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I chose to do this and I'm able to pay for it. Being able to do that makes a real difference for me day to day, because I like being in control of my own life and making my own decisions."
David heard about the ENABLE Scotland pilot in Glasgow East and decided it was for him. He wasn’t happy with the support he had in place. He lived in shared accommodation and was expected to fit into the support package that was available at the time. This meant that David was being given the same number of support hours as an elderly woman with complex needs. He was beginning to depend on the staff to do things that he had once done himself. In essence losing the skills and confidence he once had whilst around his friends and family. This wasn’t right for David. Things needed to change.
Through the Glasgow West pilot David completed a Self Evaluation Questionnaire – a series of questions about his life. He then worked on an Outcome Based Support Plan with his support worker. This gave him the chance to tell the people supporting him what he wanted out of life.
David received an Individual Budget under the pilot scheme and now lives in his own home in Easterhouse. Last year he had lots of support, too much in his opinion but it was difficult to change things. David asked his family and support staff to help him think about what he really wanted his life to be like. It came across loud and clear that David wanted to have more time to himself, especially in the evenings to watch his favorite soaps and do his paperwork.
David wanted his support to change. He wanted to work. David is a hard working man who is determined to find a job that’s right for him. Instead of spending all of his Individual Budget on direct support David chose to purchase a placement at the Reidvale café. David gets support to learn all aspects of the job. He is also being supported to gain qualifications in food hygiene and health and safety at John Wheatley College. David has been travelling independently to and from the café on public transport and recently featured on the STV news with Shona Robinson the minister for public health.
David has been the guest speaker at events in Glasgow, Midlothian and Stirling. He speaks passionately about his personalisation journey and the support he continues to receive from Enable Scotland allowing him to remain in control of his own life. His team of staff are flexible and work around what David wants. He is now in charge of his support and able to live the life he has always wanted.