Amy is an autistic person we support at Lower st Helens, one of our residential care homes in Southampton. When she first joined us, she struggled with her mental health. Amy is non-verbal and found it difficult to use other communication methods, like Makaton, meaning she couldn’t express herself. Unable to establish her voice, she presented behaviours of distress.
Using compassion, empathy, and a person-centred approach, our team took the time to get to know Amy. By adapting to her preferred communication method, they understood her unique needs, preferences, and goals. They were also able to understand what was causing Amy’s distress.
Collaborating with our dedicated behavioural practitioners, they introduced positive behaviour support techniques, empowering Amy to manage her emotional wellbeing and confidently communicate her needs and wishes.Soon, Amy started discovering who she was and began to establish a rich, fulfilling life.
Adapting to Amy’s needs
When Amy joined us, her unique needs presented learning opportunities for our specialist team. They invested in additional training and collaborated with other professionals, which helped them understand how to best support Amy and ensure all her needs were met.
They adapted areas of the home to support her wellbeing and created a sensory activity room for her. They researched into colours and textures, establishing the right way to decorate it and provide an environment that would be soothing. The room is full of activities Amy enjoys, so when she’s feeling anxious, this is her haven!
Our team always prioritise the wellbeing of the people we support, while still advocating for their right to make decisions. Amy likes to indulge in sugary drinks, but our team knew this wasn’t benefitting her overall health and wellbeing. Discussing this with her, they agreed to introduce a ‘reward system’. Amy chose to do more physical activity, like going for walks, and could reward herself with her favourite drinks afterwards. Initially, this worked for Amy, she was more active and limiting her sugary drink intake. But she struggled to maintain her reward system by only going for walks. She needed something more active and exciting to keep her motivated.
At Lower St Helens, one of our support colleagues participates in boxing classes. One day, they noticed classes for people with additional needs. They knew Amy enjoyed being active and arranged for her to go to a session. Amy loved it! After experiencing boxing, she started to really make long-lasting changes to her lifestyle. Within two years of starting her boxing classes, Amy was winning medals! Our team saw a difference in her, as she became increasingly more active and had something to focus on and look forward to.
Confidence in communication
Amy increased her activity levels and felt a sense of achievement. She was more positive and presented less behaviours of distress. Recognising how far she’d come with many aspects of her life, including communication, one of our behavioural practitioners invited Amy to take part in learning to SPELL.
The National Autistic Society developed SPELL to help non-verbal people communicate. With her team encouraging her, Amy took a step towards a future where she could express herself even more!
With an additional communication method, Amy was empowered to embrace more opportunities and establish her independence. At first, learning this new skill was daunting for her. She was scared of failing and didn’t feel comfortable with people watching her. But our team supported her through this.
They took her for a session with a SPELLER, who used a keyboard. Amy paid close attention, focusing and learning. Our team at Lower St Helens got involved too, learning to SPELL with her. Each week, they saw Amy improving. She’s now using Spelling-to-Communicate as a key method of communication and it’s changed her life!
By introducing her to SPELL, our team have helped Amy to feel more confident! She’s come out of her shell, she’s confidently expressing herself and showing the world the real Amy! Finding her voice, she’s also improved her mental wellbeing and reduced her behaviours of distress. She’s learnt to self-regulate her emotions and lets her team know what she needs to be calm and happy.
With these changes, Amy’s also found the confidence to be more sociable in the community. Joining a library group, she’s made friends with people from other care services. Being able to communicate with others and socialise is a whole new experience for her – and one of the most life-changing ones yet!
Focusing on the future
Since joining us at Lower St Helens, Amy’s made incredible achievements and improved her quality of life. With her unique needs met, she’s found the space to make meaningful changes and engage with new, fulfilling activities – something she aims to continue! Now, Amy wants to become a lead SPELLER, so she can teach the technique to others and show them what’s possible when they can freely express themselves!
Amy’s also aspires to go to Disney Land. A trip which once felt out of reach is now in her close future. Since she’s improved her physical and emotional wellbeing, she’s more flexible to changes in routines and has reduced her behaviours of distress. So, she’s ready to go on adventures further field!
Having person-centred support has given Amy the power to communicate, enjoy meaningful activities, become an active member of the community, and lead a fulfilling life that’s full of possibilities and potential.