Welcome to the Expanding Worlds Podcast
Recent episodes
135 Technology- Changing The Future – Why the key is connectivity with Ben Wood from CCS Insight
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.
134 Technology- Changing The Future – Identifying the best technologies to provide the right support
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
133 Technology- Changing The Future – Harnessing technology to raise expectations for independent living
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.
Articles
In Support of Supported Internships
To celebrate the first National Supported Internship Day, here in the UK, it seemed like a good time to explain why I’m such a fan. When we decided to take our daughter out of her post 16 education placement and head off on the supported internship journey, we were scared. Her education placement was safe and gave everyone a couple of more years to think about what next if we wanted.
Why without Visibility there will never be Real Awareness, Genuine Understanding and Actual Inclusion
When was the last time you met someone, and you really weren’t sure what to say or do? How did it make you feel? Confused? A bit fearful that you might say the wrong thing? Why did this happen? Was it because you didn’t really understand how to interact with this person? Was it because you had never met anyone like them before?
Start Early And Often
My ultimate objective is to get rid of my daughter. That’s not quite as bad as it sounds! My goal is to enable my youngest daughter to move out and live in a place of her own. When I have spoken on the podcast to people involved in training programs, one common theme has been that often the young people that come to them lack some of the basic daily living skills.
Our Focus
Young people with additional needs should have the opportunity to live independently in a way right for them. The podcast is about sharing stories and sharing solutions that enable parents and carers to support them on this path to greater independence.
Independence for most people consists of three things:
1) Having a Purpose for the day – usually paid employment, but possibly a place to go to make a contribution to the world.
2) Having the Daily Living skills for independence – being able to look after ourselves, cooking, shopping.
3) Having Relationships with family, friends and maybe even a partner one day.
There is also an additional consideration that serves as the foundation of all these – Financial. Like it or not money often dictates how we live our lives, and we need to confront the issue of how our children will survive financially when we are gone.
For more information visit redgiraffesolutions.com
All Episodes
129 Technology – Changing The Future – Using Everyday Technology to Support Independence
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.
128 Planning The Journey – Using the VOCAL Method
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.
127 Planning The Journey – Financial Security – Why Enough Is Enough
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.
