Let’s talk about the importance of schedules for moment.
Besides the fact that being able to have choice and control, and make decisions about your own life is a basic right to communication…
We all keep some type of schedule to know what we are doing for the day, whether that be a:
- Diary – my favourite, and I like to tick off things as I do them.
- Calendar
- Online
- On phone
These schedules help us to remember:
- What is happening,
- Where we are going,
- Who we might be seeing,
- What time things are happening
For me, with a chaotic life of juggling toddlers, work, relationships and everything else that life throws at me, keeping a schedule for me gives me predictability, and by knowing what is happening in my day, I feel a sense of control.
Why should this be any different just because someone has a disability and may not be able to write their own schedules without support?
Ask yourself how you would feel if you didn’t know:
- Who was taking you out for the day,
- What you were having for lunch,
- Who is supporting you to have a shower,
- Who is helping you with the medications you need to take,
- When you are going out to do an activity you enjoy
If a person is dependent on services, it is our role as service providers to help people understand how to predict their lives. Such intimate activities might be taking place such as showering and other types of personal care, the person has a right to know who the staff member is that will be supporting them with this.
As service providers, you need to ensure that staff schedules that you develop around a person’s services, are shared with the person receiving the service.
Please respect the people you serve, and give them the common decency to take control of their life, and make decisions about what’s happens with their day, including who supports them, where they go and what they eat. That sounds pretty simple to me.
My takeaway message: Treat people as you expect to be treated <3
For more information about our Positive Behaviour Support services, click here.