My sister means a lot to me. She was born with an intellectual disability that has made her life a lot more challenging. I always strive to do what I can to support her, but sometimes it can be quite difficult to manage. She has a tendency to act out when she is frustrated or overwhelmed. When this happens, it can be very difficult to get her to calm down. I’ve actually been injured a few times as a result of her behaviour. At times it really does test my patience and I have to remind myself that she doesn’t realise what she is doing.
I’ve always been my sister’s protector. Particularly when we were in school. People saw her as an easy target and she’d often become a victim of bullying. I hate the fact that there are people out there who get enjoyment out of making fun of another person. You’d think this behaviour would stop in adulthood, but sadly it does not. As my sister has gotten older, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to manage her behaviour on my own. She clearly needs additional support. This will help her manage her behaviour effectively, and also improve her quality of life. I’ve spoken to a few care workers and it seems that a trusted positive behaviour support specialist close to Adelaide might be exactly what she needs.
I reached out to a local PBS service provider to see if they would be able to take on my sister. They arranged for an initial meeting with my sister so they could get to know her, assess her behaviour and formulate a personalised support plan.
The PBS provider was the highest-rated NDIS high-intensity support worker in the area. They had much experience working with many people who have intellectual disabilities. This provider was highly regarded for their person-centred approach. It was clear they understood the value of treating each person as an individual, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. I’ve already seen a huge improvement in my sister’s behaviour!