Who is CLP?

The ACT Community Living Project Inc (CLP) is a not-for-profit community organisation representing over 300 families in the ACT region who are seeking better accommodation, training, employment and quality lifestyle choices for a family member with an intellectual disability. 

CLP developed from a small group of parents in Canberra who met in early 2008 to discuss their concerns about the lack of assistance available to them as they care for their children with a disability at home.

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The group

There are over 5000 people under 65 in the ACT with moderate to severe intellectual disability (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008). About 36 young people from this group leave school every year.

From 30 hours a week of learning and social activities at school, few if any, will access paid employment opportunities and most will have limited activities to fill their day during their adult years. 94% of families in CLP who have a member with an intellectual disability are caring for that member in their family home – many by ageing parents who are becoming increasingly unable to cope.

What families want

Families are not making extravagant claims for their children with disability.  In fact, they have clearly identified that they want the same opportunities for all their children, whether they have a disability or not.  These include:

• a choice of accommodation that suits their individual needs;
• access to lifelong learning, education and training;
• meaningful things to do every day - employment, paid or voluntary;
• adequate and timely medical and dental care;
• opportunities to mix with their peers;
• and opportunities for social inclusion within the wider Canberra community. 

What CLP proposes

Supported Accommodation

The CLP Urban Village will create a number of long term and respite supported accommodation places for people with disabilities, including those with intensive or complex needs for whom there is currently no alternative other than to be cared for at home.

Social Inclusion

The CLP Urban Village will increase the number of social contacts for people with disabilities in the ACT, including residents, people who attend day programs and casual visitors with disabilities, and their carers. The disability-sensitive design of the facilities at the Village, which will be open to the general public, will attract people from throughout Canberra and the wider Australian population.

  Health of people with  disabilities

The CLP Urban Village will facilitate health care and healthy lifestyles for people with disabilities in the ACT, thereby reducing health care costs and social costs in the longer term.

Training and Employment

The CLP Urban Village will increase the number of training and work places available for people with disabilities in the ACT. The construction and staffing of the Village will create jobs and training opportunities for Canberrans. The provision of supported accommodation and work programs for people with disabilities may also enable some carers to re-enter the workforce.  For further information, click here to download the CLP Urban Village Concept Plan.

What do we mean by these terms and why are they important?

Supported accommodation

Government agencies refers to this as both in-home care and looking after people who cannot care for themselves in a location outside of their family home. Families usually refer to supported accommodation as care offered/given to their family member with a disability when they can no longer be cared for at home.

Meaningful things to do each day

Many people with moderate to severe intellectual disability are not able to participate on equal terms with able-bodied people for employment. Nevertheless everyone, regardless of their ability, needs to get up each day with the anticipation that their day will have some point to it. This means attending or participating in any organised activity, either paid or volunteer work, craft activities, exercise programs, learning opportunities etc.

Timely and appropriate medical care

In the ACT there are no specific medical or dental services for people with an intellectual disability and there is limited expertise and knowledge about methods of treatment. Many of our group cannot speak for themselves and are often misunderstood. Because of this many don’t get the medical care they need until a medical/dental crisis situation occurs.

Peer social support

Most people with moderate to severe intellectual disability lose their peer social group when they leave school. Because of the lack of employment or structured day activities it is left to families to organise activities and social events.

Learn More

For more information, click here to download document "About the ACT Community Living Project".