BLAKE

Blake started Kith and Kin in 2015. He had finished school a year earlier. I wanted to find a support group that would help him with his life skills for coping with his world. He had been at school since he was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome when he was 14 months old, starting out in early intervention and then on to mainstream for 2 years and then to a special needs school for the remaining years.

My daughter arranged a meeting with Kith and Kin and what started out as a shaky start, turned out to be one of the best things that I have ever done by placing him in an adult support centre.

When Blake started out at Kith and Kin, he was very wary of people he did not know. He did not know how to express himself to his carers, which was not pleasant for them. He was biting himself, he would wet himself and just found it hard to communicate in general.

Well lets go forward 9 years and the love he has for going to Kith and Kin is amazing. His social skills have gone ahead in leaps and bounds. He can make friends easily now and shakes hands when introduced to a complete newcomer. He loves meeting new people and remembers people who he has not seen for years.

He goes to the centre every day except Tuesday’s where his carer takes him shopping, to the movies, visits to the museum, walks on the beach, driving in the car, Maccas for breakfast or just wherever Blake chooses. He cannot wait for them to come and pick him up, he is out the door as soon as he sees them.

He loves the Kith and Kin bus when it comes to pick him up, his friends are on the bus they all laugh, ask after each other and then usually start singing songs. I wish I was on that bus! He has made so many friends through the centre and misses them if he is away. If he goes on holiday he can’t wait to get back and see his friends. He talks about them everyday and they make him happy. Best of all he loves Sally and Margaret and his best friend Matty.

His life skills that he has been taught at the Centre have really made him a beautiful adult. He does a cooking class at the centre and I can say I eat most of his meals that he makes. He knows how to make a sandwich with no help and helps me cook and prepare meals at home. He hangs my washing, washes the dishes and helps tidy up after the dogs and himself. He can shower, dress and toilet himself. He knows how to use his card to pay for items.

Blake loves gardening at the centre and often brings me home grown vegetables or flowers grown in the centre. He loves singing and watching movies, best of all he would not be the caring man he is without Kith and Kin in his life.

I want to say a huge thank you to you all for being there for Blake and his family and providing the best possible care for Blake over the past 9 years. I honestly could not have done this without you all.

Jacki

Blake’s Mum