Independent living
How to read the stories

Independent living

Moving home

Just because home is so important to us, moving home can be exciting but it can also be difficult. Moving home means moving out and moving in. Some people move in to share a home with some other people. There are lots of good things in this. You can feel more grown up. You get the first place of your own, sharing with other people. You are more ‘in charge’ of your life. You can gain some new friends and start doing new things with them.

But big changes are never easy. You can miss people in your past life, although you might still be able to visit them from time to time. You might get some new friends but you have to learn how to get on with them around the house and do your share of the housework. When people live together, there is always the chance of getting into an argument. Just like on TV programmes (like Hollyoaks or Eastenders in the UK)!

But this is life for all of us. We all have to learn how to cope with these new experiences.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.