0:00:02 > 0:00:04'This is you just arrived home. This is Gareth just arrived home.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07'Isn't it? Mm? Yes.'
0:00:12 > 0:00:15We had been married quite a while, so he was very, very special.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23It was the third day, and a nurse in the hospital
0:00:23 > 0:00:26became suspicious that there might be some little problem.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32In my head, Gareth was going to be the first Down's Syndrome Prime Minister.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34He was going to be the best thing ever.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42He had a wee bit of speech,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46but then that disappeared with the onset of autism.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55- There's help till he's 18 or 19, then...- It disappears.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57He's basically dumped on the scrapheap.
0:01:00 > 0:01:08There are thousands of young people like Gareth, thousands of parents, facing this same problem.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13The day he leaves special school, his education ends.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17And how are we going to explain to Gareth,
0:01:17 > 0:01:22who has such limited understanding - "Sorry, Gareth, that's it"?
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Hmm. Hmm.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Gareth Knox from Magherafelt was born with Down's Syndrome,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45but as a child he developed autism and lost his ability to speak.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47He has severe learning disabilities.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49This is Gareth.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54And Gareth will soon be 18. Won't you, Gareth?
0:01:54 > 0:02:01Gareth is, to all intents and purposes, an adult in frame, almost, but a child mentally.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03He's two, three, four maximum.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09Life is about to change dramatically for Gareth and his parents.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Over the next three months, Gareth will turn 18.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15He'll transfer from child to Adult Services.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Arrangements for his respite care will change
0:02:18 > 0:02:21and he'll also start to prepare to leave school at 19.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25It's a huge step into the unknown.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28His likes and dislikes are still very childish.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32He can't do anything really for himself, personal care-wise.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38- He can't wash himself, can't dress himself.- Hmm!- He depends 100% on us.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39And then this side.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43Gareth's family is typical of countless families across Northern Ireland.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Their story highlights the lack of educational opportunities
0:02:47 > 0:02:50for those with profound learning disabilities,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53and the uncertainty they face when leaving school at 19.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Gareth is expected to leave in 2014.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Learning for him, is learning how to use a knife and fork properly.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05It's learning how to put the light switch on when he goes into another room.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10So school life for Gareth has been so wonderful.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12It's been pushing the steps for him so much.
0:03:12 > 0:03:18So why let it end with a complete cease of educational input?
0:03:18 > 0:03:21I just feel there should be something.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25They're slow learners, so why don't we give them longer?
0:03:25 > 0:03:27That arm. Right, Oh, well done.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30That's good.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Gareth currently spends up to three nights each month
0:03:33 > 0:03:36at his children's respite unit,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39but when he turns 18 in seven weeks' time,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41those arrangements will change.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45His parents don't know when his new respite will start.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50I had hoped by now to have had input from Adult Services
0:03:50 > 0:03:51and I haven't got it.
0:03:51 > 0:03:56So to all intents and purposes Gareth's overnights, and our chance to have a break, will end.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01And it could be next year. We've no idea when we get another overnight.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10As I see it, he has no-one, nothing else but that the bus comes in the
0:04:10 > 0:04:13morning from when he was three years old till when he's 19 years old.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17He doesn't know why this is all suddenly changed.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19He'll not get what's happened.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21One day his life will just turn around completely.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Hmm.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32OK, Gareth. Good man.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49We're the oldest class in the school. We are the school-leavers' class.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51So everyone in this class is going to be leaving
0:04:51 > 0:04:54within two or three years, isn't that right?
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Gareth goes to Kilronan Special School.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02He's been at this school since he was three years old.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07In this class we have a wide range of abilities and disabilities.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10And we have some pupils who would have profound
0:05:10 > 0:05:12and multiple disabilities.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17The school caters for the needs of each pupil with a high level of care
0:05:17 > 0:05:21and a tailored programme for their educational needs.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Gareth's classmates use various ways to communicate with one another.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29His PECS - Picture Exchange Communication System -
0:05:29 > 0:05:33is his means of communication.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37He chooses a picture from his PECS book to tell us
0:05:37 > 0:05:39what it is that he is going to do.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43He takes the picture - say, a picture of his dinner -
0:05:43 > 0:05:46hands that over to the cook, and he exchanges the picture for his dinner.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51In addition to encouraging communication,
0:05:51 > 0:05:58the pupils are taught a wide range of basic skills in a specially adapted classroom.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03- Gareth, no, you're not getting into bed! No.- Hmm!- No.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05You're not getting in.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08I could get a wallop here.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12The purpose of this room is to develop life skills for the pupils.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Another of Gareth's targets will be to fix his own bed
0:06:15 > 0:06:17when he gets up in the morning.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Even if its a matter of pulling up the quilt.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22So there's a lot of learning.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25And a lot of the skills I'm trying to develop at this
0:06:25 > 0:06:27age are skills for future life.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Things that they can use at home.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Things that they can and should be able to do for themselves.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34And will Gareth ever be able to make his own bed?
