Sarah’s Journey with SCB: Overcoming Challenges and Thriving

Background

 Sarah’s journey with SCB is a testament to resilience and the power of supportive care. Born with a rare brain disorder, Dandy-Walker Syndrome, characterised by a cyst in the back of her brain, the absence of the corpus callosum, and brain malformation, Sarah faced motor skills issues, cognitive impairment, and other associated complications. Inspired by her sister, who also had additional support needs and attended SCB, Sarah joined the organisation seeking similar support.

 Parental Satisfaction

 Sarah’s mother expressed her satisfaction with SCB’s services: “Before Sarah attended, we were given an open door to come and observe. We spent a morning at SCB and were satisfied in every way she would be cared for.” She values the structured day SCB provides, giving Sarah the satisfaction of going to work like everyone else. Knowing Sarah will be protected from harm and the assurance that she can walk in at any time to see Sarah safe is of immense value due to Sarah’s vulnerability.

 Initial Nervousness and Support

 When Sarah joined SCB in 2013, she initially displayed nervousness and struggled with new tasks. Sarah recalls, “I was really nervous when I first started.” However, with close staff support, particularly from Linda and Karina, she gradually became comfortable with various tasks. “Linda and Karina made me feel really welcome,” Sarah shared. Sarah is now an all-rounder and can complete many tasks confidently, including precise labelling and collation of cards, neatly labelling salt tubs, and handling small, fiddly dart pieces.

 Increase in Confidence with Visitors

Initially, Sarah would shy away from visitors and become very nervous if they spoke to her. Over time, her confidence significantly increased. She began to overcome her shyness by showing visitors areas of the workshop she had helped decorate. This newfound confidence culminated in Sarah giving a presentation and speech in front of approximately 40 visitors, an incredible achievement that filled everyone with pride. Sarah now confidently interacts with visitors, engaging in conversations and displaying a gentle sense of humour. Sarah’s mum mentioned that even people like Sarah’s dentist have noticed her increased confidence. “Sarah now chooses to enter the treatment room alone,” her mum noted, showcasing her growing independence.

 1:1 SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

 Sarah thrives in 1:1 maths skills sessions, where she receives the individual attention she needs to excel. Her mother notes that these sessions have been excellent for Sarah, who has always thrived with 1:1 attention. Additionally, her manual dexterity has improved, evident in her ability to complete tricky work tasks. Sarah shared, “I like doing the maths tasks with Libby.”

 Family Feedback

 Sarah’s mother highlights the compassionate handling of any problems, the warm welcome Sarah receives upon arrival, and the staff’s willingness to go the extra mile. The benefits of SCB have been profound for Sarah and her family, especially during challenging times like the loss of Sarah’s father and sister. SCB’s understanding and support helped Sarah through these difficult periods, and she has become more confident, freely chatting about her day. “I’ve made so many different friends at SCB over the years,” Sarah says.

 Sarah’s Perspective

 Sarah enjoys various tasks at SCB, especially labelling green bags for Cartridge People and collating darts for Darts Corner. She has seen a significant boost in her confidence and now enjoys talking to people, something she found challenging before joining SCB. “I would never have had the confidence to speak in front of a large group of people before,” Sarah admits. She appreciates getting to know all the different service users over the years and feels supported by the staff, who are always helpful and ready to assist her with any task. “The staff spend a little bit of time with me and explain things,” she notes. Sarah enthusiastically recommends SCB to others, believing it offers a supportive and enriching environment. 

CONCLUSION

 Doctors had told Sarah’s family that she had a major brain malformation, but at SCB, Sarah has overcome the odds. Her mother concludes, “Thanks for all you do.” Sarah adds, “SCB is fantastic.” Sarah’s journey at SCB illustrates the transformative power of a supportive and nurturing environment in helping individuals with additional support needs achieve their full potential.

 INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

 If you or someone you care for would like to find out more about SCB, please get in touch. Call our workshop manager Alex on 01270 255 319. 

We would love to arrange a visit for you to see how SCB can help meet your needs.