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Quality of Life Project

by Robert Schalock, PhD

Self-Advocate Presentation

May 2010

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What is Quality of Life?

Quality of Life is

about how people

feel about their

lives.

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Looking at Quality of Life

Quality of Life can be looked at by asking people to describe their own lives.

Sometimes another person is asked to describe your life.

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A Model for Quality of Life

Personal Development

Self Determination

Interpersonal Relationships

Social Inclusion

5. Rights

6. Emotional Well-Being

7. Physical Well-being

8. Material Well-being

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Personal Development

Personal Development is about learning and doing different and new things. For example:

learning new skillsdoing things that are

important to you

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Self-determination

Self-determination is about goals, decisions and choices. For example:

making your own choices

doing things you have dreamed about

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Interpersonal Relationships

Interpersonal Relationships is about the relationships you have with other people and the time you spend with family and friends. For example:

the things you do with friends and family

help and support you get from others

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Social Inclusion

Social Inclusion is about the kinds of things you do in your community and who you do them with. For example:

activities and fun things you do

places that you go

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Rights

Rights is about how other people respect you and your right to do the same things as all adults. For example:

your right to privacyhow much you can

say what you think and be listened to

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Emotional Well-Being

Emotional Well-being is about how you feel about things in your life. For example:

your happiness and safety

how the people around you make you feel

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Physical Well-being

Physical Well-being is about your overall health and your lifestyle. For example:

your activity levelhow you are able to eat

healthy foodyour ability to get

medical help if you need it

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Material Well-Being

Material Well-Being is about things related to money and things you own that are important to you. For example:

how much money you have to spend each month

how much you can use money for the things you like to do

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Measuring Quality of Life is important because people need…

To hear directly from adults with developmental disabilities on how they feel about their lifeTo learn what supports and services make a difference to a person and their lifeTo learn where service providers and CLBC can do a better job in supporting people

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CLBC’s Project

Work with 7 service providers in the Fraser RegionProject manager, Susan Powell, will hire self-advocatesSelf-advocates will be trained to do Quality of Life interviews

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Service Providers

Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion

Community Living Society

Langley Association for Community Living

4. Semiahmoo House Society

5. Milieu

6. HOMES

7. Community Integration Services Society

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Quality of Life Interviews

Done by teams of interviewersPrivateVoluntaryTake about an hourInterviews will begin in the FallAll answers put in a written report

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Sample Interview Questions

1. Do you feel safe in your neighborhood?(Domain: emotional well-being)2. Can you make your own choices?(Domain: rights)3. Can you do the things you really want to do?(Domain: self-determination)

(from PDD Edmonton My Life: Personal Outcomes Index)

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Ways to Answer

1 2 3

Most of the time

Sometimes Rarely or never

Yes Somewhat No

Lots of choice

Some choice Little or not choice

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Quality of Life Project

Contact Susan Powell at:susanpow@telus.net

Or

Talk with people at the service providers who are the partners in the project