Helpful Definitions
Supported Living is shared living with up to 5 other people who are living with similar conditions. The home is like any other on the street in the local community. Everyone has an individual tenancy, and each person has their own bedroom. Each bedroom is a private space and people can only enter by invitation. Other areas are communal and shared with the other tenants.
Each person will have an individual support package that varies from person to person depending on their needs. Support provided is to help people in the areas that they need help and promoting independence. People are assessed what one to one support they require. Support will be appropriate for them and their needs.
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities which affects someone for their whole life. People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complicated information and interact with other people.
We understand that each person’s learning disability is unique to them and therefore requires an individual approach. We work hard to ensure that each person is involved with planning their support plan to the best of their ability. We know that with the right support, most people with a learning disability can thrive and lead independent fulfilling lives.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. Autism is a spectrum condition and affects people in different ways. Like all people, autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Below is a list of difficulties that autistic people share. To have a diagnosis of autism they would have at least two of the key difficulties listed below.
- Social communication and social interaction challenges
- Repetitive and restrictive behaviour
- Over or under sensitivity to light, sound, taste or touch
- High focused interests or hobbies
- Extreme anxiety
- Meltdowns and shutdowns.
We understand that living with an autistic spectrum disorder can make everyday life challenging and this difficulty can vary dramatically between individuals. We consider those important elements like layout of environments, noise levels, social interactions, and communication methods to ensure that our support is tailored and appropriate to each person’s needs. We know that with the right support most people can lead an independent fulfilling life.
Task analysis provides structure and focus to steps that can be developed to increase independence. Task analysis is a way of breaking down activities down into smaller, more manageable steps, to help identify areas that may be more challenging for an individual because cognitive and/or physical challenges. Identifying the elements of the task that the service user can do for themselves, what help they need and how that help is given for the elements they cannot do for themselves.
The social model of disability proposes that what makes someone disabled is not their medical condition but the attitude and structures of society. If modern life was set up in a way that was accessible for people with disabilities, then they would not be excluded or restricted. The social model of disability says that it is society which disables impaired people.
Public perception of people with learning disabilities means there is stigma about what people with learning disabilities and autism can and can’t do. Adoption of the social model of disability there should be no limits set on what people with learning disabilities and autism can achieve; the key is finding the support which they need to enable them to achieve these things.