Forging the way to independence
Living independently has been a steep learning curve for Catherine Nichols but although leaving home has been tougher than she imagined, she feels she made the right move.
Catherine 24, left the family home in Daventry last October, determined to forge a new and more independent life for herself.
With the help of mother Maggie, secretary of Northamptonshire ASBAH, she did a lot of research into suitable properties and areas, as well as checking out the support she may need.
Catherine, who has hydrocephalus, decided to move to Milton Keynes, an area which has a very positive attitude to disabled people and offers plenty of support to find employment.
She initially moved into a supported housing project, but quickly discovered that it didn't meet her needs. She explained: “I was very unhappy there. Most of the other tenants had learning difficulties and the support staff just weren't geared up to deal with anyone with a physical disability. I often felt very patronised.
“It was also so noisy and I felt that I didn't have any privacy, which is important to me. After a few months it really began to get me down.”
Luckily Catherine managed to find alternative accommodation through Jephson Housing Association, and after six months moved into a one-bedroomed house, in the Leadenhall area of Milton Keynes.
Mother Maggie explained:” The house is very suitable, but everything had been completely stripped out, so Catherine had to spend quite a lot of her savings on buying carpet, furniture and appliances such as a washing machine. The house was very clean but we still needed to paint some rooms to brighten it up.”
Catherine immediately set up direct debits to pay her bills and help her budget more easily, and approached social services for help in the home.
She explained: “I have tunnel vision and I can't grip things in two hands, which means I have problems cleaning certain areas, although I can wash-up and clean the bathroom myself.
“But I have to make sure that floors are kept clean and clear because I can't see anything on the ground in front of me, and I need to leave a light on in the bathroom at night so I can see if I need to get up. Being unable to grip things with both hands means I have problems using the oven. I have to use the microwave to heat food up.”
While things are more or less sorted in the home, Catherine's next challenge is to broaden her social circle, and she's currently looking for groups to join.
She explained: “I need to go out more and make friends, so I'm hoping to join clubs which cater for both able bodied and disabled people. The problem is that most groups meet in the evenings, but because I take epilepsy medication in the evening, it makes me drowsy so I never feel like going out then.”
She is also keen to find part-time employment, and has already completed a computer course to help her job prospects. But despite several rejection letters, Catherine is determined that a suitable job will come along.
Catherine told us: “My life has changed a lot in the past few months, and although it was very difficult at first, I now feel very happy and settled. My house is very comfortable and I like the fact that I have my privacy and can relax here.”