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Inclusive Communities = Stronger Communities
GLOBAL REPORT ON ARTICLE 19: THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY
In the UK, a self-advocate talked about what she liked best
about living in the community: “I get to live my life the way I
want to, make my own choices, have dinner when I want to
have dinner, go out and come in whenever I want! I love it!”
Having the right to make decisions in our lives is
fundamental to our right to live and be included in the
community. Some people may make these decisions
without any formal support. Some may need support to
understand what their choices are and what the outcomes
of their decisions will be. Others may need support to
articulate their decisions and to make their voices
understood by others. Regardless of the supports required
for someone to make decisions in their lives, it is still up to
them to decide.
NEW ZEALAND My name is Moana Parker and I am nearly 50 years old. I live Wellington, New Zealand. I am Maori and my
ancestors come from the Wanganui area. When we were all small we were split up by the social workers and went to live with
different people. I went to stay with my Aunty and Uncle but my brothers and sister went to live in foster homes with people they
did not know. When I was 10 I went to live at a place called Salisbury Home for Girls- It was in the South Island a long way from
my family. All the girls at Salisbury needed to live there because they could not live with their own families.
I lived there for 6 years. I hated the food at Salisbury because it was different from what I was used to. I had to stay at the table
for hours until someone said I could leave the table. I slept in a big room with about thirty other girls. We went to school there too
and I liked doing my maths- that was my favourite thing. We were not allowed to go home in the holidays. Some of the staff were
not good to us and they smacked us with a ruler and that hurt. They used to tell us off. If we didn’t do what they said they would
sometimes lock us up in a “jail”. It was horrible the girls did not like it. I was really happy to leave Salisbury when I was 16 years
old. But I didn’t know where to go or have anyone to pick me up at the airport. A Maori Police lady came and got me and took me
to my aunty and uncle’s place. She told me not to put my feet up on the car seat.
After a while I went to live in an IHC home near them in Gloucester St. Then I moved to Miramar. I have lived in fifty different
places in a lot of different ways. I have flatted with one other person and lived in a house with four others and in the last 10 years
I have lived with a family who I board with. I like living with a family especially when we laugh and have fun. I don’t like living on
my own. When I was 19 I started working at IHC. I answered the phones, did the mail, filing and all sorts of jobs. I worked at IHC
for 22 years. I left that job two years ago because I wanted a change. I have not been able to find a job since then even though
someone was meant to be helping me to do that.