Who We Are » LOYO Philosophy
Life of Your Own believes all people are worthy of respect, can contribute towards society, and that it takes all to form a healthy community.
Whatever it takes
Enabling people to live fully as part of the community requires an attitude that nothing is impossible: “No” as an answer is replaced with “How can this be done?”
Presence
A person must be present in the community to be able to participate in it.
Aspirations
Everybody has ambitions and dreams which guide the actions most meaningful to them. Life of Your Own is committed to helping determine those dreams, respecting them and helping them to come true.
Choice and Control
We all have the right to choose what we do with our lives and with whom we do it. People with disabilities have the right to control their lives and their finances – to decide which services to employ so that their lives reflect their choices.
Relationships
A support network of family, friends and acquaintances – present in the person’s life because that person wants them to be there – helping to create choices and self-determination.
Health
Being healthy in body, mind and spirit contributes to people taking control in their lives. As the government recognises, many people with disabilities do not always receive the standard of healthcare services they need. Secure relationships will also help safeguard well-being.
Contribution and Community
Everyone has the ability to contribute to their community in a meaningful way and, by doing so, helps establish a sense of belonging. Having the opportunity of employment is one way of creating such ‘membership’, others include joining clubs or undertaking voluntary work.
Economy and Efficiency
If the services provided are not meeting the needs of the people then by definition they are wasteful. Many are also expensive in themselves. If people have choice and control, they will buy only what they need, pay only for what they get, make real investments and spend money more efficiently.
The Role of Professionals
Professionals need to be instrumental in helping people create more meaningful relationships; introduce them to new places and ideas; link them with support services; remove barriers and assist in making peoples’ dreams come true.
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