How do you know it’s a nice day if you’ve never been out in the rain?
Even doing the chores is all part of life’s rich pageant
Children and adults at Stockdales have severe mental and physical disabilities, serious learning difficulties and special multiple needs. We try to help them and their families enjoy a life as normal, fulfilled and happy as possible in any way we can.
To do this we have to consider more than just the fundamentals of care. Daily physical and medical requirements are essential but not sufficient for the well being and development of our very special people. To genuinely support them we must explore the wider world to fulfil their true potential.
With this in mind we never refuse to care for a child because their disabilities are too severe or their learning difficulties very demanding. This can give a false picture of what life is like at Stockdales and activities that can be achieved. They are not as some might believe wheelchair bound, TV watching ‘couch potatoes’!
As the Radio 4 programme ‘Does He Take Sugar?’ suggests, there is an attitude that sees someone pushing a wheelchair and talks over the head of the person in the wheelchair. With us nothing could be further from the truth. Whilst they may not communicate in the same way as their peers our youngsters have the same opinions, taste in music, likes and dislikes as most young people.
Understandably, parents are protective and wary of loved ones trying new experiences. With the great variety of activities we encourage our youngsters to try we hope to address concerns and help them spread their wings safely.
An important feature in all our activities, be they relatively mundane like shopping or exhilarating like horse riding, is that they are tackled in just the same way as any one else. We do not just go out when the sun is shining. If we did that in Manchester we wouldn’t get out much at all!
It is important our children relate to the world as it is and not in some artificial ‘wrapped in cotton wool’ cocoon. That way our youngsters can truly appreciate just what they are experiencing. How do you know it’s a nice day if you’ve never been out in the rain?
