Moving out of home is a big deal. Most young people get a fair amount of control over the process and can decide when they move, where they move to and who they move in with. Some young people, especially those with intellectual disabilities, don't have the freedom to make choices like that. This is often because our communities have not provided enough opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities to develop important life skills, and so the only option for them is supported accommodation.

An advocacy service for young people with disabilities would help to ensure that social services (such as schools, disability support agencies, housing providers etc) did provide plenty of opportunities for young people to learn new skills and demonstrate their potentials. The following story from the United States is a good example of how an advocacy service could help.

A 20 y/o young man with autism was being considered for a place in supported living service. The young man would have preferred either an independent or semi-independent living arrangement and wasn't looking forward to the move.

The advocacy service was asked to support the young man, and they found out that he  had never received appropriate training in independent living skills. The advocate urged the young man's school to provide this training and at least give him a chance to demonstrate that he could competently live on his own or with less intensive support and monitoring. The school agreed.

Given this new opportunity, the young man excelled and today is living happily in a semi-independent situation and thriving in his community.

If you think young people with disabilities in Queensland could use an advocacy service like this, then please help us spread the word. There are two ways you can help:

1. Register your details (confidentially) on our website and we'll be in touch with some simple but effective suggestions of steps you can take to help make an advocacy service for young people with disabilities a reality.
   
   
2. Tell your story or share your ideas on how an advocacy service for young people with disabilities can help. You can do this by using the form here.