Our Voice SA is a peer-led, self-advocacy group for adults with intellectual disability. In 2020, the group received a 3-year ILC grant to deliver the 'Reaching Out' project. The goal was to broaden their reach so that new people could learn about their rights and speak up for themselves. Our Voice SA works with people who live in the community and in supported accommodation and supported workplaces. Our Voice SA are connected to people with disability across Adelaide and four regional areas of South Australia. This is the final evaluation report for the project.

People with intellectual disability involved in Our Voice SA activities and peer groups participated more in the community because of the opportunities available to them from the project and changes in the attitudes of the people around them. Participants in project activities developed confidence, knowledge and skills to speak up for themselves and peers over time. Finding their voice and understanding their rights were central to living a more self-directed life.

Over the 2-year research period (2021-2023) many peer network groups saw a steady growth in numbers of people attending and growth in people’s confidence to contribute ideas, make everyday decisions, and speak out when things were not going well. Our Voice SA used peer support across all activities.

Peer support was an effective way to build connection and self-advocacy awareness of people with intellectual disability. Our Voice SA members took on a range of paid and unpaid leadership and advocacy roles. Group members who were involved for longer were supported to step into formal leadership roles.

The research found that the 'Reaching Out 'project was successful in its goals. The group, its members, connections and relations have grown and matured due to new impetus in the group, staff and new strategies to build individual and group advocacy skills and leadership. The group is recognised as having authority and a voice to speak on behalf of a wider community of people with intellectual disability. The structural investment, growth in members, development of relationships and connections that occurred is at risk with a lack of ongoing funding. It would be a major loss for self-advocacy of people with intellectual disability if the progress and impact achieved to date was lost through inadequate investment in Our Voice SA in the future.