The Expanding Worlds Podcast: Recent Episodes
Debra Caldow
The Expanding Worlds podcast Shares Stories and Shares Solutions to expand what people believe is possible. We talk to individuals and organisations who are driving change to enable people with Additional Needs to live the independent lives they aspire to.
In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks about the "empty nest" life script — children growing independent and parents focusing on themselves. She addresses how that contrasts with the future for many families who are lifelong caregivers. She discusses the feeling of guilt many people face for wishing for a different script and why honesty can lead to understanding. Debra highlights what lifelong caregivers gain and argues that, while there may be no second act of the empty nest, a life of choosing to stay is equally rewarding.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow speaks to some of the young people and the families who are part of the JubyLee Bakes Project. From what they enjoy most about baking to the impact it has on their lives, the young people themselves reinforce the importance of projects like JubyLee for not only changing individual lives but also altering societal perceptions.
https://www.jubyleebakes.org.uk/
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In this episode, Debra Caldow talks to Julie about her role at JubyLee Bakes. Julie runs weekly baking sessions and organises volunteers. She shares what motivated her to get involved. Having seen first-hand how support for young people can drop off after full-time education, she felt compelled to act. Julie also discusses the challenges around moving young people into paid employment. She explains why a better understanding of individuals matters. And why supportive workplace coaching can lead to a real change in perceptions — and ultimately, more opportunities.
https://www.jubyleebakes.org.uk/
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In this episode, Debra Caldow talks to Ellen Tomlinson from JubyLee Bakes. Ellen explains how she joined together with other families to create JubyLee Bakes. Their goal was to provide meaningful work for her son and other young adults with additional needs. She discusses why they chose baking and how they financed the startup. Ellen also talks honestly about the challenges they faced along the way. She shares the support they found that helped them build and run the organization. JubyLee Bakes now helps many young people develop real work skills. And in doing so, it boosts their confidence and sense of self-worth.
https://www.jubyleebakes.org.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow discusses why planning is such an essential part of how we support our children. She addresses why planning is often delayed because of overwhelm. But starting small, moving slowly, and doing something every day is a good way to get started. She talks about why using a planning "route map" across four areas—daily living, purpose, relationships, and finance —can also help identify the best areas to work on at specific times. Debra shares her personal experiences around this while acknowledging the challenges she faced around stepping back.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow explores the idea of purpose and engaging with purpose. She discusses why having a day-to-day purpose—something meaningful to engage with, not a single life mission—is especially valuable for people with additional needs because it enhances self-worth, emotional wellbeing, independence, and dignity. She discusses why purpose shift's identity from being defined by support needs to being valued for strengths and contribution. Debra also talks about how engaging with purpose fosters resilience, skill-building, stronger social connections, and reduces isolation, while also providing structure and predictability.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow reflects on the value of making New Year's resolutions. She discusses some of the reasons they fail, including the focus on making dramatic changes without considering daily life demands. She suggests that rather than relying on the symbolic significance of January 1st, sustainable change requires gradual habit formation, realistic goal setting, and flexibility. Debra also talks about the importance of focusing on small, achievable actions, and celebrating progress over perfection.
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In this episode, Debra Caldow continues her conversation with Rhiannon Gogh, a specialist financial planner, discussing the challenges around deciding who will support your child when you are no longer around. She goes on to talk about the importance of contingency planning, including the role of professional trustees vs. family members. Rhiannon also explains some of the consequences of inadequate planning and why specialized financial strategies are a necessity to protect the future of our children.
Planning With Love Book
Carers Academy – Free Resources
In this episode Debra Caldow talks to Rhiannon Gogh, a specialist financial planner, who talks about the importance of planning for the future of young people with additional needs. She discusses estate planning, including creating trust funds and the role of life insurance policies as well as the importance of ensuring plans are tailored to each person's unique needs. Rhiannon also explains the framework she uses to help families develop comprehensive plans which reflect their different financial situations.
Planning With Love Book
Carers Academy – Free Resources
In this episode, host Debra Caldow discusses the balance between providing support and fostering independence. Drawing on her personal experience, she reflects on the challenges of co-dependency, the emotional journey of letting go, and the importance of allowing our children to become their own advocates and problem-solvers. Debra addresses the need to sometimes re-assess our motivations behind wanting to protect our children and the need to give them the space to make mistakes and grow.
In this episode Debra Caldow talks to Julie Walker, from Esteamed Coffee, who explains how they provide employment and social opportunities for young people with additional needs. She discusses why the cafe's physical location and community involvement play a crucial role in its success. Julie also discusses the future of Esteamed, which will focus on developing partnerships with employers and expanding their visibility through initiatives like a coffee cart.
https://www.esteamedcoffee.com/
In this episode, host Debra Caldow explores the concept of independence and why it might be time to redefine how we see independence and include dignity as a core component. She talks about why focusing on small, achievable goals and adaptable are useful strategies in helping developing independence. Debra also talks about the importance of understanding that independence is not a one-size-fits-all concept, or about doing everything alone, but is about having the right support to make choices about what personal independence looks like.
In this episode, Debra Caldow continues her conversation with Gwyn McCormack from Positive Eye talking about practical methods to foster independence. Gwyn discusses the importance of stepping back to avoid "learned helplessness". She also explains why recognizing our children as effective problem solvers aids their long-term goal of greater independence as adults. Gwyn also talks about the positive impact of having a long-term vision and why everyone, including educators, need to think about the future and not just the now.
https://positiveeye.co.uk/
In this episode, Debra Caldow talks to Gwyn McCormack from Positive Eye about her innovative approaches to teaching. She discusses why using everyday objects, like wooden spoons, enables a more holistic contextual learning experience. Gwyn also discusses her 'Marvin's Storytime Show,' which is an online literacy program designed for children with complex needs. Marvin's Storytime Show utilizes high-contrast visuals and engaging storytelling to sustain engagement.
https://positiveeye.co.uk/
In this episode, host Debra Caldow explains why hiring people with additional needs is not only a socially responsible choice but also a smart business decision. She discusses how inclusive hiring provides companies access to talented employees but can also boost employee morale and enhance customer loyalty. Debra also talks about why the focus should be on removing barriers rather than reducing expectations, ensuring that all employees can contribute meaningfully.
In this episode, Debra Caldow continues her conversation with Dave Friedman, from AutonomyWorks. He discusses the changes required in business recruiting to better match people's talents with business needs. Dave addresses the impact of AI, highlighting both potential risks and opportunities. Dave also talks about the transformational effect of employment and how it represents the positive shift from a past-oriented to a future-oriented perspective, which in turn fosters independence and builds confidence and self-belief.
https://www.autonomy.works/
In this episode, Debra Caldow talks to Dave Friedman from AutonomyWorks. He shares the inspiration and journey behind AutonomyWorks, a company that provides meaningful employment opportunities for adults with autism. Drawing from personal experience Dave explains the challenges faced by individuals with autism in securing employment, particularly due to structural job design and traditional hiring processes. Dave explains how AutonomyWorks addresses these challenges by matching the specialized skills of individuals with autism to roles that align with their strengths.
https://www.autonomy.works/
In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks about the importance of promoting independence in our children with additional needs. She addresses the unintended consequences of doing too much for our children and the value of allowing them to try things on their own to build their resilience and confidence. Debra also speaks of her personal experiences and shares successful strategies, such as habit stacking and visual aids, that have helped her daughter become more resilient and confident.
In this episode, Debra Caldow talks to Claire Wannell from Springboard about teaching essential daily live skills, such as cooking and personal hygiene. She discusses the methods that can be used to make learning these skills accessible and enjoyable. Claire also talks about the importance of empowering young people to become independent and provides practical tips for families on how to involve young people in daily home activities.
https://www.springboardsupport.org/
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In this episode, Debra Caldow talks to Francesca Diana from Springboard who shares insights on the challenges of finding work experience. She explores potential solutions, such as increasing business support and involving families in building confidence and essential skills. Francesca also addresses the role of volunteering in helping bridge the gap between education and work.
https://www.springboardsupport.org/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks about the importance of dynamic planning in areas like education, work, housing, and finances. She explains that while planning is important, it needs to change as life changes and sticking too strictly to one plan can hold people back. She discusses why dynamic planning helps people adjust when needed, giving clear direction while still leaving room for growth, change, and unexpected opportunities.
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In this episode, Debra Caldow continues her conversation with Ben Simmonds as he provides insights into how parents and educators can better support young people with additional needs. He discusses the importance of listening to and understanding individual perspectives. Ben also talks about the significance of parental belief and involvement in advocating for greater inclusion and supporting the development of independence skills.
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In this episode, Debra Caldow’s guest is Ben Simmonds, who shares his experiences from being diagnosed with autism, being nonverbal until the age of five, moving through school and university, and then to employment. He discusses how autism impacts his life in multifaceted ways. Ben also touches on the medical and social models of disability and the importance of recognizing both the challenges and abilities associated with neurodiversity.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow addresses the critical question of what happens to our children, when we are no longer around. She outlines some of the challenges family members may face if they are expected or were to assume taking over the role of main support. She also discusses how and why less traditional support models like micro-boards can also offer a personalized and holistic support system.
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In this episode, Debra Caldow continues her conversation with Tom Roberts from the Brighton and Hove Care Co-operative discussing some of the reasons why the cooperative approach isn’t as popular as it should be. He also talks about the benefits of cooperative care including greater job satisfaction and a more engaged, person-centered approach. Tom also discusses the issues around having a diverse membership and balancing viability as an organization with maintaining the cooperative ethos.
https://bhcarecoop.co.uk/
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In this episode, Debra Caldow talks to Tom Roberts, Chair of the Brighton and Hove Care Co-operative, about how the cooperative model offers an alternative approach to providing care and support. He explains the concept of care cooperatives as organizations that are owned and run by both care providers and receivers. Tom also discusses how this model contrasts with traditional charities and for-profit care providers with an emphasis on transparency, participation, and reinvestment of profits.
https://bhcarecoop.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow explores the impact we can have as role models for our children with additional needs. She talks about the importance of consistent behavior modeling and why it is so effective in teaching a variety of skills. Debra also shares some practical strategies like breaking down tasks, using visual aids, and video modeling to build on what we show them and to support their independent learning.
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In this episode, Debra Caldow continues her conversation with Alison Thomas from Unique & Loved talking about uniqueness. Alison discusses the pressure to conform and the societal tendency to highlight differences rather than uniqueness. She talks about some strategies for fostering self-acceptance and suggests practical steps for understanding and celebrating individuality. Alison also discusses how celebrating each of our unique attributes helps to promote inclusion and understanding.
https://uniqueandloved.co.uk/
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In this episode, Debra Caldow’s guest is Alison Thomas from Unique & Loved, who shares her journey as a parent. She discusses the challenges of feeling isolated and the societal fears surrounding children with additional needs and why embracing uniqueness has become so fundamental in how she supports her son. Alison also talks about the importance of recognizing the individuality in everyone and why both children and adults need to embrace their uniqueness to help create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
https://uniqueandloved.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow discusses some of the myths around employing young people with additional needs. She discusses why the language we use can often reinforce negative perceptions and employer misconceptions. She also talks about the myths around the concept of 'reasonable adjustments' in the workplace, and the reality that these adjustments are often simple and low cost. Debra also explains the role we can all play advocating for our children and fighting for employment opportunities as well as changing societal attitudes.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Laura Hutt from the Sand Project about what a job coach does. She discusses the misconceptions, rewards, and challenges the role brings. Laura explains the importance of job matching and vocational profiling, and why one of the key job coach roles is to work with employers to address any apprehensions they might have.
https://www.thesandproject.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow’s guest is Katie Shephard, the Work Engagement lead at the Sand Project. She discusses her role encouraging businesses to employ more people with additional needs. Katie talks about how her role encompasses connecting with organizations and working to break down common misconceptions to highlight the positive impact that hiring Sand Project trainees can have on workplace culture, breaking down fears and stereotypes. Katie explains why testimonies, from businesses already employing their trainees, plays a crucial role in building these connections and changing employer attitudes.
https://www.thesandproject.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Nicki Rugman from the ArtiSAND Creative Goods Store, part of the Sand Project, about how this enterprise shop and business helps young people build both their creative and business skills. Nicki explains the importance of balancing creativity with market needs and how that guides the shop's product and promotional strategies. She talks about the importance of trainees understanding all facets of the business and shares some success stories of trainees developing their own products. Nicki also talks about the potential for expanding the business, including online sales and trainee led workshops.
https://www.thesandproject.co.uk/artisand
https://www.thesandproject.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Carol Noble from the East Toast Cafe, part of the Sand Project, about why working in a café offers young people opportunities to enhance communication, self-esteem, and practical work skills. She also highlights the importance of a structured routine and adaptable tasks to ensure that every student can always participate and remain part of the team. Carol also talks about the positive impact this has on the students, both in the cafe and at home.
https://www.thesandproject.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Marita Bianco from The Sand Project about how the project started and why it has evolved into a multi pathway enterprise-based organization. Marita discusses how the project supports trainees preparing them for employment and independent living using an experiential approach. She also explains the importance of tailored support including family support which recognizes the individual challenges people may face.
https://www.thesandproject.co.uk/
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In this milestone episode, host Debra Caldow celebrates the 200th episode of the podcast by focusing on the importance of sharing stories and solutions that support the futures of children with additional needs. Reflecting on the podcast's journey since 2017, Debra talks about the need for letting go of limiting beliefs and building on existing solutions rather than starting from scratch. She discusses the incredible power of shared experiences in creating meaningful change. Debra advocates for a more structured approach to the sharing of knowledge to build a better future for all our children.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow discusses the concept of hope. She examines the four types of hope: realistic, utopian, chosen, and transcendent. She explores the role hope plays in motivating action and fostering resilience. Debra also talks about the need to have a more active approach to hope, transforming it from passive wishfulness into a driving force for positive change.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Laura Wells from Hope North Carolina about the innovative housing model they use that integrates people with and without disabilities. Laura discusses how Hope NC fosters a sense of belonging through their community facilitator role and various community projects. Laura also touches upon the future directions for creating affordable and inclusive housing that responds to a constantly changing external environment.
https://www.hopenorthcarolina.org/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Ginny Dropkin from Hope North Carolina about the emotional and logistical challenges of ensuring a good life for our children, even after we're no longer around. Ginny explains why this has been a central issue in her life and how she’s become involved in various organizations to address the problems. Ginny talks about how she with two other parents founded Hope North Carolina, which has the central goal of helping address this critical issue of ‘what comes next?’
https://www.hopenorthcarolina.org/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow discusses the importance of developing a positive and growth-oriented mindset for us and our children. She explains the practical steps that can lead to developing a positive mindset, including self-talk, embracing challenges, and surrounding ourselves with supportive influences. Debra also talks about how developing a positive mindset requires time and persistence and why it is so fundamental in helping our children unlock their potential to ensure they lead successful and fulfilling lives.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Katherine Jennick from What’s Your Strength about how a positive self-perception can have a genuine impact on young people with additional needs. Katherine offers practical strategies that you can adapt at home, and she argues we need more inclusive interview practices and better career discussions rather than focusing on just traditional academic achievements.
https://whatsyourstrength.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Katherine Jennick from What’s Your Strength about the project she has developed to help young people translate their life experiences into strengths. She discusses how this evolved into packs of cards which are used by both families and professionals. Katherine also talks about why project-based learning is more effective and why everyone has a role to play in preparing young people for their futures in work.
https://whatsyourstrength.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow explores the crucial role of choice in the lives of young people with additional needs. She discusses the barriers that exist, such as low expectations, inadequate funding, and social policies that limit young people's choices. Debra also talks about the importance of family support and practical strategies to foster decision-making skills, supporting the shift from making decisions for young people to empowering them to make their own choices.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow shares conversations she had with students from Brighton Forward. This is the chance to hear first-hand from the young people Brighton Forward works with about the support they receive, what skills they find valuable as well as their individual plans they have for the future.
https://brightonforward.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Laura Vallone from Brighton Forward about how this project provides a nurturing and secure environment for young people who may have struggled elsewhere. She explains how their 3-year program works by focusing both on personal development and work skills. Laura also discusses the need for policy changes and highlights the significance of using the 'language of work' to encourage young people to aspire for more.
https://brightonforward.co.uk/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow discusses the social isolation challenges faced by young people with additional needs. Debra explores the barriers that exist, including lack of confidence and lack of social skills, alongside external barriers such as geographic limitations and societal attitudes. She also talks about possible solutions, like the role of paid work and the importance of empowering young people to advocate for themselves so they become active in finding those social connections that work for them and reduce their social isolation.
Find out more about Stay Up Late
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow continues her conversation with Bob Etzel from iSocial. Bob explains the different motivators for going on the program as well as the importance of having supportive peers and role models who reflect your experiences. He also talks about how iSocial provides a framework that enables individuals to leverage their unique strengths within a workplace. Bob also discusses why integrating neurodiverse individuals into an organisation can be beneficial not only for the bottom line but also provide a strategic advantage to the business.
https://www.isocialskills.com/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Bob Etzel about how the iSocial program works, using a structured approach and the role of moderators in fostering confidence and social skills. He details the transformation of iSocial from a research program using avatars to a Zoom-based, real-world community. Bob also talks about the importance of matching people with common interests to lead to lasting connections and mutual support.
https://www.isocialskills.com/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow discusses her experience of supporting her daughter while she was on a supported internship. Debra explains the importance of trusting the internship process and why focusing on creating a supportive home environment provides the support a young person needs. She also talks about the challenge of letting go and learning to respect and trust the young person's growing independence.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow shares four tips for getting your young person ready for going on a supported internship. Debra talks about the the importance of talking about work early, doing thorough research, building essential skills and attitudes at home, and seeking out work experiences.
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Ellie Hedley-Dent about the approach Team Domenica takes in engaging with employers to hire young people with additional needs. She discusses the importance of understanding employer preconceptions, maintaining an open conversation, and sharing other employer stories. Ellie also explains the importance of providing bespoke training and providing ongoing support.
https://teamdomenica.com/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks to Ellie Hedley Dent, the Employer Partnership Manager at Team Domenica, about their employment program. Ellie explains their initial focus is on building foundational skills and providing work experience to prepare their candidates to move into a Supported Internship. Using an holistic approach, Team Domenica equips young people with the tools they need to succeed in their careers and beyond.
https://teamdomenica.com/
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In this episode, host Debra Caldow talks about the importance of helping our young people to develop the abilities and the skills they need in life. She emphasizes they must also develop those attitudes that make their success in whatever they choose to do much more likely. She also talks about how the type and level of support we give to our children will evolve as we give them the space they need to live their own lives.
https://bit.ly/independentcooking
In this episode, host Debra Caldow reflects on the challenges faced when supporting young people with additional needs to transition from school to the next stages of life. She discusses two key lessons she learned during the process: the need to plan far ahead beyond the immediate steps and staying open to various options by continuously researching.
https://bit.ly/independentcooking
In this episode with parent Kay Laidler, Debra Caldow discusses how Kay is working with other families to create a housing solution for their young people. She discusses the ongoing process, why natural friendships between housemates are important, and the challenges they are facing in terms of finding the right funding and support. Kay also talks about the importance of planning and persistence in pursuing their housing objectives.
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In this episode, I’m talking to Kay about her family's journey as she supports her son to move out of home and live his life. We talk about the challenges including the feelings of isolation and the impact that the judgments of others can have. But we also talk about the importance of community and how it sustains us in difficult times. We discuss how the focus changes as our children become young adults when issues like employability and housing become the focus of the future.
Knowledge is built on the sharing of ideas. That’s certainly something I believe in strongly, and in this week’s episode, I talk about why I share ideas from wherever in the world I find them. By listening to others we can quickly identify what’s worked, and what hasn’t, and ensure we don’t make the same mistakes. By doing that we can accelerate progress in so many areas like employment, housing, and inclusive communities.
https://www.youtube.com/@RedGiraffeSolutions
In this second part of a conversation with Will Hoermann from Marbridge, we explore the evolving expectations that drive what an organization like Marbridge does and how that looks different for each person they support. Will also shares his insights on the importance of planning from both a financial and emotional perspective and provides some useful tips drawn from his experiences working with families.
https://www.marbridge.org/
The housing options available have changed as people’s expectations have changed. A good example of this is Marbridge, and in this episode, Will Hoermann, Director of Admissions for Marbridge, explains how Marbridge started as a working ranch over 70 years ago and has now grown into a community that supports multiple levels of assisted living. Will discusses the admissions process and the opportunities provided by having links with the local community. He also discusses the importance of researching all the options early so that the transition into somewhere like Marbridge is made easier.
https://www.marbridge.org/
In this episode, I’m talking about the importance of giving young people with additional needs more choices to foster independence. We already know about the lack of choice in areas like employment, housing, and care, and the impact that has. But often there are missed opportunities around choice and I’m sharing my personal experiences on how to encourage choice-making at home, and why it is part of the gradual process of letting go and allowing our young people to learn from the choices they make so that they develop the skills they will need in the future.
