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human rights
Act together, uphold human rights

We must collaborate to ensure people’s rights are maintained, including those regarding
boundaries around the body and the home. Sally Warren and Jo Giles explain how using a
practical guide to the Reach standards for supported living can help you do this

he fundamental principles of
supported living are set out in the
TReach standards. These voluntary
standards were developed by supported
living development and training body
Paradigm and are recommended by the
Care Quality Commission.
Paradigm has issued a practical guide to
these standards, at a time where many
are questioning whether supported living
works and whether it is at risk of
becoming a one-size-fits-all model. In
addition, the need to defend the human
rights of people with a learning disability
and/or autism is increasingly urgent.
The Reach practical guide is designed to
encourage all people to stop, reflect and do
differently, using the standards. It is
described by Dr Sam Smith, the founder of I choose who supports me and how I am supported: people do not always have a say in this
support organisation C-Change Scotland, as
“a powerful and much-needed combination live a good, ordinary life; recognise the At this point, we ask participants if people
of simplicity and raised aspiration”. integrity gaps and design better ways; and with a learning disability and /or autism
For us, there is no better way to support risk trying better ways and reflecting on generally enjoy the same choices and
people to reflect and do differently than what happens. rights. They start to look uncomfortable.
by meeting them face to face. This always During these events, which are run with “Can people choose who comes into
works best when people with a learning a colleague with a learning disability and/ their home?”
disability and/or autism, family members or autism or family member, some “Well... no. Staff must be there and are
and a range of supporters come together. common emotions and reactions arise. often not chosen by the person.”
To this end, we facilitate Reach All our workshops begin with a human “Can people choose who they live with?”
standards workshops with people from all rights and freedoms exercise. It is a “Well, no. Sometimes they can but
over the country, where we encourage powerful way to get people to connect usually someone is referred. They – and
them, in the words of John O’Brien, a hearts and minds. the other people living in the house – do
thinker and writer on learning disability, We ask people to think about their own not usually have the final say.”
to: see and believe in people’s capacity to lives and the everyday rights they enjoy. Article 19 of the United Nations
One by one, these are prioritised by Convention of the Rights of Persons
The Reach standards participants, then (with the magic powers with Disabilities states clearly that people
1 I choose who I live with of facilitation) we start to remove some of with disabilities have the same rights as
2 I choose where I live these rights. others, including the right to choose
where they live and who with, and to
As we take away each right, the energy
3 I have my own home (with tenancy in the room starts to change. “I didn’t receive support so they can take part in
or ownership) realise how much I take for granted,” is the community.
4 I choose who supports me and the most common comment. It is at this point of the workshop that
how I am supported People become passionate; they have a participants describe feeling powerless in
5 I choose my friends and my fire in their belly and then – whoosh! – a big system.
What can they do? This lack of control is
relationships the anger, vulnerability and powerlessness because of money, time, commissioners,
are palpable. People become frustrated.
6 I get help to make changes in my Some withdraw, some even become fiery support workers, families, social workers
life and some become a little aggressive in and so on. We can see people having an
7 I choose how to be healthy and safe their challenge to what is happening. internal debate as they think: “I believe
8 I choose how I am part of my The rights people typically fight hard to this... but I do that... why?”
community keep include “I can decide who comes The energy in the room drops and we
9 I have the same rights and into my home”, “I can decide who sees me can feel people’s despondent paralysis.
People are at risk of losing that fire in
naked”, “I can refuse medical treatment”
responsibilities as other citizens and “I can choose who I live with”. their belly right there and then.
22 Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk