Zoe gets her first wheels, with a little help from Realise
Thanks to her Realise support team, Zoe is now able to take to the open road in her very own Motability car!
Whilst Zoe doesn’t drive herself, she has nominated two Realise team members who are insured to drive her new car, and is already enjoying the increased freedom that this provides.
Hard-won independence
Now in her mid-twenties, Zoe has been supported by Realise since she transitioned from local authority children’s respite care services upon turning 18.
Living with a mild learning disability, Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, epilepsy and a cyst on her brain, seeking independence has not come easy for Zoe. She can find making decisions particularly challenging, and can feel especially anxious or unsettled by uncertainty and change.
Despite this, Zoe has been dreaming of having her own car for a little while, and her Realise team were keen to support her to turn this dream into a reality.
Helping Zoe to feel prepared
Amy Farmer, Specialist Team Leader for Realise, says:
“We supported Zoe by having lots of short discussions with her about what it would mean for her to have her own car. We explored the new activities that this would open up for her, whilst also helping her to feel prepared for any sudden changes, like the possibility of the car needing to go to the garage.
“After several weeks, and when Zoe appeared to understand the potential changes as well as the positives of having her own car, we printed some images of the chosen car in a few different colours. We gave this to Zoe to look at and to process. It didn’t take long for Zoe to pick her chosen colour – “Yellow, as it is my favourite!”.
“Once the car was ordered, we continued to work with Zoe about the practicalities of car ownership, and supported her to understand how to budget her money for the fuel her car would need.
Collecting her new wheels
“Understanding that collecting the car would have been overwhelming for Zoe, we collected the car and delivered it to her on pick-up day. When Zoe excitedly came out of her home and I handed her the keys to her very own car, she commented “Oh wow, it is so beautiful!” with a beaming smile.
“Zoe has enjoyed several trips to see animals at local zoos and beach trips since getting her car. It really has changed her life – and we couldn’t be happier for her.”
Specialist support which empowers and enables
Zoe is one of many individuals supported and empowered by Realise to live the life she chooses. Find out more about the team's commitment to transforming care and support for people with a learning disability or Autism.
