Case Studies

Our job was made easy by Fizz's delightful and enthusiastic personality. She didn't want to return home so we found her rented accommodation whilst we negotiated with Social Services for money to adapt a bungalow. We found Fizz a support worker to accompany her to appointments and college, and to provide her with emotional and social support. We linked her into the local Spinal Injuries Sports Association where she became a star at wheelchair basketball. We introduced her to the employment adviser to find work and got advice with regard to a car.

Our involvement with Fizz only lasted for three years, in that time she had moved into her own adapted bungalow, got engaged and was in permanent employment. She no longer needed a support worker, she was confident and competent enough to do it herself.

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Isaac made a reasonable recovery and developed a deeply held ambition which was to be a car valet and eventually manage his own car valeting business. His case manager established this was a realistic ambition but that in order to become a car valet, one must first pass the driving test. The stumbling block was the theory test. Isaac had tried the test, failed and lost his confidence.

Following advice from a psychologist the case manager obtained a relevant cd-rom, Isaac set it up on his computer and regular coaching began. After a few sessions Isaac took the test and again failed.

It was then discovered that Isaac was dyslexic and rushed at the questions, pretending he could read and understand them quickly. The case manager established a coaching method which worked involving reading the questions out himself and allowing time for Isaac to really understand the questions. He then wrote to the Test Centre and made a special case for Isaac to have these allowances made at his next test. Eventually, for the next test it was agreed that the centre would be closed, apart from Isaac, and he would be provided with a reader and be given double time. The result? He passed both theory and risk analysis, is now confident of passing the practical and is on course to achieve his ambition.

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When he was 28 years old, his father approached a solicitor to ask for compensation. Rehab Without Walls was involved shortly afterwards, with the challenge of finding and arranging the adaptation of accommodation and setting up a care regime within three years. We moved Kirk into his own home for his 30 th birthday, with a team of directly employed carers, environmental controls, regular physiotherapy and his own adapted Mercedes Vito.

Four years later we are still case managing; some of the carers and the case manager have changed, but the service to Kirk has continued. He is now looking at moving house to be nearer to his parents and we will again help with the adaptations and finding another care team. Both ourselves and Kirk have learned a lot over the past 7 years, and the new house and new team will be different from before. Kirk however, will always be able to rely on our case management team for support.

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