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I don't know. But I am going to give it a good try.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42Out of the ten pupils in Gareth's class, three of them are now 19
0:06:42 > 0:06:46and will be leaving in two weeks' time. Aarti is one of them.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50- Do you want to leave school?- No.- Why?
0:06:50 > 0:06:54- Because I will miss all my friends, teachers and staff.- Aw...!
0:06:54 > 0:07:00- And especially the staff. - And especially me.- And staff.
0:07:00 > 0:07:06- Especially me.- And staff. - Especially me.- Yes, you too. - LAUGHTER
0:07:06 > 0:07:11- Are you ready? One... two...- Three! - Good girl!
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Oh! Where'd it go, Adam?
0:07:13 > 0:07:18- You must become very attached. - Every year it's heart-breaking.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Every year, when we have the school-leavers' party,
0:07:20 > 0:07:23and the mummies come in,
0:07:23 > 0:07:27they're in tears and we're fightin' hard to hold them back
0:07:27 > 0:07:31for the pupils that are leavin' and moving on. Because it's SO traumatic.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35Because they've been here since they're four years old.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38But many would say that everyone has to move on.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43Yes, everybody has to move on, but I just feel that there's still
0:07:43 > 0:07:48so much possibility for education for these young people.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51I mean, we don't stop learning when we leave school,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54we all have the opportunity to go on to further education,
0:07:54 > 0:07:59if we so wish, why are my pupils here in this class any different?
0:08:00 > 0:08:02For Gareth, there is no opportunity to go to FE.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Where are the options for these people?
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Where are the courses that are being provided for them?
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Why is nobody following this up?
0:08:16 > 0:08:18Oh, big kiss for Mummy!
0:08:18 > 0:08:22There are parents across Northern Ireland in this situation,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25who are fighting their little corner.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27And yet everybody needs to get together
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and somebody somewhere needs to take the responsibility
0:08:30 > 0:08:34for providing what is needed for this group of the community.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43For young adults with severe disabilities,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45the options are severely limited.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49But for those with more ability there are more choices.
0:08:50 > 0:08:56I'm David Skelly. And I'm 32.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00The first baby in our family was me.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Because I was their first child.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10'David volunteers every Wednesday with Stepping Stones.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13'The charity gives adults with learning disabilities
0:09:13 > 0:09:17'the opportunity to take part in accredited training,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19'and gain skills for employment.'
0:09:19 > 0:09:24- Were you scared about leaving school?- No.- Why not?
0:09:24 > 0:09:31I liked to see all the people.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34- And when you left school, you've worked every since?- Yeah.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38- Is it important for you that you have a job?- Yeah.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42He's a really hard-working member of our team.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44And he's great to have about.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48And he's fabulous on a Wednesday for keeping the place sparkly clean.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51David's very keen on having each work area perfectly tidy
0:09:51 > 0:09:53before he starts the task,
0:09:53 > 0:09:57and would brush the floor three, four times a day if I'd let him.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59He constantly keeping everything tidy.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01David left school when he was 19.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Each week he works in paid and voluntary employment.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09David and his colleague Andrew have been friends since school.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15- I'm told you have a very, very special friend in your life.- Yes.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17- Yes, it is.- Who is that?
0:10:17 > 0:10:18It's David.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22- And...? - I have a girlfriend.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Got it in one.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29What does it mean to you to have a job?
0:10:29 > 0:10:33See all people and see what they're doing.
0:10:33 > 0:10:41And the important bit is to, erm... to get paid, as well.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Do you remember the first time you got a job and you got paid?
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- Uh-huh.- How did that make you feel? - Proud.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Welcome to our leavers' party. Thank you very much for coming.
0:11:04 > 0:11:12We have three people leaving school this years - Ryan, Phoebe and Aarti.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19Today was one of the biggest days in Kilronan's school calendar -
0:11:19 > 0:11:20the school-leavers' party.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Gareth's classmate, Ryan, is one of three people leaving.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Like Gareth, he has severe learning disabilities and can't speak.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34He'll be going to the adult centre in Magherafelt.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Ryan is leaving after 15 years at Kilronan.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43And how do you feel about today and Ryan taking that next step?
