Ability Options participants at South Windsor have a new place to call home after successfully moving into a house purpose built by Specialist Disability Housing provider, Casa Capace.
Participants are now making new connections and living a life of independence with support from Ability Options.
Jessica, a dedicated Practice Manager, said there were a few special additions to make when this home was built that would support its future residents, like the addition of an in-ground trampoline.
“We had identified a few locals like Brett in South Windsor that would be able to make this house a home, so we got in touch with his network to find out what would make it a special place for him to be.”
After some discussion, it was clear that being outside and being active was a huge part of maintaining Brett’s wellbeing.
So, an inground trampoline was installed in the backyard for him, and he now spends a lot of time out there enjoying it.
“He loves it!” Jessica says.
“Our participants are at the heart of what we do. It was important for me to find out what would make this house feel like a home for the residents that now live there.”
A TV room was also set up for the residents so they could watch movies together and develop good social connections with each other.
Beyond a personal experience, quality of living was also central to this build, including barn style doors in the kitchen for safety and custom shower fittings for ease of use and better water pressure.
With the build complete, Jessica got hands on and wanted to support these participants moving into their new home.
“While this home was being built, I was new to the Ability Options team learning the ropes as a Support Worker which gave me a real knack for learning how to provide tailored support to our participants. Since then, I have moved up to the role of Practice Manager,” she says.
She says it was a positive experience for everyone and it will stay with her. “I can still remember seeing the residents’ faces as they walked through the door. It was amazing and isn’t something I’ll forget,” Jessica says.
“One of the participants opened up to me. As I was helping her pack things away, she laid on her new bed and said, ‘This is my new home’. It really touched my heart.
“She immediately got up and went right through the home looking at every room and the outdoor space and met Brett while he was checking out the new trampoline.”
We’re thrilled to see our new residents settling into their new home.
What is Specialist Disability Accommodation? (SDA)
If you have very high support needs, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) provides purpose-built homes designed for people who need specialist and accessible housing. Our approach is to provide accommodation and support that is safe, high-quality and in a place that you can call home.
The properties available through our NDIS-supported independent living service have built-in features that can assist people with high support needs or significant functional impairment to live more independently and confidently.
