Basis of Supports

The basis of Better Community Living's supports is:

• to provide "homes" for individuals, not just places to live
• to give families a larger voice in the decision-making process concerning their loved ones
• to provide individuals with choices based on what they want or need

Vision Statement

Better Community Living is a Greater New Bedford based agency, made up of caring people supporting persons with disabilities, their families and their personal relationships to be valued members of their community, homes, work and neighborhoods by fostering individual VOICE, CHOICE and DREAMS.

Mission Statement

Better Community Living, Inc. is a team dedicated to creating quality supports and services that enhance the lives of the individuals we serve as they strive for greater independence in the community.

Defining Principles

Quality Supports include:

• Individual choices in home life, career and leisure time;
• Encouragement of friendship and belonging;
• Supporting opportunities for individuals to be loved;
• Supporting personal commitments;
• Supporting valued social roles;
• Individual choices in skill acquisitions training;
• Individual choices in religious affiliations;
• Individual choices regarding sexuality;
• Supporting the achievements that result from risk-taking.

Quality Services include:

• A positive, social, responsive environment that is secure, safe and comfortable;
• Advocate for adequate and person-oriented services;
• Assistance with building skills;
• Continuous family contact and involvement;
• Increased effective communication training emphasis for individuals, families, and staff;
• Enhancing social and normalized integration.

A Team includes:

• Promoting an environment that is flexible and conductive to individual needs and desires;
• Including interdependent communication between consumer, families and staff;
• Guiding by dignity of the individual;
• Empowering individuals and families to speak out for themselves;
• Respecting ethnic and cultural diversity