✨ What Community Based Support Means
Community based support means helping individuals live and participate in everyday community life. This includes home routines, work opportunities, relationships, recreation, and access to typical public spaces.
The goal is inclusion, not isolation.
✨ Supporting Real Participation
Supporting someone in the community is more than being present. True participation means the person is engaged and included, not treated like an observer.
Examples of community participation include:
Shopping for personal items
Going to appointments
Attending events or social activities
Going to work or volunteering
Spending time with friends and family
✨ Building Natural Supports
Natural supports are relationships and resources that exist outside of paid staff. These supports help people feel connected and valued.
Natural supports can include:
Family members
Friends
Neighbors
Faith communities
Clubs, groups, or community programs
Your job is to encourage connections, not replace them.
✨ Respecting the Person’s Preferences
Supporting someone in the community should reflect who they are. Not every person enjoys the same activities, and it is not the DSP’s role to choose what is best based on personal preference.
Ask questions such as:
What does the person enjoy
What makes them comfortable
What is their routine
What goals are in the plan
✨ Safety While Supporting Independence
You must balance independence with health and safety. Support should help the person take part in community life while reducing preventable risks.
Examples include:
Planning ahead for transportation
Encouraging safe decision making
Following supervision requirements
Using the support plan for medical or behavioral needs
✨ Reminder
Community inclusion supports dignity, confidence, and quality of life. The more someone is meaningfully involved, the more opportunities they have for growth and independence.
Next, you will complete an interactive activity to reinforce the key concepts from this section before moving into the video lesson and quiz.