Since starting at Lufton College, A has made significant progress in his independence, confidence and ability to manage daily life. A is a young man with severe learning disabilities and visual impairment. A is currently in his fourth and final year at college. When A first joined, he relied heavily on staff to support most aspects of his day, including communication, self-care, routines and accessing the community. He found it difficult to communicate his needs, stay on task and cope with unfamiliar or busy environments. A would hit out at others and could not go in the community without two people with him at all times.

Through consistent routines, visual supports and calm, personalised support from staff, A has developed the skills needed to better understand what is happening around him and what is expected of him. He can now follow routines, make choices, communicate when he needs help and complete tasks with reduced support.

A’s quality of life has improved greatly as a result of this progress. He is now more settled, confident and engaged in both college and community life. A enjoys preparing food, taking part in enrichment activities and accessing local shops, which were previously challenging for him. He now has one person instead of two supporting him, as he can more easily tolerate others and noisier environments, and most importantly communicate how he is feeling. A has benefitted from his college placement and has been provided with many meaningful opportunities to practise these skills in real-life settings, helping him feel more included and in control of his day-to-day life.

A will be leaving Lufton College with increased independence in all aspects of his life and will be able to fully enjoy adult life with reduced support and more opportunities to experience and contribute to his community. A will be able to access and participate in a plethora of activities that were previously not possible, with a newfound confidence and tools to communicate his choices and feelings. This will undoubtedly improve A’s quality of life and support maintaining his relationships with his family and friends as he progresses into adulthood.