Time Machine - Maxine Price

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Time Machine - Maxine Price

Transcript of Time Machine - Maxine Price

Page 1: Time Machine - Maxine Price
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My name is Maxine but most people call me Max. I used to live in a nursing home for 60 people. They care for older people who might have had a stroke, dementia or some kind of brain injury.

I lived there for four and half years, even though I was just supposed to go there for a short break for about 3 weeks! I was the youngest person there, so I never made any friends or had anything in common with people.

I never made any friends or had anything in common with people

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I was almost invisible and had very little social interaction with staff. Most of my time was spent in the home, using my laptop and watching TV. A couple times I went to the park or out for a meal.

I moved to a shared bungalow with a lady called Marie in 2010. The first thing I noticed when I moved here was how much quieter it was. Now I am only living with one other person, rather than 59. I immediately felt like I was home, something I had never felt before. Equally as important is that I could choose who I lived with. For as long as I could remember someone else has chosen this for me, someone who always knew better.

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One of the most important things I have now is my partner, Stephen. The staff where I live are really supportive of my relationship and know how important it is to me. We went on holiday to Blackpool last year, just Stephen, and me with support from staff, which was something I had never done. It was amazing!

My life is so different now. I enjoy going out to meals; Chiquitos, a Mexican restaurant is my favourite. Meals out before used to be about where the staff wanted to go, rather than my choice; it was often with people I did not know or like.

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As I live in supportive living I am encouraged to do things for myself. I go to Sainsbury’s to do my own shopping. I plan all my meals; make a list and the staff help me buy the food I need. To get there I go on public transport, using my bus pass. Before I moved here I was always on a mini bus or in a taxi, so that’s a real change. I feel more like everyone when I am on the bus. When people used to see me on the mini bus I bet they thought, “Look, that person is disabled”

Now I am just like them. For the first time in a long time I feel like a real person, a young woman not someone with a disability. I am finally free of labels.

For the first time in a long time I feel like a real person

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Sometimes I go to the local social club in Oldbury in the evening. Usually this is to watch the entertainment, such as an ABBA tribute band. This brings back old memories when my mum and dad used to take me when I was younger. It’s nice to go out because that is what people do.

One really important change is that now I access all my health appointments in the community. This means I go to the doctors, opticians and dentist. This would not have happened before as health services used to come to me at home; I was very isolated from my immediate community, disabled people often are.

I was very isolated from my immediate community

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I love watching films and go regularly to the cinema, usually with Stephen. I recently went to see The Hobbit; I have more choice now about where I go and who I go with. It was a difficult adjustment to make as I was so used to people telling me, not me telling them!

I have always wanted to go and see the Lion King on stage although I have watched the film. I am going to watch the live stage show in Dudley. My ticket is booked; just me and a member of staff will be going.

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I also got to see the Dancing On Ice live tour at the LG arena in Manchester. Marie and I travelled there on the train. Manchester was somewhere I have never been before; I loved every minute of it too. I chose to go with my friend Marie because she loves ice-skating and we get on really well.

The biggest change for me is having the support to do things I enjoy and people listening to me.

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My independence has really increased. I have my own back account with my own bank card and pin number. I have the support I need to go to the bank and withdraw money. I have to pay my own bills such as my TV licence, the water rates and electricity. Once the bills come in I have support to go to the bank, take the money out and pay them. Most people don’t like paying bills but I love the freedom and the control over my life, even with someone simple as paying bills.

I love spending my money on things for my home, like pictures, DVDs, bears, clothes and games for my PS3. This is something that I have never really done before as people would spend my money for me.

I love spending my money on things

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I am supported to develop friendships with people. I have a friend called Nyheka, who lives in Sandwell. We went to school together, and she visited me at home. Now I visit her, in her home and recently went to her 30th birthday party.

My family is important to me, and my mum visits me at home each Saturday, usually after I have the spent the morning shopping in Merry Hill. I feel really grown up having my own space.

In the evenings I like to go out to the pub, usually with friends. These are pubs where I know some people and I refer to it as my ‘local’. In all the time I lived at the nursing home I never went out in the evenings or in the dark.

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Each month on a Friday night I go to an Open Mic night in West Bromwich. This brings together people to share their artistic talents; mine is singing and you can often hear me singing classics from Bet Midler and Celine Dion and modern chart songs from the likes of Emilie Sande.

The best thing about my life is that I have a identify. I have my own home, partner, and friends. My life is about being involved in community: I am no longer invisible.

I am no longer invisible.

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Going back in time to look at the lives of people with learning disabilities from a historical perspective and celebrating people’s positive lives and experiences now

Sandwell OfficeChanging Our LivesThe PublicNew StreetWest BromwichWest MidlandsB70 7PG

Wolverhampton OfficeChanging Our LivesNewhampton Arts CentreDunkley StreetWolverhamptonWest MidlandsWV1 4AN

Telephone: 0121 533 7174Email: [email protected]: http://www.changingourlives.org