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Charting the LifeCourse

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Charting the LifeCourse

Charting the LifeCourse is a framework and set of tools that can help people with disabilities and their families plan for a good life. Arkansas Support Network is using this approach to enhance their services and improve the quality of life for the people they support.

The Charting the LifeCourse framework was created by families and individuals with disabilities to help people develop a vision for a good life. It provides tools that allow people to think about what they need to know and do, identify supports, and discover what it takes to live the life they want. By using these tools, individuals and families can articulate their vision and work towards achieving it. The framework also encourages a focus on all areas of life, not just health and safety, such as relationships, employment, and community involvement.

Charting the LifeCourse benefits the people supported by Arkansas Support Network in several ways:

  • It empowers individuals and families to take an active role in planning and decision-making about their lives.

  • The tools help people identify their strengths, needs, and aspirations, and develop steps to reach their vision.

  • It encourages the use of a wide range of supports, including relationships, technology, and community resources, not just paid services.

  • This comprehensive approach leads to more personalized, flexible, and effective support tailored to each person's unique needs and goals.

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Sins Invalid 10 Principles of Disability Justice

The Sins Invalid "10 Principles of Disability Justice" provide a roadmap for a more inclusive and intersectional approach to disability rights and advocacy. Developed by a performance project focused on disability and social justice, these principles highlight the importance of centering the experiences and leadership of disabled individuals, especially those who face marginalization based on race, gender, class, and sexuality. Here are the 10 principles:
 

1. Intersectionality - Recognizing the diversity of disabled people and the impact of multiple identities on experiences of oppression and privilege.
2. Leadership of Those Most Impacted - Prioritizing the voices and leadership of disabled individuals who are most marginalized in advocacy and organizing efforts.
3. Anti-Capitalism - Challenging the commodification of bodies and abilities, advocating for a system that values people beyond economic productivity.
4. Cross-Movement Solidarity - Building alliances across different social justice movements to understand the interconnected nature of struggles for justice.
5. Wholeness - Affirming that disabled individuals are whole beings with inherent worth, not defined by their impairments.
6. Sustainability - Engaging in sustainable activism and care practices to support the long-term well-being of disabled individuals and communities.
7. Cross-Disability Solidarity - Uniting various disability communities to recognize and respect diverse experiences and needs within the disability community.
8. Interdependence - Valuing relationships of mutual support and recognizing the interdependence of all people, disabled or not.
9. Collective Access - Ensuring that accessibility is a shared responsibility integrated into all aspects of community life and organizing.
10. Collective Liberation - Aiming for a world where all forms of oppression are dismantled, and everyone can thrive without barriers.

These principles offer a comprehensive approach to disability justice that centers the lived experiences of those affected.

For more information contact: behavioral-health@supports.org

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