Our approach
The primary focus of SAMS developmental evaluation is to influence positive change, raise consciousness and cultivate innovation.
-
EGL
SAMS has 40 years of working with and alongside the disabled community and has been a key contributor to EGL community development in Aotearoa.
As such, our history, approach, and values are grounded in the Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach, vision, and principles, i.e:
Self-determination
Beginning early
Person-centred
Ordinary life outcomes
Mainstream first
Mana enhancing
Easy to use
Relationship building
Our staff have a deep and practical understanding of the EGL approach with many years of experience facilitating EGL training, education, and leadership development.
-
Partnerships
Developing strong and mutual partnerships, particularly with the disabled community, has been a key feature of SAMS evaluation, education, and leadership development work.
SAMS has a history of collaborative work and partnerships with disabled people, whānau, and communities in designing and implementing leadership development programs and opportunities. By investing in the capacity building and leadership development of disabled individuals and families, SAMS aims to foster increased opportunities for self-determination, choice, and control.
Our reach to the disabled community is amplified through the strong connections we hold with a range of disability service providers, particularly through our developmental evaluation contract and work.
-
Developmental Evaluation
SAMS is a recognised leader in the use of developmental evaluation. SAMS pioneered a developmental evaluation (DE) approach that ensures the views of disabled people, family/whānau, service providers and funding agencies are equitably represented. This approach to evaluation enables innovative, ethical, and effective development.
Developmental evaluation is when we work with disabled people, whānau and providers to improve the development of disability support services. We ask “how’s it going?” and “how could things be done in a better way?”
This is done by creating a collaborative space to explore areas of strength and areas requiring further development.
The voice of disabled people and whānau are central to this process.