While there are many who are disabled who have a limited ability to care for themselves, the goal for support coordinators involved in NDIS support plan is to help the individual to be as independent as possible. The reality is that no one wants to feel like they have to be taking care of by somebody else. People like a greater sense of autonomy, and family members and disabled persons, working with their support coordinator, can work to achieve that goal to the highest degree possible.
How you can help with your own disability
If you are a person with a disability or have a loved one in the situation, there are things you can do to help the person to be independent through their disability. It does not mean that they will be able to overcome every obstacle. Some well, but many will struggle in some common tasks related to daily life. That does not mean that efforts cannot be made to try to help the person to be as independent and autonomous as possible.
Know the limitations of your disability
To be successful, one must start by being realistic. There may be limitations that are not going to be overcome. A person who has suffered a head injury that has affected their short-term memory will have issues remembering tasks they have been told over the phone. This is one such example.
The best way to help any person, including yourself, is by recognizing exactly what limitations there are. In this way, you will not become frustrated should you not be able to perform a task that you know you are not capable of doing.
What are the Workarounds?
Knowing your limitations does not mean you are unable to perform certain tasks. What it means is that there will be workarounds that can be created to help you to be able to still perform certain tasks. For example, if you are a person who is restricted to a wheelchair because of your legs being incapacitated, you would be unable to stand and reach something on an upper shelf.
That is the limitation period however, there are workarounds that would enable the person to still be able to reach those items. Maybe it is a clot extension device, that allows the person to grip things by using an attached claw that can grab things and be brought to the level of the individual.
This is one example, but there are actually a large number of options out there for just about any problem you may encounter. The important thing to realize is that limitations does not mean inability to accomplish a task. It simply means that another option to accomplishing it must be found.
Work with your support coordinator
It is also important to work with the support coordinator for disability support. This person is not there to stymie your progress. It may be frustrating at times, but they want to see you succeed nearly as much as you do. Work with this person whether you are the person with the disability or the family member seeking care for your loved one.
These are trained professionals who have options to help overcome limitations. They also have resources to help you or your loved one to become more independent. Keep these things in mind, and your life and the life of your loved one will be much more enjoyable.
