Journey Skills Podcast

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. Libby also talks about the importance of using technology that is readily available and the role that plays in building confidence and creating inclusion. The Oaks College was recently awarded Microsoft Showcase College status, no doubt in part as recognition of the pioneering role they are playing in utilizing technology to change expectations for young people with additional needs.   Find out more about The Oaks Specialist College  https://www.theoaks.ac.uk/ https://feweek.co.uk/specialist-college-sweeps-outstanding-in-first-inspection/

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. Building a life plan isn't easy but this model makes it easier to create something that will work.     Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   More on Microboards https://expandingworlds.com/episode119/   For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/  

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. By providing our children with a financial foundation we create for them the opportunity to live their own lives, find their purpose and develop reciprocal relationships.    Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   More on Microboards https://expandingworlds.com/episode119/   For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/  

Having a purpose provides meaning and direction to our lives. In this episode I talk about ways to support our children to find purpose and the importance of a Presumption of Purpose. I also discuss the role of mindset in developing a presumption of purpose for both ourselves and our children. When we support our children to find purpose, paid or unpaid, we are helping them develop their sense of identity, which helps them live a more meaningful and satisfying life.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   Podcasts on Purpose https://expandingworlds.com/focuspacks-purpose/   For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/  

Relationships matter. Without them our young people can become isolated. We all have our stories of challenging family relationships and friendships lost. But as our children get older, we need to focus on helping them independently manage the reality of social interactions. In this episode I talk about the difference between dynamic and static relationships and why it matters. I also discuss the AAA approach I’ve used to support my daughter: Ability, Access, Acceptance. These three factors can serve as a structure as you support your child to build their relationship skills.    Useful Links https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2017/03/list-of-social-skills-to-teach-kids.html   https://suelarkey.com.au/promoting-social-understanding-social-scripts/   Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook @expandingworlds   Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/  

In this series I will be focusing on exploring in more depth the 4 core topics that the podcast has always focused around: daily living, relationships, purpose and financial. In this episode the focus is daily living skills. I will be sharing some techniques I used to successfully support my own daughter to build these skills. These techniques, which include scaffolding and habit stacking, can be invaluable in helping support young people to build those daily living skills they need as they journey towards greater independence.   Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook @expandingworlds   Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/  

Where will my daughter live when I’m no longer around? It’s a big question, and some of the ideas explored in the Housing Options series just might help answer that question. In this episode I discuss some of those ideas, and why we might need to rethink our assumptions around support. I also talk about why choice and community must sit at the center of any of the housing solutions offered to our children.  Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook   Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds

It’s difficult to develop better housing options if we don’t know what people want and need. This week's guests Chris Hatton and Lauren Blood were involved with a research project which will in part help to address this issue. The 200 Lives project looked at the quality of supported living and residential care in England. Chris and Lauren discuss the research findings and some of the implications which are relevant to anyone, regardless of location, looking for the right housing solution for a young person with additional needs.    Read the report: https://www.ndti.org.uk/projects/evaluating-supported-living-and-residential-care-for-adults-with-learning-d Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook   Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   For resources to support families to plan a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds

For too long housing solutions for young people with additional needs have failed to consider the importance of inclusion. This week's guests Paula Manion and Donna Budway, from Our Stomping Ground, are changing that by developing housing solutions that have inclusive communities at their heart. They discuss how the housing model has evolved, why Our Stomping Ground uses the housing first model, and the impact that has on young people’s lives.   Find out more https://ourstompingground.org/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook   Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds

Creating a housing model for young adults with additional needs that really works means doing things differently. This is something Lisa Liberatore from US Autism Homes understands. We discuss the three-pillar solution they developed and how that has helped create an inclusive community.  Lisa also discusses the important role science can play in helping young people develop the skills to live more independent and, more importantly, happier lives. Find out more https://usautismhomes.org/ https://luvmichael.com/    

Finding somewhere to live is about more than just about finding a place, it's about building a life. Community is an important part of that life and how to build communities is the topic of this episode with Kathy Meyer from Everyone Needs A Community. We talk not only about why community matters so much but also about understanding that communities need to be a reflection of where they are and how the people there live their lives. We also discuss microboards and their role in strengthening the community around our children.   Find out more at https://e-n-a-c.org/   e.n.a.c. on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068497650763   Microboard Links   https://velacanada.org/   https://www.velamicroboardsni.com/   https://www.communityworks.info/   https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/blog/microboards-and-guardianship/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook   Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a

