Learning Disability Coalition

Leo's story

Leo’s story

I am 19 years old, and amongst other things I experience autism which means I need to be accompanied at all times.  I live in a flat with my mum, and I have a number of United Response helpers who come to my flat and help me do everything I need to do, such as bathing, dressing, cooking and staying safe.  The support I get means that I can go to college, take part in my community and I am learning the skills that I need to one day get a job. 

In the past I didn’t have the right kind or quantity of support that I needed, and I became very miserable.  I stopped growing, my behaviour and moods were always challenging and I was very difficult to look after and keep safe.  My mum was exhausted and despairing about our future.  It felt like I didn’t really have a life; I was just existing and doing each day because it was there to be done.

It has been an uphill struggle to get the support that I need, and it showed us how under funded, under supported and misunderstood the disabled community are.  In the past I had bits and pieces of support, but the last eighteen months has been the first time that my mum and I were truly supported.  After the last few months of finally getting the right support, I am not so afraid, and my mum and I have been able to start a real life like everybody else.  We are very happy now, and my mum smiles a lot more now that we both have help – I love my mum’s smile!

Leo’s week

Monday

This morning, my mum helped me to get up, wash, dress, have breakfast and get ready to go to Boscawen farm.  This farm is run especially for people with disabilities to go to and learn all about farming activities, social skills, and work-based skills.  I go there every Monday with my support worker, who helps to me to get everything ready in the morning and then helps me to take a taxi to the farm.

I have another support worker who I meet at the farm as I need the help of two people at all times to stay safe.  My support workers help me to participate in many activities at the farm, and help me to concentrate on the tasks that I am given.  I have been going to the farm for about a year now, and I especially like being around the animals and the tractor.

Today I was responsible for watering the plants around the farm, cleaning out the feed store, helping clean and repair the tractor and I collected an egg from the chicken house to go in the farm shop.  I love going to the farm, but without my support workers, it wouldn’t be possible for me to stay safe and learn new skills.

Tuesday

Today my support worker arrived early to help me get up, get dressed, have breakfast and prepare my bag to go to my school placement.  I took a taxi to school, with my favourite taxi driver and an escort to help me until I got to school.

Once I arrived at Three Bridges, I met my supporter friends who helped me to plan my day.  I do a wide variety of activities here, including arts and crafts, numeracy or literacy skills, computing, cooking, self care skills, gardening, swimming, music, dog walking with The Cinnamon Trust, shopping, visiting places out and about like the woods or music shops that I’m fond of and many more within a highly structured but varied curriculum designed specifically for me.

I have been going to Three Bridges for about 18 months and in that time I have grown very fond of the staff there. I have learned to trust them and in so doing I have learned to listen, to follow instructions as well as to make considered decisions for my self. My attention span and variety of skills have improved considerably since attending Three Bridges.

Wednesday

This morning my mum helped me to get up, get dressed, clean my teeth, prepare my breakfast and get ready to go to school.  We packed my bag and I took a taxi to school with a driver and a supporting escort.

Today was a special end of term treat day when a group of us students and Three Bridgess support staff went to a local cinema to see Shrek 4.  My mum came with us to provide a little extra support as the cinema is a new experience and sitting still for so long in the cinema may have been a little tricky.

There was a group of about 20 of us and we each had pop corn and a fizzy drink. With help from my mum and support staff we all managed to have a really good time and I am very proud of myself for participating in this new activity so well.

My mum drove me home after the cinema, and when we got home my ILF funded support worker helped me cook dinner, make junk models and walk a neighbour’s dog. The neighbour is my friend. She is very old and had a big operation recently so it’s hard for her to do it herself at the moment.  My support worker helped me to get ready for bed, and my mum stayed with me throughout the night.

Thursday

Today is a home and shopping day, where I have two support workers, Clive and Chris, who help me to take the bus or drive me to the big supermarket.  Together we made a shopping list, which I found difficult to concentrate on but with help from my support workers, I was able to complete it.  We discussed what money I would need to take with me, and then set off in the car.

My support workers help me to find everything on my list, and when we had finished, I put it all through the self-service checkout.  Clive drove us all home, and I spent the evening talking with the neighbours, and laughing and joking with Clive.  Later we made a plan to get a take away for dinner and I enjoyed going to get it and ordering and paying for it myself.

Clive and I then spent the evening on the internet, some snipping magazines up for collages, chatting and playing accordion outside before getting ready for bed and settling down with music on in my room.

Friday

Today is a very special day as it is my school celebration day, so I was in a good mood and very excited too.  Clive helped me to get ready in the morning, and when it was time to go, he drove my mum, my aunt and me to Three Bridges.

There was a buffet which I had helped to prepare and after this we all went into the sports hall for the presentations.  I enjoyed watching all my friends get their certificates or give their presentations and when it was my turn I got two achievement certificates and a ‘well done’ gift voucher too. My mum, my auntie, Clive and all my Three Bridges staff friends were so proud of me and I was very proud of myself too, especially when I got a big clap from everyone there!

After the celebration day finished, as a treat Clive, my mum and I took me to a digger hire place to look around all the equipment there. I love to go and see as many diggers as often as I can. The people than run the digger place have got to know me very well and let me look around from time to time.

Saturday

I like to have a bit of a lazier day on Saturdays after a busy week so today when my support worker came to help me first thing in the morning, we took things at a leisurely pace.  We made breakfast and played together in my flat for a while until bath and dressed time, brushing teeth and making a plan for the day.

I was keen to get a look on the internet today for images of my favourite things and to listen to music videos too. I am getting very good at navigating the net and my support worker friends help me to make sure the content I find remains appropriate.

After the internet we went out for a long walk around my local area and as usual I chatted to all the shop keepers, tourists, locals and people we met along the way. If I needed any help interacting with the people Emma was able to provide that assistance but usually I like to be independent and express myself in my own way.  We returned to the flat and made lunch together and watched some TV for a while.

Later my key support worker Clive arrived and with my mum we decided to go out and buy a new magazine for me to look at and cut the pictures out of and also to go to the local shop for a few bits and pieces.  I know the shop people very well and today they let me operate the till for myself! I scanned all of my own shopping and operated the till with the help of the shop staff. I really enjoyed doing this.

Sunday

Today my mum helped me get my breakfast, get showered and dressed, brush teeth.  After a slow morning chatting together Sunday morning is usually when my mum and I do the washing and tidying the flat, though I do not like to do this at all!

This week we pinned the loads of washing out on the line as it was a sunny day. We hoovered the whole flat, took the rubbish out, washed up then cleaned the bathroom too.  After this, my support worker, Linda, arrived and we made a plan to go to a local pub for a carvery meal.  I have got to know the staff at the pub very well over the last year, and love to go there for a huge meal.

It was now time to go with Linda and my aunt to the local elderly care home where I visit once or twice each week to help out with a bit of hoovering, cooking or chatting to the residents there and making them smile. I like doing this as it feels like having a real job and the people there are very old and need lots of help!