Meg’s Journey to independence
Meg was a 'difficult child'. Rarely getting into trouble at school or at home, but difficult to engage with and easily distracted. "It was like she was in her own little world," says her Mum.
Her lack of engagement continued all through school, which she left without any substantive qualifications. It turned out, that she was also regularly bullied, and both physically and sexually abused by her school mates. She never complained - she thought that was normal.
However, not long after leaving school, Meg became very depressed. More introspective and even more difficult engage with. After years of getting no-where with her doctor, Meg's Mum switched Meg's GP practice. The new practice immediately changed their approach towards Meg, and she was quickly diagnosed as suffering from Asperger's Syndrome.
Like many similar girls, Meg had a late diagnosis for Asperger's Syndrome. It meant that she went through her formative years feeling disconnected from the world around her, and was bullied and abused by people because she was 'different'. Brunswick Supported Living is helping Meg to make new, healthy connections with the world that has for so long seemed alien to her.
Because Meg was now considered vulnerable, she was offered a place in a residential home. She was taught coping strategies, and helped to understand that her childhood was not normal - that it is not acceptable for people to abuse others.
With plenty of encouragement and support, Meg quickly became more confident, more self-aware and more independent. She went to college and studied several courses that helped her get her first job. Now she wanted to take the first step towards independence.
Meg's social worker and her parents worked with Brunswick Supported Living to find somewhere for her to live - far enough away from the people she went to school with, but close enough to Mum so she could see her family when she chose.
Brunswick Supported Living then designed a support package for Meg to ensure she could engage in her local community while feeling secure that she would not be taken advantage of by potential abusers. As a result, Meg is rapidly becoming fully independent and is developing supportive friendships with people who value her company.
(Note - Meg is a pseudonym in order to preserve her privacy)
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