0:11:43 > 0:11:46I'm devastated.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57It's leaving the school that is the hardest part because it's a wee family.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00And they know them so well. Erm...
0:12:01 > 0:12:03With regards to where he's going,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06he started the transition way back, just before he turned 18.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11And for the past three months he's been attending the adult centre
0:12:11 > 0:12:16for a few hours on a Friday and he loves it.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21I don't know if he'll get as much of the same attention,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23of one-to-one when he does go to the other centre.
0:12:23 > 0:12:28And even if he does, we don't know how often he's gettin', as yet.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Or how many hours he's getting. That hasn't been finalised.
0:12:31 > 0:12:36Gareth's classmate, Aarti, hopes to work in a cafe.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Like, her, Phoebe has more choice.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Phoebe has been offered a mix of further education,
0:12:42 > 0:12:47training for supported employment, and a chance to make new friends at a drop-in centre.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53- You're leaving school tomorrow? - Yeah.- How do you feel about that?
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Uh, a bit upset. A bit...
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Getting used to it really.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01And I don't want to make my family upset, because
0:13:01 > 0:13:04they know I can do better now.
0:13:05 > 0:13:10- And what are you going to miss about school?- School... Oh, sorry.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11BREATHES DEEPLY, EXHALES SLOWLY
0:13:11 > 0:13:14School, erm...
0:13:14 > 0:13:15(Sorry...)
0:13:19 > 0:13:24Just makes me sad, really. To be honest.
0:13:25 > 0:13:29I... I've done this so many years.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36A bit, really shocked, really.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40It's just... hard sometimes.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55It is now only five weeks until Gareth is 18,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57when he will switch overnight to Adult Services.
0:13:57 > 0:14:03Claire and Nigel have still heard nothing about his new respite arrangements.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07As we stand, I have not met anyone from Adult Services team,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10who will be our social worker, or Gareth's social worker.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14We've got five weeks,
0:14:14 > 0:14:19and the thing that's most important in our life is Gareth's respite.
0:14:19 > 0:14:26The line in the letter I brought to highlight the poignancy of it...
0:14:26 > 0:14:28that it's actually happening,
0:14:28 > 0:14:34is that there will be no further reviews held under Children's Services,
0:14:34 > 0:14:37and any further meetings will be convened by Adult Services.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40When?
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Supposing there is a break of even a month, six weeks,
0:14:45 > 0:14:46that could be crucial.
0:14:46 > 0:14:52We can't communicate to him what has happened.
0:14:52 > 0:14:59He certainly, although he can't communicate verbally to us,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03his frustrations are still there.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07And he will be wondering in his wee mind, in his way, what has gone wrong.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10But how that will end up being communicated,
0:15:10 > 0:15:17- is that Gareth will develop more... - Aggression.- ..aggression.
0:15:17 > 0:15:24- Mm-hm.- And his behaviour patterns will...- Escalate.- Escalate. Again!
0:15:24 > 0:15:28We may be forced for more and more medication.
0:15:29 > 0:15:37I cannot understand why there has to be such a long gap.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41I mean, Gareth has been becoming 18 for the past 18 years.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Our overnights, we love,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47because we can usually just sit and put our feet up.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50To be honest, we don't have a high-flying social life.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52We get a film out, we watch,
0:15:52 > 0:15:56sometimes we might make a telephone call to friends or family.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00We've have needed that for the last number of years.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- Sometimes we just need to sleep. - Sometimes we do just need to sleep.
0:16:03 > 0:16:09We're going to reach probably a breaking point.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11We're moving further forward in our fifties.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16If we were deemed to need this help for the last 18 years,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19where is the mindset that as we get older and less able,
0:16:19 > 0:16:24Gareth gets stronger and perhaps more stubborn in his traits,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26that we aren't seen to need this help?!
0:16:26 > 0:16:28It doesn't make sense.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Gareth has just spent his last night at Children's Respite.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Good morning. Good afternoon.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- How are you? - Last time I'll be doing this.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48In less than a week, he turns 18 and moves into the adult system.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51Look! Is there somebody else here as well? Hmm?
