At Ability Options’ Day Program, creativity is encouraged in all its forms – and one participant has recently turned an everyday item into eye-catching art.
Darren, or Daz as he’s warmly known, is an active participant at our Forster Day Program centre. At 62 years old, Daz brings a great sense of humour and strong energy to every activity he joins. Recently moving to Forster after many years living in Tea Gardens with his parents, who both sadly passed way, Daz has found a new sense of community with his Day Program family.
Daz began attending the Forster Centre in October 2024 and quickly became a cherished member of the group. Known for his love of hands-on projects, he discovered a new artistic outlet using something you’d usually toss in the bin: metal bottle caps. With the support of the Forster team, Daz explored ideas on Pinterest and found inspiration in an image of a crab that immediately sparked his imagination.
From there, the creative process took off. With a bit of gentle guidance from his Support Worker, Dal, Daz began bringing his vision to life. Dal has supported Daz for nearly 10 years, starting back in Tea Gardens with a previous provider, and has played a consistent role in his growth, creativity, and independence ever since.
During creation, Daz took the time to add intricate detail to his creation, reshaping the bottle caps to form the crab’s pincers and legs.
“I feel extremely accomplished when completing activities at day program and learning new skills. I smile when I look at my artwork and am very proud of what I create,” Daz shares.
Dal adds that when he’s not working on his art, Daz looks forward to spending time with his Day Program family at social night every second Friday.
“I love attending day program and catching up with the group, especially going out for social night for dinner, dancing and a light beer or two.”
Daz – Forster Day Program Participant
Dal says that Support Workers help play an important role in fostering a positive and engaging environment for participants where they feel empowered to express themselves.
“Participants genuinely enjoy building friendships at the Day Program, where there is always plenty of banter and laughter. It’s a space where creativity, social connection, and personal growth thrive,” she says.
“I feel extremely blessed to be a part of their journey I could never imagine myself in any other line of work. I feel fulfilled knowing that I’m making a positive impact on people’s lives.
“I would encourage anyone to come and experience our day programs. Every day is different, and it is such a positive and engaging atmosphere where socialising, creativity, and skill building are at the forefront of our program.”
Daz’s creative journey is just one of many inspiring stories to come out of our Day Program – a place where participants are supported not only to learn new skills, but to discover new passions, make meaningful connections, and take pride in their achievements.
Well done, Daz – we can’t wait to see what you create next!
Ability Options Day Programs & Social Activities
Ability Options’ Day Programs and Social Activities are tailored for adults 18+ who live with disability and want to develop life skills, connect socially, and engage with their local community.
Programs are flexible and participant-led, designed to suit participant goals and interests.
Whether you’re looking to build your confidence, meet new people, or try something new – there’s a place for you at Ability Options. Get in touch to learn more about what programs, supports and facilities are available at your nearest location.