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In this episode which is the second part of my conversation with Rosie Barnes from Satsuma Neighbour, we talk more about the vision of how the project will look and why projects like this are so important in enabling independent living with the right kind of support available when it is needed. We also talk about the role that housing plays in reducing segregation, promoting connection, and reducing isolation.
https://www.satsumaneighbour.org/
In this episode, my guest Rosie Barnes shares her journey as a parent, from writing a book 'Understanding Stanley, Looking Through Autism' to helping her son find a housing solution that’s right for him. Rosie discusses the challenges faced by families looking for inclusive housing options in their communities. She talks about the radical concepts behind 'Satsuma Neighbour', a project she started which will create an urban community that fosters inclusivity and neighbourliness.
https://www.satsumaneighbour.org/
In this episode, I’m talking about our approach to supporting our daughter to learn to cook for herself without the need for any support or supervision. Our solution involved discarding conventional cooking techniques that didn't work and looking for new options. In our case, it’s meant using an air fryer a slow cooker, and five-ingredient recipes. By adapting recipes for the food she wanted to make, this approach has enabled her to cook independently.
To find out more about the course we have developed based on our experiences visit https://bit.ly/independentcooking
In this second part of my conversation with Julia Wright from Ken’s Krew, we discuss the importance of work experience in transition programs and the improvements that have taken place in these programs which are enabling more young people to be work-ready. She also offers advice to families about how to plan ahead and why planning is so important because it makes that move from education to employment much more likely to happen.
https://kenskrew.org/
https://www.facebook.com/kenskrewjobs/
In this episode, we learn about Ken's Crew, an organization co-founded by parents through a partnership with Home Depot. Julia Wright from Ken’s Krew shares how they facilitate meaningful employment for young adults with additional needs through partnerships with a variety of organizations providing intensive training and ongoing support. Julia also discusses some of the challenges faced, such as communication skills and parental concerns, and the importance of sensitivity training for colleagues.
https://kenskrew.org/
https://www.facebook.com/kenskrewjobs/
In this second part of a conversation with Mel Simmonds, from Hidden Gem Services, we focus on what we can do at home to help make the transition into paid work smoother for our young people. When they go into their first job, they will have lots of new information to take in and skills to learn. However, the transition will be made easier if we have already helped them build transferable skills they can use at work. Mel provides some practical examples of how to do this as well as explaining the role we can play in developing their confidence by discussing their daily work experiences and encouraging independent decision-making. She also touches on the potential pitfalls of parents acting as job coaches.
https://www.hiddengemservices.co.uk/
In this episode with Mel Simmonds from Hidden Gem Services, we dive into the world of job coaching, outlining the importance of support, understanding, and adaptability in creating successful employment options for young people with additional needs. Mel discusses the challenges faced, including inconsistencies in job roles and management as well as the positives that come from the cultural shifts that can occur within organizations.
https://www.hiddengemservices.co.uk/
In this episode, I share my journey of navigating parental fears and learning to trust my daughter's abilities. Despite her successful year in her job, my unspoken concerns about her future surfaced, impacting her more than I realized. This episode reflects on how difficult it is not to let our fears limit our children’s potential. I also talk about the importance of giving my daughter the dignity of risk, respecting her independence, and planning for a future where she can thrive, even when I’m not around.
Every journey starts somewhere, and for most of us, it starts at home with those closest to us, encouraging us, and believing in us. In this week’s episode with Laura Davis from BASE we discuss the important role families play in shaping the future outcomes of children. We discuss the challenges of navigating the support available and the role of school in better preparing young people for work. We also talk about the enormous impact that specialized job coaches can have and how employment enhances life expectancy.
https://www.base-uk.org
Collaboration can speed up change, but it requires coordination and management to make that happen. This week’s guest Laura Davis, Chief Executive of the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) knows all about this. In this episode, she not only shares her personal journey but also discusses the pivotal role BASE plays in championing employment opportunities for everyone. She also talks about the role of BASE in developing best practice standards around supported employment to enable their members to better serve the people they work with. Laura also discusses the need for a systemic change, driven by collaboration between employers, government, and supported employment services to create meaningful employment opportunities and foster inclusive workplaces.
https://www.base-uk.org/home
Having more opportunities for paid work for young people with additional needs relies on finding more employers to offer those opportunities. In this episode Andrea Randall-Smith from Little Gate explains the strategies they use to manage the relationships with the employers they work with to ensure more of these opportunities become available. She discusses the value of storytelling and working with other local organisations so that the focus is on what employers need as well as what their future employees need and how the support they provide to employers can help them transform their employment practices.
https://www.littlegate.org.uk/
When opportunities aren’t available, sometimes we need to create them. That is part of the reason that Little Gate came about. In this episode Andrea Randall-Smith, CEO of Little Gate, shares the history and ethos of the organization and how they work to change the future of the young people they serve by giving them to skills to move into paid work. We also discuss the importance of getting feedback, sharing best practice, and working with other organizations to maximize the opportunities for everyone.
https://www.littlegate.org.uk/
In this episode, I’m talking about the importance of structured planning for children with additional needs and having short, medium and long-term plans for various aspects of their life around daily living, purpose, relationships, and finance. This ensures not only continuous progress but is also better preparation for their futures. A good plan has clear targets actionable steps, and a realistic timeline. I talk about each of these and how to use the Red Giraffe Route map and the VOCAL method (Vision, Options, Create, Assess, Legacy) to put together a plan that not only supports their future but give you piece of mind as well. I also share personal examples to illustrate how we have supported our daughter to plan her future and develop her own life plan.
Find our more about the Red Giraffe Route Map & VOCAL Method
We all want good neighbors but of course what makes a good neighbor differs for everyone. In this second part of a conversation with Ann Wilkinson from WeBUILT we talk about how they have built a neighborhood where people look out for each other when they need to. Ann explains how the focus on choice, predictability and autonomy has helped to reduce challenging behaviors. She also discusses how the WEBUILT community fosters empathy and support among members which in turn transforms lives and, in many cases, helps rebuild family relationships. Plus, we also discuss how other families can build their own communities using the WeBUILT model for ideas and inspiration.
https://www.webuilt.info/
When we live in a place that we like everything else is made just that bit easier. But sometimes finding that place can seem an impossible task. In this episode I’m sharing one family’s journey to find that place for their son. My guest is Ann Wilkinson from WeBUILT who shares her story from exploring various options and realizing these didn't fit his needs to creating WeBUILT. She shares how they built a collaborative community where people have ownership and control over their living arrangements. WeBUILT stands for We Build Unique Independent Lives Together which is exactly what they have done.
https://www.webuilt.info/
Self-employment is viable option, but it becomes even more so when there is clear evidence of how well it can work. In this episode Sam Everard, founder and CEO of Samee Charity shares some examples of where young people with additional needs have created great businesses based not only on their skills but also on their passions and often, because of their lived experience, an understanding of what others need. Sam also talks the benefits of self-employment in offering flexibility and control, which is not always possible with traditional employment roles.
https://samee.co.uk/
One way into paid employment is to work for yourself and that’s the focus of this episode with Sam Everard, founder and CEO of Samee Charity. She discusses the organization's mission to support young people with additional needs into becoming self-employed. Sam also discusses the barriers, how to address these, and what supporting someone into self-employment involves.
https://samee.co.uk/
In this solo episode, I discuss what independence really means for young people like my daughter. Is it just about having the skills to do more for herself or are there other things that she should have the opportunities to consider? I discuss this using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory as a way to structure my thoughts on whether or not it's enough to just focus on those daily living skills and relationships for our young people or whether there are more things to consider when it comes to supporting our young people to be truly independent in the way that they choose to live their lives.
Learning new things, having new experiences and giving back to our community build self-confidence and self-esteem. However, to often people with additional needs aren’t given the opportunity to do any of these things. In this second part of my conversation with Lex Ali, from Big Life Adventure, we talk about the value in lifelong learning and the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to give back to their communities and to society. We talk about how the Big Life Adventure project will help support this continuous learning and enable people to connect with others.
https://peak15support.co.uk/bl-adventure
For most people one of the great things about becoming an adult is getting to make their own life choices, dreaming about what they want to do, and making decisions about how their life will look now and in the future. But for many people with additional needs these opportunities aren’t easily available. In this episode my guest Lex Ali from Big Life Adventure talks about why this is happening and what can be done about. The Big Life Adventure project she discusses is definitely part of the answer.
https://peak15support.co.uk/bl-adventure
Breaking down the barriers to inclusive employment opportunities is proving to be a challenge. But progress is being made and what that looks like is one of the things I’m discussing in this week’s episode with my guest Vinny De Falco from Think Forward. We talk about the programs that Think Forward have previously run, what they learned from those and how that information has guided their next program. We also discuss how to engage with employers and the external factors that also impact on the number of opportunities available. To bring about change means acting, learning along the way and changing what does not work and that is exactly what Think Forward is doing.
https://thinkforward.org.uk/
The transition from education to employment for young people with additional needs requires planning in order to be effective. In this episode with Vinny De Falco from Think Forward we talk about the importance of early transition planning and how a structured and supportive transition program with personalized coaching can help young people develop the skills and confidence they need. We also talk about the need for collaboration and knowledge sharing among everyone, including families, involved in supporting the young person.
https://thinkforward.org.uk/
It's a solo episode this week and I'm talking about the role that expectations have in the way we support and inspire our young people to achieve all they are capable of. Our expectations of them guide their expectations of themselves and can also help them to ignore the low expectations of others.
The use of technology is embedded into our work lives and for people with additional needs it is often assistive technology that enables them to do their job. But often the right technology is not in place or provided by employers and that is one of the topics discussed in this episode of the podcast with my guest in this week’s episode Alex Barker from AbilityNet. Alex discusses why it is as much about mindset as it is about the technology itself when it comes to making sure that the right technology is provided for employees to do their jobs most effectively.
https://abilitynet.org.uk/
When we think of assistive technology or any technology that can support our young people with additional needs to become more independent, we often start at the point of thinking it could be expensive or complicated to learn to use. But the reality is that today the first bit of assistive technology that our young people should access is their phone or tablet. The built-in features of these devices have changed the way we think about assistive technology as my guest in this week’s episode Alex Barker from AbilityNet explains. Alex brings, his lived experience, and how he uses assistive technology, both in his role at AbilityNet and in his life to discuss why we need to make better use of what is easily accessible to all of us.
https://abilitynet.org.uk/
When we think of community, we first think about the friendship element of being around other people. But there is more to being part of a community than just that. When we become part of a community, we have the opportunity to learn from those around us. These are the other benefits of being in a community. And why this is such an important part of community is the focus of the second part of my conversation with Sarah Towler from CASPA. We all know community is important but it's not just about the people, it's what we learn from being around those people.
https://caspabromley.org.uk/
Community is defined as people with common interests living in a particular area but in reality, it’s less about location and more about belonging, about connection and feeling part of something. In this episode, my guest is Sarah Towler and the organization we are talking about is CASPA which does all of these things and more. CASPA stands for Community Autistic Support Pride and Advocacy, and it provides a variety of support services to autistic/neurodivergent children and adults and their families. In our conversation, we talked about why community is so important and the ways CASPA supports its community. Having people to support us through the good and bad times will always be important and part of what makes us all human.
https://caspabromley.org.uk/
Every day we all do the same things the same way because it’s these habits that make it easier to live our lives. Habits are just skills we have that we use over and over again and for my daughter with additional needs, all the skills she has built over time are now habits that allow her to live more independently. Those skills she has like cooking going to her job or managing her money, the things she does the same way each time are all her habits. In this episode, I’m talking about some of the ideas around habits, the habit loop cue, routine, and reward, habit stacking, and the role motivation and ability play in developing habits.
Check Out The Red Giraffe Solutions Cooking Videos
The barriers to employment for young people with additional needs are high but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible as this week’s episode shows. In part 2 of my conversation with Adam and Deb, Adam talks about his experience of work and why his current role is working for him. Adam believes it comes down to the right support at the right time and matching the individual to the job.
Sharing our stories helps us realize we are not alone. Hearing someone else’s story can also be a great way to learn new ideas we can use in our own family’s lives. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of Adam and his family. My guests are Adam, and his mother Deb. Adam talks about moving schools from a mainstream school to a specialist school as well as the challenges he found around transitioning out of full-time education.
We should all have the right to choose how we live our lives, even if that means taking risks and making mistakes. But too often people with additional needs aren’t being given opportunities to take risks and to learn from their mistakes. My guest this week Carol Smail shares her experiences of the impact this lack of choice has, as well as what can happen when people are given the opportunity to make their own choices. Too often the focus is on reducing risk, but that only reduces choice and doesn’t necessarily make anyone safer.
Open Future Learning Video
Finding friends with common interests can be difficult for anyone and for young people with additional needs it is often more challenging because their social network is smaller. That is why projects like Gig Buddies are so important as my guest in this episode Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney explains. Carol not only talks about the vision behind Gig Buddies but the role it plays in breaking down stereotypes about people with additional needs.
Gig Buddies Sydney
Find Your nearest Gig Buddies
Start Your Own Gig Buddies
Find out about the history of Gig Buddies - Episode 68 Stay Up Late
Too often low expectations for people with additional needs have translated into fewer opportunities, particularly when it comes to paid employment. For change to happen, around work, more employers are needed which means employers will need to change their attitude toward employing people with a disability. But what is also necessary is a change in society’s perceptions of what a person with additional needs is capable of. In this episode with Peter Bacon CEO of Disability Employment Australia, we discuss where these perceptions come from and whether a more integrated education system might be part of the answer.
Find out more about Disability Employment Australia
Inclusive employers change the future for our children, but there simply isn’t enough of them. In this episode with Peter Bacon, CEO of Disability Employment Australia, I’m discussing why this is the case, and what actions could be taken to get more employers to become inclusive employers.
Is some form of legal framework necessary, as Peter suggests, and are most employers willing but unclear on how to take the next steps? We all know the benefits of inclusive employment; the challenge is making employers understand the benefits easily outweigh the risks.
Find out more about Disability Employment Australia
In this final episode of this Finance Future series, I’m talking to Graham Caldow about the value of giving financial independence gradually and building financial skills over time. We discuss the things that have worked for our family including multiple accounts and tracking spending. Finance is just one part of our legacy to our daughter but in lots of ways it’s the foundation of all the other things she will do in her life.
Graham's Book: What's Possible - Plan A Better Future For Your Young Adult With Additional Needs
Planning for the future is difficult when restrictions exist around how much money you're allowed to save. In this episode with Jill Cornfield, I’m discussing how ABLE accounts can help mitigate this restriction and enable people to think longer-term and plan their financial future.
ABLE National Resource Centre
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Managing our own money is challenging. The temptation to spend is never far away and we need tools and techniques that can help us make the right choices most of the time. In this second part of my conversation with Karen Hassett from PATF we are focusing on some ways to help our young people develop those money habits that will help them make better spending decisions. However much money we have, we still need to develop good money management skills, so we always get the most value from what we have to spend.
Find all the PATF Guides here https://patf.us/what-we-do/financial-education/
Money Talks Webinar Series https://patf.us/money-talks/webinars/
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network - ASAN - search this site for useful financial-related resources as well as information on a variety of other topics.
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Getting started on developing any plan can be a challenge but when it comes to our finances we can often get stuck at the first step. In this episode with Karen Hassett from PATF we talk about how to get started by thinking about a decision-making process when it comes to money and using simple ideas like tracking spending and identifying priorities to move forward. But we also talk about the need to give ourselves grace and understanding about decisions we might have made in the past because what really matters is what happens next not what happened then.
Find all the PATF Guides here https://patf.us/what-we-do/financial-education/
Other Great Resources https://patf.us/resource-category/credit-finance/
Money Talks Webinar Series https://patf.us/money-talks/webinars/
https://www.studymoney.us/
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The financial future for young people with additional needs can be challenging. They are more likely to have lower incomes, less likely to be employed full time and government assistance can be difficult to get and even more difficult to keep. So planning ahead to create a solid financial platform is essential in this new series - Financial Future I’ll be exploring the challenges, what solutions are out there, and how to plan ahead so that future financial security is achievable. In this episode, I’m starting by talking about some of the questions to consider like who should control what and when. Money is a topic many of us try to ignore but so much of our children’s future depends on us making sure we have plans in place around it.
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In this episode I’m looking back over this latest series which has focused on the role that technology plays and will play in the lives of young people with additional needs. I’ll be discussing what assistive technology really means today and talk from my own experience about how technology supports my own daughter to live the life she wants. I’ll also explore what the future holds and how technology will increasingly enable our young people to live more independently and will enhance the opportunities available to them.
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The best technology makes our lives easier and connects us with what we need. But often the different devices we use don’t connect with each other or we don’t see the value in connecting them together. In this episode with Ben Wood, from CCS Insight, we are talking about how that is going to change as companies realise they need to work together. We also discuss why greater connectivity will enable better quality independent living and have a positive impact on our safety, our health, and our wellbeing.
Find out more about Ben https://www.ccsinsight.com/
Find out more about the Matter Standard https://csa-iot.org/all-solutions/matter/
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What’s the difference between a service user and a service owner? Quite a lot according to Padhraic Dormer from Enable Ireland. Padhraic explains the difference, as well as talking about his role as a virtual service support worker. He also discusses reasons why virtual services have proven to be so valuable in combatting social isolation. Padhraic is an early adopter of smart home technology and shares how he uses this technology to support him to live his life, and why it’s the technology that connects us to other people that is the most valuable.
Find out more at https://enableireland.ie/
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Using technology to support independent living seems an obvious choice. However, it isn’t as this week’s guest Siobhan Long from Enable Ireland explains. What we consider mainstream technology can also be assistive technology, and with this become more accessible and more affordable. Siobhan also discusses the importance of knowledge, not just how to use technology but what’s available to enable people to live independently. She also discusses why progress has been slow when it comes to funding of these technologies and why an Assistive Technology Passport could help with this.
Find out more at https://enableireland.ie/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
Technology is often developed with the focus on what it does rather than how it will be used. This week’s guest Lee Blemings explains why that approach is wrong and why it also needs to be about enjoyment, about fun, and about connecting people in a meaningful way. He also talks about AI, the impact AI has already had on creating technology solutions, and the possibilities that AI will help open up in the future, particularly in terms of smart home technology. So while there is clearly some ethical issues to be addressed, the potential is there for technology to really change how people live their lives.
Find out more about https://sensoryguru.com/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
Even with technology all around us there are still barriers in place which lead to digital exclusion. In this episode with Jane Seale we explore some of the reasons for this and what needs to change. She discusses why attitude is so important in creating digital inclusion and why it’s not just about access to technology, it’s also about use, empowerment and participation. Technology is a great way to break down barriers but only when there is genuine digital inclusion does that become a possibility.
Access all the SeeAbility Toolkits here
https://www.seeability.org/resources?resource_specialism=64
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
With technology changing so quickly, we are often unsure of what is available and what is possible. In this episode Wendy Harkins Davis of Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) explains why no question is ever wrong, and that because with so many options available most questions can be answered in the positive. Wendy and I discuss a variety of topics from what technology is available to the process of identifying, testing, and then funding that technology. Although geographically focused, PATF offers a myriad of information and resources that can help anyone looking for ideas on how to harness technology to support their young people to move towards living more independent lives.
