At Purple Orange we try to demystify some of the more technical language that can evolve around research, policy, consultation and evaluation.
The following definitions cover a range of terms we work with. Please note these definitions relate to our use of the terms and may differ from other definitions.
Accessibility refers to all members of society, including people living with disability, having equal access to facilities and services within the community. The term accessibility is most commonly used to describe the ease with which a person living with disability can get around their home, workplace and the community, and use its features. The Julia Farr Housing Association is a social landlord specialised in providing accessible housing for people living with disability.
Action research is a reflective, inquiry-based type of research undertaken by groups or individuals to examine and improve the way they address issues and solve problems. Put more simply, it means learning by doing.
Capacity building is about people, organisations or communities growing towards their potential. It refers to people living with disability, through access to experiences and support, growing their capacity to move into lives characterised by personhood and citizenhood. Capacity building also includes the wider community growing its capacity to be inclusive and supportive of people living with disability.
Citizenhood is a principle that drives the work of JFA Purple Orange. Citizenhood refers to a situation in which a person is actively involved as a member of their local community, as a valued contributor to community life.
Community housing refers to safe, secure, affordable and appropriate rental housing provided by not-for-profit organisations, and forms part of the social housing sector.
Individualised funding gives control of funds to an individual person living with disability so that they can purchase the services they require.
Model of citizenhood support
Citizenhood support refers to an intentional set of arrangements which help ensure vulnerable members of the community, including people living with disability, are supported to achieve citizenhood.
We have coined this phrase to refer to the essential nature of a good relationship between a person and someone who is helping them. Person-centered mindfulness is where the support person undertakes their work in a way that is 'in the moment', properly and completely focusing on the person they are assisting, and making sure each and every action upholds that person's personhood and citizenhood. We created this phrase because we have seen how many people living with disability are receiving services that do the opposite, that lose sight of a person's value, dignity and potential.
Personhood is a principle that drives the work of JFA Purple Orange. Personhood refers to a person having a valued sense of themselves and their potential, and having control over the key decisions in their lives. It is about a person being the author of their own life.
Qualitative research and quantitative research
Qualitative research is traditionally utilised in the social sciences to research phenomena which are difficult or impossible to quantify. The qualitative research method can be used to examine and understand human behaviour.
Quantitative research is an objective, systematic type of research involving numerical data and mathematical quantification.
In finding out what is most helpful to people living with disability (or other types of increased vulnerability), research can have a mix of both qualitative and quantitative data because both types cover important information.
Restrictive practice in its broadest sense refers to a practice which prevents freedom of action or movement. The term is often used in relation to people who are seen as presenting 'challenges' to services and where there is a concern about self-harm or harm to others.
Risk is an unavoidable factor in living a good life. Safeguards are actions which help a person to take risks as safely as possible, so that they can exercise choice and engage in opportunities in community life.
Self-directed funding refers to people having the opportunity to decide how public funds are used to support them.
Self-managed funding refers to people having the opportunity to be practically involved in the management of their public-funded support arrangements.
Social housing is low-cost housing provided to people who have difficulty attaining housing in the private market. Social housing may be provided by a social landlord, such as the Julia Farr Housing Association.
A social landlord is an organisation that owns and manages social housing. The largest social landlord in South Australia is Housing SA. The Julia Farr Housing Association is a social landlord.
Social profit refers to the social outcomes of the work of a not-for-profit organisation. We prefer the phrase 'social profit organisation' to 'not-for-profit organisation' because the former emphasises an expected impact of the agency's work measured as social profit rather than financial profit.
Supported decision making
Supported decision making refers to an individual making their own choices through the support of significant others in their life. While some people are seen as having reduced capacity to make decisions (often resulting in a guardian being appointed as a 'substitute decision maker'), they still have the capacity to be the author of their own life. They can be assisted in this process by asking people in their life to help them make choices, but not to make choices for them.