The whole Ballarat team, with a special mention to Shabib, Moses, and Kamryn have worked with Riley to build his trust and confidence over the last 18 months to encourage Riley to get out into the community and see some of the world he has been missing out on for some time.
Milestone 1: Community Access
Shabib and Moses recently got Riley into the car and went through the McDonald’s drive-thru not once but twice to get Riley his favourite chicken nuggets and a soft drink. They drove around Lake Wendouree and then parked the car, where Riley happily watched and listened to the birds on a beautiful sunny Ballarat day. Since community access was implemented last week and was a success, Riley has been out and about three times, exploring Ballarat and eating his favourite chicken nuggets.
Milestone 2: Exploring new foods and meal preparation
For the first time in 18 months, Riley assisted with getting his lunch ready. Riley has also enjoyed trying different foods to eat, and this month’s flavour seems to be apples!
Riley has taken a keen interest in preparing his meals, especially using the air fryer.
Milestone 3: Personal Care
Riley most recently made remarkable progress in his own personal care. What began as a routine hand wash turned into a full comprehensive grooming and self-care session! Riley, with the assistance of Kamryn, brushed his teeth and hair, shaved his face clean, and even took a long shower!
This is a major step for Riley and his own personal independence, who embraced all these tasks with such great enthusiasm.
We can’t wait to see what the next 18 months hold for Riley and his amazing team!