21 tips that enhance independence in adults with disability
Adults with disability often struggle to achieve independence. These tips – focused on actionable takeaways for carers – can help to remove barriers.
Independence.
It is a quality that is important to all of us, albeit to varying degrees.
Yet enjoying the freedom to make the choices we want can have its challenges.
People with disability understand this point better than most. In fact, commonly, it is a recurring frustration.
In this insightful article, we reveal a series of tips that can help to enhance independence in adults with disability – broken down into four key areas: support, confidence and control, education, and training and skills.
These handy tips make essential reading for those who play a key role in the lives of a person with disability.
1. Seek to support, not control
We get it.
As parents and carers, you are trying to do your best, often under challenging circumstances.
As you seek to protect and nurture loved ones, it can be easy to fall into the trap of exerting too much control. But this approach can be detrimental to your loved one, and you.
Instead of seeking to manage every interaction and decision, gradually switch to ‘support mode’.
Sometimes, the shift from ‘control’ to ‘support’ can be as simple as small tweaks to your language. For example, asking your loved one what they would like to do rather than telling them what to do.
Ensure the shift is gradual, to allow your loved one to feel secure as they head towards greater self-determination.
2. Establish a trusted support network
While this takes time, building a trusted support network for your loved one can speed up the journey to independence.
Opt for quality over quantity. Ideally, create a small group of supporters that your loved one feels comfortable talking to openly, and which can meaningfully contribute to their independence goals.
Placing trust in others can be difficult, but trying to do everything yourself can inhibit the development and progression of independent living.
3. Search for meaning, rather than judging
We all see the world through a different lens.
That lens is shaped by our situation, upbringing, lifestyle and other contributing factors.
This means that your interpretation of a situation or behaviour could be significantly different to that of your loved one.
If you feel yourself moving towards judgement, take a deep breath and try to look at things from a different perspective.
Pause to view the world through their eyes and try to understand the meaning behind their actions.
This search for meaning will not only strengthen your relationship with your loved one but help you to educate others and break down the external barriers to independence.
4. Lead with positivity
Emotions are contagious.
Fear, anxiety and other negative feelings and emotions can be felt by those around you, even when not expressed through words.
Similarly, hope, happiness and other positive emotions are just as contagious and help to make it easier for everyone to embrace change.
The journey toward independence can be a slow and challenging one, so celebrate the small wins.
Be positive and exude energy at every opportunity. Others will feed off your energy and build confidence, too.
5. Learn from each other
Embrace your own opportunities to learn and develop, as it is not just a one-way street.
The more you, your loved one and your support network can work together to adapt and understand each other, the quicker progress will be towards independence.
Talk openly about the things you are struggling with, ask for guidance and search for meaning.
Do whatever you can to build a trusted level of communication that brings the cause of challenges to the surface speedily, so they can be addressed sooner rather than later.
6. Recognise multiple identities
Often, we are quick to label people and disregard their thoughts, hobbies and lifestyle choices.
This kind of ‘labelling’ can be an obstacle to promoting independence in people with disability.
Even with the best of intentions, our community – and even carers – can forget about the person behind the disability.
We all have the right to be recognised by the things that make us unique.
Respecting and recognising that each person has multiple identities and interests, and removing unfair labels, will help to build confidence and the desire to become more independent.
7. Start slowly with daily decisions
Promoting independence requires patience.
Many people with disability have experienced strong nurturing and highly protective environments.
Independence and decision-making power may be foreign concepts, which means that if things happen too quickly, fear and anxiety are heightened.
A solution is to start slowly, by empowering the individual with daily life decisions.
This includes simple things like how to wash the dishes or what to cook for dinner.
As an individual builds up decision-making confidence with everyday activities, they begin to transfer that confidence into new and more challenging situations.
Over time, their confidence will grow, and the breadth of responsibility will widen, leading to a more empowered lifestyle.
8. Allow choice about friends and lifestyle
We all deserve the opportunity to choose our own friends, hobbies and interests.
Empowering your loved one with the freedom to make these choices supports individual growth and development.
Such empowerment can be achieved through Individualised Support. This personalised care allows people with disability to live their lives their way and as independently as possible.
9. Provide decision-making power
As you likely know, people with disability in Australia have the choice of where and how to access their support network and care, using their NDIS support package.
In essence, NDIS funding is directed by the individual with disability, or their decision maker. This is a significant step towards increased independence.
It means an individual has greater control to make decisions that directly impact their life.
You can help by promoting this choice and involving your loved one in the decision-making process.
10. Get into community activities
Once the path to independence progresses beyond decisions related to daily at-home routines, promote self-determination further afield.
For example, you could encourage your loved one to catch a train or bus to the supermarket. Initially, they may require support, but over time this journey could be undertaken independently.
These small steps help to build capacity for independence.
Need support with local community engagement? Our experienced support team can work with your loved one to understand their needs.
11. Join mainstream community groups
Seek community groups that align with your loved one’s interests and hobbies.
This will generate enthusiasm and excitement to participate in group activities and accelerate the building of self-confidence.
Naturally, do your homework prior to a group session. Discover how these get-togethers flow and the groups interact, to help you to determine whether such an outlet is suitable for your loved one.
Looking for a starting point? Check out our popular Learning and Lifestyle hubs, which allow people with disability to socialise while learning new skills – and all in a fun, welcoming environment.
12. Encourage interactions with others
Any positive interactions a loved one has with those outside of their support network can help to build confidence and encourage the individual to take the initiative.
