Information for disabled young people 14 years and over
This page is to help you feel more in charge and to signpost you to where to find more information.
When you travel, you often hear new words - sometimes a whole new language. You need help to understand.
Transition
This means moving from one place or age to another. It is what you are doing now. This is what this leaflet is about.
Transition Planning Meeting and Transition Plan
This happens in school. The first one is when you are 14 and it happens every year until you leave school. Lots of people can be involved but it is about YOUR future. You should be there too.
Talk to your parents or teacher. Make sure you are included.
Connexions
This service is for young people aged 13 to 19, helping them to plan towards their future for when they leave school. They offer advice and information. For your local office contact 0800 980 9877 or see Connexions Cheshire and Warrington.
This is the part of Social Services which works with anyone who is aged 18 and over.
Until now, any contact you have had will have been with Children's Services.
When you are 18, you are an adult. This means you have different legal rights.
Any questions
Talk to any adult you know, they are already over 18! You have the same rights as they have.
Any Problems
Contact your local Disability Service.
This is just a way of looking at where you are now, where you want to be in the future and the help you might need to get there. If you want an assessment you have a right to ask for this and be involved in it.
This is just the name for the person from Adult Services who will help you complete your assessment, make a Care Plan and then review any services you use.
This is a form that tells you, in writing, what services you will be given. You have to sign it too, so make sure you agree with what it says. Talk to someone you trust about it if you need advice.
Review
This is just looking at what help you have now, asking if it is working for you and if anything has to change to meet your needs.
This is the help you may need to reach your goals. Not all of these will be for Social Services to provide.
All the help provided by Social Services depends upon your assessment. There are a number of different services they can offer.
There are leaflets about all of these services available from your local Access Team.
Help in your home
Sometimes it isn't possible to be totally independent and you will need some help to do things. This can be through the provision of Equipment and Adaptations being provided at home to help you move around. For example, ramps, shower seats and other things all come via an Occupational Therapist.
For more information, see Occupational Therapy.
People (Direct Payments)
This is when someone actually comes into your home to help you with the things you cannot do for yourself without help.
These people can either be employed by Social Services or a private agency or you can decide to employ someone yourself and you will be given some money to do this. This system is called Direct Payments.
For help to access Direct Payments contact:
The Centre for Integrated Living, Hartford Business Centre Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2AB
Tel: 01606 888255 :: Fax: 01606 883292
Email: cdfcil@btinternet.com
Help outside of your home
This is usually about helping you to become more independent by learning new skills, making new friends and looking at new opportunities for you to develop as a young adult.
How you get this help
There are college courses you can attend, as well as day activities based within Social Services. What you do will depend on your interests and abilities.
You may also want to look at work opportunities, perhaps by starting in a small way with help and gradually increasing this.
Social Services can also arrange short breaks away from your own home which can give you the experience of living with other people for a few days at a time.
It is also possible for Social Services to help you work towards enough independence to live away from your parents when you get older, either by having your own home or sharing with a few other people.
Talk to your Care Manager when you are doing your 'Assessment' and they will be able to explain about the various options you might have.
There are also various leaflets available which you can ask for from your local Access Team.
What will Services Cost
There are some disadvantages in being 18 and an adult. One of these is that you have more responsibilities and this also means you are assessed to pay for some things!
This means that you will have to pay a little from the money you already receive because you have a disability. If you are not sure what you receive talk to your parents and also ask your Care Manager to check that you are getting all the money you are entitled to because of your disability.
There are lots of people who can help you understand what the changes are for you in transition.
Talk to your parents, teachers or Social Worker. Also you can contact various other agencies direct.
Contact your local Social Services Access Team. |