Global-Report-Living-Colour-dr2-2

Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities
GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTICLE 19: THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY
47
A Family Perspective: Imagining a Better
Future
Families who participated in the focus groups and regional
forums told us their stories of the struggle to support their
family member. The idea of a better future and inclusion in
the community inspired both hope and fear. When asked
to describe what inclusion in the community might look
like for their family member, families talked about having
their sons and daughters respected, valued and supported.
They talked about the family member going to school,
being able to play with other children, participating in
religious groups and having neighbors who
accepted and supported their family
member. Even as they imagined a better
future, the hope was always tinged with fear
– fear for the safety of their family member,
fear for the future when they would no
longer be there to provide care and support.
In Chile, we were told “This initiative seems
excellent to me because it will help us
understand [that] although sometimes we
think we are far from the goal, [this is] not a
tragedy, the tragedy is if we lose hope in
change and when we get discouraged by
what we lack to reach the goal. Those who
say this is IMPOSSIBLE, stray from the path of
which people, as you and I, have undertaken,
the path of change!”
In our regional forums families defined community as a
place where you belong; a place where family, friends and
neighbors enjoy life together; where people support one
another. Living and being included in the community
means having friends and living a typical life. Participants
also recognized the challenges and fears about living in
the community. Often communities are not very
welcoming or accepting. A participant expressed