0:16:51 > 0:16:53He couldn't wait to get up to see you, Mummy.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56- He's been very good. - It's me again.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58And that's David.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01It is. That's your friend.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03MUSIC PLAYS
0:17:11 > 0:17:15We have met with our new social worker in July.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19And...I have to say, it's been very comforting and very heartening for us.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22We feel she's very much got an idea of what wee need.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26She can't wave a magic wand to make it all happen instantly,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30but I do have confidence that she's got our interests at heart.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34While the family have now heard from Adult Services,
0:17:34 > 0:17:36there is no definitive plan in place.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38It is the middle of the school holidays
0:17:38 > 0:17:42and they still don't know when Gareth's adult respite will begin.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45He really has nothing for the next five weeks,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48which means that it's Nigel or myself
0:17:48 > 0:17:53constantly providing something to try and excite him
0:17:53 > 0:17:57and keep him motivated every single day and every single evening.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Turning 18 is a huge milestone in anyone's life,
0:18:13 > 0:18:17but Gareth will never know what it means to be an adult.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19# Happy birthday to you
0:18:19 > 0:18:23His family is holding a birthday party for him at his aunt's home.
0:18:23 > 0:18:27# Happy birthday, dear Gareth
0:18:27 > 0:18:31# Happy birthday to you
0:18:31 > 0:18:38- Wow!- It's hard to grasp that Gareth now is 18, because in so many ways he's still a child.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41So it's a strange feeling.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46In some ways it's hard to come to terms with all those different wee things,
0:18:46 > 0:18:48but that's just how it is.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Gareth's cousin Laura was born a day before him.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55For Laura, like most 18-year-olds, she has many options ahead of her.
0:18:55 > 0:19:00It's a bit different for Gareth. I'm excited, I'm 18 now, am adult.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04For Gareth it's nearly something that trips him up,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07in that he's 18 now and things are going to change for him,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09his routine's going to completely change.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11And it's going to be hard.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13TV PLAYS
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Gareth doesn't understand that it's his birthday.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19Today's party has disrupted his normal routine.
0:19:19 > 0:19:25It's as if he has to go off and process. We've always called it "processing time".
0:19:25 > 0:19:29He can take it for a wee while and then all of a sudden it's like someone switches a light on
0:19:29 > 0:19:34and he needs to go and figure out the world around him.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36HE GROANS
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Errr!!!
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Is that what's missing?
0:19:40 > 0:19:48Even something as simple as this, he can only cope... for a very short time.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53Just a few minutes is very often all that Gareth can take
0:19:53 > 0:19:56of any sort of social gathering.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00And again it has to be kept very small as you can see.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05And... there's certainly none of the things an 18-year-old
0:20:05 > 0:20:09would be going out and doing on their 18th birthday.
0:20:09 > 0:20:15There are none of those that Gareth could even contemplate doing.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Phoebe left Kilronan School two months ago,
0:20:25 > 0:20:29this is her first day at Alternative Angles in Ballymena,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31where she will go two days a week.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33- Hi.- Good morning.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37- Hello, Phoebe. How are you? - Welcome to famous star Phoebe.
0:20:37 > 0:20:38ALL LAUGH
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- How are you, sir? - Not too bad.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43ALL LAUGH
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- Looking forward to getting to work? - Yes.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51Well, Phoebe, I think... She's ready to move on,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54but because it's really a next step up from school,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57it's very similar to school
0:20:57 > 0:21:02in the way there's two or three supervisors.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05And I think because of that, I have peace about it.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09If she was going into work in a shop or somewhere...
0:21:09 > 0:21:13it would be a different story completely.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Alternative Angles is a scheme which teaches new skills
0:21:16 > 0:21:22and enables adults with learning disabilities to prepare for work in supported employment.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Phoebe is already making new friends on her first day.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28She's a beautiful person, she is.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31And I love everything about her.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33What tips would you give Phoebe?
0:21:33 > 0:21:35I'd just give her a bit of help.
0:21:35 > 0:21:42I'm a helpful person, I help people a lot.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44So that's what I do.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49- So if you pour yours and then you can match it to that one.- OK.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52- So you should be able to pour one, two, three.- Three.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Do you prefer doing this or did you prefer going to school?
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- I prefer doing this. - And why is that?
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Now... I can make my family happy.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05What are you enjoying most?
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Making candles and waxing and...
0:22:08 > 0:22:12A lot of people are good to me, so...
0:22:18 > 0:22:20When Gareth leaves school at 19,
0:22:20 > 0:22:25Claire and Nigel are certain his only option will be a place at an adult centre.
0:22:25 > 0:22:31Today, they are taking Gareth to have a look around their local unit to see what he can expect.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36This is an opportunity for you to view the centre today and see what you think about it.
0:22:36 > 0:22:41And for Fiona to get to know you and for Gareth and yourselves to get familiar with the environment.
0:22:41 > 0:22:46This is Ann and Charlie. And Ann and Janice.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49They're doing artwork today. Do you like art?
0:22:49 > 0:22:53If that decision's made that Gareth will come to the adult centres
0:22:53 > 0:22:55then we would start the process of the transition.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57And that would be, for example,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59start from here and maybe going down to the school
0:22:59 > 0:23:04to visit the teachers in Gareth's class and see what activities he enjoys there.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08Have you got a book?
