GEMS Monthly News – Edition 3

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Will walks to the Train Station

Within  our  weekly  work sessions, we have been targeting module activities that Will and his family have chosen from PLS’s Menu of Activities. Currently, he is working on three different module activities with me in a 1:1 capacity. These modules are:

• Module 3: Preparing, and Consuming Food (from Daily Living Skills)
• Module 6: Safety Awareness (from Daily Living Skills)
• Module 1: Literacy (from Communication, Reflection and Critical Skills).

Will has chosen (with support from PLS, his mum and his support workers) specific areas and places to target when it comes to safety awareness in his day to day life in the community. One of these includes walking from the front door of his home to the train station which takes him to and from work experience placements twice every week with his support workers. He enjoys taking photos, writing stories and keeping record of what he actively does from one day to the next.

​Will is also currently creating a memory and sequencing game which uses the photos we have been taking on our walks together. This focuses on areas and places where he uses specific safety awareness skills and strategies he already has in his repertoire, adding and  adapting new skills and strategies that help target his day to day usage.
 
Here is Will’s story and reflective piece of writing about his walk to the train station using Safety Awareness skills and strategies.

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Walking

I am standing on the grass on the side of the street. I step 3 big steps backwards behind the yellow line painted on the street. When there are no moving cars I can walk across the street.

I stop and press the button at the traffic lights and I wait to see the green man. When I see the green man I walk across the street.
I need to walk and not run when I walk across the street.

I walk slowly up the ramp at the train station. I hold the pole with my hand to keep safe. I walk on the side of the ramp to keep safe.
I met my cousin Harry at the train  station. We are smiling at the train station.

On Platform 1 I stand and wait with my back touching the wall. I see the yellow line and the blue and white lines. I take 3 big steps backwards behind the yellow line and the blue and white lines.

I wear my green sunglasses and my cap when I go walking.

I am smiling.
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I am keeping safe