Journey Skills Podcast

It is possible to create a viable business while employing people with additional needs and this week’s podcast guest proves that. Nick O'Shea is the founder of Ignition Brewery in London, a successful business employing people with additional needs. At Ignition Brewery it's all about the beer because as Nick has found his customers don't mind who's making the beer as long as it tastes good! Nick's journey started whilst he was a regular volunteer at a UK charities event (Mencap's Tuesday Club) - where people with additional needs meet to socialise. He noticed that most of the people he talked to there wanted 2 things a relationship and a job. Nick didn't want to start a matchmaking service, so he decided to find a way to employ people with additional needs. He looked for a business which was labour-intensive and had repetitive tasks which would suit the people he would eventually employ, but that would also lead to an economically viable business. Ignition Brewery was the result. Nick explains it has not bee

Being able to see properly can really transform a child's life according to Antonia Chitty. As a qualified optometrist and author Antonia is passionate about getting all children’s sight checked. She explains that many parents feel daunted at the prospect of taking their child with additional needs for an eye test. However, as she explains children don’t need to be able to read or communicate verbally to have their eyes tested. Antonia also talks about the signs to look out for that indicate eye issues including preferring things to be close up, squinting and headaches. Antonia provides some very practical tips for dealing with eye tests as well and some useful resources to look at. We also discuss relationships, an area in which Antonia has also written, and the effect having a child with additional needs can have on relationships – in particular, the relationship between the parents. Many parents report that they feel isolated when their child has an additional need. They often feel that they don’t have any

Being listened to and being understood are important to us all, but this can be difficult when you struggle to find a common language. Language is the way we communicate and if you can’t communicate with others the impact can be devastating. This week I talk with Veronica, Mum to Emma, who has a speech and language impairment. Veronica explains what this means for Emma and her family.  Veronica guides us through her daughter’s diagnosis and the difficulties they had in getting others to acknowledge the problem, and then how that should be addressed. She also talks about the impact of getting a diagnosis and the feelings that come with that. Veronica discusses the importance of finding people that can support your family and have an understanding what you are going through. She talks about how she found a support network and how it helped her daughter and the whole family. Veronica reminds us that people don’t need to be going through the exact same thing as you to understand how you are feeling. Finally, Vero

Feeling like you belong to a community and being accepted for who you are is important to all of us. This week we talk to James Cuming, Community Leader, at L’Arche Kent who explains how L’Arche provides both of these for people all over the world, some who have additional needs. James explains the history of L'Arche and how its beginnings drive the mission of creating communities which bring different people together. James explains how L’Arche provides housing and purpose in a purposeful and community-driven way. This helps ensure that everyone including those with additional needs gets much more than simply a place to live and a place to go each day. James also shares his views on the language we use when we talk about people with additional needs. He questions why we talk about reviews when we mean appraisals and activities when we really mean hobbies. Finally, James shares his vision for a project close to his heart the Archangel Brewery. This project, while still in its infancy, could create a business

Being a step parent brings with it some unique challenges. In this episode Rob stepdad to two boys, one, Thomas, who has autism and ADHD, talks about his experiences as a stepdad. The first challenge for many is what to be called. Sometimes Mum or Dad isn’t an option. Rob happened upon a fairly unique solution to this issue and you will hear from him why he is now known by family and friends as “Kiwi”. And it has nothing to do with New Zealand. Rob shares his thoughts about coming to parenting at a later stage.  He suggests that it is a different experience at least for him.  Rob also discusses sibling relationships and the impact our own family history can have on the way we view sibling rivalry.  He talks about the fact that often when one child has additional needs things what should be seen as normal sibling interaction (arguments) are sometimes mistakenly attributed to additional needs. Finally, Rob addresses what the future might hold for Thomas and the need to support his stepson's independence while s

When faced with a storm the key is to stay calm and get prepared for whatever it might bring. Sometimes dealing with the system and fighting for your child with additional needs is like sailing into a storm. This week Caroline, in part 2 of her interview, talks about her experiences of staying calm and getting prepared. Caroline starts off by reminding us that parenting is already hard without having the extra challenges that having a child with additional needs brings. As Caroline says, as new parents we are often left to cope until a professional decides that they know better and suddenly we end up being sidelined. It is then that we need to stay calm even if our most natural responses might be anger or frustration. She explains her own experiences and how she learnt the key skill of not saying what she really thought. Caroline advocates becoming an expert yourself to help you deal with the experts who are sometimes deciding your child’s future. Research is key, in her opinion, so you become aware of what o

Most of us go through our day unaware of how our brain is continuously filtering everything our senses are picking up. This filtering means we are only left with the information we really need and we don’t get sensory overload.  This week we talk to Caroline who explains to us what happens when those filters are not working as they should.   Caroline shares the journey of her son James as they navigate the diagnosis maze. She talks about the importance of putting the puzzle of diagnosis together in order to be able to start to figure out the strategies that work for James. Caroline talks about how finding out that James had auditory processing disorder fundamentally changed the way he was being taught in school. She explains not only what this disorder is in everyday language but also how it impacts on James and the strategies they use to help him. The impact of finding out that James also has sensory processing disorder is also talked about by Caroline. She explains in an easy to understand way what exactly

