Freedom means different things to different people. For 19-year-old Jaemen, freedom is hitting the open road with a swag and fishing rod. However, his journey isn’t a simple one. Jaemen was diagnosed with Autism from an early age and as a lover of all things outdoors – especially fishing, he’s keen to earn his driver’s license and explore Queensland’s best fishing spots.
The background
Autism is a lifelong condition that can make social interaction and communication challenging, often restricting a person’s interests and behaviours. People on the autism spectrum face varying degrees to which they’re impacted. When our support workers first met Jaemen they were faced with a challenge – although they were excited to meet him, it seemed like the feeling wasn’t mutual. He was hesitant to engage with the support workers, not wanting to talk to them or leave his room. If they were going to get him out of the house and on to the open road, then they would need to overcome their communication barrier.
Australians are on the autism spectrum, totalling around
with a higher prevalence in boys compared to girls.
How did Mercy Community help/support
Thankfully with the help of Mercy Community and Jaemen’s very supportive family, they found ways to communicate with Jaemen. Over several weeks they established a level of trust where he could express himself more effectively.
Now that Jaemen could communicate with the team, they set to work finding out how they could help him achieve his goals – namely jumping behind the wheel of a car and earning his driver’s license.
Not many people realise that when you’re diagnosed with autism, you can’t just fill in a form and you’re off. There are a few obstacles to navigate first, such as obtaining a medical clearance and an occupational therapy assessment. Mercy Community were there for Jaemen every step of the way. Arranging for a specialist driving instructor who could effectively communicate with Jaemen and understand the nuances of his condition.
Jaemen is a lover of all things outdoors – especially fishing.
The Outcome
Jaemen was well on his way to clocking up enough hours on the road to take his test, until he found one of his lessons too intensive and wanted to go fishing instead. He made the decision to let his parents know this and they agreed. It may not seem like much, but this was a massive step, as in the past if he found something too challenging he may have retreated into himself and be less willing to tell his parents how he felt.
Making these kinds of decisions in the past has proved challenging but now he can speak his mind more clearly. Anyway, it was clearly the right choice as he caught a whopper of a fish that day. Jaemen only needs to log a few more hours before he can take his test and Mercy Community will be there to support him every step of the way.
Find out more about the disability support services we offer here:
Disability Supports – Mercy Community Services
