For the purpose of these case studies you are a support worker employed in a residential unit.

(Background info on other particpant) Gareth is 25 years old, and is a friendly man with a zest for life and lots of interests. Gareth has an acquired brain injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident. He lives in a residential unit with three other people. He is a member of the local basketball team and competes on a regular basis. He attends a Day Program and is a member of a social group, all of whom have mild intellectual disabilities, like him.

Sarah lives in the same residence as Gareth and attends the same Day Program and is part of the social group. She is 30 and before moving into the residence, she was living with her elderly Indian parents who provided her care and support. She is very shy and has difficulties with decision making. She communicates verbally but her speech is difficult to understand. She has come to rely on Gareth to decide what they are going to do.

Gareth has told the staff that Sarah is unhappy about the food being served. When Sarah has been asked to participate in menu planning, she has always said that she doesn't care what she eats. The support workers have realised that Sarah does have an opinion but doesn't have the skills needed to assert and express her own opinions.

* Question 4 Why is it important to enable Sarah to express her own opinion about the food she eats?

Question 5 Why would she feel comfortable telling Gareth but not the support workers?

Question 6 a) How can you and the other support workers provide an environment where Sarah can express her opinion? b) How could the use of technology assist Sarah? Question 7 a) How would you and the other support workers identify/assess the assertiveness skills Sarah needs to develop? b) What might you need to add to Sarah's individualised plan to ensure consistency from all support workers? Question 8 How could you and the other support workers teach her assertiveness skills?