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Wait till we see.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Look at it! All the pages have gone.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17My goodness! There's no pages in there.
0:23:17 > 0:23:23I was just wondering from the point or view of education for Gareth,
0:23:23 > 0:23:30does that, because he's not going to be able to avail of going out to college or to courses,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32does that end for him?
0:23:32 > 0:23:36I suppose in reality it would, because we are very much a building space,
0:23:36 > 0:23:41so education certainly would be seen more through the day opportunities programme
0:23:41 > 0:23:44and people would be availing of that.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46And, John, what's that one? Home?
0:23:46 > 0:23:49The symbol for that there.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51That's it. A book.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54We have other activities here that people can enjoy.
0:23:54 > 0:24:00Sometimes with people with autism, we can find that maybe they have an energy that needs to be released.
0:24:00 > 0:24:06Maybe just throwing a ball or going outside to the garden area
0:24:06 > 0:24:11and doing exercises that are getting rid of that pent-up energy.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16So that's what we would be looking at within the adult centre for Gareth.
0:24:16 > 0:24:17Stressed out, are you?
0:24:17 > 0:24:22Some of that pent up energy is building up at the moment!
0:24:22 > 0:24:25And we do try to get of it before home time.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Do you want to go out?
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- Do you want to go for a walk? - Shall we go for a wee walk?
0:24:31 > 0:24:34- Will we go for a walk? Will we?- Even out to the wee garden.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36LAUGHS
0:24:36 > 0:24:39He's going at me.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Now, you're all right.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44You're OK. That's you.
0:24:44 > 0:24:51If you couldn't speak or couldn't cry or couldn't vent your anger or frustration,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55how else can you do it but get physical?
0:24:55 > 0:25:00Well, through our training here we would be trained in what's called respect training,
0:25:00 > 0:25:05which is looking at ways of preventing challenging behaviour from escalating
0:25:05 > 0:25:07and also ways of coping if it does.
0:25:07 > 0:25:13We hopefully turn around the triggers and it really does work well.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Claire is hopeful that the adult centre staff
0:25:18 > 0:25:23will be able equipped to deal with Gareth's challenging behaviour,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25but she still has concerns.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31I felt the staff were very tuned in.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36I did feel that perhaps my fears about the education stopping were justified.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40I mean, nobody was pretending that education continues. I mean, it doesn't.
0:25:40 > 0:25:46That's not their fault in any shape, from or fashion,
0:25:46 > 0:25:53but I think it's policy and legislation at government level that dictates that for Gareth.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Are you playing with me? Follow me down this way.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57Follow Fiona.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07If Gareth was slightly more able, he would have more opportunity.
0:26:07 > 0:26:14So we're giving the most vulnerable people the lesser chances.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21Because he's so badly affected, his choices are poor.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23And that's really it in a nutshell.
0:26:25 > 0:26:32It's... I mean, his opportunities are not what you would have dreamed for an 18-year-old.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Erm... and with the best will in the world,
0:26:35 > 0:26:40somewhere like this will care for him and hopefully love him,
0:26:40 > 0:26:47but it's... it's not what anyone wants for their young adult.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49I'm not ashamed to say it's not easy.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54You know, I love him, we love him dearly, but it's not easy.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55It really isn't.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01- Come on. - One. Two. Three!
0:27:01 > 0:27:04It's the start of a new school year for Gareth
0:27:04 > 0:27:09and for now at least this part of has daily routine stays the same.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13The immediate concern is his respite care.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18Gareth's last day under Children's Services happened two months ago,
0:27:18 > 0:27:24Claire and Nigel still don't know what the new arrangements will be or when they will begin.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25He's the joy of our lives.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30I mean, we wouldn't be without him, even though there's times you could tear your hair out.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33I mean, Gareth is just Gareth is just Gareth.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36And that's it, really. Isn't it?
0:27:36 > 0:27:38Well, I DID tear my hair out!
0:27:38 > 0:27:40- Yeah. - LAUGHS
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Had someone told me when he was a wee bundle in my arms
0:28:02 > 0:28:06that at 18 he wouldn't speak, he would mentally be about two or three,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09I don't think I could have coped back then.
0:28:09 > 0:28:14We have got to continue fighting Gareth's battles for him,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17because, well, he can't.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22I'd love him to have more choice leaving school
0:28:22 > 0:28:26to continue developing in whatever way Gareth can develop,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29but I'd like that door to still be open.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33That's... That would be my dream.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd