First Steps

Before you start down the path of exploring an ILO, it is helpful to have a vision for home.

Image description: Mat opening his front door

What’s On This Page:

What is Home For You?

When developing your Vision for Home, it is important to consider the things we all take for granted as important in our ‘home’ – a place to be ourselves, a place to feel safe in and being connected to community life. The vision should be individualised, uniquely yours, and reflective of you. Imagine – what is an ideal home and home life is for YOU!

NACBO strongly believes that when a vision for home is developed solely around one person and is supported well, people can experience the good things in life and have safety and security in their own home and the community.

You can access a huge range of resources to help you think about and create that vision for home by accessing the My Home, My Way website:

My Home, My Way (NACBO)

Don’t forget your vision can (and will) change and evolve as you experience living in your own home.

You should already have some ideas about the physical space or ‘home’ you want to live in before you start to design your ILO supports. Below we’ve put together a list of things to consider when thinking about the physical space you want to call ‘Home’:

Questions to think about:

Where will I physically live (bricks and mortar)?

Why is that the best option for me?
Size and number of bedrooms required?
Living spaces, shared or separate?
Do I want a garden/land? Who will maintain it?

What community do I want to live in? Why?

Proximity to existing connections
Proximity to transport
Proximity to work

Who do I want to live with? Or do I want to live alone? Who do I want support from?

Family, friends, neighbours, paid staff
What sort of qualities should these people have?

What is my previous experience of living with others?

What worked?
What didn’t work?

What is my previous experience living away from home?

Holidays, respite, house sitting, etc.
What worked/ didn’t work?

Do I have any needs related to physical access?

Will these best be met through Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) or Home Modifications?

This can be a lot to think about, so you may want some extra support to think this through. You can talk with your support network (family, friends, allies, Circle of Support, Microboard), Support Coordinator or reach out to one of our National Alliance of Capacity Building Organisations (NACBO) partners.

My Home, My Way Website (NACBO)

My Home, My Way Workbook (NACBO)

Creating Home Workbook (WA Individualised Services)

Planning: Home (WA Individualised Services)

Housing Options Online Learning Package (Housing Hub) – choose the State in which you live.

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