Justin’s increased confidence

One of Justin’s long-term goals is to increase his independence. After speaking with Justin about ways that he can work towards achieving his goals, staff encouraged Justin to try new activities, and to use a weekly planner to plan his activities so that he has more time to prepare for what’s coming up.

As part of increasing his independence, Justin now has control of his weekly planner, and picks the activities he would like to do each week.

As well as introducing new activities, staff encouraged Justin to continue to do some of the activities he already enjoys, such as going to Cwmbran on the bus, to avoid overwhelming him by changing too much at once.

Justin has stepped out of his comfort zone and has taken part in different activities such as ‘Wheels for All,’ an inclusive cycling group, and has also started going swimming.

Staff found that by using a weekly planner Justin has more time to process upcoming activities, which has helped to reduce his anxiety. He is now happy to stick to the activities on his planner, rather than cancelling them like he often did previously.

In the meeting about his goals, Justin also told staff that he sometimes gets lonely and thought that a pet could help keep him company. He thought that having an animal to hold and play with might help him feel more connected and give him some added responsibility.

Justin originally thought that a rabbit would be the best pet for him. But, after researching how to look after a rabbit, he realised that the cost of supplies and ongoing care, as well as the amount of space they require, might be too much for a first pet. His research led him to choose a pet hamster instead.

So, for his birthday this year, after lots of planning, he brought home a hamster that he named Coco.

This is the first time Justin has owned a pet, and he has taken on the responsibility very well. He stays on top of cleaning the cage and ensures Coco’s food and water are topped up daily. He is a proud hamster parent!

Staff are hopeful they can introduce more activities and responsibilities to Justin, incorporating new activities that are meaningful to him to ensure that he is stimulated and can learn new skills and gain new experiences. As a result of Justin improving his independence and increasing his responsibilities, he won a Mirus Moment in March. Congratulations Justin!