Page 21 - Leap Evaluation Report 2018

“I think it is amazing that Leap pushes their work into social policy, such as the individualised funding, of which they are a big advocate, and I believe that’s how change will be made”
(Professional)
“Leap should be, and are, pushing the agenda with individualised funding as they know what they are talking about – they have experience”
(Parent)
“The government needs to support organisations like Leap to implement change, it is these kinds of groups who are leaders of change, actually Leap are the best and most thorough at showing how to create change”
(Family member)
2.5 Social Change
Since 2014 Leap have become a key actor in disability and social change issues. This is highlighted through
their leadership work on individualised funding. This was also reflected within the findings of the evaluation and over 92% of respondents said that Leap’s leadership within social policy was key to creating change. This was further described in narratives such as those to the left.
Families expressed that Leap gave them the knowledge and foresight to dare to create a vision and to imagine a future for their disabled loved one. Further, Leap provided families with hope for the future and the chance to believe that anything is possible.
This ambition for a meaningful life
has been directed into the policy development of individualised funding. Leap is a founding member of the Research Group on Self-Directed Living which published the ‘Good Lives: Perspectives of People with Disabilities and Families’ Report in 2015, the Research Group is currently working on Part II of this research. Leap have further carried out International work as part
of the Research Group on Self-Directed Living and they presented at the
‘Claiming Full Citizenship Conference on Self Determination, Personalisation and Individualised Funding’ in Vancouver, BC in 2015. The Director of Leap
is a member of the Task Force on Personalised Budgets, appointed by the Minister of State with Responsibilities for Disability issues.
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