Our Impact on Positive Behaviour Support & Autism: 2022-23

Having a voice, choice and control

One of Adam’s life ambitions has always been to get a paid job, and he has worked really hard, and has taken lots of opportunities in volunteer roles to help prepare him for a paid role.

Some of Adam’s volunteer roles include an Autism trainer for police and other emergency services, working in the local food bank and as a shop worker at a local charity shop.

He has also taken part in ‘Voice, Choice and Control’ training as part of his role as a mirus representative for people who are supported in Bridgend. The training taught him how to better advocate for himself and others.

In 2023 Adam got involved with People First Bridgend as a member and volunteer, he attended events to share updates and raise their profile.

When People First Bridgend had a chairperson vacancy Adam didn’t hesitate in applying. After being successfully shortlisted Adam got busy preparing for his interview with some support from his network.

Adam successfully interviewed for the role and is looking forward to chairing many meetings.

He is also excellent at helping people to understand what is being said, and makes sure everyone uses plain English. Adam’s inclusive approach to advocacy will ensure that he is a fantastic chairperson for People First Bridgend.

Adam is a keen advocate for others, and always supports people to speak up and get their opinions heard.

Adam speaking on camera about being a mirus rep

Adam gaining work experience in a charity shop

Adam presenting at a mirus stars awards ceremony

Working towards independent living

In 2018 Rhys moved back to Wales to be closer to his family. When Rhys first moved he did not have free access to the internet, this was to keep him safe.

This meant around the clock support and observation for Rhys from paid staff, which meant little privacy for him; and at first he didn’t want to go far or do much.

Last year Rhys starting using an Amazon Echo and Ring door sensors to let people know where he was, this meant that he no longer always needed paid support with him.

Rhys uses the Alexa to speak to the staff, and the door sensor let staff know if he leaves his home and they know to check if he’s OK.

Rhys, with the support of his network, has worked really hard to develop his skills, knowledge and safety online and with technology.

Rhys uses the internet to pursue his interests, and chats to people if there are things he finds worrying.

This year he bought a smartphone to keep in touch with his family and research places of historical interest that he’d like to visit and to plan the trips. He uses his phone to invite his friends along to the trip. Rhys is also loving the ‘Pokémon Go’ app to find Pokémon when he’s out and about.

Rhys’ overall goal is to live independently, and this year he is looking at how technology can support him to run his house without the support of paid staff.

Rhys visiting historical buildings after researching them online

Getting together to raise money for charity

Mark is a support worker in Cardiff and organises the social groups. Mark is a great ambassador for the groups and the people who attend them.

One of the most successful groups that has grown this year is the Cardiff walking group. The group is led by people supported by mirus and is joined by people outside of the organisation – everyone is welcomed.

In April the walking group, with Mark’s support, really got behind World Autism Acceptance week and raised money for the National Autistic Society.

The walking group organised a sponsored walk around Victoria Park. 18 people took part in the walk, which finished in Victoria Park Pub.

The Victoria Park pub also got behind the walking group and the campaign to raise awareness of World Autism Acceptance week. They put up the Autism Acceptance Week bunting, that was made

by the mirus’ craft group, everyone wore Autism Acceptance T-Shirts, and they shared information flyers on how to make society more accessible for autistic people.

One of the walking group members, Tom, was the biggest fund raiser –collecting over £300 towards the final sum of over £600!

Tom was awarded a certificate from the National Autistic Society for his fantastic contribution.

The group after completing their sponsored walk

The walking group presenting Tom with his certificate from the National Autistic Society

Having freedom and making decisions

At 18yrs old Helen was ready to live independently and in 2020 Helen moved into her first home as an adult.

Helen moved in with two other women during the pandemic and, at first, found some things a bit difficult; for example, she didn’t go out without paid support and she had limited access to her money that was held with a corporate appointee.

Helen really wanted more independence and freedom. Helen held a review where she spoke about the things she wanted to do, such as go out in Cardiff without needing to rely on paid support and have access to her money.

Helen and her network have worked hard to build up Helen’s independence through good risk planning and work force development

Helen and her team have clear plans in place now that support Helen to have freedom and make her own decisions.

Helen now has her own debit card to spend her money and she’s been catching the bus on her own around Cardiff to meet up with her sister and friends.

Helen with the people that she lives with

Helen at a mirus event with a friend

Having choice and trying new activities

Harry and his support network had a look at what activities were going well and found that trampolining, something that he used to love, Harry now found difficult.

The team put their heads together and came up with a plan.

Together they wrote a detailed plan of how Harry wanted to be supported when he went trampolining and made sure they let Harry know that he was doing an amazing job.

When Harry was planning his day trampolining was offered as a choice. When he chose trampolining the Practice Leader went along to see how the plan was going; this meant that they could make any changes as often as they needed to.

The network decided on points of achievement –this first step was to successfully support Harry into the trampoline park, and each time he was more and more comfortable.

With lots of positivity and encouragement Harry got onto the trampoline and loved it!

Having the flexibility to adapt and change the plan gave the team the confidence to try new things and Harry had a great time too.

Harry having a great time at the trampoline park

Alex enjoying his trip on the canal boat

Making choices and preparing for a holiday

Martin loves his holidays but finds the first few days difficult as he settles into a more relaxed pace of life in a new place.

In the past Martin has always been told about his holiday the morning he was going; this is because when Martin knew sooner, he then found it difficult to wait for the holiday.

Martin’s support network thought that this could be better for Martin and got together to have a think about this and came up with a plan.

Martin would know about his holiday two days before going; in these two days he would be busy buying clothes and packing.

Martin’s network made sure the lead up to his holiday was structured and used his communication profile to make sure he knew what was happening and when.

Martin got really excited in the two days leading up to the holiday but loved being involved in the preparations. He knew where he was going, when he was going there and what he was coming home. His holiday was a huge success and Martin enjoyed every day to the full!

Planning the perfect canal boat trip

Through Alex’s person-centered review he let people know that he wanted to go on a boat trip.

Alex was supported to look at different choices and he said ‘Rosie and Jim’s boat’ pointing to a canal boat. So, Alex and his team got in touch with a local canal boat company to see what was on offer.

Alex met with the canal boat owner to introduce himself and have a first look at the boat.

Alex’s team talked to the canal boat owners about Alex, and explained how his autism affected him and how he would need to be supported to make sure he could enjoy the trip.

The canal boat owners let Alex choose his seat and take his own lunch.

The owners knew that when Alex was happy and excited that he needs to freedom to jump around and that he can be quite loud.

Jon, the captain, made Alex’s trip especially enjoyable by relating places of interest to Alex’s interest ‘Rosie and Jim’ as they knew this was why he wanted to do the trip in the first place.

Alex loved his first boat trip and still talks about Jon on the boat!