European Commission should continue to monitor how European funds are used and to set conditions on their use so that support developed for people with disabilities so that they have the chance of achieving Active Citizenship. We would suggest, from previous research based on those with the most severe needs, those with intellectual disabilities, that all new support options develop should fall within the first four categories in Annex 2 (i.e. in groups of less than 7 people, living in ordinary houses dispersed in the community, preferably with people they chose to live with and with support to access the opportunities available to them in the community). This is based on the assumption that not all countries will be able develop a system of personal budgets in the immediate future and as such it will be necessary for people to live in small shared accommodation that might be rented for them by NGOs, as many people with disabilities will not have any disposable income available to pay rent themselves. Of course, as noted earlier, just ensuring that people live in smaller dispersed housing in the community is not a guarantee of Active Citizenship and better quality of life but creates the right context, helps people to be seen in the right way by others and makes opportunities more easily available to people. For some people, in particular those with supportive family and friends, that might be enough to promote their participation in the community. However for others the quality of the support they receive will be critical and in particular their skills in person-centred support. The European Commission should ensure that requests for financial support include detailed accounts of how staff will be trained and supported to work in the enabling and empowering way needed to help people exercise Active Citizenship. At National government level In most countries, policy already existing that allows community based services to be established. However, in some countries involved in this project further developments were needed in terms of useful policy. The power or importance of policy varies across countries.