Access the resources from PATF at
https://patf.us/
More about Smart Homes: https://smarthomesmadesimple.org/
Smart Homes Self Assessment: https://smarthomesmadesimple.org/how-it-helps/self-assessment/
Smart Homes Made Simple Guide: https://patf.us/what-we-do/smart-homes-made-simple/
Alexa’s Video: https://smarthomesmadesimple.org/uncategorized/alexa-tells-us-about-her-smart-home-devices-and-how-she-uses-them/
Funding Guide: https://patf.us/who-we-are/publications/funding-your-assistive-technology/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
Welcome to a new series on Technology – Changing the Future. From assistive technology to help aid communication to smart home devices that help make people safer, technology can change lives. In this first episode of the series, I’m talking to Libby Wilkins, Head of Accessibility and Digital Applications at The Oaks Specialist College. Libby outlines how they are using technology to support young people to build independence skills as well as support them into employment. Libby also talks about the importance of using technology that is readily available and the role that plays in building confidence and creating inclusion. The Oaks College was recently awarded Microsoft Showcase College status, no doubt in part as recognition of the pioneering role they are playing in utilizing technology to change expectations for young people with additional needs.
Find out more about The Oaks Specialist College
https://www.theoaks.ac.uk/
https://feweek.co.uk/specialist-college-sweeps-outstanding-in-first-inspection/
And how they use technology
https://www.teachingtimes.com/project-moto-making-the-most-of-mobile-technologies-to-improve-employability-and-independence/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
Planning the future for our children with additional needs is not only challenging, it's crucial. In this final episode of the Planning the Journey series, I’m talking about how to navigate each of the four lines Daily Living Relationships, Purpose and Financial using the VOCAL method. VOCAL stands for Vision, Options, Create, Assess and Legacy. Using this model helps identify the end goaI, identify the options available, create a plan that gets you started, assess over time what might need changing and, finally, leave a legacy of confidence, ability and self-worth. Building a life plan isn't easy but this model makes it easier to create something that will work.
Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
More on Microboards https://expandingworlds.com/episode119/
For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/
Providing financial security for our children with additional needs when we are no longer around is one of our greatest challenges. In this episode I talk about why it is achievable once we decide how much is enough. I also discuss the levels of control to consider, the tools available and the factors to consider when thinking about who will support them after you. I also look at some strategies I’ve used to help my own daughter develop money skills so she can control her day-to-day financial life. By providing our children with a financial foundation we create for them the opportunity to live their own lives, find their purpose and develop reciprocal relationships.
Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
More on Microboards https://expandingworlds.com/episode119/
For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/
Having a purpose provides meaning and direction to our lives. In this episode I talk about ways to support our children to find purpose and the importance of a Presumption of Purpose. I also discuss the role of mindset in developing a presumption of purpose for both ourselves and our children. When we support our children to find purpose, paid or unpaid, we are helping them develop their sense of identity, which helps them live a more meaningful and satisfying life.
Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
Podcasts on Purpose https://expandingworlds.com/focuspacks-purpose/
For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/
Relationships matter. Without them our young people can become isolated. We all have our stories of challenging family relationships and friendships lost. But as our children get older, we need to focus on helping them independently manage the reality of social interactions. In this episode I talk about the difference between dynamic and static relationships and why it matters. I also discuss the AAA approach I’ve used to support my daughter: Ability, Access, Acceptance. These three factors can serve as a structure as you support your child to build their relationship skills.
Useful Links
https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2017/03/list-of-social-skills-to-teach-kids.html
https://suelarkey.com.au/promoting-social-understanding-social-scripts/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/
In this series I will be focusing on exploring in more depth the 4 core topics that the podcast has always focused around: daily living, relationships, purpose and financial. In this episode the focus is daily living skills. I will be sharing some techniques I used to successfully support my own daughter to build these skills. These techniques, which include scaffolding and habit stacking, can be invaluable in helping support young people to build those daily living skills they need as they journey towards greater independence.
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/
Where will my daughter live when I’m no longer around? It’s a big question, and some of the ideas explored in the Housing Options series just might help answer that question. In this episode I discuss some of those ideas, and why we might need to rethink our assumptions around support. I also talk about why choice and community must sit at the center of any of the housing solutions offered to our children.
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
It’s difficult to develop better housing options if we don’t know what people want and need. This week's guests Chris Hatton and Lauren Blood were involved with a research project which will in part help to address this issue. The 200 Lives project looked at the quality of supported living and residential care in England. Chris and Lauren discuss the research findings and some of the implications which are relevant to anyone, regardless of location, looking for the right housing solution for a young person with additional needs.
Read the report: https://www.ndti.org.uk/projects/evaluating-supported-living-and-residential-care-for-adults-with-learning-d
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
For too long housing solutions for young people with additional needs have failed to consider the importance of inclusion. This week's guests Paula Manion and Donna Budway, from Our Stomping Ground, are changing that by developing housing solutions that have inclusive communities at their heart. They discuss how the housing model has evolved, why Our Stomping Ground uses the housing first model, and the impact that has on young people’s lives.
Find out more https://ourstompingground.org/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
Creating a housing model for young adults with additional needs that really works means doing things differently. This is something Lisa Liberatore from US Autism Homes understands. We discuss the three-pillar solution they developed and how that has helped create an inclusive community. Lisa also discusses the important role science can play in helping young people develop the skills to live more independent and, more importantly, happier lives.
Find out more https://usautismhomes.org/
https://luvmichael.com/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
Finding somewhere to live is about more than just about finding a place, it's about building a life. Community is an important part of that life and how to build communities is the topic of this episode with Kathy Meyer from Everyone Needs A Community. We talk not only about why community matters so much but also about understanding that communities need to be a reflection of where they are and how the people there live their lives. We also discuss microboards and their role in strengthening the community around our children.
Find out more at https://e-n-a-c.org/
e.n.a.c. on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068497650763
Microboard Links
https://velacanada.org/
https://www.velamicroboardsni.com/
https://www.communityworks.info/
https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/blog/microboards-and-guardianship/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
Finding Supported Living that works means bringing together many things, from finding a property in the right location with the right access, to identifying a support provider and accessing the right level of support. This week's guest Lisa Brown is determined to build a network that brings together the different people and organizations involved, so everyone can work together to increase the chances of finding a suitable supported living home for anyone that needs it.
Find out more at https://lisabrown.uk/
Lisa’s Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/supportedlivingproperty/
Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook @expandingworlds
Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
Finding Supported Living that works means bringing together many things, from finding a property in the right location with the right access, to identifying a support provider and accessing the right level of support. This week's guest Lisa Brown is determined to build a network that brings together the different people and organizations involved, so everyone can work together to increase the chances of finding a suitable supported living home for anyone that needs it.
Find out more at https://lisabrown.uk/
Lisa’s Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/supportedlivingproperty/
Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook @expandingworlds
Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
When we imagine where our children might live, when we’re no longer around, it isn’t just the place they will live, it’s the community around them and how they will live their daily lives that we also imagine. In this week’s episode I’m talking to Mike Sweeney about how he, and other parents, are working together to bring all these things from imagination into reality.
Find out more https://www.endeavor21.org/
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
No matter how alone we sometimes feel there is always someone who understands our journey even if they are taking a different road than us. In this episode, as part of the series on Housing Options, my guest is Eliza Factor, author of Strange Beauty, who shares her story, the story of her son Felix and the story of Lonely Worm Farm. Lonely Worm Farm may have started as a place for Felix to live and thrive but it’s also about creating a community that cares about each other and about inspiring people to understand themselves and others better. Like any good story this will get you thinking about and imagining a better world.
Visit https://www.elizafactor.net/ to find out more about Eliza
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds
Continuing with the series on Housing Options, this week the focus is on Supported Living with Jonathan Spencer the CEO of Zetetick Housing. We discuss what supported living involves and the challenges faced in finding the right homes as well as the importance of having a choice in where and who we live. The model of Zetetick is much more than simply finding someone a place to live; it's about supporting people to find somewhere they can be happy.
Visit https://zhc.org.uk/
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For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit
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Moving into our own space is part of becoming an adult and embracing the independence that brings. In this new series on Housing Options I’m exploring some of the housing models that are available for people with additional needs. The series starts off with Main Street, an innovative project literally built from the ground up. Jillian Copeland the founder of Main Street talks about why Main street exists and its core values of affordable, inclusive, accessible living.
She discusses the impact it has had in transforming the lives of its residents and what the future will look like. The Main Street approach provides a model for how to build inclusive spaces, not just a place to live.
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Visit https://mainstreetconnect.org/
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Solo episode this week where I talk about what I’ve learnt in the conversations I’ve had as part of the Grace Eyre Profile Series. This has been about acknowledging the past, celebrating the present and focusing on the future. Supporting our children towards a better future needs to be a joined up approach and this is why hearing from organizations like Grace Eyre who offer that more holistic support is a useful resource for all of us as we support our children on their journeys.
Thanks for listening to this podcast. If you found it useful please with others you know who would find it useful.
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Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/
Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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Everyone should have the right to decide their own future but too often people with additional needs simply aren't given a voice. In this episode my two guests are Cleo Dibb, the Our Voices Manager and Jenny Good who was involved in the Rethink Disability campaign. Both are discussing the imperative of giving people the opportunity to share their lived experience, be listened to and be actively involved in all the decisions that impact on their lives.
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Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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Getting into paid employment is a major challenge for people with additional needs. Programs that support people to develop their employability skills and enable them to break down the barriers into work play an essential role. In this episode with Evie Halligan and Stuart Leaney we discuss the Work Buddy and Let’s Work Together projects run at Grace Eyre, how these operate, the challenges, the successes and why getting into paid work is so important in enabling people to live more independent lives.
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Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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One of the core skills for an independent life is independent travel. At Grace Eyre the Travel Buddy Project focuses on supporting people to develop the confidence, self awareness and knowledge they need to travel independently. In this episode with Gary Cunningham, the Travel Buddy Team Leader, we are discussing exactly how the scheme works and the impact it has on increasing the opportunities for people with additional needs. Gary also shares some strategies that parents can use to help develop their children’s independent travel skills.
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Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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Social interactions are an essential part of being human, providing us with connections and often a purpose. In this episode with Jenny Good from the Friendship Group and Colleen Maytham and Mario Antoon from Active Lives we explore the ways to make and keep these connections and the increasingly important role of technology in helping bring people together to explore common interests and support each other.
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Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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Sharing our lives is what we all do but often we don't realize the impact we can have on other people's lives. In this episode with David Matthews – Head of Service Shared Lives we are talking about what the Shared Lives scheme is all about and exactly how it works. We also discuss why it is such an effective way to support people to progress towards more independent living as well as why it offers a powerful way to fight social isolation and promote inclusion.
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Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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Having the right to choose how we live our lives is a fundamental human right and one that in the past many people with additional needs haven’t been given. In this episode with Paul Barker – Head of Service, Choices Brighton & Hove at Grace Eyre we discuss how to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to choose their own future. We also talk about the importance of expectations and how that is driving change.
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Moving into a place of our own is a major life event. For a person with additional needs it can often be the first significant step on their journey to greater independence. Just what that place might look like and how it all works is the focus of this episode with Chris Hill, Head of Housing & Estates at Grace Eyre. Chris explains the different housing options that are available. He also talks about how housing preferences and the level of support needed will inevitably change over time as well as the importance of finding people the right place to call home, not just a place to live.
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Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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The future can be scary if you really don't know what your options are. Having a roadmap with ideas of where to start would help and what that involves is the topic of this episode with Tom Conroy, the new business manager at Grace Eyre. Tom talks about not only his role as the first point of contact and what that can mean from identifying employment opportunities to explaining housing options, but also the challenges of the role. These challenges often occur because people are unaware of their options. Tom explains what a transition roadmap should look like and how having one would make the future not only easier to navigate but might also open up more opportunities that haven't been previously considered.
Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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Welcome to the first episode of this Profile Series on The Grace Eyre Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting people with additional needs to live their lives exactly how they want to. In this episode I’m talking to Jackie Reeve about the Sharing Our Voices project. This episode is about starting at the beginning, looking at the history of the organization not just from a timeline perspective but from what can be learnt from history. You will hear from Jackie how this project provided not only a better understanding of how the Grace Eyre Foundation came into existence but also the impact it had on the lives of the individuals who got to share their stories. All effective organizations change over time, this project, initiated by Grace Eyre, illustrates the right way to look back at the past and learn from it to move forward.
Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/
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The Bridging The Gap series has been all about highlighting some of the organisations that are providing solutions for young people, so they have more options when they want to move from school into employment. The key is to both engage with potential employers as well as provide young people with the skills and support they need.
But the role parents play in bridging the gap shouldnt be forgotten. In this solo episode I talk about what we as parents can do For and With our children to ensure we set them up for a successful transition from school towards a life with purpose.
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In this part 2 of my conversation with the team at Forward2Employment (F2E) the focus is on the role of the job coach as well as hearing from current interns and from graduates of the supported internships program.
Two of the job coaches, Robert Harris and Christine Richards, talk about why their role encompasses more than just coaching the intern in the workplace but also helping them build the skills they need as they move on from this program.
We hear from some of the current interns about why they chose the supported internships route and what positive impacts they've already seen from being involved. Two successful graduates of the program, who have transitioned into employment, talk about their journey and what being in a paid job means to them.
The F2E supported internship program has already proven that when the right support is in place and the right people are involved then change will happen.
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Forward2Employment: https://www.forward2employment.co.uk/
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In this episode of the Bridging The Gap series I’m talking to the team at Forward2Employment (F2E) about their supported internships program. This episode is really about getting the foundations in place with Liz Halton, the Head of F2E, explaining why the program came about and how it was created as well as the vision of F2E to change the employment expectations of young people with additional needs. Angie Gillett, the Employment Engagement Officer, discusses how they have sold their vision to employers and along the way changed opinions about what young people are capable of, when given the right opportunities. Tina Pincott, a job coach at F2E, addresses the importance of training the other employees in an organisation and why it leads to increased understanding and greater potential for an inclusive workplace for everyone.
Like many organisations that support our young people F2E grew out of a gap in provision but they are doing more than just providing a single solution, they are changing the expectations of the young people they support, the perceptions of the employers they work with and the attitudes of the communities they work in.
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Forward2Employment: https://www.forward2employment.co.uk/
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Time for a celebration and to reflect on the journey so far. It all started out with an idea that there had to be more out there for my daughter. I saw that she and other children, with additional needs, need extra support, in specific areas, to build the skills that will enable them to live more independently as adults. This became our Route Map, and the topics of the podcast. There are 4 lines on the Route Map: Purpose, Daily Living, Relationships and Financial Independence. Each line needs to be travelled along but where to stop along the way will depend on each individual. In this 100th episode I talk about where my daughter is on each line and why I see the overall journey becoming easier.
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Connect with Debra -https://www.facebook.com/debra.caldow
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In this the second part of my conversation with staff and students from The Oaks Specialist College it’s all about the results. We hear from Joshua Epstein, the Careers Leader, about his role and the importance of job coaches but also making sure the young people they work with develop skills they can use when any support is removed. I also speak to five of the students from The Oaks about their experiences of work. Every single one of them has a clear presumption of employment, evidence that the approach at the Oaks is actually bridging that gap between school and the next steps in life.
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The Oaks Specialist College https://www.theoaks.ac.uk/
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In this the first episode of a new series on Bridging The Gap I’m talking to two people from The Oaks Specialist College based in the UK. This episode is really about vision. Gordon Tillman, the CEO, discusses why The Oaks came into existence and its role not only in changing the lives of the young people it supports but also changing the perceptions of businesses and communities. Jackie Thurtle, the Project Manager at The Oaks, discusses the challenges with bringing the vision into reality and the importance of reaching out to like minded individuals and organisations. The Oaks has a clear vision to bridge the gap by developing strategies to ensure they help as many young people as they can progress from school into the world of work as well as helping them build the skills they need to live the life they want.
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The Oaks Specialist College https://www.theoaks.ac.uk/
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In this the final episode of this Ways into Work series I’m doing a solo episode to talk about my learnings from the past 8 episodes. It’s definitely not a recap of the previous episodes but more my ideas around the two things I see as being pivotal in enabling many more young people to get into paid employment.
Firstly perceptions, if we change these we change everything. The soft bigotry of low expectations is there for young people with additional needs and through employment and helping employers understand so many of their perceptions are wrong the world of work will become more accessible and workplaces more inclusive.
Secondly parents, our role is to nurture and protect but it must also be to encourage our children to leave us one day, because we will have to leave them at some point. If we start developing in them a presumption of employment then it is much more likely they will one day move into the world of work in a way that empowers them.
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Hiring Chain: https://hiringchain.org/
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In this episode the focus is on Apprenticeships as one of the Ways Into Work. Mark Capper, the Business Development Manager at Mencap UK, discusses the role that supported internships and traineeships play in preparing people for work. He outlines how apprenticeships differ from these and the challenges that young people can face in getting an apprenticeship, often related to the apprenticeship standards as well as a reticence from some training providers to deliver more accessible programs. Mark details the ways in which apprenticeship could become more accessible, particularly through more flexible Maths and English requirements. He also provides an overview of the work Mencap is doing to help change policy in this area so that apprenticeships become a viable alternative for young people with additional needs.
Mencap Employment Services: https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/employment-services
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In this episode of The Ways Into Work series, the focus is on the barriers that prevent many young people, with additional needs, getting and keeping paid employment. Kirsty Timberlake from Neurodiversally Unbroken discusses the barriers that are in place and ways to break those barriers down. Kirsty is on a mission to educate and enlighten people, through her own life experiences and by sharing the latest research, to break down stereotypes and encourage people to think not assume. Kirsty discusses workplace stereotypes and the ongoing need to educate employers, particularly around workplace adjustments as well as why acceptance is always better than awareness.
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The focus of this episode, in the Ways Into Work series, is Supported Employment with David Stenning from The Education People. David talks about the Supported Employment model and putting the young person at the centre but also supporting those around them. He discusses how vocational profiling helps in teasing out the transferable skills that a young person may have. David explains why employer engagement and educating employers about issues like reasonable adjustments is so important. He also talks about the role parents can play as well as the importance of early career’s guidance from specialists in that area.
The Education People: https://www.theeducationpeople.org/
Resources:
12 core values: https://www.base-uk.org/nos
5 stages of Supported Employment: https://www.base-uk.org/what-supported-employment
Quality framework for Supported Employment: https://www.base-uk.org/sites/default/files/knowledgebase/SEQF_THEORY%20interactive.pdf
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In this the second part of Ways Into Work - Inclusive Job Boards Jane Hatton from Evenbreak discusses the importance of young people with additional needs learning to truly value the transferable work skills they already have, which have often been developed because of their life experiences. She also talks about the role parents play in helping create that sense of self worth in their children, reminding them of their unique talents and why these will be useful when they look for work. Jane also explains why employers are coming to the realisation that neurodiverse candidates are exactly what is needed in a changing workplace where being used to doing things differently is an asset. Finally she outlines the different resources and support that Evenbreak are able to provide to help every individual maximise their potential.
Evenbreak: https://www.evenbreak.co.uk/en
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In this episode of the Ways Into Work series we are talking to Jane Hatton from Evenbreak about how their inclusive Job Board is connecting employers with premium employees. Young people with additional needs can be extraordinary employees because they have already dealt with all the challenges their disability and often society has thrown at them. Evenbreak supports people to realise and maximise their own value and connects them with employers who appreciate their skills. As Jane explains, the barriers that exist are often based on employer and often societal perceptions, not the actual reality of an individual's unique skills and potential for contributing to an organisation.
Evenbreak: https://www.evenbreak.co.uk/en
Hiring Chain Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKku4RAWa4M
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Latest episode in the Ways Into Work series. In this episode we discuss with Richard Lamplough from My Employment Passport the role of local communities in providing paid work opportunities for young people with additional needs. In addition he explains how our own networks of friends and colleagues can be a valuable source of employment and work experience opportunities.
My Employment Passport https://www.myemploymentpassport.com/
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In this episode we continue the series Ways Into Work exploring the role of employers, education providers, government agencies and parents in creating Supported Internship programs that help young people with additional needs find and retain paid work. Claire Cookson, CEO of DFN Project Search also discusses why developing employability skills along with the presumption of employment needs to become the place we start at when it comes to education for our children.
DFN Project Search UK/Europe https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/
Project Search USA https://www.projectsearch.us/
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In this new series Ways Into Work we start off by looking at Supported Internships how they work and why this model has proved so successful at getting young people with additional needs into long term paid employment. Claire Cookson the CEO of DFN Project Search explains how the program works and the different people involved, such as job coaches. She also discusses why the way success is measured matters so much for programs like these.
