The Journey To Everyday Lives
The list of principles that would become the guiding voice for how we serve individuals with disabilities at KenCCID, was first formed over 30 years ago.
In 1989, families, service providers, government officials and advocates for individuals with disabilities gathered to discuss the purpose of community services. They wanted to delve deeper into the types of experiences and opportunities that individuals with disabilities should have. The result of this collaboration was a list of Everyday Lives principles published in 1991.
What was different about these principles is that the planning group actually sought the input of individuals with disabilities.
The planning group asked a simple yet profound question:
“What’s important to you?”
As a result, the Everyday Lives principles truly reflect the needs of individuals with disabilities.
The underlying tenet that drives much of the Everyday Lives principles is self-determination. Essentially, with dedicated support, individuals with disabilities can and should decide how to live their lives.
What are the Everyday Lives principles?
The Everyday Lives principles can be summed up as follows:
- Security
- Permanency
- Choice
- Control
- Freedom
- Prosperity
- Individuality
- Relationships
- Recognition
- Citizenship
- Passion
- Privacy
It’s interesting that even after over 30 years, these principles still hold true today. The Everyday Lives Principles hold true not just for individuals with disabilities, but for everyone, including our dedicated staff at KenCCID.
At KenCCID, the Everyday Lives principles drive what we do each day in support of individuals with disabilities.
Being true to these principles empowers us to live out our mission:
to promote dignity and choice to empower Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities reach their full potential.