Be proactive by creating opportunities for individuals to socialise and build friendships, and eventually these interactions should happen without you needing to be actively encouraging them or even be present.
Again, Individualised Support is worth mentioning. It is an excellent platform for people with disability to interact with their community and build networks.
13. Promote the right to vote
As well as increasing social interactions, you can help a loved one to gain greater independence by encouraging other confidence-building activities.
For example, registering them to vote in local, state or federal elections is a positive step to giving them a voice in the community.
The Australian Electoral Commission provides easy read resources that detail how to vote.
14. Encourage others to embrace diversity
Education plays an important role in increasing independence for people with disability.
Sections of society are often misinformed or uneducated about the abilities that people with disability have.
Sometimes, misconceptions result from good intentions. For example, there might be a wariness of causing offence that prevents someone from asking relevant questions.
Help others to understand, so they can act accordingly. It all helps to create a more inclusive community.
15. Support a healthy lifestyle
It is common for people with disability to have an inactive lifestyle and an unhealthy diet.
This lifestyle can lead to obesity and increase the risk of contracting severe diseases, such as diabetes or heart disease.
When promoting independence, keep in mind the need to provide education about healthy lifestyle choices.
Education alone is not enough, though.
Actively help your loved one to create habits that will contribute to a healthy and happy life when they are not with you. Start with a daily dose of light exercise and a balanced diet.
Again, our Learning and Lifestyle hubs have dedicated activities geared around healthy living, exercise and other positive lifestyle choices.
Looking to join a gym or sporting association? Here is how the NDIS can help.
16. Talk about sex
Sexual health for people with disability is often a taboo subject, but it should not be.
In fact, we need to talk more about the topic.
Independence comes in many forms, and that includes empowering individuals to participate in their own sexual health decisions. Naturally, education is required.
While it is critical that you are aware of the risks of sexual abuse for dependent people, particularly people with disability, it should not dictate the way you provide choice and freedom.
People with disability want to explore and express their sexuality just the same as anyone else.
Recognising this and providing an environment where they can make decisions to do so in a safe and informed way will help promote further independence in their lives.
The Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel is an excellent resource for material related to this topic.
17. Provide adequate training
Increased independence often comes with the need for a new skill set.
The key components required to help people improve their skills are access and support.
People with disability should have access to relevant learning opportunities – tailored to their interests and abilities – and support from a network of friends, family and mentors.
Encourage your loved one to build a learning and career plan, which maps out a pathway for them to achieve their goals and acquire the knowledge or qualifications they need to sustain meaningful employment.
This plan will be beneficial at some of the hardest crossroads in life – such as transitioning from school to work – and eventually making the move towards a more independent lifestyle.
You may look to extend your support network to include mentors, trainers and teachers that can facilitate and progress this plan.
18. Consider options for learning or employment
Work provides us all with a sense of purpose.
It gives us an opportunity to contribute to society and develop improved self-confidence and interpersonal skills.
Employment or volunteer work is a critical component of independent living for people with disability. It helps promote inclusion and is a proven avenue for building friendships.
Did you know Endeavour Foundation is the largest employer of people with disability in Australia?
In fact, we offer various pathways to employment that play a significant role in advancing independence, developing life skills and so much more.
19. Start with daily living skills
The secret to sustainable independence is not about making one big change.
Rather, it is a state that arises from a series of smaller changes that, when combined, creates a big difference.
Start developing skills with daily activities, like cooking, washing and ironing.
Then, when you are both ready, move onto social and life skills such as communication, relationships, shopping and participation in local community groups.
These daily life skills will build confidence and prepare your loved one for the next step, which is developing employment skills. This includes money handling, using technology and being interview ready.
20. Leverage technology to develop skills
Advancements in technology continue to make learning and development a faster and more approachable endeavour.
Perhaps the most widely used piece of technology in learning for people with disability is the electronic tablet, led by the iPad. iPads are intuitive and offer customised learning environments.
As a bonus, iPads are fun to use and do not carry any of the negative stigma often associated with ‘special equipment’.
Or take things a step further and embrace our innovative Virtual Reality (VR) learning supports.
These supports help people with disability to develop skills in a safe and engaging environment and include road and public transport safety awareness and even barista training.
21. Use repetition by creating daily routines
We are creatures of habit. Many of the activities we do are the same every day.
Breaking these habits, or creating new ones, can be challenging because often we resist change.
But you can use this to your advantage to help others develop skills and learn new things.
Repetition is the key. If you do something enough times, it will soon become second nature.
Promoting independence for people with disability can be difficult, particularly when your instincts encourage you to protect and nurture.
However, by embracing uncertainty and committing to supporting your loved one on their journey to independence can be life-changing for all involved.
A final thought… anything you can do to break the cycle of dependence can help, no matter how small it may seem.
Enhancing independence in adults with disability – a quick summary
There is a lot to digest in this article, so here is a summary of the key takeaways for promoting independence in people with disability:
- Empower your loved one to make decisions and actively involve them in decision-making
- Trust others and build a support network in the community
- Be positive and celebrate small improvements
- Make learning a daily habit for both of you
- Be patient. Change does not have to happen overnight
Expert help to enhance independence
At Endeavour Foundation, we empower adults with disability to live a more independent lifestyle.
We encourage this through our various employment, education, independent living and community engagement supports and services – tailored to individual needs.
Keen to find out more? Contact Endeavour Foundation today.
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