that what distinguished CCS Disability Action support from other types of support was that, “if you need help they are there” or that “they help me out when I am having trouble, “ or that people felt “lucky because I can call them whenever I get stuck.” Simply knowing that someone was available to offer non-judgmental advice and/or assistance appeared to provide people with a significant source of psychological support. Respondent: I mean knowing that there is someone out there in the community that is going to bat for you, you know what I mean? I mightn’t actually engage with them on a daily bases or even a weekly basis but I suppose passively knowing that there is somebody out in the community that can actually advocate on your behalf. I mean that’s huge. You need that you need that reassurance that there is someone there. You know so we are talking about rangatiritanga or self-determination - part of that determination is knowing that you have that backup of your support networks. Whether that be at your marae level or your whanau level or out in the community. You know that’s what CCS does. Figure 10 Linking elements of support through 'navigation' The other attribute of vocational support that informants said contributed to a sense of psychological support was that, in addition to their ability to call for assistance, vocational coordinators or support staff would also periodically “call (them) just to see how (they were) getting on.” This proactive element to support was experienced by some as affirming, communicating as it did a “genuine interest in (themselves) and (their) life.” And finally, informants mentioned how they also valued the way the tendrils of CCS Disability Action’s connections fingered out across their community. We heard a number of different accounts of how CCS Disability Action staff’’s knowledge of other community agencies and resources had assisted people to take greater control of their lives. For one informant, it was their close working relationship with the Brain Injury Association that made a difference.
that what distinguished CCS Disability Action support from other types of support was that, “if you need help they are there” or that “they help me out when I am having trouble, “ or that people felt “lucky because I can call them whenever I get stuck.” Simply knowing that someone was available to offer non-judgmental advice and/or assistance appeared to provide people with a significant source of psychological support. Respondent: I mean knowing that there is someone out there in the community that is going to bat for you, you know what I mean? I mightn’t actually engage with them on a daily bases or even a weekly basis but I suppose passively knowing that there is somebody out in the community that can actually advocate on your behalf. I mean that’s huge. You need that you need that reassurance that there is someone there. You know so we are talking about rangatiritanga or self-determination - part of that determination is knowing that you have that backup of your support networks. Whether that be at your marae level or your whanau level or out in the community. You know that’s what CCS does. Figure 10 Linking elements of support through 'navigation' The other attribute of vocational support that informants said contributed to a sense of psychological support was that, in addition to their ability to call for assistance, vocational coordinators or support staff would also periodically “call (them) just to see how (they were) getting on.” This proactive element to support was experienced by some as affirming, communicating as it did a “genuine interest in (themselves) and (their) life.” And finally, informants mentioned how they also valued the way the tendrils of CCS Disability Action’s connections fingered out across their community. We heard a number of different accounts of how CCS Disability Action staff’’s knowledge of other community agencies and resources had assisted people to take greater control of their lives. For one informant, it was their close working relationship with the Brain Injury Association that made a difference.