A Collaborative and Creative Approach to Living the Life He Wants
Meet Michael. Michael began his journey with MacIntyre when he first attended MacIntyre School, progressing on to MacIntyre No Limits, and is now supported as an adult in his own home, living the life that makes sense to him.
Michael joined MacIntyre School when he was 15, where the local teams worked together to support him with Music Therapy and in learning Makaton, which he continues to use to communicate. After completing his studies, Michael moved to Milton Keynes to further his education at MacIntyre No Limits, our post-16 education provision which acts as a bridging service between school and adulthood.
In 2016, Michael moved into his own home, with support from Reside Housing (now Reside with Progress), marking a new chapter in his life.
When Michael first moved in, he wasn’t keen on getting involved with his team. He preferred staying in his room, playing on his iPad but, with some outside-the-box thinking and person-centred support, he gradually began to come out of his shell.
Michael is now a very sociable person who enjoys a very active lifestyle. His hobbies include gardening - especially mowing the lawn with his mum - and watching planes and helicopters in High Wycombe. One of his highlights in recent years was going on holiday to the seaside for the first time.
Michael's team worked closely with him from the start using creative approaches to support him. Michael loves the Post Office and posting things, so the team thought about how they could support him with it, and converted his garden shed into a makeshift Post Office, in which he can post anything he wants.
Claudia, who manages Michael's team, said,
“Michael, his family, and the team have built a really close relationship since he moved into his home. It’s been a journey of mutual trust, understanding and trialling different approaches, finding out what works best for Michael.”
In addition to Music Therapy, which Michael regularly attends, his team has been focused on supporting him in new and exciting ways. One of the most incredible milestones has been Michael starting to speak. He had always communicated using Makaton but last year, to everyone’s surprise, he began speaking, something his family never thought would happen.
So, what’s next for Michael? He is now looking at volunteering opportunities, and is excited to be working with his team and the local Tesco to help with collecting the shopping trolleys. And, of course, there are more holidays on the horizon!
Michael’s journey continues with the support of his dedicated team, and he is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as he continues to live life to the full.