Finding Supported Living that works means bringing together many things, from finding a property in the right location with the right access, to identifying a support provider and accessing the right level of support. This week's guest Lisa Brown is determined to build a network that brings together the different people and organizations involved, so everyone can work together to increase the chances of finding a suitable supported living home for anyone that needs it. Find out more at https://lisabrown.uk/ Lisa’s Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/supportedlivingproperty/    

When we imagine where our children might live, when we’re no longer around, it isn’t just the place they will live, it’s the community around them and how they will live their daily lives that we also imagine. In this week’s episode I’m talking to Mike Sweeney about how he, and other parents, are working together to bring all these things from imagination into reality.     Find out more  https://www.endeavor21.org/  

No matter how alone we sometimes feel there is always someone who understands our journey even if they are taking a different road than us. In this episode, as part of the series on Housing Options, my guest is Eliza Factor, author of Strange Beauty, who shares her story, the story of her son Felix and the story of Lonely Worm Farm. Lonely Worm Farm may have started as a place for Felix to live and thrive but it’s also about creating a community that cares about each other and about inspiring people to understand themselves and others better. Like any good story this will get you thinking about and imagining a better world.   Visit https://www.elizafactor.net/ to find out more about Eliza Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook    Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/   For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds

Continuing with the series on Housing Options, this week the focus is on Supported Living with Jonathan Spencer the CEO of Zetetick Housing. We discuss what supported living involves and the challenges faced in finding the right homes as well as the importance of having a choice in where and who we live. The model of Zetetick is much more than simply finding someone a place to live; it's about supporting people to find somewhere they can be happy.  Visit https://zhc.org.uk/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ For resources to support parents of children with additional needs to build a better future for their child visit  https://redgiraffesolutions.com/additionalneeds

Moving into our own space is part of becoming an adult and embracing the independence that brings. In this new series on Housing Options I’m exploring some of the housing models that are available for people with additional needs. The series starts off with Main Street, an innovative project literally built from the ground up. Jillian Copeland the founder of Main Street talks about why Main street exists and its core values of affordable, inclusive, accessible living. She discusses the impact it has had in transforming the lives of its residents and what the future will look like. The Main Street approach provides a model for how to build inclusive spaces, not just a place to live. Don't forget to subscribe so you can listen to the rest of the Housing Options Series  and it would be great if you could leave a review wherever you listen.   Visit https://mainstreetconnect.org/ Follow us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ For resources to support parents of chil

Solo episode this week where I talk about what I’ve learnt in the conversations I’ve had as part of the  Grace Eyre Profile Series. This has been about acknowledging the past, celebrating the present and focusing on the future. Supporting our children towards a better future needs to be a joined up approach and this is why hearing from organizations like Grace Eyre who offer that more holistic support is a useful resource for all of us as we support our children on their journeys.  Thanks for listening to this podcast. If you found it useful please with others you know who would find it useful.    If you have a minute then if you could leave a review that would be amazing and I guarantee I read every single one.  And don't forget to subscribe too. 

Everyone should have the right to decide their own future but too often people with additional needs simply aren't given a voice.  In this episode my two guests are Cleo Dibb,  the Our Voices Manager and Jenny Good who was involved in the Rethink Disability campaign.  Both are discussing the imperative of giving people the opportunity to share their lived experience, be listened to and be actively involved in all the decisions that impact on their lives. Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

Getting into paid employment is a major challenge for people with additional needs. Programs that support people to develop their employability skills and enable them to break down the barriers into work play an essential role.  In this episode with Evie Halligan and Stuart Leaney we discuss the Work Buddy and Let’s Work Together projects run at Grace Eyre, how these operate, the challenges, the successes and why getting into paid work is so important in enabling people to live more independent lives. Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts 

One of the core skills for an independent life is independent travel. At Grace Eyre the Travel Buddy Project focuses on supporting people to develop the confidence, self awareness and knowledge they need to travel independently. In this episode with Gary Cunningham, the Travel Buddy Team Leader,  we are discussing exactly how the scheme works and the impact it has on increasing the opportunities for people with additional needs. Gary also shares some strategies that parents can use to help develop their children’s independent travel skills.  Visit the podcast website https://expandingworlds.com/ Grace Eyre https://www.grace-eyre.org/ Follow on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook  Please take a minute to review the show on Apple Podcasts