Independence can be reached in many ways. Shared Lives in the UK offers one approach to help people with additional needs develop independence focused skills based on a holistic approach. This week we talk to Karen from Shared Lives who explains how this innovative program works. Shared Lives matches hosts with people requiring support to develop certain skills. It offers a more individualized and a supportive family and community focusing approach. There are a variety of ways to access the program, whether that be a full time placement within a family or day opportunities where hosts might teach specific skills such as baking. Karen explains how Shared Lives works and the benefits of being in a home environment with 1:1 support which enables skills to be developed at the pace of the individual. Karen says one advantage of the Shared Lives approach is the ability to tailor to an individual needs and provide sustained support at the level they need for a timescale that suits them. Karen also talks about the pr

There’s a solution out there for every challenge, including finding clothing designed to make getting dressed easier. This week we talk to Katie Ellis, from The Able Label, a UK based clothing manufacturer. The company was originally started to help Katie’s grandmother, who had Parkinson’s, find clothes that were both fashionable and functional. The company has now grown to providing clothing that has been adapted (based on comprehensive research with customers and professionals) for the variety of customer lifestyles. Katie explains some of the innovations the company has developed, including color coordinating to give visual clues when dressing and the use of fabrics and fastenings to make getting dressed independently doable for most people. While most of us never think about getting dressed, some people struggle with this task, and Able Label provides clothes that given them greater opportunities to be independent without having to sacrifice fashion for functionality. For resources to support you on your

Not giving up, hanging in there – is the theme of this week’s podcast interview with Carmelina. She shares her journey with her son Dominic with us. Sometimes picking your battles is the key, as small things become your focus when you need to be looking at the bigger picture. We need to decide what will make the real differences, and fight those battles. Carmelina offers insights on relationships. She encouraged sport as a means for Dominic to learn how to develop and maintain friendships. Carmelina explains sport has provided Dominic with a common passion and purpose, and this has enabled him to engage in conversations where he is an equal partner with his peers, who don’t necessarily have the same challenges as him. This common passion helps him because these differences are quickly forgotten in those moments where all that matters is being on the same team. Having the chance to work has also been key to Dominic developing his independence skills. This sense of purpose has enabled him to develop transferabl

REDinc offers a model worth replicating when it comes to helping young people achieve their work related dreams according to Mitch Halligan Work and Training Coordinator at REDinc. REDinc. is based in NSW, Australia, and was originally started by 5 families who found there was nowhere for their children to progress to after secondary school. It now provides a variety of support services, including helping people with additional needs transition into work which they find rewarding and for which they are rewarded appropriately. Mitch talks about the projects REDinc. has developed, including one with young people who enjoy gaming; most often in the confines of their own bedrooms, they now get together offline to not only to enjoy the gaming aspect but to also create other opportunities for creativity. This has included creating a YouTube channel, where games are reviewed, and publishing blogs. As Mitch says the outcome here is not the gaming but the other skills being developed in the environment and the confide

You need to be brave and a bit terrified at the same time when it comes to building independence skills, according to Robyn in the second part of her son’s story. The key is to not underestimate our children and what they can do, but you will always struggle with your own fears when letting them be more independent. Robyn offers some practical insights into how they have taught Riley travel skills, relying on the mobile phone as the crutch on which he leans so he can go off on his own while still having support available if he needs it. These initial short journeys with purpose have provided him with growing confidence to venture farther away from home. Robyn also talks about how friendships remain a challenge for Riley, as they do for many children with additional needs. It is Riley, though, who provides us with a genuinely enlightened way of looking at the fact he is yet to find the friendships he desires. According to him, it’s because he hasn’t yet found his wolf pack. Robyn reminds us that to be brave is

You need to focus forward 100%, and not waste your energy looking backwards, according to Robyn. Robyn lives in Sydney with her son Riley, his younger brother and her husband. She talks about the early years, finding out Riley has autism and how their family dealt with this news. As she says Riley is a child with autism rather than an autistic child, because before anything else Riley is a child. Robyn talks about the challenges in finding the right school for Riley and how she and her family were determined he would have every opportunity available to him. As part of this they explored a variety of interventions including speech and language therapy. Robyn advocates getting on your cranky pants when those in charge don’t respect the value of your child. She shows us there is a time for thought and a time for action. She also talks about the fact that your family, and most importantly your child, must stay the axis of the wheel so that everything works for them not for any preconceived ideas or system. Robyn

Finding an interest as child, such as in sport, can lead to a lifelong passion that lasts right through adolescence and adulthood, and provides a strong connection to a community and a focus for life. This is the opinion of Maire who shares her story in this week’s podcast.  Maire talks about how a lack of confidence can lead to a young person to want to give up things they have always enjoyed. Combine that with a growing realisation that they are not performing at the same level as peers who seem to do the same things effortlessly, and the barriers to participation start to get higher.  Maire reminds us that it’s not always easy to manage the expectations of our children with additional needs or even what their siblings expect of them. For her son she looks to sport to help him find his purpose, build his confidence and find his own unique space in the world. As parents that’s our greatest challenge. For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.