DFN Project Search UK/Europe https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/
Project Search USA https://www.projectsearch.us/
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After speaking to organisations in both the UK and USA, I believe there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic in the future, despite the recent impact of employment opportunities for young people with additional needs due to Covid. It seems to me that we collectively have a stronger sense of community after the last year, and we place greater value on other human beings. If we capitalise on this change in priorities then, just maybe, we can change presumptions when it comes to employment.
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The pandemic will have a disproportionate effect on the lives of young people with additional needs. This is true. But whilst there are organisations out there like Spectrum designs then it’s not all bad news. In this episode, the final episode in my series on the impact of the pandemic on employment for young people with additional needs, I talk to Tim and Patrick from Spectrum Designs about how they have dealt with the last year and how they are committed to keep moving forward to create even more work opportunities. As they say we are a community and it’s time for communities to work together. To quote from from a Spectrum Designs post “When Social Isolation Is No Longer A Thing Let’s Make Sure It’s No Longer A Thing”
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Who opens a coffee shop during a pandemic? Well the guys at Able Coffee Roasters do! In this episode, part of the series on the impact of the pandemic on employment for young people with additional needs, I talk to Adeel and Anthony about exactly how they did this and why community support has helped them do even better than they had expected. Just like a good coffee this episode really is a wake up call to what is possible, even during a pandemic.
If you're ever near Huntington Beach, CA drop in order some coffee at https://www.theableworkers.com/
Neil Willows, from Pure Innovations, discusses the impact of Covid and the UK lockdown on the supported internship programs Pure Innovations runs. He talks about the effect it has had on paid employment opportunities and young people’s mental health. But he also outlines the ways they are working to open up job roles and find new ways to help young people get work placements that will enable them to one day move into paid employment.
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Alison Berkley from Invictus Enterprises talks about the impact of the pandemic on Invictus and how the way they’ve responded has actually opened up new opportunities. She explains how the pandemic meant that future plans they had for program delivery got accelerated and why the pandemic could be a catalyst for more easily sharing best practice and the growth of community based employment opportunities.
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David Hunter from Acceptable Enterprises talks about the impact of the pandemic on their various businesses. While the online business is growing, other parts haven't been so lucky. But opportunities to pivot have been found as well the chance to expand other initiatives. Find out why David is also focused on showing how providing social value has an economic value and why social enterprises could help solve some of the logistics issues the pandemic has highlighted.
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The podcast is back after a short break with a new name to reflect a renewed passion to promote real change. Find out why we changed the name and what we are doing next including what to look forward to in our first series which is looking at the impact of the Pandemic on work opportunities for people with Additional Needs.
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By changing attitudes we change behaviour, and this is something the guests on this week’s episode are part of making happen. Celia and Maya from WAVE talk about the ethos behind WAVE, and how it aims to bring people together, and by doing that helps change the way they think and their attitudes.
Celia explains why she started the organisation, what kind of support it provides and how it is grown. WAVE stands for Were All Valued Equally, and Celia explains the importance of this as a value and the way that they break down barriers and reduce the fear some people in the wider community have towards people with additional needs. Maya also talks about her own experiences at WAVE and how it has helped her become more confident and made her feel part of something.
Inclusion is a word used often but not always practiced. WAVE is an example of an organisation practicing inclusion and, by doing this, it really is creating a WAVE for Change.
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The average person has between 12-15 jobs in their work life. This makes developing transferable skills an essential part of any employability training. A great example of how to make this happen comes from Sunflower Bakery. This week’s guest Sara Portman Milner, co-founder of Sunflower Bakery, shares their story as well as offering advice to anyone thinking of starting a similar enterprise.
Sara details what Sunflower Bakery does to help young people with additional needs develop transferable skills which they can use to help them gain employment once they finish their training. She explains exactly how the different aspects of the training program works. Sara also talks about the ways in which the training programs build confidence in young people while focusing on helping them in a way that works best for their individual needs.
Sara shares her top tips from her experience with Sunflower Bakery for anyone considering starting a similar enterprise, including finding the right people to help within building the enterprise and also reaching out to the local community. Sara’s main advice, though, comes back to just starting. The story of Sunflower Bakery serves as a reminder of how true the saying is: every journey begins with a single step.
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Sometimes we need to change direction quickly and find the right information so that we can make an informed decision as to which road we need to take. This week’s guest Kerrie Highcock helps provide that information. Kerrie is the Family Development Manager at North East Autism Society, and her role is not only to provide support but to help people identify where to find information that is useful for their particular situation.
Kerrie talks about the importance for anyone who has been diagnosed with autism, and their families, recognising that they need support; but it does need to be the right kind of support focused on the positives, not treating autism as a negative in someone’s life.
Kerrie also talks about the need for everyone to move away from awareness and understanding to acceptance. She also talks about the importance of listening and learning from the young person who has the additional need, finding out what they want and for them to be talking to each other because they understand the challenges more.
After all we all need to ultimately be in charge of our own journeys and for some people they need a facilitator more than a carer.
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When we go to the theatre we see a different world than the one we live in. Theatre can broaden our horizons challenge our perceptions and this is exactly what the CO/LAB Theater Group aims to do. CO/LAB provides, people with additional needs, a space to be creative and along the way change their perceptions of themselves as well as the perceptions of the communities they live in.
This week guests are Becky Liefman Co-founder of CO/LAB and Liz one of the CO/LAB actors. Becky discusses why and how CO/LAB came about, through the passion of a few friends to provide a creative outlet for a group of people who don’t always have those opportunities. She also discusses the challenges along the way including those around funding. Becky also talks about the wider role that CO/LAB seeks to have in the wider community to educate people about the talents and skills of the CO/LAB actors. Liz talks about the impact that being at CO/LAB has had on helping her develop her skills as an actor whilst also widening her social network. She also talks about the impact CO/LAB has also had in terms of her increased self-confidence.
The CO/LAB Theater Group is not only providing a space for creativity for people with additional needs it is building a community of like-minded people that understand the importance of creativity in being human.
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When we’re young we think we can do anything, be anyone, achieve everything. But as many of us get older we learn to fit into the box of expectations. For young people with additional needs this box can be small, with many assuming that they will not be entering the employment market any time soon.
This week’s guest Alison Thwaite, the Employment Development Manager of the Workfit programme run by the Down's Syndrome Association, does not agree. She offers a much better model of presumed employment.
Presumed employment comes from the angle that employment will happen at some stage and works towards that time. The Workfit program takes young people though the process of deciding what jobs they might like to do while also helping them be realistic in terms of the skills they have. In addition, they are helped to identify whether there are local employers that can offer the roles they may be suited for.
Alison talks about the wider issues around why young people with additional needs find getting paid employment a challenge, as well as the role that parents play – this can be very positive but occasionally can also restrict opportunities and hinder progress. She also discusses the importance of supporting employers, educating fellow employees, and providing ongoing support to ensure that the transition into paid employment is not only as smooth as possible but is also sustainable in terms of the individual staying in a role and even advancing within the company.
If presumed employment was a reality for all young people with additional needs who do want a paid job, then we really could see an inclusive society where people are valued for themselves as individuals and not for any label they may have been given.
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For many young people with additional needs finding a job can be incredibly challenging. It takes planning and for most requires them to go way outside their comfort zone. This week’s guest Dr Michael Reiter runs work readiness workshops and he talks us through the three areas he focuses on to help the emerging adults in the group find and keep a job.
Michael talks about the importance of setting goals and making sure these are SMART as well as identifying the types of jobs a young person might like to do but also has the required skills to do. He discusses the interview process and the fact that as much as this is about the practical things like being able to answer questions it’s also about the ability to manage your own anxiety. Interviews are stressful for most people so ways to help manage that stress, so you still are able to perform at your best is a key part of finding work. Finally he discusses how they address the after you have the job issue looking at the social skills required in a workplace and how to manage those.
Michael talks about the need to have realistic expectations around work but for the emerging adults he works with using this approach he is actually providing them with a realistic change of finding and keeping a job.
Getting a job for our young people will probably never be easy but by helping them prepare properly, using a model like this, and giving them greater autonomy to plan their own work future we are helping increase the probability it will happen one day.
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If not now when? Planning for the future can be scary for anyone but it’s especially hard when that planning is for a young person who we know will face any number of challenges as they navigate towards their ideal life.
In this episode Carol Wakeford from Heartventure shares her story about how she and husband have planned and then worked towards providing an independent future for their son. Carol talks about the original idea she had of starting a dating agency and why that original model didn’t work and how it has now transformed into a different model which provides not only a social life for her son and his friends but also helps to break down barriers and build wider understanding in the local community.
Carol also talks about independent living in terms of how to create a supported living house for young people. She discusses the practical challenges of making it work and how to find the right people to work with.
Planning for a future, we won’t always be a part of, isn’t ever going to be easy. Planning though can not only provide our young people with the security of realistic options it can provide us with peace of mind and help us stop asking what happens when I’m no longer around.
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We all appreciate the importance of good mental health but sometimes lack the toolbox and even the support to consistently achieve it. This is often the case for young people, particularly those with an additional need. In this episode we are talking with Kimmy Obo from Kooth a UK based organisation offering an innovative way of delivering support when and where young people want it.
Kimmy explains what Kooth offers and how it supports young people particularly at those times where they are not sure who to reach out to. Kimmy also discusses healthy coping strategies that young people can use to manage their mental health and activities that contribute to positive feelings of well-being.
Kooth is an innovative service taking advantage of the benefits that technology can bring to all of us when used in the right ways. But even with the use of technology it is all still about people reaching out and supporting each other reminding each other as Kimmy does that we all have good and bad days and we all need to work on our own positive mental health.
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Emotions are part of being human. But for many of us there are times when we wish we had better tools to manage our emotions. This can be especially true for young people with additional needs who often face extra internal and external emotional triggers. In this episode we hear from Dana Bishop a Relax Kids coach on some of the strategies that can be used to not only manage the way we feel but to harness these feelings and increase our mental health wellbeing.
Dana shares the 7 steps model of Relax Kids explaining each step and providing examples of how has used it. The steps model work around the idea that you can’t just decide to relax but rather you need to go through a series of steps which will help you get to that relaxed state you are after. Some of the tools Dana talks about are one’s we have all heard of like breathing exercises and affirmations but she provides a timely reminder that it’s the simple ideas which are still the best.
Being able to understand and manage emotions is key for our young people in their daily lives and a skill that most will need to explicitly learn. The Relax Kids model of understanding that to relax is a process not just an end, and knowing what the steps are, will be for many people an invaluable addition to their emotional toolbox.
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Everyone has unique skills; everyone is a specialist in something. This is something this week’s guest Thorkil Sonne from Specialisterne understands completely. Specialisterne which translates from Danish as “The Specialists” is an organisation focused on helping young people with additional needs find meaningful employment. The focus is on matching the skills of the individual with the role not trying to make the person fit the job.
Specialisterne have also developed a unique approach to assessing the skill of individuals in a way that enables them to showcase their individual skills as well as show how they work in a team. This is in recognition that traditional interview approaches limit the opportunities for young people with additional needs to fully illustrate what they are capable of.
Specialisterne also work with employers proactively, to not only help them maximise the skills of their employees but, with practical support around what reasonable adjustments might be necessary in any workplace.
Specialisterne also has a much wider purpose than just helping people find work, they are on a mission to show employers how they are missing out on utilising an incredible pool of talented individuals with specialist skills that could give their organisation a competitive advantage.
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Sometimes it’s the small ideas that can have the biggest impact and this is certainly the case with this week’s guest Ric Womersley from Spotlight Brewing. Ric founded Spotlight Brewing to make great beer whilst providing genuine employment opportunities for people with additional needs. Not only is Spotlight Brewing doing this very successfully but through their products they are educating their customers about the challenges people with additional needs can face.
In this episode Ric discusses some of the practical issues around setting the brewery up and running it. He also talks about the challenges they faced as a small business finding equipment, training as well as the obvious challenge of how to fund everything they needed. Spotlight Brewing is a social enterprise and Ric also outlines why he chose that structure over other options. He also talks about what’s next for Spotlight Brewing.
Spotlight Brewing is a perfect example of taking an idea and flipping the switch to get it started. The results are already amazing. Spotlight Brewing might be small now but it's growing fast, not only in sales and the reach of its products, but, in influencing opinions and changing perceptions of what people with additional needs can contribute to business and community.
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We sometimes feel that we are alone in our journey but often by simply looking around we realise we are not. The focus of this week’s podcast, Yoocan proves this in the way they provide an online space to share stories and to inspire each other. In this interview Moshe Gaon co-founder of Yoocan explains why Yoocan exists and what its primary aims and objectives are.
Moshe also talks about how important collaboration is in advancing the way we do things and helping speed up the pace of change for young people with additional needs. He explains why we need to look outside what we know into other areas to find solutions that have been created for other reasons but help us to solve our own problems.
Moshe also talks about why Yoocan is a social enterprise not a charity and why this is important in the long term not only for the success of Yoocan as a platform for collaboration but also why social enterprises are a better way to bring about real sustainable change.
The hint in the name really but actually Yoocan is about more than what each of us can do it is about understanding that you can do more when you look at what others have done before you or are doing beside you.
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Accepting ourselves by embracing our strengths and understanding our weaknesses is key to our own happiness. How to do this is the theme of this episode with Alis Rowe founder of The Curly Hair Project.
Alis talks about her own journey from when she was diagnosed in her early twenties with Asperger syndrome. She explains why she created The Curly Hair Project, what is does, and how it aims to help people on the autism spectrum and their families. Alis also shares some practical ideas that she has implemented to enable her to navigate difficult situations and live the life she wants. Some of the ideas are simple, and could apply to any young person with additional needs, but they make a massive day to day difference to someone’s life once they start using them.
Alis also advocates the importance of putting yourself first and making decisions around what is best for you, not others. She acknowledges this won’t always be the easiest option because it requires you to sometimes be very honest with those around you and often with yourself.
Finally, Alis reminds us to be ourselves because, as she says, “Where the magic happens in life is where you embrace the natural strengths and interests that a person has.” We could all do with a little more magic in our lives and listening to Alis should serve as a reminder to all of us that we are so much more than what the world sees on the surface.
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One of the best things about becoming an adult is that no one can tell you what to do, when to do it and what time to be home. However, that’s not always the case for young people with additional needs. Often they still have rules in place that don’t apply to their peers. Stay Up Late is all about changing that and making it easy for anyone to stay up late, stay out late and enjoy the social they want on their terms.
Paul Richards the founder of Stay Up Late explains where the idea from stay up late came from when he saw first-hand what happens when people are not able to have choose how they spend their evenings.
Kate Ogden the manager of Gig Buddies which buddies people up so they can go to gigs in a safe and supportive way discusses how gig buddies works, how they make sure people are safe and how they are expanding the model around the world though a franchise model.
Stay Up Late is such a simple idea but one that does so much more than what it says it does, it promotes integration, acceptance and provides people with additional needs a solid base upon which they can start to build a social life of their choice.
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Did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Most of us didn’t but we figured it out along the way because we were given opportunities for part time work or work experience. For many young people with additional needs this doesn’t happen, meaning they don’t always have a clear idea of their options.
In this episode Guy Chaudoir from Scope explains why this shouldn’t be the case, and discusses some ways to help young people increase their options. This includes changing theway they approach applying for jobs and the interview process. It’s also about changing the
perceptions of employers and Guy explains the work Scope has been doing in this area.
Scope provides a bridge to employment by helping young people with additional needs find their own path into work. They also help open doors with employers, so the path can continue forward for both the young person and their employer.
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It’s fine to be aware and even try and understand autism but actually what matters most is acceptance. This is the view of Kieran Rose, also known as The Autistic Advocate. Kieran has autism so he speaks from personal experiences and explains why he believes that acceptance is what is needed even more than awareness.
Kieran shares his personal journey and provides practical advice for both parents and young people with autism on how to manage the challenges they will face. He also discusses the way people with autism are often stereotyped and the impact that has. He also talks about what he sees as an industry that has been built around autism, and how that is actually contributing to delaying real change.
Kieran might be talking specifically about autism, but the really his message applies to everyone with an additional need. Barriers would fall much quicker, especially in things like employment, if people focused on positive acceptance of each individual’s strengths and their weaknesses, not just passive awareness.
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It's not only about finding work, but it's also about matching the skills of the person with the job. This is the view of Derek Groves, from Employment Futures, who discusses the idea of vocational matching and the many benefits it brings to a young person with additional needs and employer. He also talks about how employers still have some way to go in terms of being flexible in their employment practices, especially when it comes to the use of a traditional interviewing process which simply does not allow some young people to showcase their strengths.
Another issue that Derek addresses is positive disclosure, that is how much to disclose to an employer about an individual's additional needs. Although, as he says, its a personal choice in many instances, it can help the employer match the person with a job role and ensure that reasonable adjustments are possible without being costly or disruptive to the workplace.
The work of organizations like Employment Futures is so important in breaking down the barriers into work and helping employers change their perceptions about employing young people with additional needs.
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What next? is a question we constantly ask ourselves as we help our young people navigate through the education system. As they get older and age out of the system, this question becomes more urgent and often the answer isn’t as easy to find. This week’s guests Adeel and Anthony asked that exact question and when no answer was obvious they created their own solution: Able Coffee Roasters.
Able Coffee Roasters is on a mission to create sustainable paid employment for young people with additional needs. Through the use of innovative techniques like point of view video modeling and focusing on making accommodations so that each young person can excel at the tasks they are given, Able Coffee Roasters is answering for some young people the question of what next.
What Anthony and Adeel are doing is not only inspiring because it has the potential to help so many young people on their journey to independence but is inspiring because it shows what is possible if we focus not on the question but on looking around for potential solutions in our own communities.
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Finding a supportive safe space for our children to have a variety of social experiences is so important. In this episode, we hear about CASPA which is providing that space and doing a whole lot more. Helen Dyer from CASPA explains not only how CASPA came about and what it does in terms of providing social experiences for a range of age groups. Importantly as CASPA has grown and the young people who started with them have gotten older CASPA has realized the needs of its young people are changing. So CASPA is expanding what it does now focusing on not providing a space to build social skills but also developing programs which help their young people develop those key skills which are transferable into the workplace.
CASPA provides a vital link for young people to begin the journey into work and greater independence. What the world needs is more organizations like this so that an independent future can become a reality for more young people with additional needs.
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Only successful organizations can provide sustainable, long term paid employment and expand to provide more job opportunities. This weeks guest Patrick Bardsley and Tim Howe from Spectrum Designs certainly understand this. Spectrum Designs is a social enterprise making custom apparel, such as hats, hoodies, and T-shirts. Spectrum Designs focusses on the enterprise as much as the social, and in doing so continues to expand and create more employment opportunities for young people with autism.
Patrick and Tim share the story of Spectrum Designs, how it grew from an idea into a business that now provides custom made apparel products to some of the biggest companies in the world. This didn't happen because Spectrum just focused on just providing employment opportunities: it happened because it focuses on quality and on-time delivery as this is what matters to the end customer. By doing this the business has grown to now provide even more jobs for people with autism.
Spectrum Designs is the perfect example of how to marry the social and the enterprise, and illustrates how simply delivering a quality product on time can drastically change the perceptions of and expectations of young people with additional needs.
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We all understand why work is an important step towards independent living, but all to often the employment opportunities are limited for young people with additional needs.
This weeks guest Pascal Fintoni is not only helping to create employment opportunities in digital marketing, but he is also having the conversations around reasonable adjustment that will help create a greater number and a wider choice of employment options.
Pascal talks about his work with the North East Autism Society, in the UK, around developing an internal marketing program designed and developed by young people with autism. This not only helps them to develop digital marketing skills but also offers them a voice in determining where the future of the organization lies.
In addition, as an employer, Pascal is making sure that he has the kind of conversations with other employers that will help change perceptions and make the term reasonable mean exactly what it should mean: 'Reasonable'. As he points out most employers make and have been making reasonable adjustments for their employees every day.
It is forward thinking employers who understand what reasonable adjustments are that will ultimately benefit from a motivated workforce with varied skills.
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For most of us being part of a community is essential for our wellbeing and often starts where we live. This week’s guest is Jillian Copeland from Main Street, an organization not just building a community but actually building the space where that community can grow and thrive.
However, as Jillian explains, Main Street is much more than about building an apartment block where people with and without additional needs will live. Main Street is about creating opportunities for independent living, for work, for socializing and for learning from each other. The best communities are those where everyone feels an equal part of that community and Main Street is certainly creating that kind of community.
