Why Consumer Participation Matters to People with Cognitive Disabilities

For people with cognitive disabilities, civic participation and being involved in decision-making matters because it:

is a democratic right;
reinforces the right to self-determination;
supports active involvement and problem solving in all levels of decision making;
recognises and values lived experience, expertise and knowledge;
leads to the provision of services which are responsive to needs;
leads to improved services and better outcomes;
supports networking and relationship building with service providers and potential allies;
increases individual and group engagement with service providers, governments and community organisations;
can lead to new knowledge and skills development;
supports collaboration, communication and negotiation;
can lead to increased confidence.