5.1 Sample policies and procedures Sample Policy: Participation and Integration Our advocacy agency will: Educate staff regarding: The importance of ending the discrimination, segregation and neglect of people with disability in the community The importance of participation by people with disability in regular activities in the community Encourage staff, volunteers and advocates to develop links between our agency and people and groups that will benefit people with disability Where possible and appropriate, participate in community education or activities to promote greater understanding and awareness of disabilities. To enable effective integration and participation, our agency will maintain and develop relationships with the local community, as well as coordinating with other agencies to be an effective community partner. Where people with disability are the consumers of the agency, our agency will: Provide information about resources, activities and opportunities for consumer participation and inclusion in local community events/ activities. Information will be filed and updated regularly, and made available for use consumers’ Provide consumers with information about general community facilities and services and how to use them Support people with disability to form and maintain a variety of appropriate ties, connections and involvements in the community. Systemic change policy Where the agency does not undertake systemic advocacy, our agency will: Document the issues consumers of our agency identify Identify trends and any ongoing systemic issues Refer any systemic issues to a systemic advocacy agency and ensure follow up with the agency. Where the agency undertakes systemic advocacy, our agency will: Where possible, consult with people with disability about the systemic actions that should be pursued. Where this is not possible, for example, in reactive cases, inform people with disability about the actions being pursued Follow up systemic issues referred by other advocacy agencies. Sample Policy Participation and Integration – Gippsland Disability Advocacy Incorporated recognises the valuable contribution people with disability can make to the communities in which they live.
5.1 Sample policies and procedures Sample Policy: Participation and Integration Our advocacy agency will: Educate staff regarding: The importance of ending the discrimination, segregation and neglect of people with disability in the community The importance of participation by people with disability in regular activities in the community Encourage staff, volunteers and advocates to develop links between our agency and people and groups that will benefit people with disability Where possible and appropriate, participate in community education or activities to promote greater understanding and awareness of disabilities. To enable effective integration and participation, our agency will maintain and develop relationships with the local community, as well as coordinating with other agencies to be an effective community partner. Where people with disability are the consumers of the agency, our agency will: Provide information about resources, activities and opportunities for consumer participation and inclusion in local community events/ activities. Information will be filed and updated regularly, and made available for consumers’ use Provide consumers with information about general community facilities and services and how to use them Support people with disability to form and maintain a variety of appropriate ties, connections and involvements in the community. Systemic change policy Where the agency does not undertake systemic advocacy, our agency will: Document the issues consumers of our agency identify Identify trends and any ongoing systemic issues Refer any systemic issues to a systemic advocacy agency and ensure follow up with the agency. Where the agency undertakes systemic advocacy, our agency will: Where possible, consult with people with disability about the systemic actions that should be pursued. Where this is not possible, for example, in reactive cases, inform people with disability about the actions being pursued Follow up systemic issues referred by other advocacy agencies. Sample Policy – Participation and Integration Gippsland Disability Advocacy Incorporated recognises the valuable contribution people with disability can make to the communities in which they live.
quality_toolkit_for_the_national_disability_advocacy_program.docx