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Accepting ourselves and being more kind to ourselves are the themes in this episode. Anna Pinkerton from Kindness Incorporated talks about her personal and professional journeys and how she has combined them to help her daughter build the life she wants.
Anna shares not only the journey she has been on with her daughter but also how that has crossed over into her professional life. She shares her thoughts around why we aren't kind enough to ourselves and the long term impact that can have on our lives.
Anna also suggests ways we can help our children learn to be more kind to themselves as well as how and why we need to all start with genuinely liking ourselves.
Listening to Anna might just help you analyze how you feel about yourself and whether you need to change the message you tell yourself.
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Any journey is made easier by walking with others. That is the focus of this episode - the impact of collaboration with, in this case, the theater as the space where the collaboration starts.
In this episode, Katie Sweeney, a parent and board member of the CO/LAB Theater Group in New York, talks about her individual journey and the role musical theater has played not only in her life but also her son's life.
Katie talks about CO/LAB and how they help young people with additional needs change the way they see themselves and, through reaching out to the wider community, change the way others see them as well. Here collaboration is about bringing people together and using everyone's individual strengths to create something more than one person alone can create. Katie also talks about the wider impact that finding and building a collaborative community around her son has had when it comes to planning and imagining what the future might be like.
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Days out and going on holiday are an important part of family life, but when a young person has additional needs they can be much more of a challenge. How to make the process easier is the focus of this podcast episode with Lizzie Murphy, from A Curious Journey, offers some tips and ideas on traveling with children who have additional needs.
Lizzie talks about the importance of preparation and making sure that everyone understands what is going to happen, and preparing for the unexpected. She suggests some useful tools which can help manage expectations. Lizzie also discusses practical ways to prepare for each journey, including talking to airlines and researching what destinations are already able to offer in terms of assistance. As she highlights, there are tools out there already which can help make the whole experience much easier for parents and children.
The benefits of having new experiences are obvious in helping build a young person’s confidence and social skills, as well as creating family memories. However, we can all sometimes feel overwhelmed by the preparations needed and its reassuring to know there are proven approaches to dealing with many of the issues that arise.
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What might be the future uses of virtual reality, and how do we need to manage this to stop potential dependence on technology? These are the main themes of this episode.
In part 2 of this interview Dr. Nigel Newbutt, who is researching the uses of virtual reality and virtual worlds, talks about what the future uses of virtual reality might be and how it could be used to help young people with additional needs live more independent lives. He also addresses some of the concerns that have been raised about the use of these types of technologies.
The future uses of virtual reality are exciting but as Nigel cautions we need to remember that is it simply another tool. We will need to make sure we monitor its actual effectiveness to ensure it has the desired impact of helping our young people develop the skills which will enable them to live more independent lives.
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The use of virtual reality and virtual worlds can be used to change the future for our young people and just how this is happening is the topic of this episode. My guest this week is Dr. Nigel Newbutt who is researching how virtual reality and virtual worlds can be used to help young people with additional needs access and manage real-world situations that they often find overwhelming.
Nigel explains the work he is doing to develop programs which can be used to help develop employment skills, prepare young people for social situations and provide a way to rehearse situations which could otherwise be overwhelming without a prior opportunity to experience what the encounter might be like.
This is the first of a two-part episode and in the next episode, Nigel talks about what the future of virtual reality might look like and also addresses some the concerns that people have around using these types of technology.
The work being done by Nigel is helping make these technologies accessible and relevant to our young people enabling them to develop specific skills in a controlled way which can then hopefully be translated to make their real-world encounters much easier.
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All around us are people working in their local communities to make the lives of young people with additional needs better. This week’s podcast guest Sue Clark is one of these people. Sue talks about her work with Pegasus Playscheme which is located on the south coast of England.
Pegasus Playscheme provides activities for young people with additional needs in the summer over a 3 week period. The purpose of this is to help young people experience independent activities where they make new friends. Pegasus also aims to reduce the isolation that many young people can experience when not at school.
Sue explains not only the history of Pegasus but provides from her own experience practical advice and insights into how to set up a similar scheme, which could provide a social outlet for young people in your own community.
Sue shares her story and also discusses the practicalities of fundraising and the logistics of running a scheme like Pegasus. Sue provides a great example of what can be done by a few people with dogged determination and perseverance. Sue says every town needs a Pegasus but as she is also happy to say she learned while she was doing. Sue reminds us it’s the getting started that is often the most daunting thing, but the rewards are well worth overcoming the fears.
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Getting to know any young person is the essential first step in understanding what they need when it comes to helping them achieve greater independence. This is the core ethos of this week’s podcast guests Trudy and Darren Dzirasa-Payne from Impacting Lives.
Impacting Lives provides housing and associated support services for young people with additional needs. What they focus on is providing services that work for the individual and balance this with running what is a business by keeping their costs under control through the use of technology and keeping administration costs low. This combined with clear processes helps ensure they can provide what is needed by the young people they support whilst continuing to run a sustainable business.
There is no doubt that services that provide accommodation for young people with additional can often have a bad reputation. impacting Lives and Trudy and Darren show that the residential care home model can be less about the home and more about the care. It ultimately comes down to the core values of the organization.
Whatever the individual solution that works for our young people it is reassuring to hear about organizations like Impacting Lives and people like Trudy and Darren who are driven by a greater purpose to help change the lives of individuals and ensure they live the kind of lives they desire.
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Rather than waiting until we have to act the better option is to start exploring what is already out there and start actively working towards creating solutions. This is exactly what this week's podcast guest Mike Sweeney is doing.
Mike talks about the various projects that he has become involved in as he looks towards finding a community for his son Dustin to live in when he is ready for independent living.
Mike talks about how he has moved from thinking of housing as being the most important focus of his efforts to the realization that work would as he puts it "changes people’s perspective".
He also discusses how the system in the USA is changing towards young people with additional needs being given more control over their own futures through what is known as self-direction. Mike also reminds us how important integration is in terms of ensuring that our young person with additional needs can have an independent future even when we are no longer around.
Although Mike's journey is not a unique one, there is much to learn from the way he is navigating his way through the challenges. Listening to Mike's story will help you as you plan ahead for your own son or daughter’s future independence.
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At some point in all of our journeys, we need support. Some of us find it in family and friends, others look to support groups. In this week's podcast, Elaine Kelly, who runs a support group, talks about how support groups can help when maybe others around you simply don't get it.
Elaine explains how her support group is run and what she believes is important to consider to provide a supportive and welcoming environment. She reveals how support groups can help against isolation and also make people aware of organizations and resources they can use.
Elaine also addresses why some people don't seek out support groups and explains how for many people they are only used for short-term support and for others provide a long-term space to share.
Sharing our knowledge and experiences makes all of us stronger. It doesn't have to be in a support group setting, of course, but wherever we do it we are making the journey of those following us that little bit easier.
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This is a celebration episode, celebrating reaching 50 episodes, celebrating all the amazing guests who have been on the podcast and are out there changing the lives of young people and helping ensure that they will have the kind of independent lives they want.
In this episode, rather than talk to a guest as I usually do, I share my own key takeaways in each of the 3 areas Journey Skills focuses on Purpose, Relationship, and Daily Living. This is an abridged transcript of the podcast with links to all the different episodes mentioned.
Key Takeaways – Purpose
It is all about a job and that should be a paid job. When I started, I firmly believed purpose was enough, but I no longer think that this true. Yes, it’s great to have somewhere to go but, if you’re a volunteer, you are helping but you’re not being rewarded in the same way as if it’s a job.
Young people need to be paid; it reinforces their feelings of self-worth and they are making such a contribution to the organization that it warrants them getting paid. I’m not knocking volunteering, of course I’m not. My own daughter has got very valuable work experience from volunteering. But volunteering should be a step, a means to an end if you were.
Now, obviously, not everyone is not going to agree with me because we all view things differently but if you listen to the podcast, you will hear so many inspirational stories about the impact paid work had on young people and how it changed their self-belief and also changed how their own parents saw them.
So I know some of the objections like “my son or daughter couldn’t do that job”. This is where I think we need to change our perspective. I know it may sound a cliché but maybe we should think outside the box or inside the box, actually, because I believe technology is changing the world of work in a very positive way for young people with additional needs. New jobs using technology are emerging that enable them to access more employment options. There are also some traditional roles, which may not have been previously accessed, but can now be open to them using technology to help them perform the job. Just one example of this was when Alison Berkley from Invictus Enterprises talked about how they use a digital cookbook to help their young bakers.
And for those who still want to test the water of work, there are programs like Shared Lives and Ark Bakery in the UK. Karen from Shared Lives explained the program itself and Hester from the Ark Bakery talked about how it helped young people develop work and independence skills. For some, this smaller, more local program will be the best first step. You could also start at home with practicing for job interviews and if you are at the stage of helping your young person prepare for a job interview then Sam, an experienced HR director, gave some excellent tips on preparing for interviews.
Another thing with work is that we need to think about how jobs can fit into the skills our young people might have and this needs to be done in a way that not only benefits them but also helps the employer. Marjorie Madfis from Yes She Can talked about how small businesses could utilize the skills of young people in the roles that they wouldn’t necessarily see yet as being a defined role. In fact, Neil Willows from Pure Innovations gave this idea a name Job Carving. I think this could be the answer for young people who have a very specific skill where they could be matched with an employer who maybe is yet to define a role in their company but it is one which fits with that young person’s skills. This idea also works for young people who are only able to work in part-time roles as some of these jobs may be limited in the time required.
The one model that I believe works best is commonly called a Supported Internship Model. It can be used in a large organization like the Marriot Hotel or in smaller organizations like Bemix. The whole idea of a supported internship is for the young person to learn the basics of holding down a job, turning up on time, and working with other people as well as completing tasks when they are asked. They have a job coach and a job developer; the coach being on hand for day to day support and the job developer being the one to help each find paid employment at the end of the supported internship. In some cases, as with Team Domenica, an additional year of support is provided once a job has been found for the young person. But this support isn’t so much for the young person but for the employer to help them make those reasonable adjustments necessary. This whole idea of reasonable adjustment and how easy it can actually be was explained by David Hunter from Acceptable Enterprises.
When it comes to working, I’ve learnt another thing. I may well be one of my daughter’s barriers to work. Quite a few of the podcast guests, who are helping young people in finding work, have mentioned they have often had to deal with parents being too overprotective. Is there such a thing? I wonder. Of course, we are overprotective because we know the vulnerabilities of our own children. I know my daughter is incredibly literal and needs time to process information. This makes her much more susceptible to suggestions. I’ve been protecting her for 17 years now and it’s a hard habit to break. So yes, I plead guilty to that one, but I also need to listen to all those people I’ve spoken to who say that, sometimes it is the parents putting the brakes on.
But it can be harder for parents to let go because the process isn’t gradual, as it is with other children. For me, my older daughter got a part-time job and went out with friends. Of course, I was worried, but I hid it well. With my youngest, she has never had a part-time job and although she goes to movies with friends, I am inevitably the bouncer on the door – keeping her in or at least making sure she is exactly where I think she should be. So, questions like ‘How they will cope?’, ‘How will they get there?’, ‘Will they get anxious or stressed?’ and ‘Who will help them if they do?’ are very legitimate. Cutting the cord is never easy. Soli Lazarus explained this much better than me where she talked about how much more we need to do to give our young people a sense of control over their own lives.
This leads to my other key takeaway which is: think small, not big. Small solutions are better than dreaming of the big Solve-Everyone’s-Problem approach. Again, when I started this, I thought let’s solve all these problems so everyone can use the same approach. I now realize that it’s all about small tailored solutions that suit the young person and the community they are part of.
Nowhere is this easier to see how this can be effective than Project Search at the Marriot Hotel at Heathrow. Project Search is a programme which started in Cincinnati and is now operated around the world. But each of the projects is local-focused, helping a small group of young people learn transferable work skills. The key to this is that each project has a process to start with, ready to be applied. In lots of ways, it takes away those how-to-get-started issues. So actually, the Project Search process is the same wherever you are, but focuses more on helping a small group of people in a specific workplace or community. If you think about it, if helping 20 people get work skills in London is replicated 100 times, that had changed an awful lot of young people’s lives.
One of the core purposes of Journey Skills is sharing ideas, so anyone inspired to start something themselves may it be a business or a social group, there is somewhere to look, someplace to hear what other people who had done it might have to say. They’ve faced the challenges and found solutions so you can refer to their templates. This is going to make things easier for all of us.
And I think that many of us will go down this DIY option. There are plenty of examples of parents getting together to create amazing solutions. When I was back home in Australia last year, I visited Red Inc where parents had created an organization that helps, not only their young people find employment but also, benefiting the whole community. One of my favorite finds, and not for the reasons you might think as an Australian, is Ignition Brewery in London, where Nick essentially started from nothing but an idea and has since then created a sustainable business. These are the projects that should inspire us all to remember that there is a solution to every problem.
What many of these organizations also do is break down barriers. I’m talking here about L’Arche and The Shed who both share the same guiding purpose to change their local communities’ perception of young people with additional needs. In the case of The Shed, they decided to locate themselves right in the middle of the community so that people were almost forced to interact and to learn about each other and to come to accept each other as valuable members of the local community.
Another idea I think also needs copying is from Acceptable Enterprises where David Hunter talked about their model of 1/3 – 1/3 – 1/3, which means they employ in their businesses 1/3 people who have additional needs, 1/3 who may have experienced other challenges in their lives like homelessness, and 1/3 people from the local community. As David explained, this creates a real sense of the integrated community where people look out for each other and that integration moves outside the workplace into the local community as well.
It needs to be sustainable for the young person and the employer. This brings me back to the supported internships idea, particularly the fact that, for me, there seems to be an understanding, among the people using this model or one like it, that employers need support too. I don’t think sustainable employment comes from the charity I want my daughter to be employed because she is a useful member of the workforce and what she does adds value.
Key Takeaways – Relationships
By now, you might think that I’m a little bit one dimensional eyed, focusing only on employment. But that’s certainly not the case. Like many of you, I worry about my daughter when it comes to relationships. We all know how important friendships are in our own lives, and for our young people finding and maintaining friendships can be a difficult task. But I also think about my own relationship with her. It has to change as she gets older and it’s in relation to this that my first key takeaway when it comes to relationships is letting go.
I’ve talked earlier about letting go when it comes to work, but here, I’m talking more about helping build resilience. One day, I will no longer be around and she will need to have developed the skills that enable her to deal with the world. I’m doing her no favors by not pushing her to do while I’m still around to catch her if she needs catching. One of the most listened to episodes of the podcast is Building Social Skills with Emily Hughes who talked about building resilience early, letting our children make their own mistakes and learn from them. Laura from the Surrey Wildlife Trust talked about similar ideas and the ethos of forest schools to provide a safe but challenging space. Fiona in Letting Go talked about a similar idea of letting our young people find their own solutions.
It’s probably the hardest thing to do as we’ve kept them close for so long and been through an awful lot. Maybe like us, you’ve experienced bullying which makes you extra wary of sending them out into the scary world all by themselves. The thing is, though with my daughter is pushing me away quite hard at the moment, but that’s okay! At 17, she should be less interested in what I think and more interested in her friend’s opinions which are infinitely wider than mine. That’s the normal family lifecycle in action right there. I’ve talked to other parents who have helped me make my family relationships work better. Julie talked about siblings and I took some of her ideas to encourage my daughters to spend time with each other which has strengthened their relationship. Vicki Blair talked about how to manage the stresses of holidays, quite apt at this time of year. Maybe I’ll listen to that one again. I learned from Sarah that social media can be used in a positive way to build online friendships.
Of course, the whole discussion around friendships is a very complicated one. I see them as key to my daughter’s independence. You will find plenty of examples of where social skills and friendships are being developed through organized activities. Jamie Wheeler has created a social group so that her daughter continues to have social interaction after leaving full-time education. She showed it can be done and I think she will have inspired more parents to do something similar. Lisa at Love Serving Autism is using tennis as a therapy to build social skills. Maire and Carmelina give the parents perspectives on how important sport can be in providing a lasting passion and links to the local community.
Another key takeaway and I suppose a reminder too, one that I think we all need every now and then, is that we are all doing okay as parents. Okay that some days we get it wrong, but more often than not, we get it right. Claire talked about being the light and how our main job is to make sure they believe in themselves. Scarlett talked about rising to the challenge- I think we all do that. Taking time for ourselves was also a common theme when I chatted to other parents. Veronica talked about finding a common language – by that, she means support because it’s hard to do this alone. Antonia Chitty talked about the pressures on all our relationships that comes with having a child with additional needs. Again, she tells us to get support to find people to talk to that understand what you are going through.
I strongly believe that what this podcast all about is our strapline sharing stories, sharing solutions. I know because of the focus of the podcast, you are probably near the same stage as me, but if you know parents at the beginning, get them to listen. They could start by listening to Carol, who at the beginning of the journey, is and has all the same questions most parents have at the earlier stages. For anyone with younger children, I can recommend a listen to Diane King who talked about how to use storytelling to build self-worth. Worth a listen just for Diane’s amazingly soothing reading voice. And also, probably very relevant for those who have younger children, the practical ideas to help with sleep from Vicki Dawson of The Children’s Sleep Charity.
None of us has all the answers and I have a very long list of the things I’ve learned from other parents. Practical ideas like how to divide tasks into chunks to make them more achievable from Jackie. After listening to Ian, an ex-police officer, I made sure to help my daughter understand how to approach an authority figure and not be scared.
I’ve heard what it’s like to be a stepdad from Rob. Okay, so I didn’t need to know that, but I know there someone out there that will benefit from Rob’s experiences. I’ve been educated, as well by other parents, like Caroline who does an amazing job of clearly explaining both auditory processing disorder and sensory processing disorder. Christine who helped me better understand Dyspraxia. Linda shared about what it is like for her son with Asperger’s, particularly as he becomes a young man.
All these stories remind us that we are not alone, that others are out there having the same highs and lows as you. We need each other.
Key Takeaways – Daily Living
Without the ability to cook, shop and manage her own house, my daughter is going to struggle with being independent. So, my key takeaway in relation to daily living skills is to start planning early and to be developing these skills every single day because repetition is key.
In lots of ways, it links back to the letting go. In fact, In The Stepping Back episode, Lisa, a Speech and Language Therapist, and Milla, an Occupational Therapist talked about the importance of letting young people know that it’s okay to make mistakes. They also provide some very practical ways that we can develop our young person’s skills in shopping, cooking, handling money and traveling independently.
If you’re looking for help when it comes to wardrobe choices, then Elika and Katie Ellis have some great ideas. Andy and Robyn both offered some great tips on how to help our young people learn to travel independently.
This whole idea of planning early though should be for everything as Laura said in Planning Ahead, “never concentrate on the present, it’s the future you’ve got to always be thinking about.” Laura got me to be thinking about how I need to think 5 years ahead particularly as I watch my daughter race towards her structured full-time education
One area which I think continues to be a challenge, at least for me, is what daily living means in terms of housing. I know it’s possible she can live in a house of her own. My preference would be for her to do this with friends because I believe isolation is a massive issue for our young people. But I know it can be done because Julia provides an example in-house to rent, no experience required. I certainly don’t want my daughter in an annex at the end of the garden or in the house next door to me. And I know she doesn’t want this either.
In my paid day job, I work in property. And if you are wondering, yes Journey Skills doesn’t pay; we fund this it out of our own pockets. But I also know that what I have learned in the last 50 episodes and what I will learn in the next 50 is priceless. Our long-term plan has always been to develop a model to help young people with additional needs to live in homes of their own. Similar to Project Search, we hope to create a model that can be used by others and adapted to their local community and situation. These will obviously vary in terms of support required, but we believe technology will be key and provide an extra layer of safety meaning greater independence. To be honest, my ideal model for own daughter would be her sharing a house with other people, some of whom don’t have any additional needs. This is the kind of integration I dream of for her.
Final Words
It all starts with a job. Paid work is key to my daughter’s future. I plan to do everything I can to find a way for her to get a paid sustainable job. A paid job will not only give her financial independence but also, self-belief and self-esteem. From work, will come her social network, which will sustain her long after I am gone. She will make friends who will wonder why she hasn’t turned up for work today. They will grow to understand her and view her as a work colleague not a person with additional needs. She will have an income her own that she can spend any way she likes.
