About

About the Development of ISDN

My friends and I, all moms of adults with disabilities have become disillusioned with the Traditional Waiver program offered to adults with disabilities.  These adults tend to be herded into developmental centers where they are not pushed to their full potential.  Despite the wonderful intentions of the developmental centers’ owners and managers, it can be difficult to manage care for adults with intellectual disabilities in an institutional setting.

Self Direction offers us the freedom to explore the goals and dreams of our children. We have a say in hiring, and we can work around our schedule.  The idea of a “network” of families has been brewing within me for quite some time.  The benefits of traditional developmental centers are that our kids have friends to do things with, and that the workers are hired by the agency.  On Self Direction, the burden of planning activities and hiring support workers is on the Circle of Support which consists mainly of the participant, the family / friends and the Support Broker.  While this gives us the control we want, it creates new challenges.  We have desired to bring the Self-Directed community together for activities, and to share support workers.  I hope that this website will facilitate in doing that.  Sign in, fill out your profile and make some friends.  If you have a great CSW that has extra hours to work, encourage them to sign up.  Remember, we do not endorse any of the employees on this website - the Circle of Support is responsible for their own hiring.

Sincerely, Joyce Page (Idaho Self Direction Network Founder)

About Idaho Self Direction Network

The Idaho Self Direction Network is designed to bring together members of the My Voice, My Choice Self Direction Program in Idaho.  This is a new program in Idaho with a growing number of participants and support workers. Those of us who are participating in the program, are excited about the program and encourage you to join us.  One of the biggest challenges to Idaho Self Direction, is the lack of communication and organization. This site was created as an aid to help you find the resources you need to have a successful experience with Idaho Self Direction.

Self Direction is about our achieving our goals and dreams.  Being able to work toward independence and to enjoy a full social life.  Our goal at the Idaho Self Direction Network is to help you do just that.  By networking together, we can find support, job resources, hiring resources, as well as many activities that we enjoy.  We invite participants, support brokers, community support workers, and families to work together to make Self Direction even better.  Contact us at idahoselfdirection@gmail.com with any questions, suggestions, activities, or upcoming events. We would greatly appreciate your input. And finally, enjoy our site!

We hope you will join us.

About Self Direction

Self-Direction, what does it mean?  There are 5 principles that stand for self-direction.  From the ARC to the Self-Direction program in Maryland to the Self-Direction program in Idaho, these 5 words are used to define the mind set.
•    Freedom
•    Authority
•    Support
•    Responsibility
•    Confirmation

These 5 words have not always been used to describe an adult with intellectual disabilities.  Years of prejudice have caused us to see this unique group of people as unable to contribute to society and unable to have much of a say in their own lives.  Self Direction does not have to be just a program, but can be a new way to look at this group of people.  Giving these people the Freedom to make choices about their lives can be scary to the care givers who are used to protecting their children and making most of the decisions.  Giving them the Authority to have a say in how to spend money allotted by the government can seem risky.  Support and education makes it possible to implement these principles.  Responsibility for the choices they make and the public dollars they are spending demands growth and maturity in the individual.  Experience confirms individuals with intellectual disabilities can successfully have some level of control of his/her own life.  These are new concepts in the care of adults with intellectual disabilities, but they are a success to be celebrated and continued.
Self-Direction programs for adults with intellectual disabilities have been gaining popularity across the country.  Self-Direction develops Self-Advocates who educate the community as they raise awareness of their own rights.   As our attitudes continue to change in regard to the disabled, hopefully, we will see them further integrated into our communities where they can show us how much they are capable of contributing.  As more and more people interact with the disabled and benefit from their presence, hopefully we will see less prejudice toward them.  Join us in this progressive fight to put old myths about the disabled to rest and usher in a new journey of possibilities and empowerment! Check out what Self Direction may have to assist you and your family on your path to independence and freedom.

To get started, contact Idaho Health and Welfare

We welcome you and hope you find what you are looking for here,

Jill Page (Idaho Self Direction Network Administrator)