Gloria's Story
When my sister passed away 3 years ago in June 2004 she left a huge void in our lives, not only did we have to deal with the passing of our loved one we suddenly became Guardian of her daughter who has a disability.
It’s all very well to grow up with someone but it’s very different to suddenly be responsible for her life and future welfare.
We didn’t know where to start; we had no idea what was available for someone with a disability and how we would manage if we did find something. We went into panic mode.
Our family member had led a very sheltered existence, rarely accessing the community, henceforth having very limited people skills.
I just did not know where to turn to, then along came my neighbour and friend who is the Local Group Network and Family Facilitator for Parent to Parent.
She suggested that I might like to participate in a Planning Positive Pathways workshop that was about to begin in my local community, which she would be facilitating.
Through the process we would be working towards planning a desirable future for our family members. I was very happy to join the group as I felt I had nothing to loose and everything to gain.
It proved to be the turning point in our lives, not only did it provide me with immeasurable insight into my and my family members psyche, it also gave me the self confidence to know I can do this and do it well.
The course was one day a week over 5 sessions and during that time it put me in a position where I had to really dig deep and cast aside the fact that this is my family member I’m dealing with and learn to look at the woman instead. I learned many things about not only my family member but myself also during that time.
My ongoing association with the Local Group Networker for Parent to Parent has been invaluable by way of support and guidance, someone to listen to me and help me through the hard times.
The greatest satisfaction I have from doing the course is seeing the results of the plan being implemented into my family members new life and witnessing the change in this person who has now become a beautiful, capable and socially confident woman living life to the full, a life that in the past was not even a dream, it was totally non-existent.
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Focusing on her Gift’s, Capacities, Strengths and Interests gave us the means to developing a plan that will sustain her future and quality of lifestyle.
I have since with my family member participated in other Planning processes Parent to Parent has to offer and have found them to be a great way of organising thoughts and creating a desirable, visible plan for the future of my family member.
I am very happy with the outcomes.