Spectrum

Jason is friendly, and sociable, and is very willing to help others with whatever he can.

Jason has been with Spectrum for 15 years. He has a diagnosis of autism. He is friendly, and sociable, and is very willing to help others with whatever he can. Jason is very popular amongst both his peers and support staff.

Jason leads a very active lifestyle; one of his favourite activities is visiting local cafés for his usual “hot chocolate with squirty cream”.

Jason will often associate each day of the week with whatever his favourite activity for that day is. For example, Monday is “laminating Day” and Tuesday is “spend money day”. Spending money is Jason’s number one thing to do.

Jason takes great pride in his home and likes to keep it clean and tidy.

Twice a week Jason goes to work.

Twice a week Jason goes to work, at Hayle day care centre; he has been going there for a number of years. His Job is to assist in the kitchen with the washing-up, he takes great pride in this and is very popular with the kitchen staff. Leslie the manager says, “He’s invaluable – quite apart from the fact that if he didn’t come here for an hour-and-a-quarter twice a week, I’d have to do the washing up myself! It’s hard work!”

Jason buys materials such as clay and paint to do art projects

Jason is very capable of doing thing for himself; he just needs a little support now and then. Where possible he will make his own meals, and will happily help staff with meal prep for the larger meals. Most evening he will offer to set the table up for dinner, even when it’s not his turn.

Around his home Jason will take part in the daily upkeep, such as cleaning and vacuuming. He is always happy to help.

Jason buys materials such as clay and paint to do art projects

Jason tends to buy materials such as clay and paint to do art projects. These projects are also a very popular activity for him. He has a weekly private art class to help him develop his skills. Jason has done a painting for the entrance to his home to welcome visitors. Most of the paintings and models he makes, Jason gives to people around him and seems to really enjoy passing these on.

This is the picture that greets people when they come to Jason’s home.

I just need staff to help me – to drive! Also to make tea, talk to people and to be honest.

I was 19 when I joined Spectrum. I’m 23 now. I had to show staff I don’t pull hair.

Things that have changed: now in the evening I only need one support worker; I am now a sensible lady; I have had a nice move to Trelawney.

I aim to be independent.

I aim to be independent.

I now do work experience in a garden centre and in a charity shop. I can work on my own at work. At the garden centre, I stack plants on a truck and do lots of weeding and sweeping. I have my own uniform and get paid £5 a week.

Her supervisor says “She’s very forthright – says what’s what. She’s also very observant, and can tell you your shoe size just by looking. She makes us laugh. She’s getting to know the names of plants and she’s beginning to help the customers.” Joanna’s favourite plants: “I like fuchsias. And roses”.

Things that have improved: my behaviour; my cooking; house chores; getting on with people.

Before I came to Spectrum, I went to Broomhays. When I came to Spectrum I went to Camborne College for a year.

I go to a gym in Helston. I go swimming and walking; I do yoga and enjoy hiking.

I get on well with all the staff. And the staff say: “We think Jo has become a grown-up, sensible person who now copes well with changes. And she makes us all laugh”.

I want to keep in contact with Robert when he moves, and I want to have my own flat, like him.

My Asperger’s made me anxious, confused, and I felt vulnerable

I was 16 when I came to Spectrum. I’m 21 now.

My Asperger’s made me anxious, confused, and I felt vulnerable.

I have become more independent, more mature, and my sense of humour and attitude have improved. I’m more confident; I speak up more. I make more healthy choices.

I have done charity walks: The Smugglers Way and the Two Moor hike

I do my Person-Centred Plan with my key workers, managers and senior staff.

I have done charity walks: The Smugglers Way and the Two Moor hike.

I’m getting two awards at college and passing entry levels. I’m becoming unsupported in lessons at college. I was at Pencallenick college for five years where I did maths, English, sports, cooking, IT, horticulture and land based operations.

I like swimming, gym, bowling, cinema, walking, church, church camp, windsurfing, yoga, zumba, water aerobics, movie night at church, Wednesday Club, drumming. I used to do Scouts (shame it’s stopped, as I really enjoyed it). I’ve watched football in a pub (or in my bedroom). I went to Dare Devil Stunt Show. I had a 21st birthday party.

I have a work placement at the Flora Cinema in Helston

I have a work placement at the Flora Cinema in Helston. I serve customers, help out with cleaning surfaces, hoovering the entrance, cleaning out the screens where a movie has been played.

I ask what film they want to watch. The computer will show how much it costs, for example, £6 a ticket. The customer will then give me the money, for example, £10. I will then enter into a touch-screen computer. The ticket will then come out and show what screen they will be watching. The till will then open and I will put £10 in and give £4 change. I will ask if they like any food or drink (confectionary). I will tell them how much it is. I would then serve food/drinks, remembering what I have been asked to do. I would then show them to their seats

I’m working towards being unsupported at college, and at church

Staff look after me really well and try their best to improve getting activities to take place.

I’m working towards being unsupported at college, and at church; to be able to read a bus table and catch a bus by myself; to access activities unsupported. I’m working on my timekeeping, cleaning my bedroom and bathroom, doing my own laundry (with less prompts) and not talking out loud (maybe saying thoughts in my head).

I make phone calls twice a week, and meet up with previous housemates. I want to socialise with other people and have my own flat. I want more opportunities of doing independent shopping.

I would like a paid, part time job that wouldn’t affect my benefits.

My name is Jane

Hello. My name is Jane. I am an autistic person with a service with Spectrum. (Actually, I have a form of autism called Asperger Syndrome.)

I tend to take the world fairly literally and need to have new ideas, especially brand new ideas, carefully explained to me. I can’t interpret brand new ideas without very concise language. I have great difficulty with lateral thinking.  I need time to articulate others’ ideas (and views).

Data in my subconscious is not automatically updated, so in many ways, I see the world through the eyes of a child. I don’t automatically know to explore new avenues either through mental or visual stimuli (unless someone says something related which is familiar to me). I don’t know how to explore new verbal, particularly non-verbal, avenues through these stimuli, and have difficulty with the general interpretation of body language, gestures and facial expressions. I find it next to impossible to express, non-verbally, how I mean things in different situations. The staff at Spectrum help me to organise my thoughts.