CONTENTS

Editorial

Jane Sherwin

Why Communities Need People with Disabilities

Roz Cooper from Cooran on the Sunshine Coast shares her depth of understanding about the nature of true communities. She says divisive attitudes cannot exist within a context of a true community because true community can only exist when room is made for the differences and limitations of everyone.

A Real Community: Accept No Substitutes

Bill Webb who has a background in human service worker training, says that in order for people with disabilities to feel that they are an important part of their local communities, support services need to be clear about what is helpful and what is unhelpful in their efforts.

The Contribution of Service Workers In Getting the Relationship "Right" Between People with Disabilities and their Communities

Michael Kendrick is a regular contributor to CRUcial Times. In this article he sets out some important ways in which the small efforts of ordinary members of the community can be encouraged by direct support workers, who have a role at the interface between the local community and some of its vulnerable members.

What is a 'Vital' Community?

We asked Michelle Clark to describe a 'vital' community and she provides some interesting insights into the relationship between place, roles and a belief in one another. Michelle lives in the Townsville community.

Support Work is a Means Not the End

As the coordinator of a service Kris Lumsden sees support work as a means to an end, and provides some helpful examples of challenges to doing this work creatively and sensitively. Most importantly, says Kris, the spirit of spontaneity, enthusiasm, personality and variety needs to be kept alive by support services.

Relationship Building is a Work-In-Progress

Vicki Grinlaubs co-ordinates a service that supports vulnerable, marginalized people to develop relationships in the local community which Vicki describes as a vibrant, bustling cluster of suburbs in Brisbane. Direct support workers, and those they support, are encouraged to have a strong sense of place.