Life Coaching
Life Skills for Disabled People
Our aim is to support individuals and prepare them for the next stage of their lives, rather like a University for people with physical and learning disabilities, but without a time constraint. We support individuals to make informed choices about the options available to them, to feel empowered about the decisions they make and to find their own voice. We teach life skills for disabled people that make a real difference to their lives here and long after they have completed their time with us.
Life Coaches work on a 1:1 basis, to explore 3 defining questions:
- What do I want to do with my life?
- Where do I want to live?
- How do I want to be supported?
Goals are achieved through the creation of individual learning plans using person-centred approaches. Regular reviews of progress and goals are held and achievable targets agreed. Clients are encouraged to work towards what they wish to get out of their lives rather than what they may perceive other adults want them to do. Dorincourt creates an extremely positive environment for each client to live in and helps them to develops practical life skills for disabled people life skills that give them greater independence in their lives.
We offer a simulated ‘Adult Education’ provision on site which includes:
- Literacy and numeracy
- IT
- Art
- Horticulture
- Drama
A wide variety of courses are run, all designed to increase self-confidence and knowledge. The courses include:
- Assertiveness training
- Coping with change
- Social skills
- Future lifestyles
- Personal appearances
- Equality and discrimination
- Developing work placement skills
House keeping/management
Dorincourt works with local colleges and supported employment providers to offer clients mainstream opportunities and help develop life skills for disabled people. Work experience or voluntary work is a popular option for some as a way to make a positive contribution to the local community.
Clients are encouraged and assisted to pursue leisure interests and outside activities. Support is given in researching and utilising a range of transport options, including buses, dial a ride, taxis and trains. Leisure trips are arranged both during the week and at weekends and include restaurants, pub, cinema, theatre, horticultural gardens and bowling on a regular basis. There are also more ambitious trips to London theatres, Birmingham’s Chocolate factory, the London Eye and more.
From the outset, we focus on teaching life skills for disabled people that support them to explore the different styles of future living available, whether it is a small group home, adapted housing using Personal Assistants or a shared tenancy with other people. For many people who are disabled, life skills that are learnt at an early stage make a huge impact on their choices and independence in the future. We work extremely closely with local authorities to establish and inform an appropriate future support package for each individual.
