Many students routinely catch their local bus to college, thinking little of the independence it gives them.  For Debbie Reed, who will soon celebrate her 40th birthday, catching the bus represents another step on her road to independence and to opportunities unknown to her before.

Appropriately, ‘Steps’ is also the name of a new employment service, based at Exmouth’s Doyle Centre for people with a range of disabilities, which Debbie and others attend.

She and her friend Alastair Green aged 26, and six colleagues all have learning disabilities and have all enrolled on an Adult & Community Learning course at the town’s Kenneway Centre, an Adult and Community Learning Centre run by Devon County Council.

The course, entitled Life Choices, is enabling people to learn about their local town of Exmouth and how to use the services available there.   People are learning about the layout of the town, what shops are where, the library and how to use it, the bus and train station, the cafés and restaurants, the bank and how to withdraw money to pay for things.

“The course is helping people with learning disabilities understand more about the facilities and opportunities that exist in their local community,” said Devon County Council’s Operations Manager for East Devon, Alison Swain.

“Only once people know what is available to them, can they make their own choices and integrate with their local community.”

Debbie from outside Exmouth, and Alastair from the town, both live at home with their parents.  They have been attending the Life Choices course every Monday since October 2005, and are both really enjoying it.   

Debbie travels by bus, a prospect that only 6 months ago had worried her because she was inexperienced at using public transport.  At first she was accompanied by a Support Worker on every journey, but gradually she is becoming more confident and able to make the journey on her own.

Debbie said:  “I used to feel worried, but now I feel good about using the bus.”

She and Alastair enjoy learning about Exmouth.  They enjoy the shops, the cafés, the library, the cinema, the supermarket and other public services, and will soon be learning about money and how to use it.

Both say that it is giving them more confidence and independence.

Demand for the Life Choices course at the Kenneway Centre has been so great that another class has been set up to run on a Friday to enable another group of local people to experience the same benefits.

The Doyle Centre is currently changing the way it supports people with disabilities.  It used to be a traditional day centre where people would go and be supported and enjoy different activities that were arranged and provided at the Doyle Centre.  

The service then, and now, supports people with a range of abilities, from low and moderate support needs to high support needs of people with more complex physical and learning disabilities.

In 2002 the Council began a review of its Social Services.  Research concluded that many people with learning disabilities want exactly the same opportunities in life as everyone else, so the Council has been reshaping its services to support people to do more of what they want to do, rather than just attending a day centre.  

For many people that means support and help for them to find employment and access opportunities in their own communities – like use their local leisure centre, attend their local college, use their local cafés and social facilities.

People receiving a service at the Doyle Centre are being supported to begin having control over what they do, and their goals drive the support that they receive.

Those that want to work are being trained and prepared for the work place.  Some people, like Debbie, are already working locally.   And instead of tutors visiting the Doyle Centre, people are helped to enrol and attend local Adult Education courses.

Alastair says that he prefers it this way.  He is enjoying going to the Kenneway Centre and opportunities to get out of the Doyle, rather than people coming to him.

Sam Newman, Head of services for people with learning disabilities at the County Council, said:

“Services are slowly changing and people are telling us that they enjoy the way they are now being supported.   The abilities of Debbie, Alastair and their colleagues are developing, and their confidence is growing as we respect their right to get a life, and be valued visible members of their community."

“We also have exciting plans to improve the facilities for people with higher support needs, with specialist equipment and highly trained staff.”

Devon County Council's Executive Member for Adult's Social Services, Cllr John Rawlinson, said:  

"Courses such as this are helping people learn about their local community, broadening their experience, personal development and enjoyment of life.  That experience also helps people make their own choices about what they want to do, and that is an important contributory factor in being confident, able, and valued members of the community."

Debbie and Alastair are looking forward to their course starting again in the New Year.  Alastair, a keen gardener, is also looking forward to starting a new job.