Ability Options

Ability Options provide a wide range of services to people living and working in New South Wales.These services focus on independence, empowerment, meaningful lifestyles and valued roles within community. We advocate for all people to be included as valued and respected citizens who have unique skills, gifts and personal strengths to contribute to their community.

• We strive to achieve a person-centred approach to service delivery that emphasises the individual's rights, opportunity for choice and self-determination.
• We provide flexible levels of support tailored to the needs of the individual.
• We critically review our performance and have in place a Quality Assurance system that enables us to evaluate our service provision to ensure quality outcomes and provide opportunities for continuous improvement.
• We advocate for the inclusion of all people, and celebrate diversity and difference. We are focused on best support practices to meet the needs and wants of individuals choosing to use our services and supports.

Background

Ability Options began in 1976 and the organisation grew from a union between the Rotary Club of Guildford and the NSW Health Commission to enable people with intellectual disability to move from large institutions into their own home. Now we provide a variety of services from 25 sites across NSW and have over 900 employees. Through Ability Options Employment, we have placed 3000 people in work since 2015, matching the right people to the right jobs and providing employment opportunities, training and on the job support.

Initially services were located in Western Sydney and were focused on people with intellectual disability, tailored to meet the individual’s needs. People were provided with new and varied living options; and support to gain greater independence whilst experiencing a truer sense of belonging within their local community

From the beginning, each person was supported to live in their own home as independently as possible, with 24-hour staff support to assist with learning skills to be self-sufficient and actively involved in community life. This supported living service continues today in providing 24 hour support, semi-independent living and outreach or drop-in support.

Ability Options continues to grow, providing a variety of services across NSW including:

• Accommodation
• Case management
• Community activities and support
• Employment
• NDIS and Individualised funding services
• Post school programs
• Respite
• Supported living
• Transition to work

Ability Options strive to deliver supports and services using a person centred approach. We aim to meet the needs and wants of each individual person accessing our services, with support to achieve personal dreams or aspirations, and to be contributing members of our community.