What can We Count On?

This document dives deep into the question: “What can we count on to make and keep people safe?” ​ It explores how to create effective safeguards for people with developmental disabilities, balancing community ties and professional systems. ​ Through discussions, historical insights, and real-life stories, it highlights the vulnerabilities faced by people with disabilities—like isolation, lack of power, and inadequate support—and examines the limits of bureaucratic regulations versus the power of personal relationships and community involvement. ​

You’ll find contrasting approaches, like administrative regulation and lifesharing, and their impact on safety, spirit, and empowerment. ​ The document also offers actionable strategies to increase safety for children and adults, emphasizing the importance of family, community, and meaningful relationships. It challenges readers to rethink how systems operate, advocating for a shift from rigid rules to fostering trust, inclusion, and shared responsibility. ​

Whether you’re a parent, advocate, service worker, or policymaker, this paper invites you to reflect on how we can collectively build a world where people with disabilities are not just safe but truly valued as equal citizens. ​ It’s a thoughtful,

eye-opening read that blends history, practical ideas, and a call for deeper social change. ​