Everyone’s journey is very different but sometimes listening to someone else’s journey can help us on our own way. This week we talk to Carol, mother to Leo, about her and her family’s journey with him. His leaving home is still a way off for them, but there are many small steps to take along the way with which we can all identify. Leo has had many challenges in his 10 years, but despite this his determination shines through. Finding the right school has been key to his moving forward and finding his place in the world. While Leo's parents have started to imagine what his future might hold, they are also enjoying the now where he is a happy boy. One reason for this happiness has been his getting more involved in community based clubs. This is facilitated by a mentor a few years older than him, who helps him navigate not only the activities but also social skills he needs. Carol also reminds us that sometimes we need to take on the hard stuff and by that she means those family activities that stretch our child

The earlier you know what you’re dealing with the easier it is to seek out the right support and put in place the right plan. This is the opinion of Scarlett, mother to Edith. She believes her daughter Edith will achieve a great deal because her daughter has an in born desire to be independent.  Edith's spirit is inspirational. Scarlet and her husband swapped countries and swapped schools to give their daughter the best chance possible. Now, Edith has moved from a child who struggled in mainstream to a child that thrives in the appropriate school. The family were in Switzerland when Edith was diagnosed, and the intervention they got was early and very detailed and even today this is still impacting on her positive progress. Scarlett talks about how she feels the meeting of milestones model is actually detrimental. She also provides some practical tips on how she helped her daughter to be able to do tasks requiring gross and fine motor skills. Going at your child’s pace is essential as its helps build confiden

Knowing when to take the stabilisers off, and not just on a bicycle, is key to moving towards achieving any goal. This is the view of Jackie, mother to Joe who has additional needs, including a speech and language disorder.  Jackie explains what works for Joe is repetition and chunking (breaking tasks into chunks) so that they are never too daunting and that achieving the task is realistic. Of course it is easier if it’s something he likes doing but even if it isn’t Jackie talks about the using rewards and sometimes resorting to negotiation to get things moving. Providing support for each small step along the way brings small successes. Achieving even a small goal builds Joe's confidence and helps him feel 'grown up' enough to try more things. Jackie recommends this type of approach as well as figuring out the end goal and then working backwards by breaking tasks up into easy to do parts. Then, and this is so important, trust yourself to know when it’s time to take away the stabilisers. For resources to sup

Holidays are a time to relax, rewind and recharge, but more often than not they end up being less about fun and more about stress. Vicki, an experienced travel consultant, shares tips for making travel less stressful. She understands our perspective because she is also a mother to a daughter with additional needs. Vicki says preparation is key. Have everything you may ever need to hand, and have a distraction for every occasion. She also says anticipation is part of any holiday, and to make this enjoyable for a child with additional needs it is essential to talk about every part of the trip. Vicki shares her experiences as a parent and a professional. She explains how repetition is key, and that while holiday location variety can be great, sometimes for children with additional needs familiarity makes life easier. Going back to same place can also reduces concerns around safety as well. Finally, Vicki talks about the need for time away from your children to recharge your batteries and to encourage their indep

Laura Ashfield is an outreach worker for the Surrey Wildlife Trust.  She believes the forest is a great place to learn about ourselves as well as the rhythms of nature.  More than this, she passionately believes the forest is a place that can help us discover our place in the world. Discovering a place in the world, we know as parents to children with additional needs, is very important.  Sometimes feelings of insecurity can be overwhelming. Maybe the forest and forest schools could hold part of the answer. Laura shares her experiences as an outreach worker, and gives some uplifting examples of young people she's worked with. The ethos of forest school is straightforward: it's all about developing resilience, self-esteem and independence. Forest schools are self-directed to give young people, who may in other areas of their lives feel like they have little control, a space to be themselves and do what they want to do in a safe but challenging environment. Laura also points out that there is time in the woods

Andy, a father to a son with ASD and ADHD, takes a strategic view of independence, rather like a business plan.  Because he does this, he and his wife have a clear vision of what they hope their son will be able to do age 21. If their plan needs a little longer to be achieved, Andy is ok with this.  He says, 'Being a kid is just a 15 year period of their lives, but they are going to be adults for 50 years.'  It doesn't matter if his son takes more time to achieve the same independence as his siblings. But by focusing on where we want our children to be at 21, it's a much longer plan.  It relieves some of the frustrations we all feel by being in a hurry for our children to reach the same milestones as quickly as other children.  Small steps with low expectations but with long term goals with high expectations is a balanced  approach that we could all maybe learn from.   For resources to support you on your journey visit redgiraffesolutions.com.