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| Cameron 2023 - 28yrs old |
I can not believe it has been a year since I have updated the blog but on the other hand I can believe it because 2023 was a long and hard year.
Cameron is now 28yrs old and still learning new skills as he goes. He lives at home with our family, which has grown to 5 adults, our dog Lucy and our two cats, BJ and Dave. Cameron had to farewell his dog Rocco last year which was really sad and we welcomed Dave, from over the fence, to the family. Long story short, our cats love each other and Dave made it very clear that he wanted to live with BJ, so Dave moved in permanently with both families blessings. Dave is very good with Cameron and tolerates being carried around and hugged by him, which reminds me of Cameron with his cat Pav.
Thankfully we still have NDIS support and with that funding we are able to employ 2 support workers for Cameron. This has meant that collectively we are able to support Cameron to work and live a fulling life. No more disability tourist trips and mindless hours to fill. One support worker excels at networking and integrated Cameron into a group of disabled young men who welcomed Cameron into their social group and activities. It is wonderful when support workers support each other for the best outcomes for their clients.
Cameron's business, Cameron Collects, is still going and growing. Cameron has an amazing community that has grown up around him and they are supporting him to live every day with meaning and purpose. He works 4 - 5 days a week collecting drink containers and recycling them through Containers for Change WA. It's a dirty job but Cameron loves going out in the van, carrying bags of containers and meeting his collectors. He gets upset when he thinks it's a work day and we tell him it isn't.
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| Cameron 2023 - Cameron Collects |
Cameron has made lots of friends at the depot where he recycles the drink containers and the staff are amazing with him. Visiting the depot at the end of each work day is a highlight of the day. He has been supported to learn new skills and help wherever possible in the process of unloading and sorting containers for counting. Cameron, being Cameron, loves to social with the other customers and takes any opportunity to socialize with the staff.
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| Cameron 2023 Containers for Cash Mandurah |
The last time I wrote a blog post Cameron had a van for work that we called CC. CC is no more. She kept breaking down and we couldn't afford or justify the repairs anymore. That made the year difficult as we were back to collecting containers with the trusty old station wagon. On top of that we only had one support worker for a while and at random times, no support. Life was tiring and challenging and Cameron and I spent a lot of the year living and working together.
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| Cameron and Jane 2023 Working together |
Life took a positive turn when we were able to reemploy one of Cameron's previous support workers. After some reorganization so Cameron could keep work, home and community access separate from each other we settled into a much healthier balance of life with two support workers again.
We all worked hard, saved hard, and with the help of some amazing people, we bought a new van for Cameron and Cameron Collects. It had been really hard collecting without a van so the day we picked up the van was very exciting and very emotional. Cameron was so excited to drive away in his new van because as you know - Cameron loves cars and this one was his.
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| New Cameron Collects Van 2023 LDV G10+ Purchased: Rockingham Auto Group Vehicle Signage: AAA Windscreens & Tinting |
Since the arrival of the van and the increase of support, life has been so much easier and more enjoyable. Cameron and I are no longer living and working in each other's pockets and the stress of life has decreased significantly with more help. I have been able to pull back from regularly helping Cameron with collections and focus more on the administration side of the business. When I am on the road with Cameron collecting we have a great time but I think he'd prefer to not take Mum to work with him.
So that is a quick snap shot of 2023, it was mostly about Cameron Collects for Cameron. I'm proud of Cameron, he coped with 2023 really well, despite the stresses and changes that surrounded him throughout the year. It was wonderful to watch his confidence grow and his understanding of processes and routines grow. He still needs constant supervision and guidance in all areas of his life, we can't take our eyes off him. There is nothing more heart stopping than to look across as you climb into the work van and realize Cameron is nowhere to be seen. He thinks it's a huge joke to hide from me on the other side of the van or he'll suddenly decide a door needs to be reopened and reclosed or he wants to take a look at the back of the van - Not funny Cam!
We're looking forward to what 2024 is going to bring. So far it's been a hot and busy start to the year because summer is the busiest time of the year for drink container collectors but there are smiles all around - especially because the new van has air conditioning.
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| Cameron December 2023 |
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