Aims and Outcomes

The Enabling Good Lives approach aims to enable disabled people to have more choice and control over the supports they need to go about their daily lives. It also seeks to assist whānau and friends in acquiring the skills, confidence and information they need to support disabled people to live an everyday life in everyday places.

The aim of the Enabling Good Lives approach is for disabled people to feel included in their local community; for government funding of disability support services to be timely, integrated and flexible; and for government agencies to work together to fund person-centred services that support disabled people to live good lives.

The disability community and those who are privileged enough to work alongside, are familiar with the Enabling Good Lives principles. We understand that all people should have choice and control over their own lives, support should be easy to use and available in a way that enhances the mana of the person, and that the EGL approach aims to make it easier for  disabled people and their whānau to build strong relationships with the local community

In Waitaha / Canterbury EGL have been working alongside young people, their families and schools since 2013. We assist students as they transition from high school to live good lives of their own choosing, in communities that truly value who they are and what they have to offer.

But what does this look like in real life?

This question was posed on the EGL Christchurch private FaceBook group and we were overwhelmed with the response  from young people, their families and supporters.  We are grateful to those who were keen to share their stories of how they live their good lives.  It is exciting to see what a difference working in a way that is consistent with the Enabling Good Lives principles has made for the young people, their families and the communities in which they live.  There were too many stories to share all of them! But do check out EGL Christchurch stories for some examples of people living their good lives! 

The EGL Christchurch team is thrilled to be beginning early with students in their last few years of school, to assist them and their families to live good lives. We look forward to sharing more good life stories. We will continue to gather information about how the Enabling Good Lives approach works, the costs involved and how to implement changes across the disability system.