Freedom of choice for Jess
“Most adults don’t have someone making their decisions for them, why should I be any different just because I have a disability? Because I have a label attached to me?”
Breaking through society’s presumptions of people with disabilities and ensuring her own continued independence is quintessential to Jess Adam’s quality of life.
Jess, who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder along with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, says people assume that because she has disabilities, that her intellect is lower.
“I don’t have an intellectual disability but so many people think I do. It is a very common assumption and one that I am fighting to change. I really strongly believe in the social model of disability, and I am working to change that stigma of how society interprets the needs of those with a disability.”
Where once people with a disability were often housed in residential facilities or stayed at home with family for all their years, times have changed and the focus has been put back on the disabled person to regain the control in their lives, supported to make their own choices and decisions, and strive for their goals and ambitions.
Jess is one such example of this, living independently, and partnered with ConneXu, a disability support provider. Through ConneXu and her Enabling Good Lives contract, Jess has the power to make her own decisions, such as where she lives, her daily activities and who she has around her for support.
“The Enabling Good Lives contract means they financially enable me to make my own choices. They provide the funds for me to choose my providers, my supporters, my care, that I then pay and keep the receipt to show how the funds were used. I can make my own decisions about what works for me,” she says of the contract.
“I retain the right to make my own decisions. It’s me making them, not someone making them for me.”
Holly and Jess
“Most adults don’t have someone making their decisions for them, why should I be any different just because I have a disability? Because I have a label attached to me?”
Jess has her own home and shares it with her three beloved cats Rocky, Tom and Lily – and also fosters for Paws 4 Life, an animal rescue charity.
“ConneXu supported me through becoming a foster home and that is something I really enjoy doing.”
Jess says her fight to challenge the stigma attached to disabilities is not just for her.
“My late partner had a very high needs disability and that is how I heard about Enabling Good Lives. He was living in a residential home in the beginning, and he wanted a change and that was a challenge for him, with the multiple people and agencies he had to deal with to make it happen,” she says.
But for Jess, her experience was much simpler.
“For myself, from the very beginning, I had engaged with ConneXu and everything just started to happen straight away. Their support was effective, and everything was organised easily.”
“I chose ConneXu because they had a really good reputation and they genuinely support you to lead your best life. They help with planning and goal setting, and their pastoral care has been amazing. My service manager is available whenever I need them, sometimes I talk to them a few times a week, sometimes not for a while – but I know they are there.”
“ConneXu provides a high level of the right support. You can’t get any better.”