33 people from 9 countries gathered for 2 days in Ottawa to connect and exchange ideas about self-directed support.
Author: SDS Network
In June 2026, 33 people from nine countries gathered for two days in Ottawa to connect and exchange ideas about self-directed support. The convening was organized through the Global Leadership Exchange, hosted by Karis Disability Services, and facilitated by members of the Self-Directed Support Network. This paper provides an overview of the main ideas that participants came back to throughout their two days together.
Disabled people, advocates, researchers, government colleagues, providers and people working in community organisations all brought different perspectives, yet the same message kept coming through: Self-directed support is about people having more say over their own lives. It is not just about budgets, forms, policies, services or clever system design. Those things matter, but only if they help people live a life that makes sense to them. The language of choice and control has travelled a long way, but the reality is still patchy. In some places there are strong laws but weak practice. In others there are good pilots but no real route to scale. In others there are individual budgets, but not enough help for people to use them well.
Self-directed support works best when people are trusted, when they have flexible resources, and when the right help sits around them. That means clear information, planning support, peer support, advocacy, supported decision making, good providers, accessible communities, transport, housing, communication support, and safeguards that protect people without taking over their lives.
Without those things, self direction can easily become a promise on paper. People may technically have a budget, but still have to fit into old service menus. They may be told they have choice, but only from a short list of approved options. They may be given responsibility, but not the practical backup to make good decisions, employ people, challenge poor practice or try something different.
Read and download the free pdfs of the full report What We Heard in Ottawa and a summary Global Progress on Self-Directed Support, links below.
Find out more about the Global Standards for Self-Directed Support here.
The publisher is SDS Network. What We Heard in Ottawa © SDS Network 2026.
Inclusion, Personalised Support, Self-Directed Support, Canada, England, Europe, Global, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Paper
