Introduction
Whether you have a disability or not, being independent is essential to being an adult. Adults who live independently are more likely to be happier and healthier than those who don’t. But living independently isn’t always easy. It takes time and effort to learn how to do things yourself, like cooking your meals or taking care of your hygiene. What if you have a disability? Can you still live independently? Yes! With Supported Independent Living, you can. And here are some more tips to help make it easier for you:
Emotional support and counselling
If you want to live independently with a disability, it’s essential that you feel comfortable in your home environment. You should also be able to go out and about without feeling anxious about how other people see you or what they think. If this isn’t the case for you then it may be time to seek some professional help.
Emotional support is essential. Counselling can help with anxiety and depression. Counsellors can help with self-esteem, relationships, mental health and stress. They’ll also be able to talk through any concerns or worries that might be holding you back from achieving the independent lifestyle that best suits your needs.
Work support
The government wants to help people with disabilities stay at work. They’ve introduced a range of measures to support people with a disability who wish to find and stay in employment. Each measure is designed to help you in different ways, so you must choose the right one.
There are also things that you can do yourself if your employer offers one of these schemes:
- Check your entitlement – most schemes will be based on whether or not your employer offers them company or industry-specific schemes. If they don’t provide the services, then check what other local services may be able to help you locally;
- Find out what’s available – it may be worth exploring whether there are any other types of funding available through your local council or health trust;
- Apply online – some organisations have online applications, but others prefer paper copies, so make sure before applying;
Disability services
To get started, do a little research on the services available in your area. Most cities and towns have information centres that will tell you what’s available; sometimes, they even have a database with links.
Move past the cities and towns, though: if you’re looking for help with specific disabilities or conditions (say, autism), it might be worth contacting local government bodies responsible for those things. It’s also helpful to look up what kind of support is available for people older or younger than 18.
And finally, take advantage of any disability services that don’t require an application process! These often come from charities and non-profit organisations that want to ensure everyone gets access without jumping through hoops first.
Why Supported independent living?
Although many disabled people are happy living at home, there are some situations where living in specialist disability accommodation might be preferable:
- You may find it hard to get around your current home;
- you may struggle financially or need extra support;
- You have caring responsibilities for family members who live with you, and it would be better for them if they moved into their accommodation while you remained at home with the help of specialist services.
Conclusion
Living with a disability does not mean you have to give up on the dream of living independently. The most important thing of Supported Independent Living is to know your options and find ways to make them work for you. You might need some help sometimes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still live autonomously!
