While The Housing Connection is principally an accommodation support service – enabling people to develop skills to live independently in the community and to develop strong social networks – we also go far beyond these parameters.
I am very proud to introduce three of the people whom we support, Susan Adrian, Charlotte Addison and Michael Minahan. Each of them will give you an example of the difference that ‘person centred practice’ has made to their lives, each in their own unique style, each truly based on their aspirations.
1. Susan Adrian – Learning to read and meaningful employment
Susan has been supported by The Housing Connection for fifteen years years. She lives in her own apartment with limited drop-in support. Susan is one of our client representatives on the Board. She reports each month on social activities and how the clients are going and also contributes to discussions about our future plans for the organisation. Susan also plays soccer every Saturday.
Although Susan lived independently and was able to take care of herself, she was a very unhappy woman. She will tell you about how she learned to read and the doors this opened – to employment and the enjoyment of reading stories. Her confidence increased, she exercised, lost weight and now values her wonderful quality of life.
‘Before I learned to read and write my life was sad.
I had a place to live and I knew how to cook and clean, but I still was not happy.
I used to stay at home by myself and watch TV.
I wanted to learn to read and write. The Housing Connection helped me find Di from SPELD who gave me reading lessons for four years. The Housing Connection helped me work out my goals. The big goal was learning to read and write. It took a long time but I stick with it.
Now I can read, I read picture stories. The best story to read is ‘Puppy in the Pantry’. It is funny. It makes me feel good. I can read recipes and instructions, which makes me more independent.
Because I can read, I can write reports for The Housing Connection Board. I have been client rep for two years. I like to help people.
Because I can read, I have a job. I work at Target. I like my job. Because I can read I know what to put on each shelf. I work four days a week.
I make money with my job so I can save money. I am saving money to go to New Zealand by ship! That is my big dream!☺
Thank you!
2. Charlotte Addison – Life after the death of both her parents
Charlotte has been supported by The Housing Connection for less than a year. Her father died three months before we met her and her mother was in a hospice receiving palliative care and died soon after. While Charlotte is independent in many aspects and has worked for many years, her family took care of many aspects of her life including taking care of the home. Family members thought Charlotte might move out of the family home and into an apartment, but she had other ideas…..
Hello Everybody!
My name is Charlotte and I would like to tell you about my parents before they passed on. Mother and father loved me very much, God rest them. But I didn’t claim a lot of independence because they just let me take the things what came. Mum looked after my money and Dad did that too. I like it when I watched TV with them and travelled with them. They drove me to various wholesome places and activities of intrigue and excitement.
Travelling and TV viewing were happy times but it was becoming closer to reality that I would be a lonely orphan girl or lady. Dad fell over and cut his face in the shower and at Xmas time 2009 he was in hospital. He returned home in mid-January but weeks later he had another go down the stairs. After Easter I got the call from the nearby nursing home and about 12.45am on the 17th April that my Dad was going to die, mainly from a stroke but he also had pneumonia. He passed away at one o’clock on the 17th April 2010 at Northhaven, Turramurra.
Not long after, my mother was suffering from health problems and after a week of Mothers’ Day celebrations she was taken to hospital. Different carers looked after me and I thought she would make a good widow with one half-orphan lady but it never came to fruition. By August the day came when the work the work and visits for the staff and me was hard and oppressing and so sadly the cancer was just incurable and she died at 10pm on 8th December 2010. I never forget my ‘olds’. I miss them too.
(Charlotte wrote a song for her parents’ memorial service. The CD recording of this song was played).
Since the sudden departure of Mummy and Daddy I have become an independent woman thanks to my ex-carer and my cousins and I found new freedom by doing the things that I had never done before – like cleaning a house and washing the clothes and vice versa. At the time I did not know my mother’s procedures. I met people from another organisation like House with No Steps (where Charlotte works) – called The Housing Connection. We discussed ways of how I could take the throne and look after myself.
I came up with going to a session of music once a week and it opened up opportunities to write lyrics and music and songs to express myself and also to perform so I remain consistent and as well meet new people. Also then to learn how to use a computer at The Housing Connection and the internet so I am not time wasteful. Now I can go to the internet café without help from a tutor. Even so I have learned more about claiming cooking experience which improved my independence because I can cook for myself at dinner time.
Naturally I get around much more now and I make my own choices and do the things I like doing.
The Finale
I like going to the movies and the little show venues. Of course I can use the banking method too and shopping for food and clothes etc. Happy Valentine’s Day. Have a good day.
Goodbye
A collage of photos of the music and CD production process, with soundtrack, was played. Charlotte and around 8 other clients were involved in writing songs, performing and recording a CD. Four clients performed in a concert at Shore Care the end of 2010 and a larger concert is planned for July 2011.
3. Michael Minahan – My trip to NASA
Michael has been supported by The Housing Connection for the past nine years. Before that he was in a DADHC group home and in other forms of congregate care. As a child he lived in a boys’ home which he says was ‘no good because he was teased’. Michael now lives independently in a unit with drop-in support – an option he much prefers.
Michael had a dream – to travel to Florida to watch the launch of the Space shuttle – something he achieved in 2010. There were many steps along the way to fulfilling this dream which Michael will tell you about.
(This presentation took the form of an interview. Michael was interviewed by James Pickering, his Project Coordinator, using a two-way walkie talkie, his preferred means of communication. While Michael spoke, a slideshow depicting his trip to Florida and the launch was shown).
Why do you like to talk on the walkie-talkie?
It’s my hobby
What was your big dream?
To go to NASA
What did you have to have to do to plan for this trip?
Book flights, book the condo arrange a passport. I had to save.
Why was it is so important for you to go to NASA?
It’s my dream
How long have you wanted to visit NASA?
A very long time
Was there a reason that you chose to go to NASA at this time?
To see the space shuttle take off (in April 2010)
Have you been to anywhere else before your trip to NASA which was to do with your interest in space?
Yes, I’ve been to Parkes, (Parkes CSIRO Radio Telescope & Discovery Centre), the (Sydney) Observatory and the Deep Space Centre (Canberra)
What did you enjoy most about your trip to NASA?
The shuttle launch
Did you get to meet any real astronauts when you were there?
Yes, Dr Robert Springer
What did you chat to Robert Springer about?
Space radios and communication
What else did you do when you were there?
Went out to dinner and chilled out!
Where did you stay?
At the condo
Who did you go with?
Tracey Spence
Who is Tracey Spence?
She my advocate and friend
How long have you known her for?
Decades
Recently have you done anything else that is to do with you with your interest in space?
Yes, meet astronauts at the Powerhouse Museum and the observatory and buy a computer to look up NASA and be a member.
(Meeting two other astronauts, buying a computer so he can be a NASA member on the net and print out pictures)
What is the next thing you like to do?
To go to New Zealand to visit Tracey and go on a cruise
Is there anything else that you would like to save for?
A desk top scanner
Thanks Mike
Thanks James, over and out!
Table of Contents
2. Person-Centred Practice
3. Person-Centred Practice – 3 Client Presentations
4. What Makes Person Centred Practice Possible?
5. Person-Centred Practice – Where to From Here?