We work with people to focus on their strengths, dreams, interests, preferences, and abilities, rather than limitations; we work with them to develop careers and lifestyles based on their choices. We do not accept limitations of what’s "practical" or "reasonable," but understand that "if you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right."

We serve people in community settings. We do not offer congregated, segregated services for work, residence, or transportation. We work to help people establish their own connections in the community, to rely on themselves, friends, co-workers, classmates, congregation members, etc., in interdependence, rather than on agency staff. Our goal is to fade every agency support. "We are not care-takers; we are bridge-builders" (Pat Rogan).

We recognize the need for the comfort and safety of the people we serve. We believe in the dignity of risk, that all people have the right to learn and grow through taking considered risks, the right to fail and try again, the right to choice. We realize that life is not risk-free for anyone.

We honor people’s choices: for bedtimes, meals, privacy, schedules, activities, roommates, jobs, homes, friends, staff. Any restriction on an individual’s rights is continually monitored and is applied only with due process including approval from qualified people outside the agency.

We believe a person who engages in behavior which may be socially inappropriate or dangerous to him/herself or to others is communicating a statement of need or desire. We consider it our responsibility to acknowledge and respond to the communication, not "manage," "program," or "fix" the behavior. If people have choices and control in their lives they have less need for disruptive behavior. If physical intervention is necessary, it is given in the least restrictive and least degrading manner possible, and only in last resort for safety from imminent physical harm.

We are committed to the highest possible standards of excellence. We evaluate ourselves based on whether people we serve are meeting their own goals in their lives and work. Our staff are competent, professional, well trained, and positive. We recognize that investment in staff development and motivation is key to success in our mission. We believe in devolving authority as close as possible to the front line of customer contact. We believe in teamwork, and in the value of the contribution of every member of the organization.

We constantly strive for excellence, to remain at the cutting edge of best practices in our field. We will never be satisfied with things "as they’ve always been done," but embrace continual change and progress as essential for the staff and agency, as well as for the people we serve. (If you’re not changing, you’re dying.) We try to think beyond the box.

"The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read; it will be the person who cannot learn" (Alvin Toffler). Our life work is to learn and to develop as full as possible the person we can be.

Revised February 4, 1998