Dignity First: What It Really Means to Support with Respect
We often talk about “respect” in disability support — but how often do we unpack what dignity looks like in action?
At Alula, dignity isn’t just a value on a wall. It’s something we work to embed into every plan, every conversation, every home visit. It’s about seeing the whole person — not just the diagnosis, the funding line, or the task at hand.
This week, we explore what it means to truly support someone with dignity, and how small changes in language, tone, and behaviour can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
🌱 What Is Dignity?
Dignity is a sense of worth. It’s about being treated as someone who matters, who is capable, and who deserves choice, privacy, and kindness.
For participants, dignity might look like:
Being asked, not ordered
Having time to think and speak without being rushed
Feeling safe in personal spaces
Being offered choice in real terms — not just token gestures
Having mistakes or difficulties handled with grace, not punishment
💬 Language Matters — A Lot
The way we speak to (and about) participants sets the tone for everything else. Words can empower — or diminish.
Compare:
“Let me do that for you” vs “Would you like help with that?”
“He’s a wheelchair-bound client” vs “He uses a wheelchair”
“They refused to go to group today” vs “They weren’t feeling up for group today”
Our language should never reduce someone to their diagnosis or paint their choices as problems. Try person-first, respectful phrasing that centres the participant, not the support worker.
🛁 Dignity in Personal Care
Supporting someone with toileting, bathing, dressing or eating is deeply personal. These tasks, if handled poorly, can make people feel exposed, infantilised, or even unsafe.
Tips for maintaining dignity:
Always ask for consent, even when care is routine
Explain each step before starting — don’t assume comfort
Provide privacy: close doors, use towels for cover, avoid unnecessary observers
Avoid baby talk — adult participants deserve adult treatment
Never joke about care in front of others
Allow independence where safe — even partial tasks build confidence
Every person deserves to feel in control of their body and the space around them.
🧭 Dignity in Decision-Making
Choice and control are fundamental NDIS principles — but they can be unintentionally sidelined when routines, funding limits, or time constraints take over.
Participants should be:
Involved in creating their schedule and goals
Given real options (not just the one that’s easiest for staff)
Listened to — and not overruled without consultation
Supported to explore new activities, even if there’s risk or uncertainty
It’s okay for people to make decisions you wouldn’t make. That’s dignity too.
🏡 Dignity in the Home
If you're supporting someone in their home, remember: you’re a guest.
Respect their space:
Knock before entering a room
Don’t move or touch items without asking
Ask before changing music, turning on lights, or using kitchen items
Let the participant lead — it’s their home, their vibe, their rules
For those living in group or SIL settings, advocate for personalised touches in shared environments — not everything needs to feel clinical or beige.
🧠 Trauma and Dignity
Many participants have experienced past trauma — sometimes within service systems. Dignity in support is part of trauma-informed care.
That means:
Offering predictability and control
Avoiding coercive practices or power plays
Never using “consequences” to shape behaviour
Supporting with calm tone and body language
Apologising when things go wrong
People are more likely to engage, participate, and thrive when they feel safe and respected.
👀 Dignity Check: Reflective Questions for Support Workers
Do I speak to this person the same way I’d want to be spoken to?
Am I doing things for someone that they could do with my support?
Do I offer real choices — not just what’s easiest for me?
Have I asked how they’d prefer things to be done — or am I assuming?
Am I responding to frustration with empathy, or with control?
Do I leave them feeling more empowered — or more dependent?
🧩 A Participant’s Voice
“What makes me feel respected is when people don’t treat me like a job. When they show up on time, listen to me, and talk to me like an adult. When they leave my home the way they found it. When they ask me what I want to do — not just what’s on the roster.”
Sometimes, dignity is in the little things. And those little things add up to a big difference in someone’s quality of life.
Final Thought
At Alula, dignity is a promise — not just a principle. It means delivering support that uplifts, not manages. It’s about walking beside someone, not ahead of them.
Whether you’re helping someone brush their teeth or build their dream career, every interaction should say:
“You matter. I see you. And I’ll walk with you — with care.”
Because when dignity is the starting point, everything else becomes possible.
