 All mums worry about their kids! But for Sandra, the health and happiness of her son Craig has been a particular concern. Craig was born with moderate learning disabilities and is on the Autistic Spectrum.
In his mid teens he was the target of bullying and this badly affected his self esteem. According to Sandra: “Craig was having a very difficult time - what had been a manageable situation turned into something much more complex and challenging. My biggest worry was about the level of support Craig needed; he hates change and needs stability and consistency in his life. Finding the right support is crucial because getting it wrong could mean, in the worst case scenario, things spiralling out of control.”
Craig has made fantastic progress – in a number of different ways. Fascinated by computers and meticulous about record keeping, Craig is now using special software, and with the help of his Lifeways support worker Lee is putting his computing skills to best use. This enables him to take a much bigger role in organizing his daily schedule, keep track of his activities week by week and plan for the future.
As a result of the support he’s getting, Craig’s confidence has dramatically increased and he has started to get involved in a whole range of activities – even though change and Craig do not naturally go together! He’s been to quiz nights at the pub, played snooker and been along to a youth club. With Lee’s support, he took his bike on the train to Southport and had an amazing day out and they’ve been fishing together too. Craig has also started doing some voluntary work – helping out each week on the radio station at Knowsley College as well as taking on a 2-hour stint each Monday at McDonald’s. The list of new things he’s tackling seems endless! |
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