly everyone wants to be independent.

Two City of Kingston residents are proving that independence is possible in ways that most people haven’t dreamed of.

Peter and Greg each have disabilities, and until recently were living with their respective parents.

They met through the DirectLife Project, run by local community organisation, the EW Tipping Foundation.

DirectLife supports people with disabilities who want to be in charge of their own life and live independently in the community.

Project Co-ordinator Naomi Moore helps participants to work out a profile of who they would like to live with, and arranges for potential flatmates to meet and get to know eachother.

Part of the project was to establish a “circle of support” for the pair, including family and support workers, to help them work out where they wanted to live, find suitable accommodation, and determine house rules.

The circle continues to meet to support Peter and Greg, and the pair also have some help with housework from the City of Kingston. They go shopping together and take turns to cook, but otherwise continue with their own busy lives.

“I don’t have to worry about other people now; I can do what I want to do, when I want to do it,” said Greg, who believes the move has given him more confidence.

Peter, an enthusiastic cricket and football fan, says moving out was a good idea. “It would have to happen eventually, and this way I can get used to living without mum and dad,” he said.

The pair encourage anyone with a disability to think about living independently. “But you need to do it carefully, like we have with Naomi and DirectLife,” said Greg.

“It’s harder work, but it’s worth it,” added Peter.