by Michael McLellan
As a person with a diversability and receiving services, I have the right choose how those supports will work best for me. We all have the right to choose which service provider we would like to work with. We also have the right to have a say in who is the best fit to work with us on a day to day basis. Because you will be forming a long-term working relationship with your worker and their organization, it makes sense that they must meet your expectations and provide service that you not only need, but also want.
If for some reason your service providers or their employees don’t meet your expectations, your needs, or your wants here are some questions to ask yourself; What are the issues? Does it have to do with how the service provider does it’s business? Or is it simply a conflict of personalities between you and your worker. Or maybe is it something within yourself that is causing problems?
In the event that things just aren’t working out with your service provider, here are some steps you can try:
- Talk to the person you are having issues with.
- Talk to the supervisor of the person you are having issues with. You must first try and resolve any conflicts or issues before taking more drastic measures like switching workers or service providers altogether.
Once you have tried to resolve any conflicts you may be experiencing by speaking with your worker and their supervisor you still aren’t getting adequate service, then you must take further measures.
- Contact your local CLBC office and make an appointment to speak with your social worker (or facilitator) so that they can give you the support you need.
- Bring someone you trust to the meeting. If you need or want help representing yourself in a CLBC meeting, you have the right to bring a Self-Advocate with you to that meeting.
- Make a request to your CLBC Facilitator to change services
- Ask your CLBC Facilitator about all of your support options
- Work with your CLBC Facilitator to pick a new service provider.
- Interview all your options for service providers. Remember, often service providers will have a pre-determined worker for you in mind. If you want to interview and choose your own worker, you have to ask that service provider if that is something they do.
My advice is to make sure that CLBC is providing you with all your service options available in your community depending on what services you are asking for. It is important to take the time and effort to carefully search out and interview the service providers that you are considering. Make sure you have some questions ready before hand. Your family’s (or support network) support is important, however the final decision is yours and only yours to make. You have the right to choose what works best for you!