If I were, to sum up a meta key takeaway from episodes 1-49, it would be this overriding sense of optimism. When I recorded the introduction episode, I had no idea that I would find so many opportunities ready and waiting for our young people. It’s all out there! We just need to go find the right solution for our young person so that they have the independent future they want and deserve. This has been an amazing journey so far and I can’t thank everyone I have spoken to enough for giving me their time and their wisdom. And to you thank you for your support.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Job carving can help create sustainable employment opportunities according to this week’s podcast guest Neil Willows from Pure Innovations
Neil is the Assistant Internship Contract Manager at Pure Innovations which is based in Manchester in the UK. His role is focused on using supported internships to help young people gain work skills and find long-term employment. Neil explains how their supported internship programme works helping to develop real employability skills. They work with local companies to provide a range of work placements and job opportunities for young people. Ongoing support is also provided to the employer and their staff. Some have limited experience of working with young people with additional needs and so, having a support system really helps them ensure any issues are dealt with quickly and effectively.
Neil talks about how one of the most important aspects of this type of training is around building the young person’s confidence and allowing them to showcase their talent to employers. Whenever the young person experiences what might be a barrier to employment, they are helped to find ways to overcome it. The example Neil uses is a young person who struggles to tell the time which could then lead to them being late to work. Together with the young person, they look at the best tools to use to overcome the issue such as using a mobile phone alarm or other prompts.
Neil also explains the concept of job carving. He talks about how it can sometimes be difficult to find suitable job roles for people with additional needs. However, through job carving where he talks to employers and helps them to identify new roles or to create jobs out of what was not a previously a defined job role. Many of these roles can be repetitive and so often suit young people who prefer a clearly defined role. In addition, they might be roles that the employer has not been able to define as a role because of the nature of the tasks required. Neil provides a number of examples of where job carving has led to long-term paid employment opportunities for young people.
Neil and Pure Innovations are not only helping young people build work skills and find jobs they are supporting employers by introducing to them the idea of job carving which can help them effectively fill a variety of job roles with highly motivated employees.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Tennis, because of its repetitive nature, is an excellent therapeutic tool which can develop not only physical skills but also builds language and social skills, according to this week’s podcast guest Lisa Pugliese, from Love Serving Autism.
Lisa is the founder and CEO of Lover Serving Autism and has combined her skills as an ex-professional tennis player and Speech-Language Pathologist to develop an innovative program that uses tennis to help young people on the autism spectrum develop skills. These can include the physical skills around increased fine and gross motor coordination and hand-eye coordination. In addition, other benefits include providing aerobic and cardiovascular exercise, as well as improving speed, flexibility, and agility. Playing tennis also helps to increase visual and auditory processing skills.
Lisa explains how the program is also useful in developing the language and social skills of young people. Many of them are reluctant to try anything new because they prefer to know what’s coming. Some struggle to transition to a new sport, which is why Love Serving Autism uses “Social Stories” to help participants learn what to expect from a tennis class. This helps to prepare them and familiarise them with the classes in advance.
As Lisa explains the classes are very structured so, at the beginning of class, the students meet and greet one another, which helps to improve their language and communication skills. The organization also encourages them to partake in different group activities, such as practicing tracking with the ball by rolling it back and forth with a partner as well as practice catching and throwing the ball. Lisa explains how tennis has helped many of the young people become more independent as they progress, and their individual skills develop.
Lisa talks about the challenges of running an organization like this. They are reliant on volunteers, but fortunately, they have plenty of people offering to help out. She talks very honestly about how challenging some volunteers find it to work with the young people on the program. Although the volunteers are all excited about helping, they aren’t sure how to help. They often wait on the sidelines for instruction from the program director and one of the main issues is that they just aren’t sure how to speak to autistic children. It can take time build their confidence so that they feel more comfortable helping and being part of the team.
This applies equally to the tennis professionals Lisa uses on the program. They quickly find they need a different set of skills and have to think of new ways to teach the sport. But, as Lisa notes, what they learn on this program will make them so much more effective as they go on to teach other young people who have additional needs. In a sense, they will serve as ambassadors for tennis as sport and tennis as a therapy.
Like many similar organizations, Lisa has had to navigate the world of funding. She talks about the approaches they use, which include organizing events to raise money and to also promote autism awareness. She also talks about the long-term goals of Love Serving Autism which are to expand the program to more locations across the USA.
Lisa has been able to very effectively combine her passions to change the lives of many young people, impact on the volunteers and tennis professional she trains, and show just how tennis can be used as a therapy in a way which is fun but also meets the long-term objective of building the self-worth of the young people she serves.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
The job of a parent is to be there whatever and whenever for your child – those are the rules! That certainly applies to Claire Sutton, this week’s podcast guest. Claire shares her truly inspiring, but sometimes heart-breaking, story. Her daughter Jade, who is now 14 years old, has ADHD. The road to getting Jade diagnosed was drawn out. As Claire put it, Jade “slipped through the cracks of the education system.” Her early school years were a struggle and it wasn’t until year 5 that she was formally diagnosed. Claire and her family moved across the country and enrolled Jade in a much smaller school that was better equipped for Jade’s needs. Unfortunately, even though Jade seemed happier, her struggles continued.
By the time Jade started secondary school, Claire had discovered the heart-breaking news that Jade had been self-harming for over a year. Jade had managed to hide this from her family, and when it was discovered Jade was adamant that she didn’t want any external help. This is when Claire realized that she needed, as she puts it, “to be the light”.
Claire talks in depth about what being the light really meant in terms of listening to how Jade was feeling and hearing some things that parents never want to hear from their children. She talks about the need to stay calm and not get drawn in to what she calls the darkness. Although a lot of the things Jade talked about were quite dark and upsetting, Claire knew she had to be her rock, so she couldn’t let emotions get in the way of that. Claire was determined to be the light in her daughter’s life and get her through the darkness.
Claire talks about how she would constantly reassure Jade that they would get through it and that there was light at the end of the tunnel, and they were heading for it no matter what. And slowly Jade began to gravitate towards her mother’s light. Claire’s ultimate goal was to help Jade see the value in herself again.
Claire talks also about the need to shift the focus to something more positive in situations like this. Jade was a fan of pageants, and although Claire had her concerns, she soon realized that modern-day pageants are less about physical appearances and more about showing off the beauty inside a person. Jade loved the idea of competing in a pageant and Claire talks about these as a key part of her daughter’s recovery.
Being a contestant has also meant that Jade had to do a lot of charity work, and give back to the community. So Jade began focusing on a new project that helped other kids her age who struggled with similar issues. She went and talked at assemblies in local schools about her experience with ADHD and depression. This project is now growing, and Jade has appeared on television in the UK, talking about her life and how she has come through the other side. She has now become an identifiable role model for other young people going through similar challenges in their lives.
Finally, Claire talks about the three main areas she focused on with her daughter to bring her back to a more positive, happier place in her life:
- To value herself again
- To set inspiring goals
- To give back
These 3 things have helped her daughter not only come to the light but also to be a light for other young people struggling with the same challenges she has faced.
Both Claire and Jade are inspiring individuals and remind us all what love and perseverance can achieve.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
What happens to young people with additional needs when they finish full-time education? How will they find employment? How will they cope on their own throughout adulthood?. One organization helping to provide some of the answers to these questions is Invictus Enterprises based in New York. In this week’s podcast, we hear from Alison Berkely co-founder of Invictus Enterprises about how they are helping young people with autism acquire the work skills they need to get into paid sustainable employment.
Alison talks about the challenges of getting the training program started and explains the benefits of basing the training program in the culinary industry. The first product launched was No Bones About It dog biscuits which have proved to be a commercial success with the profits being used to fund the training of even more people.
Alison talked about the need to teach both hard and soft skills. Invictus Enterprises have a support team with a variety of professional backgrounds and they help support the individuals physical and sensory needs in a way that enables them to learn effectively. When it comes to making the dog biscuits, for example, participants are shown how to follow a recipe, use the cooking equipment and develop the stamina required to be on their feet for a large part of the day. They also focus on developing their skills around teamwork and social communication skills.
Alison also explains the importance of technology and she describes it as the real “game changer” for the organization because it opens up the world of work for many young people who otherwise would not have an opportunity because they are not able to communicate verbally. Alison has even created a digital cookbook curriculum that takes students through the entire baking process using touchscreen technology.
As Alison says we all worry about what the future holds for our children. But there’s no doubt this worry is amplified when the child has additional needs. What Invictus Enterprises is doing serves as a reminder of the importance in aspiring to the future and finding new and innovative ways to help our young people find and keep paid employment. This will make the question how will they cope on their own a lot easier to answer.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Successful sustainable employment opportunities for young people with additional needs comes when support is provided for not just the young person but also for their employer too. This is the message in this week’s podcast with Lisa Campbell-Squires from Team Domenica. Team Domenica is a social enterprise charity with a vision to help people with additional needs reach their full potential in the workplace.
Lisa explained how Team Domenica was started by Rosa Monckton in response to her own daughter’s lack of training and employment opportunities. They now operate a café (Café Domenica) as well as training facilities and work with local employers using a supported internship model. Lisa also spoke of her own journey and why she had been inspired to get involved with helping young people with additional needs access employment opportunities.
Lisa explained the various programs on offer at Team Domenica, which includes a first-year introductory program that works on developing communication skills, social skills and general employability skills. This involves all the young people working in Café Domenica as well as work placements with local employers. This not only helps develop skills around teamwork and problem solving but also allows the young people to experience different work environments, which helps them identify what types of job role really interest them.
When candidates reach the second year, they begin the Supported Internship Program. This program is based in a workplace with a specialist job coach who works with the young person and the employer. The job coach helps them work on the skills they need in their new roles which might also include how to manage their time in the workplace or travelling to and from work. The “end goal” of the Supported Internship Program is to move the young people into paid work. The success rate for doing this is very high and the team are justifiably proud of this. However, it’s not just about finding each candidate paid employment. It’s about finding them a job that they enjoy within a supportive and positive work environment.
The support from Team Domenica does not end once a young person has found paid employment. The support continues and then focuses on helping the employer deal with any issues that may arise in managing the young person at work. Lisa talked about the high numbers of young people who having completed a supported internship program and found paid employment are not in that paid role after 6 months. Lisa suggested that a reason for this was often to do with a lack of understanding when things “don’t go according to plan”. The young person may be struggling in the work environment and the employer may not have the knowledge or experience to manage the situations. To help combat this issue, Lisa and the team at Team Domenica, continue to provide long-term support for each of their candidates long after they’ve completed their supported internship.
Team Domenica has developed a very successful model for training young people with additional needs. This is clearly down in part to the focus on ongoing support for not just the young person but for everyone that is involved in helping that young person keep a job they enjoy and feel valued in.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
To truly learn, it has to be caught rather than taught is the mantra of this week’s podcast with Diane King, author and special needs teacher. One way to do this and at the same time develop childrens’ self-worth is through storytelling and creativity.
We start with Diane’s own journey which has been an interesting one. As a child Diane was a selective mute and struggled to communicate with the world; that was until her sister introduced her to the magic of storytelling. Diane found that through storytelling she could release the built-up emotions she had kept hidden. She also decided quite young she would become a teacher and help children who were struggling as she had.
Over her years as a teacher working with children with additional needs, she noticed that the vast majority of children had speech and language issues which limited their ability to communicate impacting on their confidence. After working with speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and educational psychologists she realized the importance of the relationship between rhyme and alliteration in stories, and how this could be used to help children learn easier and, through that, feel better about themselves.
Using this knowledge and from her own experiences as a child, Diane has written a number of children’s books, including Ruby Red which uses rhyming and alliteration. Ruby Red is a story about a young girl with additional needs and how she is constantly learning how to deal with her emotions, how to articulate her thoughts and how to communicate with the people around her. It is also about the inner struggles young people with additional needs have as they try and understand a world that for them can sometimes be a very scary place. The stories are intended for younger children but could also be used as a tool to teach anyone more about the struggles children with additional needs often face.
Diane talked quite a lot about the importance of allowing children to express their feelings. If a child isn’t allowed to express their emotions, it’s like a dam that’s ready to burst. She believes, as parents, we should always encourage children to express their emotions and make sure we model to them the best ways to cope with and release these emotions.
Diane acknowledges that there will be times when it will be difficult for parents to find the time and space to deal with their children’s emotional releases, so she offers some ideas as to ways that we can help our children manage their emotions. She talks also about the different ways everyone learns and how some children are oral learners, others visual learners and others are kinesthetic (learning by doing) learners. Diane is a strong advocate for providing as many kinesthetic experiences as possible because these, she argues, will enable children to manage their emotions better in the long term. She uses her own journey as a parent to illustrate what she means, and how she would encourage her children to express their emotions and the kinesthetic experiences that worked for her children to develop their sense of self.
Diane also talked about how even young adults can benefit from storytelling and other creative activities. These can provide them with spaces to express themselves, understand and manage their own emotions and through all of that develop the confidence to become more independent because of their increased feelings of self-worth.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right,” according to Henry Ford: this week's podcast guest Marjorie Madfis clearly believes this to be true. With Yes She Can Inc., Marjorie has not only created employment opportunities for her own daughter, but she has also created a training process which other parents can use to help their children develop better employability skills. In essence, by using the same processes she has used, you too could create a sustainable business to help young people with additional needs to gain work.
Marjorie starts off by explaining why she started Yes She Can Inc., which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young women with autism spectrum disorders develop transferable job skills. Marjorie watched as her own daughter received job skills training which simply wasn’t fit for purpose and which wasn’t teaching the right job skills that would help her to get a job.
Her daughters' dream job was working for American Girl, a doll production company, so Marjorie decided to help her daughter go towards achieving her dreams by opening a store which resold used American Girl merchandise. Once she realized that it wasn’t only her daughter who needed a space to develop job skills she turned her business idea into a non-profit organization, focusing on helping young women on the autism spectrum develop transferable job skills
Marjorie talks about the importance of having a “proof of concept” trial. She started out small and got professionals involved, including social workers, psychologists, and occupational therapists. Once the trial was successful, she was then able to scale up quickly to have a “Girl Again” retail shop along with a connected training program.
Marjorie talks about the training program and some of the challenges for the young women on the program. In particular, the need for them to realize that their work isn’t always about them. It’s about the customer and satisfying someone else’s needs before your own. Marjorie talks about how her own daughter struggles with prioritizing the immediate customers’ needs over other tasks she had already begun. She also explains the kind of skills that the young women learn from data input to phoning customers to writing marketing materials.
She also talks about why a reselling business is an ideal route for training young people with additional needs. She explained how a business like this has a variety of job roles which other businesses might not have, from sorting stock to online selling. This enables young people to develop a much broader range of skills than other types of work might. In addition, as with her daughter, the right kind of business can enable young people to work in a business they are genuinely interested in. Marjorie also talks about her belief that training programs need to have qualified professionals, such as occupational therapists and psychologists, actively included in the design and delivery of any training rather than less qualified training providers. She argues that professionals have a much better understanding of why behaviors occur, and so can help develop long-term strategies to help the young person developing coping skills in the workplace. This ultimately helps the young person.
She also explains very well why we all need to think differently about the job options for our young people. As she explains the job market has become more generalized. Organisations want flexible employees that can carry out several or more tasks. Why? Because businesses aren’t in the business of employment. As Marjorie puts it, they want as few employees as possible. This means that one of two things need to happen young people need to develop a variety of skills which is what the Yes She Can Inc. program aims to do. Alternatively, as Marjorie also suggests we need to find smaller employers who have a job role which matches the core skills of the individual.
Marjorie also discusses how the model developed at Yes She Can Inc might be replicated how the processes used and best practices developed could be taken by other parents and professionals and used across any reselling business.
Like many parents/carers of a child with additional needs, Marjorie is on a crusade to change perceptions about what young people with additional needs are capable of in the world of work. She has created a model and process which we can all use as a guide to our efforts to change our young person’s work future.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Do you need more sleep because your child needs more sleep? Maybe this weeks guest can help.Vicki Dawson is the CEO of The Children’s Sleep Charity and helped write the Children and Young People’s Sleep Manifesto presented to the UK government, which argued among other things for quality sleep support to be available for all families and for sleep to be recognised as a vital component of mental health.
Vicki was once a sleep deprived mum who struggled to get enough sleep at night and had no time to take a nap during the day. She realised how little help there is for people suffering from sleep deprivation or sleep issues with children. So Vicki decided to take things into her own hands and launched The Children’s Sleep Charity in 2012.
Vicki explains the process of helping a parent who comes to the charity for advice. They usually discover the charity via social media or by word of mouth. The first step is to talk to a sleep practitioner who helps to identify the causes. Vicki stresses how key it is to understand the triggers causing the sleep issues before thinking about what strategies might work.
Vicki discusses also how important is to find strategies that work for individual families and fits their parenting style and their schedule. As she says when people are sleep deprived, it’s often difficult to have the capacity to make massive changes. So it’s essential to come up with a plan that works for each individual family.
Vicki shared some of the things she has learnt about helping children develop a more structured sleep pattern. Vicki suggested that parents consider the time their child naturally falls asleep and use that time as a starting point. So, if your child falls asleep at 11 pm, put them to bed at 11 pm. Then, gradually move the bedtime to a more appropriate time to help strengthen and readjust your child’s natural body clock. Also, try and make sure that you wake up your child at the same time every morning (including weekends!). Developing this habit will help to strengthen their body clock, resulting in a more structured sleep routine.
Vicki emphasised the importance of investigating the hour before bedtime in close detail and offers some practical ideas for that pre-bedtime routine. These include encouraging children to eat foods that induce sleep, using relaxing and therapeutic play activities like lego, drawing and play dough to help promote a sense of calm, using a warm bath to foster relaxation and the obvious one getting rid of ALL screens.
As Vicki says many parents feel like others are judging them when they talk about their child’s sleep issues as well as offering unhelpful comments to make them feel like bad parents. The Children’s Sleep Charity provides the support sleep-deprived parents need without judgment.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
What is Dyspraxia? If you don’t know or if you do and want to know more this week’s podcast is for you My guest Christine Draper has written a book called My Friend Josh has Dyspraxia to help more people understand dyspraxia and, more importantly, help more people understand what it means for her son Luke who has dyspraxia. Christine strives to spread awareness about the condition to help people have a better understanding of Dyspraxia.
Christine starts by explaining her journey with Luke and the early days of getting a diagnosis. Concerned about her son constant dribbling, Christine took Luke to the doctor who initially dismissed it as the normal dribbling of a young child. However, Christine persisted and was finally referred with Luke to a paediatrician. Luke was diagnosed with Oral Dyspraxia and later on diagnosed with General Dyspraxia.
Christine explains Dyspraxia in simple terms and talks about her son’s challenges with Dyspraxia. She explains how it impacts on his communication and coordination and how it affects his daily life, including being unable to play any sports or ride a bike. This has made it difficult for him to join activities with other children.
One result of Luke’s dyspraxia (in part because of his communication difficulties) is that he never made any real friends when he was younger and now has no desire to. However, as Christine argues, as long as he is happy and content in himself, she isn’t going to try and force him to make friends. Christine goes on to talk about the impact dyspraxia has on her son’s independence. His navigation and organisation skills are affected, which means he finds getting from one place to another difficult without help. He also has difficulty with daily tasks like using a knife and cutting.
We also discussed what the future might hold for Luke and Christine admitted she doesn’t know, although at this point in time she feels it will be very difficult for him to be completely independent. We discuss the impact of this on the family and, in particular, his older sister who he is very close to.
One area that Luke has got a head start on is purpose. He has already written a novella with plans for it to be published later in the year. As Christine says, the purpose he gets from his writing has given him a real sense of identity and self-worth.
Dyspraxia is sometimes called a hidden disorder because it is often not as obvious. But the impacts are very obvious. However, Christine and Luke show that it possible to not only live with dyspraxia but find your own identity and be seen as an individual who just happens to have dyspraxia.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Everyone needs a Shed – a place to go, to be. But this Shed is much more than that, it is a space for people with additional needs to build independence and work skills and engage with their local community.
On this week’s Podcast, we hear from Clive Harris, the founder of The Shed. The Shed provides a community-based education and training service to help adults with additional needs develop their independent living skills. The Shed also offers a range of clubs and events for people to build social skills.
Clive explains how, when The Shed began, he wanted a location that was in the middle of the local community so it became entwined with the community. Thus, it would become part of a broader, educational environment where everybody in the community learns about the people they support, and the people they support learn about the community they live in.
