VALID is passionate about empowering and supporting people with intellectual disability. When VALID starts something, they see it through, always working to make sure people are heard, respected, and in control of their own lives.
This commitment can be seen in three important projects: the P.S. Project, VALID8, and ACTIV8.
The P.S. Project was one of the early initiatives. It focused on people in Victoria who had lived in institutions and had no next of kin or informal supports. The project aimed to understand their needs and connect them to their local communities, with a strong focus on inclusion, decision-making, and social support.
VALID8, which actually began before the P.S. Project, was a separate initiative focused on self-advocacy empowerment. It looked at how people spoke up in their homes and how they were supported to make choices and be heard. VALID employed people with intellectual disability to carry out peer-led reviews of group homes. These reviews were guided by the Victorian Disability Standards, not the National Disability Standards.
Now, VALID has launched ACTIV8, which builds on the VALID8 model. It takes the same peer-led approach even further by expanding the focus to other services like day programs and respite. ACTIV8 also expands VALID’s work beyond Victoria. Its goal is to ensure all services and homes are safe, inclusive, and truly empowering for people with disability.
Through these distinct but complementary projects, VALID is turning its values into action — making real change and ensuring people with intellectual disability lead the way.