The principles which mould the philosophy that guides One By One [as adopted in May 2003] are

One By One is based on principles & beliefs that value the person with a disability as a unique individual and consider each person to be an integral part of their family, social support networks and community.  Those immersed in the person’s life i.e. their family and friends are considered to be amongst  the most important and closest allies and advocates of the person with the disability and are often best placed to stand beside the person with the disability to develop their abilities so that they can live a normal life as valued members of the broader community. It is also those who are in genuine relationship with each person that know each person deeply , are best placed and most qualified to listen deeply to the person, are committed over time, ensure the person is well safeguarded and assist them to make their vision a reality   It is these basic principles that are at the forefront in the development of the individual arrangement for each member that is an integral part of the One By One approach.

One By One acknowledges that there are many people who are happy with their life situation & we do not suggest that every person will want to pursue similar lifestyle arrangements as they will have their own thoughts and ideas.

However these principles have become a vision and are what guides our efforts. They are what we stand for & aim towards. Like all things in life they require constant reflection by the people and families we support.

People usually do better when they:

• Imagine and pursue their own lifestyle and future

• Contribute their abilities & talents…some of which are undiscovered

• Are surrounded & supported by people who love them i.e. family & friends

• Are included in the fabric of their community and enabled to enjoy REAL friendships, jobs, recreation & living arrangements that are “typical” and socially inclusive.

• Have a range of lifestyle activities and friendship that are not involuntarily or unnaturally restricted to segregated settings or other people who have disabilities

• Are in “Right Relationship” with each other (mutual respect, humanness, individuality, honesty, openness, trust, modesty, withness etc)

• When their voices are heard and listened to (what’s spoken & unspoken)

• Are supported & encouraged to imagine & create better

• Are treated as unique individuals & thus supported in personalised (one person at a time) lifestyles that are highly relevant

• Have influence over decisions, which affect their own life. Including how it is lived, how resources are used & all support features (i.e. where, when, how & who with)

• Are well known as people & thus have supports that are responsive, flexible, creative & informal

• Are not done “to, “at” or “for” but “with” in all matters of importance to them

• Have lifestyle arrangements that are highly relevant to what they actually personally need and want the most (e.g. governed & directed by the people who use them)

• Experience support processes that are people friendly i.e. people do not have their lives consumed by bureaucracy, standardized responses & regulations or tedious management processes

• Have high degrees of influence on the matters that effect their lives but without having to expend a lot of effort to achieve this

• Can through their own actions have resources directed where they are most wanted/needed

• Can expect to have the right to choose, refuse, imagine better & counter propose or suggest change as may be needed. This means at all levels i.e. with everyday lifestyles choices/issues, how supports are arranged and who service/support is received from (this includes the ability to choose a particular “host” agency)

• Are not at the mercy of even the most well intended services if they are irrelevant!