One of the primary goals of The Shed is to help adults with additional needs find employment. The Shed has a shop selling upcycled furniture. The students run the shop, manage the finance and administration, deal with customers and attend auctions to choose the items they’ll work on for resale in the shop.
Another training program focuses on independent living. The Shed has its own purpose-built living spaces, specially designed to support the development of essential life skills, such as preparing healthy meals, shopping and budgeting and safety and security.
For anyone wanting to start a similar enterprise within their local community, Clive offers some advice on who to speak to and the importance of getting the right advice if you want your program to succeed.
The Shed is changing people’s perceptions in a local community, and showing just what people with additional needs can do when they are given the right opportunities and the support.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Work is central to most of our lives. It not only provides a purpose to our day but also makes us feel an integral part of the society we live in. In this week’s podcast we hear about the Project Search program, being run at the Marriott Hotel in Heathrow UK, which provides an innovative approach to help young people with additional needs find paid employment. The people responsible for running the program are Maxine Simpson, course tutor, Sue Stock, job coach and Saimmah Ali, job developer.
Maxine explains briefly the history of Project Search, which originated in the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 1996. She talks about how the program works and how the interns take part in lessons at the beginning of the workday on building teamwork and personal skills. This is then followed by their placement within a department at the hotel. At the end of the day, there is a debrief where interns have the chance to talk about their day and review any problems or issues they experienced.
Sue talks about how, along with Maxine and Sam, she is involved in the ongoing assessment of the intern’s performance. As the job coach, she provides feedback to help them to think about what their next steps should be and what type of job roles they might want to pursue. Sue explains how the interns work on rotation in different departments, which enables them to learn new skills, build a CV and identify what type of roles they like most.
Sam is a job developer, a role that involves networking with potential employers, based on what the interns have identified as industries they would like to potentially work in. Sam explains some of the challenges with this role in changing employer perceptions. She explains it takes time to break down the “fear factor” that a lot of employers have. One way to overcome this is with an unpaid trial to show an employer the abilities of a young person, instead of always having a formal interview process, which some young people struggle with.
Maxine, Sue and Sam discuss the types of challenges that young people face at the beginning of the program, transitioning from education to employment. It’s usually not the work skills that the young people struggle with, but rather their personal skills and learning how to behave maturely in the workplace. Maxine talks about the positive impact Project Search has had within the Marriott, where all staff have benefitted so much that Project Search programs are set to be rolled out across other Marriot hotels.
The success of Project Search is really down to a work based integrated supportive approach, which helps ensure that by the time a young person completes the program, they not only have a better idea about what they want to do, but they also have links with prospective employers. Project Search is providing a template for how to help young people with additional needs find paid employment that is right for them.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Friendships and purpose are two of the most important things to have in our lives. For young people with additional needs finding these can sometimes be a challenge. In part 2 of Stepping back Milla Johnson, an Occupational Therapist, and Lisa Campbell, a Speech and Language Therapist, discuss how to manage friendships and access work opportunities.
When it comes to friendships Lisa and Milla recommend having conversations to help young people understand that friendship is a two-way street and teaching them how to identify the qualities of a good friendship. They suggest that as a parent, you’re also their role model and so need to be demonstrating how friendships work.
They also suggest that one way to develop social skills needed for friendships is to help our children get involved in social-focused activities within the community. This can open the door of opportunity for them to make friends in a secure and safe environment with other young people. Another option is to use a buddy system where you link them with a young person who helps them develop their social skills. Joining local sporting clubs can also provide an opportunity to interact with others. However, Lisa and Milla also note that not all young people will want to go out of their way to sign themselves up for activities like this, so it is often parents who will need to make the initial connections, then step away once these are established.
Another key part of friendships is the ability to engage in conversations. For some young people, conversation starters can be difficult and Lisa and Milla talk about simple strategies to develop conversations skills, even playing board games after having friends around for dinner can be used to help reduce the pressure of social situations. They also touch on the issue of managing social media and talk about how to use real-life examples to educate young people how to manage their social media presence.
Lisa and Milla also talked about some of the challenges around finding a job. They suggest starting with an honest conversation about realistic employment options. However, this is not about placing limit’s but rather looking at ways to link to each individual’s strengths and interests to job roles.
There are also some practical tactics to help make finding a job easier including maximizing work experience and volunteer opportunities. Milla and Lisa argue that when an employer sees a CV, they can make assumptions but once an individual has actually worked in the organization then they can be judged on performance which is way more powerful.
Milla and Lisa also advise parents that there will come a time when they will need to let their young person take the lead in the search for work because ultimately it is they who need to convince the employer they are capable of doing the job. By not stepping back parents can be actually be hindering their young person’s chances of finding employment.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
The challenge of stepping back and letting our children take risks and make mistakes is never easy. How to deal with this challenge is the theme of this week’s podcast where I speak to Lisa Campbell, a Speech and Language Therapist, and Milla Johnson, an Occupational Therapist. Lisa and Milla discuss why parents/carers should try to step back more to enable their children to develop the skills they will need to live independently.
The main focus of our conversation is around how to develop the daily living skills needed to live independently. These include shopping, independent travel and money skills. Milla and Lisa offer practical ideas on how to develop these skills. For shopping that can include having a categorized shopping list and thinking about what time to go shopping.
When it comes to encouraging financial independence and learning how to manage money, Lisa and Milla talk about the technology which can help as well as how to make family activities, like going to the movies, opportunities to practice both money and social skills. They also discuss ways in which to develop cooking skills, including simplifying recipes into a few easy to follow steps.
However, they also warn against using every opportunity you have as a learning opportunity, instead focus on a few areas at a time. Learning independent life skills needs to be fun for young people, or they will give up because it feels like a chore. Let them see the purpose of it and try to make it as natural as possible.
Milla and Lisa also talked about the importance of letting young people know that it’s okay to make mistakes then learn from them. It's vital that we take a step back and allow our children to make mistakes so that they can learn to safely problem solve and come up with solutions to fix the problem. It is this skill that they will most need if they are to be truly independent of us.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Planning ahead helps us reach our goals, and although we can’t prepare for everything, a plan gives us a general direction to travel and can even help us identify a final destination. In this week’s episode, we hear from Laura who has helped her son Jonathon plan ahead. This planning has enabled him to create a vision for his independent future, as well as prepare for the unexpected.
We start Laura’s story with Jonathan at primary school struggling to access education but finally, after a legal fight, he was placed in a school which could provide the support he needed. Jonathon is now 19 and just about to leave full-time education. Laura spoke about a variety of issues they have worked on related to independence including cooking, cleaning, shopping and learning to drive. Laura talks about enabling her son to be independent but in a very structured way.
One important part of Laura’s strategy was always planning ahead, particularly when it comes to thinking about work. She suggests sitting down with your child and talking about what they want to do and to making a list. Don’t just leap into the dark, instead, take time and think about it, brainstorm and write it all down. Then, go through the list together and consider each option carefully. Once you’ve done this, you’re ready to plan with a purpose, and you can use the plan as the basis to start moving forward.
Planning five years ahead, or even ten, might sound difficult but working out where you want your young person to be in five/ten years’ time and how you’re going to help them get there is surely better than hoping it all works out in the end. As Laura says, “..never concentrate on the present, it’s the future you’ve got to always be thinking about.”
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
A social enterprise must first achieve success as an enterprise before they can deliver on any of their social objectives, that is the message from this week's podcast guest David Hunter. David is the CEO of Acceptable Enterprises Ltd (AEL) who are based in Larne, Northern Ireland and provide employment opportunities for young people with additional needs.
AEL do this across a diverse range of industries from manafacturing bottled water to selling products online. The innovative array of industries in which AEL operate in has resulted in a very successful business in terms of both turnover and providing an increasing number of work opportunities for young people with additional needs.
One of the successful businesses is an ethical bottled water line called 'Clearer Water,' each bottle has a unique trace code that a consumer can type into an app on their phone. Doing this provides a stream of information such as the PH rating, mineral content and temperature of the product BUT it also delivers information about the person who bottled the water such as their hobbies, the music they like to listen to and what football team they support. Another business achieving success is the online business selling a variety of products on eBay and Amazon. The focus is on quality which as David explains is why AEL has extremely high levels of customer satisfaction on both eBay and Amazon.
David also discusses why companies need to understand that if they employ people with additional needs it doesn't mean that the quality of their product or service will diminish as a result. As he says for many employers, the prospect of making reasonable adjustments when hiring employees with disabilities can be quite daunting. However, AEL has numerous proven ideas to illustrate to employers how simple reasonable adjustments can be.
AEL also believe in ensuring that all the businesses they operate have a diverse workforce, so they try to ensure that they follow a model where the workforce is made up of 1/3 people with additional needs, 1/3 people who have had challenges in their lives and 1/3 people from the local community. David argues that creating a workforce in this way reduces social isolation and is also more reflective of the wider world of work.
David also shares some words of advice for others who want to establish a similar company or organisation to help employ young people with additional needs. His advice is to look for a particular problem in your community that you want to tackle and then to use social enterprise as a means to combat that problem. Also look at the online sales world where you can reach millions of customers easily. The crucial part is coming up with the idea or concept for generating the income and using that income to deliver your social objectives.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
The term ‘letting go’ means different things to different people. Sometimes as parents we have to let go of our own expectations of what our children’s lives will look like.This was the case for this week’s guest Fiona who found that once she let of her own expectations it opened up a new world of possibilities. Originally from the UK but now living in the US Fiona shares her story about why she believes letting go of expectations was the best solution for her family.
Fiona has two sons with autism and she starts by talking about the struggles to get a diagnosis for her oldest son, Hamish, so that he could get the support he needed. Part of the problem was that because her son was coping with the school work but not with the school environment the professional couldn’t really see a problem. However, once he was observed in school the issues were acknowledged although it did take another 18 months to get the actual diagnosis.
Fiona also talks about those early school years and about how engaging with other parents at her son’s school at least helped resolve some of the issues at school. She feels that by talking to other parents we can break down some of the assumptions being made about our children.
Once they moved to the US and Hamish was by this time older a different set of issues arose. One result of this was that Hamish was put onto medication which turned out to be a huge mistake. As time went on, Fiona realised that Hamish needed a change…they all did. So, when Hamish turned 16, Fiona and her husband decided that they weren’t going to force their child through the education system any longer. So, they pulled him out of school, and she believes that was the best decision they ever made. This took away the pressure of expectations on him and has enabled him to figure out what is the best way forward for him.
Fiona’s advice to other parents is to let go of expectations that you and everyone else around you might have about what they should be doing. The focus needs to be what is best for them as an individual. It is never going to be easy to suspend our expectations because we all want what is best for our children but sometimes we need to let them go find their own solutions.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
One day soon people with additional needs will be valued as contributors to society and not just as passive recipients of social care, this is the vision that Matt and Steve from Skillnet Group share in this episode.
Skillnet Group support people with additional needs into employment. They do this through creating projects to develop work related skills and through providing supported internships with employers. Matt is the Chief executive of Skillnet group and Steve is a former client, who is now a Non-Executive Director and acts as a mentor to the young people on internships with employers. As Steve explains he also spends a lot of his time educating employers as to why people with additional needs make great employees.
Steve talks about his journey where his initial involvement with Skillnet group was through attending courses they put on; something he quickly decided wasn’t for him. He explains how he believed his strengths and interests lay in talking to others and helping to change their attitudes among employers. He speaks passionately about the need and desire that many people feel to live a life free of depending on benefits and handouts, and instead earning their own money, and being empowered as a result of doing so. He also talked about how important it is to feel part of a community.
Matt explains that a key part of the operational structure of Skillnet Group is that they are not a charity, they are a social enterprise. While Matt acknowledges there are many charities, across varied sectors, that do excellent work, he believes that charities can often reinforce an imbalance of a power. Skillnet Group operate very much as a business and identify themselves as a social business – not a charity. They sell service and operate as a supportive and nurturing employment agency.
The future objectives of Skillnet group include continuing to change perceptions about people with additional needs in the workplace. Matt sees a future where all employers will come to realise the real business benefits to their organisation of employing young people with additional needs.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
The best way to boost the self-esteem of our children is to let them have their say, give them a voice and help them to feel a sense of control, according to Soli Lazarus this week’s podcast guest.
Soli has a son with ADHD and so knows some of the struggles parents have first hand, as well as being a teacher for over 30 years. Her consultancy Yellow Sun delivers support and advice to parents of children with additional needs and challenging behaviour.
Soli believes one of the biggest issues for children with additional needs is suffering from low self-esteem due to society pressuring them from a young age to conform to the ‘norm’. Children may interrupt, be disorganised, be inattentive and so from an early age they are branded as naughty and constantly being told off. Consequently, their self-esteem plummets.
To help deal with this Soli talks about how important it is to provide our children with routine, whilst also giving them responsibilities so that they can be rewarded and praised. She discusses the importance of giving them the opportunity to make decisions when at home, because school can often be a very rigid place with little chance for make independent choices. By giving them the choice and the power, they feel listened to. Soli also addresses how this giving of more choice can impact on siblings and ways to deal with any feelings of jealousy they may have.
As an experienced teacher, Soli also talks about what she sees as an outdated education system focused on times tables when the focus should be on technology solutions which children with additional needs can access much easier. She explains how children with additional needs often feel happier online and this is a great way to counteract the difficulties surrounding making face-to-face social networks. Soli feels that using online tools can help to develop social skills and move them to a point where they can say they have real friends. Obviously, this all needs to be done in a safe environment and she reminds us that as parents we need to make sure we keep up to date as much as possible with the online world.
Soli talks also about frazzled parents and offers some suggestions to deal with those feelings of overwhelm. She talks about the importance of taking a moment out of every day to do something for yourself without feeling any guilt. She also talks about her own experiences of being lonely and feeling like she was the only one in her situation when her son was diagnosed. For her finding others who understood even a little of what she was going through was essential in helping her move forward.
The main idea from Soli is about sending messages to our children that help them build their self-esteem, develop their strengths and let them know that if they fail, that’s ok, it’s just a part of living their own lives.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
"We all want friends, a misconception about people on the spectrum is that they don't want friends" Jamie Wheeler tells us in this week’s podcast. Jamie runs Austen's Autistic Adventures, based in Richardson, Texas, a social group where people over the age of 18 can meet friends and engage in fun activities to develop their social skills.
Jamie explains that when her daughter graduated from High School, she lost her peer group as people moved on with the next stages of their lives. Where her daughter had once found comfort in the school choir and theatre groups, there was suddenly a void.
Determined to ensure that her daughter didn't remain alone, she gave up her career as a college professor and launched a programme that was financially accessible to all and provided daily activities to allow members to experience real friendship relationships and reap the benefits of being part of a social group.
Jamie talks about the challenges of setting up the project and the ongoing battles she has with funding. She talks about the difference it's made to young people's lives and the future, as well as top tips for anyone who's considering setting up something similar. The main struggle Jamie faced when setting up was not knowing where to find people. She faced this challenge head on by using social media, setting up a website and getting the programme out by word of mouth.
Jamie tips for setting up similar groups include
1. Stay community-based
2. Talk to small businesses
3. Have a great social media presence
4. Be truly dedicated to it - don't be afraid to talk to others
Jamie believes that daily interaction with others, both on and off the spectrum, improves social functioning. This is the case at home and in the community. Furthermore, by going out every day, the community at large gets to know people with autism as individuals, which leads to more, and better, employment and volunteer opportunities.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
It is possible to create a viable business while employing people with additional needs and this week’s podcast guest proves that. Nick O'Shea is the founder of Ignition Brewery in London, a successful business employing people with additional needs. At Ignition Brewery it's all about the beer because as Nick has found his customers don't mind who's making the beer as long as it tastes good!
Nick's journey started whilst he was a regular volunteer at a UK charities event (Mencap's Tuesday Club) - where people with additional needs meet to socialise. He noticed that most of the people he talked to there wanted 2 things a relationship and a job. Nick didn't want to start a matchmaking service, so he decided to find a way to employ people with additional needs. He looked for a business which was labour-intensive and had repetitive tasks which would suit the people he would eventually employ, but that would also lead to an economically viable business. Ignition Brewery was the result.
Nick explains it has not been without its challenges. It took six months to find a suitable place to brew. When they first started brewing they brewed about 20 batches of beer, some of it was good and some of it was bad! Currently they bottle around 1000 bottles a week. They plan to double that in the near future. They supply local pubs, restaurants and sell at local events as well.
One area Nick talked about was his surprise at the lack of support from other organisations involved in the care of people with additional needs He believes there is more of a focus on providing palliative care and a lack of care based on developing people and allowing them to move on and achieve more with their life.
We also discuss the future plans which include a bar which will create more employment opportunities. As Nick points out technological advances, such as contactless payments, mean that more service jobs are now a reality for people with additional needs.
While Ignition might be based in London the model could be replicated, could be used in other communities and for other types of businesses. This is all about what people CAN do not whether they have additional needs or not.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Being able to see properly can really transform a child's life according to Antonia Chitty. As a qualified optometrist and author Antonia is passionate about getting all children’s sight checked. She explains that many parents feel daunted at the prospect of taking their child with additional needs for an eye test. However, as she explains children don’t need to be able to read or communicate verbally to have their eyes tested. Antonia also talks about the signs to look out for that indicate eye issues including preferring things to be close up, squinting and headaches. Antonia provides some very practical tips for dealing with eye tests as well and some useful resources to look at.
We also discuss relationships, an area in which Antonia has also written, and the effect having a child with additional needs can have on relationships – in particular, the relationship between the parents. Many parents report that they feel isolated when their child has an additional need. They often feel that they don’t have anyone or anywhere to discuss the pressures put upon their relationship. It can be very dividing. Antonia advises to go and get help, acknowledge that it’s taking its toll, and reminds us there are strategies available to help us.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Being listened to and being understood are important to us all, but this can be difficult when you struggle to find a common language. Language is the way we communicate and if you can’t communicate with others the impact can be devastating. This week I talk with Veronica, Mum to Emma, who has a speech and language impairment. Veronica explains what this means for Emma and her family.
Veronica guides us through her daughter’s diagnosis and the difficulties they had in getting others to acknowledge the problem, and then how that should be addressed. She also talks about the impact of getting a diagnosis and the feelings that come with that.
Veronica discusses the importance of finding people that can support your family and have an understanding what you are going through. She talks about how she found a support network and how it helped her daughter and the whole family. Veronica reminds us that people don’t need to be going through the exact same thing as you to understand how you are feeling.
Finally, Veronica talks about how important it is to teach our children to demand to be listened to and to value their voice. These skills can then be used outside the home to help them become more independent.
Finding a common language helps us be heard by others who can offer support, understanding and remind us we are never alone.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Feeling like you belong to a community and being accepted for who you are is important to all of us. This week we talk to James Cuming, Community Leader, at L’Arche Kent who explains how L’Arche provides both of these for people all over the world, some who have additional needs. James explains the history of L'Arche and how its beginnings drive the mission of creating communities which bring different people together.
James explains how L’Arche provides housing and purpose in a purposeful and community-driven way. This helps ensure that everyone including those with additional needs gets much more than simply a place to live and a place to go each day.
James also shares his views on the language we use when we talk about people with additional needs. He questions why we talk about reviews when we mean appraisals and activities when we really mean hobbies.
Finally, James shares his vision for a project close to his heart the Archangel Brewery. This project, while still in its infancy, could create a business model which James hopes can be replicated so that people with additional needs can truly control their own futures. His vision is that the Archangel brewery will be controlled from boardroom to brewery by people with additional needs and they will make all the decisions about their business and their future.
The L’Arche ethos is so powerful that it should become the norm not the exception when we think of how we plan the future housing and work options for young people with additional needs.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Being a step parent brings with it some unique challenges. In this episode Rob stepdad to two boys, one, Thomas, who has autism and ADHD, talks about his experiences as a stepdad.
The first challenge for many is what to be called. Sometimes Mum or Dad isn’t an option. Rob happened upon a fairly unique solution to this issue and you will hear from him why he is now known by family and friends as “Kiwi”. And it has nothing to do with New Zealand.
Rob shares his thoughts about coming to parenting at a later stage. He suggests that it is a different experience at least for him. Rob also discusses sibling relationships and the impact our own family history can have on the way we view sibling rivalry. He talks about the fact that often when one child has additional needs things what should be seen as normal sibling interaction (arguments) are sometimes mistakenly attributed to additional needs.
