Defining principles and language

Introduction

This resource is grounded in a principle-based approach, where the information and ideas that are presented need to be evaluated against your own principles, values and priorities before you take any action. It assumes that you are considering:

• Dignity of risk – this refers to the importance of recognising and respecting the right of individuals to make their own choices and take reasonable risks, even if those decisions could lead to negative outcomes.
  

• Person-driven or self-directed approaches – this means that you are driving the decisions and the direction of the help that you get. Even if you need a lot of help to achieve something, you are still at the centre of that process.
  

• The principle of ‘Lightest Touch’ – this is about achieving the right level of help for any given portion of your support; not too much (where people take over) and not too little (where you are left without what you need).

Community contributions

Through every stage of development, this resource has been created in consultation with members of the disability community.  

This includes the Flying Kites Advisory Group, which is a group of individuals with diverse lived experience of disability (and the disability sector) in Aotearoa New Zealand who provide operational and strategic guidance to Flying Kites.  

Supporting resources

While the content of Moving Out comes from a wide range of experience and sources, there are four key documents and ideas that underpin this resource. These include:

• Te Tiriti O Waitangi

• Enabling Good Lives approach

• New Zealand Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

It is best practice that any disability support services that you engage with in Aotearoa New Zealand are in line with these resources.  

Language

This resource talks about “you”. This refers to the person who is looking to make a change in their living situation.  

Gathering your supporters (Stage 1, Chapter 1) talks about the importance of creating a support team who are going to help you on this journey. This resource presumes that you will bring the people into this conversation that you need to help you understand the content and make the decisions that are right for you.