Interchange Gives Adults with Disabilities Opportunities for Independence

As of the last count, about 18% of all Australians have a disability. Interchange, a Perth-based organization dedicated to working towards independent living for people with disability, has been working towards helping that 18% of Australians for over 25 years and believes that everyone can do their part.

Interchange’s approach includes strategies to increase community inclusion, customised employment, shared management, and independent living. As a dedicated disability management program in Perth, they believe that independence comes not only from what they can do directly, but from how they can teach carers to promote independence. According to Interchange CEO, Justin O’Meara Smith, “This means providing active support where the people we support use their skills and talents in everyday activities that challenge and inspire them. It also means seeing every opportunity as a learning opportunity to maintain and develop abilities and independence.”

It can be more difficult for the carer to let go than the person with a disability. With that in mind, Interchange offers tips to build the skills needed for independent living for people with disability.

One of the most important philosophies of a carer is to remember support. Your loved one is his or her own person, and that means that you do not need to control him. Instead, support, and look for why he does things a certain way instead of judging. While he is learning, so are you. You are a leader, so your positive example will go far in supporting him and showing him how to master independence. Just as important is establishing a network of support for both the disabled individual and for you. As you learn to trust other people to help, you’ll learn to trust him to forge his own path.

Independence is a long road, but it is worth the journey. Start by guiding your loved one through making decisions, then allowing her to make decisions on her own. Allow those decisions, and encourage them. Community activities and other interactions with people outside of the direct support network can help build confidence, and that is vital to becoming independent.

Last, but certainly not least, you need to teach. Independent adults must know how to live a healthy lifestyle, master skills, practice safe sex, and more than likely work. Again, start with the basics. Build on learning progressively, and make sure that your loved one knows how to learn things through technology and research.

You may struggle to let go. It can be scary for both of you, and it can take time. But in the end, it is well worth the effort. Include Interchange’s disability management program in Perth as part of your support network.  

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Created on Aug 29th 2018 04:53. Viewed 380 times.

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