Finally, Rob addresses what the future might hold for Thomas and the need to support his stepson's independence while still providing the safety net he might need.
Rob’s experiences are unique but in telling his story he provides give us with a first-hand insight into what it means to be a stepdad.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
When faced with a storm the key is to stay calm and get prepared for whatever it might bring. Sometimes dealing with the system and fighting for your child with additional needs is like sailing into a storm. This week Caroline, in part 2 of her interview, talks about her experiences of staying calm and getting prepared.
Caroline starts off by reminding us that parenting is already hard without having the extra challenges that having a child with additional needs brings. As Caroline says, as new parents we are often left to cope until a professional decides that they know better and suddenly we end up being sidelined. It is then that we need to stay calm even if our most natural responses might be anger or frustration. She explains her own experiences and how she learnt the key skill of not saying what she really thought.
Caroline advocates becoming an expert yourself to help you deal with the experts who are sometimes deciding your child’s future. Research is key, in her opinion, so you become aware of what options are out there, even what new thinking is happening that could change the direction of your child’s life. Some of the professionals you deal with will welcome your knowledge and input and see it as a way to make their job easier. Others, and they will be a minority, will not be so welcoming of your input but at the very least they will be aware that you are ready and willing to equip yourself with whatever is needed to get the best for your child.
We finish the interview by coming back to Caroline’s son James and what his future might hold. Caroline shares his thoughts on future careers and as she says some might need a little more thought and others will rely on some technological advances. But the world is changing, and with that more options open up that we could never have imagined.
Caroline’s experiences of her journey with her son are unique to her and her family but there will be similarities with your journey in there. Sharing our unique stories helps everyone because even if the road taken is different our destinations are all the same – our children maximizing their own unique talents.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Most of us go through our day unaware of how our brain is continuously filtering everything our senses are picking up. This filtering means we are only left with the information we really need and we don’t get sensory overload. This week we talk to Caroline who explains to us what happens when those filters are not working as they should.
Caroline shares the journey of her son James as they navigate the diagnosis maze. She talks about the importance of putting the puzzle of diagnosis together in order to be able to start to figure out the strategies that work for James.
Caroline talks about how finding out that James had auditory processing disorder fundamentally changed the way he was being taught in school. She explains not only what this disorder is in everyday language but also how it impacts on James and the strategies they use to help him.
The impact of finding out that James also has sensory processing disorder is also talked about by Caroline. She explains in an easy to understand way what exactly this is and helps us understand how much we don’t know and don’t think about our own senses.
If you have ever wondered how to help someone you know cope with a world they sometimes find overwhelming, then you will find value in this podcast. Caroline has a knack of explaining in an easy to understand way some of the possible reasons why overload happens. More importantly she shares some of the strategies that helps her son James move forward and learn to manage sensory overload.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Independence can be reached in many ways. Shared Lives in the UK offers one approach to help people with additional needs develop independence focused skills based on a holistic approach. This week we talk to Karen from Shared Lives who explains how this innovative program works.
Shared Lives matches hosts with people requiring support to develop certain skills. It offers a more individualized and a supportive family and community focusing approach. There are a variety of ways to access the program, whether that be a full time placement within a family or day opportunities where hosts might teach specific skills such as baking.
Karen explains how Shared Lives works and the benefits of being in a home environment with 1:1 support which enables skills to be developed at the pace of the individual. Karen says one advantage of the Shared Lives approach is the ability to tailor to an individual needs and provide sustained support at the level they need for a timescale that suits them.
Karen also talks about the process of selecting people to be hosts and how it ensures the safety of the individuals being supported. The unique approach to matching hosts to individuals is also discussed and the way it enables individuals to have choice in how and who supports them to reach their goals.
The Shared Lives approach works because it focuses on the individual and is not time constrained when it comes to achieving goals. While it may not be the right approach for everyone there is no doubt it provides people with additional needs the chance to not only develop skills and relationships but also to become a valued part of their community.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
There’s a solution out there for every challenge, including finding clothing designed to make getting dressed easier. This week we talk to Katie Ellis, from The Able Label, a UK based clothing manufacturer.
The company was originally started to help Katie’s grandmother, who had Parkinson’s, find clothes that were both fashionable and functional. The company has now grown to providing clothing that has been adapted (based on comprehensive research with customers and professionals) for the variety of customer lifestyles.
Katie explains some of the innovations the company has developed, including color coordinating to give visual clues when dressing and the use of fabrics and fastenings to make getting dressed independently doable for most people.
While most of us never think about getting dressed, some people struggle with this task, and Able Label provides clothes that given them greater opportunities to be independent without having to sacrifice fashion for functionality.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Not giving up, hanging in there – is the theme of this week’s podcast interview with Carmelina. She shares her journey with her son Dominic with us. Sometimes picking your battles is the key, as small things become your focus when you need to be looking at the bigger picture. We need to decide what will make the real differences, and fight those battles.
Carmelina offers insights on relationships. She encouraged sport as a means for Dominic to learn how to develop and maintain friendships. Carmelina explains sport has provided Dominic with a common passion and purpose, and this has enabled him to engage in conversations where he is an equal partner with his peers, who don’t necessarily have the same challenges as him. This common passion helps him because these differences are quickly forgotten in those moments where all that matters is being on the same team.
Having the chance to work has also been key to Dominic developing his independence skills. This sense of purpose has enabled him to develop transferable skills as well as start to understand the types of work he might like to do in the future. It also has meant he has begun to understand the complexities of earning and saving money.
Carmelina also talks about reaching out to other parents who may not necessarily be on the exact same path as you but at least understand some of the challenges you’re facing. This support and talking to others is something that can help anyone on what is often feels like a lonely journey and sometimes a scary space. Carmelina’s story reminds us that with perseverance we will get to the space where, like her, we can reflect on the independence skills our children have and where we can realistically imagine where their lives might go in a positive future focused way.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
REDinc offers a model worth replicating when it comes to helping young people achieve their work related dreams according to Mitch Halligan Work and Training Coordinator at REDinc.
REDinc. is based in NSW, Australia, and was originally started by 5 families who found there was nowhere for their children to progress to after secondary school. It now provides a variety of support services, including helping people with additional needs transition into work which they find rewarding and for which they are rewarded appropriately.
Mitch talks about the projects REDinc. has developed, including one with young people who enjoy gaming; most often in the confines of their own bedrooms, they now get together offline to not only to enjoy the gaming aspect but to also create other opportunities for creativity. This has included creating a YouTube channel, where games are reviewed, and publishing blogs. As Mitch says the outcome here is not the gaming but the other skills being developed in the environment and the confidence of interaction.
Mitch explains how Redinc. works hard to ensure all staff are skilled in whatever area they are teaching. They employ professionals to teach students the technical skills rather than relying on volunteers who may not be experts in a specialist topic. The experience of these professionals not only helps the students develop their skills but provides them with a real insight into the professions they may be interested in entering. In addition, having paid staff allows for accountability. That is not to say REDinc. does not value volunteers who also play an important role and provide a link with the community which is integral to success.
Mitch also offers his thoughts around the ongoing debate as to whether people with additional needs should be paid less because they may not complete the task as quickly as others. He offers a practical suggestion, at least one that could work in jobs where productivity and output can be easily measured. However, Mitch also argues that any model, and he uses the sheltered workshop model to illustrate his point, must have within it incentives so that people are motivated and aware that if they work harder they will be rewarded for it.
However, as Mitch is careful to say, it must ultimately be the individual’s choice as to what they do. As he says ‘nothing about without you’ is an important part of his role so that what he does is based on the goals and interests of the person he is supporting. He shares a couple of success stories with us, including a young woman working as a receptionist in her local community and a young man who is finding his own path (with the help of REDinc.) towards a career in nursing.
Finally, Mitch talks about the future for REDinc. and its desire to stay small enough to provide the best support it can. The model works, which begs the question why aren’t there more of these types of organizations? Mitch suggests it is in part a funding issue, but is also down to a lack of coordination, at least in Australia across state borders. He also believes that because REDinc came from families ties, this ultimately makes the organisation focused in a different way and has helped scaffold their success.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
You need to be brave and a bit terrified at the same time when it comes to building independence skills, according to Robyn in the second part of her son’s story. The key is to not underestimate our children and what they can do, but you will always struggle with your own fears when letting them be more independent.
Robyn offers some practical insights into how they have taught Riley travel skills, relying on the mobile phone as the crutch on which he leans so he can go off on his own while still having support available if he needs it. These initial short journeys with purpose have provided him with growing confidence to venture farther away from home.
Robyn also talks about how friendships remain a challenge for Riley, as they do for many children with additional needs. It is Riley, though, who provides us with a genuinely enlightened way of looking at the fact he is yet to find the friendships he desires. According to him, it’s because he hasn’t yet found his wolf pack.
Robyn reminds us that to be brave is also to be terrified but still having the courage to do it anyway. She reminds us also as that as parents we need to let go of our children (albeit slowly and reluctantly) regardless of any additional need so that one day they will be able to let go of us when the time is right for them. Don’t ever confuse slow with never, everything takes the time it takes.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
You need to focus forward 100%, and not waste your energy looking backwards, according to Robyn. Robyn lives in Sydney with her son Riley, his younger brother and her husband. She talks about the early years, finding out Riley has autism and how their family dealt with this news. As she says Riley is a child with autism rather than an autistic child, because before anything else Riley is a child.
Robyn talks about the challenges in finding the right school for Riley and how she and her family were determined he would have every opportunity available to him. As part of this they explored a variety of interventions including speech and language therapy.
Robyn advocates getting on your cranky pants when those in charge don’t respect the value of your child. She shows us there is a time for thought and a time for action. She also talks about the fact that your family, and most importantly your child, must stay the axis of the wheel so that everything works for them not for any preconceived ideas or system. Robyn reminds us that as parents/guardians we are our child’s greatest advocate and that our positivity will permeate throughout their lives helping them to achieve so much more than a system often expects of them.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Finding an interest as child, such as in sport, can lead to a lifelong passion that lasts right through adolescence and adulthood, and provides a strong connection to a community and a focus for life. This is the opinion of Maire who shares her story in this week’s podcast.
Maire talks about how a lack of confidence can lead to a young person to want to give up things they have always enjoyed. Combine that with a growing realisation that they are not performing at the same level as peers who seem to do the same things effortlessly, and the barriers to participation start to get higher.
Maire reminds us that it’s not always easy to manage the expectations of our children with additional needs or even what their siblings expect of them. For her son she looks to sport to help him find his purpose, build his confidence and find his own unique space in the world. As parents that’s our greatest challenge.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Everyone’s journey is very different but sometimes listening to someone else’s journey can help us on our own way. This week we talk to Carol, mother to Leo, about her and her family’s journey with him. His leaving home is still a way off for them, but there are many small steps to take along the way with which we can all identify.
Leo has had many challenges in his 10 years, but despite this his determination shines through. Finding the right school has been key to his moving forward and finding his place in the world.
While Leo's parents have started to imagine what his future might hold, they are also enjoying the now where he is a happy boy. One reason for this happiness has been his getting more involved in community based clubs. This is facilitated by a mentor a few years older than him, who helps him navigate not only the activities but also social skills he needs.
Carol also reminds us that sometimes we need to take on the hard stuff and by that she means those family activities that stretch our children with additional needs. By not doing this, not only are our other children missing out but our children with additional needs aren’t being given the opportunity to surprise us.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
The earlier you know what you’re dealing with the easier it is to seek out the right support and put in place the right plan. This is the opinion of Scarlett, mother to Edith. She believes her daughter Edith will achieve a great deal because her daughter has an in born desire to be independent. Edith's spirit is inspirational.
Scarlet and her husband swapped countries and swapped schools to give their daughter the best chance possible. Now, Edith has moved from a child who struggled in mainstream to a child that thrives in the appropriate school. The family were in Switzerland when Edith was diagnosed, and the intervention they got was early and very detailed and even today this is still impacting on her positive progress.
Scarlett talks about how she feels the meeting of milestones model is actually detrimental. She also provides some practical tips on how she helped her daughter to be able to do tasks requiring gross and fine motor skills.
Going at your child’s pace is essential as its helps build confidence and self-esteem, leading to a greater desire for independence. Finally, Scarlett reminds us that as parents/carers we need to believe in ourselves and believe in the great job we are doing.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Knowing when to take the stabilisers off, and not just on a bicycle, is key to moving towards achieving any goal. This is the view of Jackie, mother to Joe who has additional needs, including a speech and language disorder.
Jackie explains what works for Joe is repetition and chunking (breaking tasks into chunks) so that they are never too daunting and that achieving the task is realistic. Of course it is easier if it’s something he likes doing but even if it isn’t Jackie talks about the using rewards and sometimes resorting to negotiation to get things moving.
Providing support for each small step along the way brings small successes. Achieving even a small goal builds Joe's confidence and helps him feel 'grown up' enough to try more things. Jackie recommends this type of approach as well as figuring out the end goal and then working backwards by breaking tasks up into easy to do parts. Then, and this is so important, trust yourself to know when it’s time to take away the stabilisers.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Holidays are a time to relax, rewind and recharge, but more often than not they end up being less about fun and more about stress. Vicki, an experienced travel consultant, shares tips for making travel less stressful. She understands our perspective because she is also a mother to a daughter with additional needs.
Vicki says preparation is key. Have everything you may ever need to hand, and have a distraction for every occasion. She also says anticipation is part of any holiday, and to make this enjoyable for a child with additional needs it is essential to talk about every part of the trip.
Vicki shares her experiences as a parent and a professional. She explains how repetition is key, and that while holiday location variety can be great, sometimes for children with additional needs familiarity makes life easier. Going back to same place can also reduces concerns around safety as well.
Finally, Vicki talks about the need for time away from your children to recharge your batteries and to encourage their independence, and this time away should be guilt free, although she knows as well as anyone else this is easier said than done.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Laura Ashfield is an outreach worker for the Surrey Wildlife Trust. She believes the forest is a great place to learn about ourselves as well as the rhythms of nature. More than this, she passionately believes the forest is a place that can help us discover our place in the world.
Discovering a place in the world, we know as parents to children with additional needs, is very important. Sometimes feelings of insecurity can be overwhelming. Maybe the forest and forest schools could hold part of the answer.
Laura shares her experiences as an outreach worker, and gives some uplifting examples of young people she's worked with. The ethos of forest school is straightforward: it's all about developing resilience, self-esteem and independence.
Forest schools are self-directed to give young people, who may in other areas of their lives feel like they have little control, a space to be themselves and do what they want to do in a safe but challenging environment. Laura also points out that there is time in the woods to just be and that ultimately boredom breeds creativity.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Andy, a father to a son with ASD and ADHD, takes a strategic view of independence, rather like a business plan. Because he does this, he and his wife have a clear vision of what they hope their son will be able to do age 21.
If their plan needs a little longer to be achieved, Andy is ok with this. He says, 'Being a kid is just a 15 year period of their lives, but they are going to be adults for 50 years.' It doesn't matter if his son takes more time to achieve the same independence as his siblings.
But by focusing on where we want our children to be at 21, it's a much longer plan. It relieves some of the frustrations we all feel by being in a hurry for our children to reach the same milestones as quickly as other children. Small steps with low expectations but with long term goals with high expectations is a balanced approach that we could all maybe learn from.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Success stories inspire us all. Proof that perseverance pays off is shown by Jacob and Sarah as Sarah explains the second part of Jacob's story: leaving school. Jacob has ambitions to work in the music industry, and is currently holding down a testing job as a barman to save money towards a year long course at Abbey Road Studios, London.
Sarah briefly recaps where Jacob is at the moment before she explains how successful he has been since leaving school. Sometimes he deals with difficult customers, in trying situations, and he has learnt strategies to cope with the demands and challenges he now faces.
Towards the end Sarah gives some final thoughts about their journey and a few tips we could all bear in mind, even if we don't have the opportunity to support in school the way she did. Sarah is justifiably proud of her son Jacob, and he should be an inspiration to all of us as to what is possible.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
With perseverance many great things can be achieved. Sarah is living proof of this with her son Jacob, who has Asperger's. In this two part podcast we will hear how Sarah guided Jacob through school and gave him the skills to succeed in quite a demanding job. This really is a success story that is inspiring and one we would all be happy with for our own sons and daughters.
In this first part, we hear how Jacob had difficulty coping at school in the beginning, and how Sarah took the unusual step of volunteering to be his 1:1 support in the classroom during his primary school education (ages 5-11). From this Sarah gained a unique perspective on the classroom, and she used this knowledge to teach and model all the skills that come more naturally to most children. She is honest about both the lows and highs, and the challenges she and her son faced as Jacob gradually became a successful teenager.
His high school years also had its difficulties, but he did graduate with A levels (the highest qualification taken in the UK school system). Next week we will hear about his job, and some more of Sarah's advice. But this week, we focus on the story of Jacob's school years.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Matching clothes to the occasion is a challenge for us all. This week Elika Gibbs, owner of Practical Princess, is here to help. She professionally advises her clients on fashion and the organisation of wardrobes.
Elika introduces us to the look book, and discusses the challenges of helping a young person with additional needs organise their wardrobes. She believes in the value of organisation and suggests this is one of the many keys to independence.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Preparation and practice: these are the keys to interview success. This is the advice from Sam, an experienced HR director, who this week shares her expertise on how to not only survive the interview but how to succeed. She covers what needs to be included in a CV, and discusses questions you should expect as well as could ask. Sam explains the importance of role playing, particularly for young people with additional needs, and how to deal with the unexpected during the interview. She offers tactics to help young people facing their first interviews for work and college as well as insights into what interviewers are really looking for.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Sibling relationships are never easy, especially if one sibling has additional needs. This week I talk to Julie, a mother of 2 children, about her experiences and the challenges. She talks about the tactics she uses to make family life work for everyone and her ideas for creating a sibling bond through shared activities. She also explains why she believes it’s important to manage family expectations when it comes to being a carer for a sibling with additional needs once parents are no longer around. If your children are struggling with being a sibling, then Julie has some ideas that might resonate with you and your family dynamics.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Independent living means having your own place to live. Finding that place isn’t always easy. In this episode Julia, a landlord who is renting out a property to young people with additional needs, tells us why. We hear that finding a place to rent requires perseverance and sometimes a dose of optimism. For the landlord, it requires thinking more about the person and less about their credit score. For a parent, there are strategies for making it easier for a young person with additional needs to find a place to live in the private rental sector. If you’re a landlord already, hear why renting out to young people with additional needs makes financial sense as well as social sense.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Ian is an ex-police officer who dealt with incidents where young people with additional needs were involved. He saw how a lack of understanding on both sides could often turn difficult situations into highly stressful experiences for everyone.
Sometimes figures of authority lack experience in dealing with people with additional needs. Similarly, people with additional needs lack experience dealing with people in authority. This can be a huge problem in testing situations, when tensions are high.
The answer, according to Ian, is education on both sides. He talks about how important it is for a young person or their parents/carers to explain why they are behaving in a particular way. He provides advice on how to get rid of the unease, and sometimes even fear, that young people with additional needs have of anyone in authority. Ian also gives tactics you can use to make future encounters with anyone in authority a positive experience for everyone.
Ian speaks from experience. He was a police officer of 34 years of standing and has experience with the UK Border Agency. He is also a parent to a child with additional needs. He reminds us that if our young people need help in the future, it might well be the police they turn to. If they fear the police, then their request for help might not be received quite so well.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Emily Hughes is an Australian social worker currently living in London. She is an expert in developing social skills. In this discussion she shares her tools and tactics for enabling children to develop their social skills, build resilience and independently navigate their way through the challenges they face. She explains how to use every day situations to help create scripts they can use again and again. Emily also talks about the roles of family, extended family and mentors to aid this. Information on resources which can be used at home are given as well as general advice on how to embed scripts into social encounters and the importance of celebrating every step forward, no matter how small.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
A mother shares the strategies and tactics she uses to help her son, who has Asperger's, develop the skills he needs and prepare him for an independent life.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
The Ark Project is a local community project in Southern England which aims to help young adults with additional needs develop practical work skills. The project encompasses a working bakery and small holding with produce sold to local businesses. This interview is with the founder of the project Hester and we learn about her journey. Her project is supported by Shared Lives Plus.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.
Debra Caldow explains the aims and purpose of the podcast and what she hopes listeners will take away from this podcast.
For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.