Code of Funding Practice transcript - Janelle

This is the story of the journey of our organisation.

Our organisation began in 1967. It was a time when most people with disabilities were socially excluded – isolated in institutions and segregated services. For lots of people it was like being on a bus and having no control over, or choice about, where the bus went.

As time passed, institutions like Tokanui were closed and people moved into communities. People were present in their communities, but still lived or spent their days in segregated services.

Everyone’s seen the vans in their community – still one size fits all, just on a smaller scale.

Then we crossed a bridge. We learned about person-centred services and began working intentionally with individuals and their families to achieve community participation and inclusion. Still, much of what happens in a person’s life is driven by the service and controlled by others.

As social policies and attitudes changed over the decades, so did the name of our organisation. In 1967, we began as the Disabled Citizens Society Waikato branch. In 1985, we changed our name to Hamilton Sheltered Workshop and Training Centre. In 1989, we dropped the ‘sheltered’ part. In 2000, we became Lifestyle 2000, and then in 2005 we became Lifestyle Trust. Now in 2009, we are Interactionz.

Now we are crossing another bridge as we explore person-driven practices and encourage people with disabilities to drive their own lives and have choices and control over the supports they receive and the lives they live as valued citizens.

We believe that on the other side of the bridge is the reality of the vision that we hold – of people with disabilities leading lives that have meaning to them, with no limits on what might be possible.

The fuel for our journey is the values we hold:

• social justice
• diversity
• care and compassion
• courage
• being of service
• and empowerment.

We believe that telling our own stories is an act of empowerment.

These are our stories.

Stories of the journey to a good life.

Text on screen:
The journey of Interactionz
by Janelle Fisher
2009