Against all odds, Jordan has displayed remarkable tenacity since infancy after being expected to live for only six months.
The 26-year-old who has multiple diagnoses including cerebral palsy – is missing part of his brain that controls the five senses. He also has Kabuki Syndrome, a condition that results in a lack of facial expression.
Life was challenging for him and his devoted mum, Lisa. They struggled to find a consistent support team until they reached out to The Benevolent Society.
When Senior Behaviour Support Practitioner, Ashley, met Jordan about a year ago, he was exhibiting behaviors of concern. As he was living in a group home, restrictive practices had been put in place to ensure his safety and that of the people around him.
Care and Support
Since Jordan is unable to speak, Ashley had to learn to understand what he was trying to say through his actions. “For Jordy, because he’s non-verbal, a lot of everything he does behaviourally is a form of communication,” Ashley says. “So it’s trying to figure out what he’s trying to say, then looking at how we can get a safer way for him to say that.”
The biggest part of Ashley’s job was helping his support team to see and understand the world through Jordan’s eyes. “There’s nothing wrong with him – we don’t have to change him,” Ashley says. “The people around him need to understand his language and they need to be able to communicate with him that way. “He’s not a disabled person. He’s a person with disability. That doesn’t define him.”
At The Benevolent Society, an individualised approach to therapy is provided because every client is different. “Every behaviour support plan that I write is completely different,” Ashley says. “They’re all personalised.”
Learning to smile
With Ash's involvement, Jordan has begun to smile, something he never did before.
“Jordan for the first time is actually starting to giggle and laugh,” his mother says. “Like it's a really, really big thing. Things people take for granted”. Lisa credits Ashley and The Benevolent Society for unlocking joy in their lives. “I’m so grateful Ash has come along,” she says. “Jordy and I have won lotto meeting Ash because he’s done so much good for both of us. It’s made a big difference in his life.”
At The Benevolent Society, behaviour support is just one of the services we provide to help people with disabilities live their best life. Tamworth-based Ashley, who works in Northern and Western NSW, has been with The Benevolent Society for two years. “We work towards improving people’s lives, making things better,” he says. “And if I can put a smile on their face, that’s my job done.”
With your help, The Benevolent Society will be able to provide more people, like Jordan, with the services they need to thrive, connect with others in their community and reach their full potential. To make a donation, click here.