A customers story - K
K is now under the adult team for services and wants to know more about what is on offer for someone her age. K has been going to Reading College and now plans to attend an adult learning course there one day a week after Easter until summer. K has no paid services in place at the moment.
K belongs to a local swimming club and enjoys this. K enjoys swimming, singing, acting, drama and going to the gym. K has bene unable to do the activities she enjoys as they have been closed due to the lockdowns and her keeping safe. K is shielding until end of March 2021.
K is able to use zoom, however this is not the same as seeing people in person. The social side of activities is important and contact with friends. K has missed her friends and although she can see them on zoom, it is not the same and interactions are not the same. In person, her and her friends engage with each other. On zoom, she and her friends stare at the screen. Socialising will be important when lockdown is over and it is safe to meet people again. Zoom is a way she can see people safely and join in activities that are currently not available in person due to covid.
Keeping fit and healthy is important. Being able to maintain weight and not put it on is especially important for adults with downs syndrome. Therefore, activities that can help with these will be good to attend. Activities at the new Braywick Leisure Centre would be good.
K does not like loud noises, people shouting or children screaming. This can upset K and make her cry. So the environment activities take place in is important. K cannot walk long distances, so this needs to be considered.
K would like to get a job in future; she has been working towards getting experience and qualifications to work in a nursery. Any work experience or volunteering would be something K is interested in. As these activities will help to develop her skills and get closer to her goal. She has been under ways into work and is interested in working with Optalis supported employment services when they open up locally.
K has to go to Reading College to learn English and maths. If there was something more local in Maidenhead, this would be better for her. Would there be any opportunities of tutors/ teachers being employed to run these, for example english, maths, singing. ?? It takes time to learn things, may even take years to learn but if people can get there they should have the chance. K takes a long time to learn new things and wit the right support and time she can learn and do things.
If activities are local, in Maidenhead, then her mum can provide transport. This would be more difficult if activities were further away from Maidenhead, so may then need transport to these activities.
K would like to do activities with people with similar abilities, needs and age. She would not like being with people who have higher needs than her.
K to explore day services and the respite unit as potential avenues to do activities she enjoys, make friends and give mum a break from caring for K. Her mum finds it tiring having K home all the time, as she worries about her and checks she is ok. It can be hard caring for someone all the time without a break. She only wants what is best for K and wants her to be safe and have a bright future.