Finding success comes in a variety of ways with the GOOD Plan so that people with disability can live their best lives.
For John, a long-time participant in Newcastle, his support workers Nicole and Karen came up with his GOOD Plan, to be focused around the task of making his own lunch.
The GOOD Plan is a person-centred planning framework and toolkit which provides staff at The Disability Trust with a range of tools and approaches to ensure our supports are firmly focused on helping participants achieve their goals.
John is a mostly non-verbal communicator who used to be more forthcoming with what he wanted to eat.
A few months ago, Nicole and Karen were interacting with John at his Supported Independent Living house in Blacksmiths on the shores of Lake Macquarie.
Nicole, who has been working with John for a decade, said she had a memory of him saying that he liked vegemite.
John normally exhibits a sweet tooth with his food choices so staff would prepare his lunch with honey or jam. He is not very fussy with food and he usually just eats what is served to him.
Nicole recalled that when she asked him if he wanted a sandwich, he jumped up out of his recliner – a clear indication that it was a yes.
She opened the kitchen cupboard and asked him to choose a spread and he picked out the vegemite.
Nicole and Karen then thought a GOOD Plan would be for John to gain more independence and to be given more choices.
The next step was to see if he wanted to make his sandwich each day.
John has limited mobility and prefers a seated position, so he wasn’t keen on standing in the kitchen to prepare food.
Karen brought the items to the table and he picked up the butter knife and knew exactly what to do.
He had a sense of pride in doing these things and when staff praised him, he appeared quite chuffed with himself.
Karen has a great rapport with John as his key worker and his confidence is building.
“John has limited words he can say,” she explained.
“He’s getting better at it each day with assistance from staff. He most certainly has a big smile on his face. He likes to be involved.
“He’s still learning the spreading. He can put it onto the knife, put it onto the bread and put the bread together. With minimal assistance he’s getting there each day with it.”
John is now also making himself a cup of tea at mealtimes.
“He will get his teapot and put the teabag in. Then put the milk into the pot and away he goes,” Karen added.
“John gets a lot of pride and satisfaction about being involved in making his own lunch and making his choices. The satisfaction is on his face – he has a nice smile, it’s beautiful.”
