A customers story - I

Tell me about yourself…

My daughter I. is going to Reading college in September, the ‘Our House’ course. It is the nearest college provision that can meet her needs and she will attend 4 days per week. I. has ASD and is non-verbal, she needs 1:1 support and needs support in all areas 24hrs a day, she does not understand danger. I. has Turner’s Syndrome, so she also looks very young, more like a 13yr old, she is extremely vulnerable.

I am pleased that she will be at college with her peers, I feel that it is important for her to be around people of a similar age. We live in Windsor and have visited the Oakbridge Centre, I am sure that the service is very good but when I went there the people were either older than I. or had more complex needs.

I. likes to be active. She enjoys horse riding, swimming, TVAP and days out to places like Legoland. She is involved in everything the family does and is good in social situations. We have family in New Zealand and flying is something that has always been part of family life. If there were activities and support available in the evening’s I think that she would enjoy these.

When the schools were closed I. found it difficult to understand. Although she can’t communicate verbally, she would stand by the door waiting to go to school. It became quite isolating for her during this time.

I want I. to be connected with her local community and access the places that her family and peers do. With the right support I want I. to be involved and included.

Transport would not be an issue for me/ I. is easy to support in this area.