The Life Options Project
With initial 3 year funding from 'Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund' Learning Disability Wales (then known as SCOVO) developed the LIFE OPTIONS project between February 2001 to March 2004.
This involved new ways of working with young people identified as having profound and complex impairments to plan for their future.
The Project Continues....
Under the BILD Advocacy Grant Scheme the project has received funding to further the project. This will involve the part time Transitions Advocate Stephanie Harnett working with 20 young people between the ages of 16 - 25 years in Carmarthenshire.
Contact Life Options
For more information please contact us here at Learning Disability Wales.
Stories Wall
The 'stories wall' in the Life Options office contains snippets from real-life transition stories, which visitors can access by looking in the 'Stories file' for the full version. Many families who are preparing for transition, or who are already experiencing it, find the stories wall to be a valuable resource for accessing the real heart of transition from a personal perspective.
The success of the service relies on contributions from families who are willing to share their experiences of the transition to adulthood to help others learn. Stories can be positive or negative, as long as they reflect the reality of the transition process for you and your family. Whether you are preparing for transition, in the middle of the process or reflecting back, or if you are a professional working in the field, Life Options would like to hear from you.
That Kind of Life?
Friends
are the biggest gap. Because I know what Lois is like
when a group of girls come in. I can see her attitude
changing, she’s interested and that makes me sad.
But I don’t know how to change people’s
perceptions really.
(Friends and Support –
Document 1)
David's Independent Living
Trust
Our son, David, is autistic
and has severe a learning disability. He is 19 years
old. We are hoping that he will shortly move into a
rented house…he will be supported by personal
assistants to live in his home…we are forming
a Trust which will employ the personal assistants using
money from the Independent Living Fund, Direct Payments
from the Local Authority and other funding.
(Your Home - Document 4)
Appropriate Level of Support
One service user with particularly
complex health problems originally had a set of guidelines
that stated he need two staff present when he was out
in the community...as people got to know him better
it became clear that the guidelines were restricting
him.
(Good Health Support –
Document 1)
Making the Dreams Come True
-
Meet Gemma and Katy
This is
a story about my daughter, Gemma, and her friend, Katy.
They are 22 and 21 years old and have profound and complex
learning difficulties.
…They have been living independently for about
eighteen months now. It was the best thing we could
have done and there are no regrets…the lives Gemma
and Katy now have are second to none.
(Your Home – Document
2)
Razia's Story
I
was struggling where I could go with Razia. Once, at
a meeting in my office, I attempted to find about more
about what work she might be good at by passing her
a duster. She passed it back to me, in disgust. I was
beginning to learn about her motivation!
During my visits to the day centre, I noticed that Razia
often held a piece of paper and a pen in her hand. I
had a hunch that she might enjoy things to do with paper,
even though she didn’t write.
(Working – Document
1)
