The programs being represented as supported living typically fall short in several of these areas. They begin with a superficial understanding of choice. They do not focus on continuously learning how people want to live. They do not challenge themselves to help people get the lives they want. They encourage people to settle for what is readily available.
Power is seen as a finite commodity.
Sharing power with people with disabilities and the direct support staff is perceived as diminishing the power available to managers and directors. They appear to be quite sincere, they appear to believe that they have made the necessary changes. The loss that managers fear is their perceived power, perceived control, and sense of predictability. This suggests that systems change is not going to arise just from promulgating new supported living rules or new ways to fund supported living. Agencies need a more powerful motivation for change and external assessment to insure that each person is supported as they wish to live.