Living with a disability can be isolating and limiting, and support services don’t always guarantee a perfect quality of life. However, when independence, individuality and community are prioritised, the impact can be transformative.
As the new year begins, we’re continuing to share stories from our participants, learning how they have made the most of the independence and individualised support that Space for Life provides. And this month, we spent time with Robin Driver.
A home filled with meaning and memories
People with disability have ‘less opportunity to develop and participate in social networks’ and this can create a barrier to developing their identity. However, holding valued roles in the community and discovering enjoyable hobbies—like 87-year-old Robin Driver always has—can offer meaning and purpose, increasing independence and greatly improving quality of life.
And as Robin sits on an embroidered maroon couch in her Karrinyup apartment, pointing out various mementos around the living room, it’s clear that her home reflects the many fulfilling friendships and passions she has had throughout her life.
Robin’s own artwork hangs from the walls, while nearby shelves are lined with precious items—such as her collection of bowling trophies and the dream catcher from her closest friend. Then there are photos spanning the decades; snapshots from a cruise, a beloved and now-retired support worker, and a picture from her mother’s wedding.
The power of social connection
Robin’s days are still brimming with purpose, as she juggles a busy calendar of activities and social catchups. The person she sees the most is Robyn, her best friend of 15 years who moved into the same building just so they could be closer together. Although often joined by another friend or two, the pair have regular morning teas, attend community events and exercise classes together, and share lunch at Robin’s every Saturday.
People seem drawn to Robin, often touched by her thoughtful gestures—like gifting gingerbread to the staff at her craft group or calling a friend every day to remind her about setting a morning alarm. And they are happily surprised by her matter-of-fact humour as well. A point that her support worker, sitting beside her on the couch, prompts her about, “Being funny makes you happy right? It makes you laugh?” And true to form, Robin replies with a grin, “Well, it’s better than crying!”
Activities that are gateways to belonging
Although Robin has several hobbies—including knitting, crafting, and painting—it’s not the activities themselves that create her sense of fulfillment.
Often, the path to improving someone’s quality of life can be reduced to a list of tick-boxes—we ‘get a hobby’ or ‘join a community group’ with the expectation that happiness and independence will somehow be achieved once we do so. Whereas the part that really matters is the social connection that can be found in these spaces.
The truth is, “Optimal independence is about inclusion”—an idea recently explored in an NDIS research paper, and one that you can see mirrored back to you on the walls of Robin’s home. Her life has been chock-full of varied hobbies and pursuits, but with every memory or future plan, the part she focuses on is the people she’s sharing it with.
So, even as her hobbies adapt to fit evolving ability levels, it seems that Robin will always find belonging at the table, sharing morning tea with her best friends.
