Enriching Lives

We provide a wide range of innovative support for children and adults all with a focus on improving quality of life. Across our services we aim to promote, support and empower individuals to use their voice. Enabling the individuals we support to share their thoughts and opinions is important to creating personalised support plans, which are based on an individual’s own strengths and motivations and on achieving outcomes which are meaningful to them.

Meet Rob

Rob has been supported by Scottish Autism for many years, living in a shared flat prior to moving to Founders House.  Founders House was opened in July 2018 to provide homes for autistic adults who may live with other health-related issues such as arthritis, limited mobility and sight loss. Rob moved into this new residential service when it opened. He has a degenerative muscle condition which means that he requires a wheelchair for mobility. Whilst Rob was happy in his previous home, there were challenges in the environment which limited his ability to move independently around it and also impacted on his opportunity to build relationships.

One of the biggest life enhancing improvements for Rob since he moved to Founders, has been the fact that he has more opportunity to be part of social activities. In his previous home, Rob couldn’t get out easily in the evenings because the wheelchair accessible taxi stopped operating early in the evening. However, now he can head along to the lounge area and spend time with other residents. With regular scheduled activities in the common lounge such as Bingo and Karaoke, Rob mentioned that one of his favourite things to do is, “listen to Boney M at our social night.” Founders is now awaiting it’s very own wheelchair friendly vehicle which will give Rob even more opportunities to be part of external social events in the evening.

Key design features in Founders House enable Rob to maintain a level of independence and choice.  With widened door frames throughout the building and smooth surfaced vinyl flooring instead of carpet, Rob’s wheelchair is no longer a barrier to where he wants to be.  Within his own flat, the kitchen has been designed so that he can easily reach cupboard essentials and his wheelchair can slide under the kitchen table. This means that Rob is now a part of conversations that he may have missed out on previously and can feel included. Furthermore, appliances such as the dishwasher are now at Rob’s height enabling him to learn new skills for living independently.

With a large shared garden, Rob is now much closer to nature too. In his previous home he didn’t have access to a garden, but with a choice of two access routes, Rob really enjoys getting out in the fresh air which is very beneficial for his wellbeing. There are also planters that Rob can utilise to learn more about horticulture and he has befriended a stray cat that comes by each week.

Founders House has made a huge difference to Rob’s life and it is a weight off his mum’s mind knowing that her son has a home that can be adapted to support him in the future. When asked what he liked about Founders, Rob immediately said that he “liked the walk” capturing how significant it is for him to be able to move easily and freely around his own home.