Page 16 - Community Living Magazine 35-2

first person
Choosing our

own route

Horrified at the prospect of a segregated future devoid of to drive around our large garden. We
opportunites for his son, Les Scaife steered him to a life free then went into vintage engines that we
bought as basket cases and restored
from special schools, day centres and the grip of social services them for display at vintage shows around
the country
All this was achieved without the
ur first child Jean did not To this end, I decided to move from help of social services who kept offering
experience any problems at birth. Surrey where we lived and we went to their assistance.
OShe attended a girls’ school then Cornwall, where Brian did not have to go I could see the progress Brian was
university, progressing to be very to a special school but could attend the making in terms of engaging with other
experienced in IT and the study of wine comprehensive with support (which is people, building his confidence and
(which I appreciate a great deal today). what we wanted in Surrey). achieving more than we all thought he
Our second child Brian was born with a Life went well for Brian and he was capable of.
learning disability due to a lack of oxygen progressed to the Duchy College, a At the end of his schooling, I found
during a difficult delivery in 1972. Having working farm where agriculture there was no suitable further education
no experience of disabilities, several arms was taught. in Cornwall, so we called the removal
of “expertise” were thrust upon me in the Brian showed an interest in things van again and moved to Lancashire,
form of a psychologist and a social worker mechanical and was given access to the where there were better opportunities
when Brian became of school age. mechanical workshop where he learned for him.
It transpired that what they had planned basic car maintenance and how to drive a
for my son was a system that would tractor with support. Money before people
segregate him from the community and As time went by in Cornwall, I taught It was in Lancashire that I got more
place him in a system where he had no Brian to drive a quad bike that he used involved with the system of social services
peers. This would deny him the opportunity in terms of putting money before people,
to improve his social skills and his social so I read up on legislation and educated
behaviour, and to learn how to engage We have responsibilities to myself on what should be and what was
with people who did not have a disability. help our sons and daughters being delivered.
For this we had to go through the
Moving home for mainstream school have a better experience of process of an assessment that insisted we
I fought against this system as I wanted to life than the establishment stuck to the needs not wants. There were
give Brian the opportunity to develop his some disagreements along the way but,
strong points and to learn from others in has planned for them eventually, I got a package of care that Les Scaife
the community. was good for Brian.

16 Vol 35 No 2 | Winter 2022 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk