Independent living and decision making makes huge difference to Navan man

A Navan man who turned his life around when he chose to make his own decisions is now 'a champion' for The Decision Support Service (DSS), a new service launched by the Mental Health Commission.

Paul Alford lived in institutions for the first 40 years of his life, where he was frustrated at the lack of freedom to make choices about his life or even simple things like what he wanted to eat.

Now celebrating his 60th birthday, Paul lives independently, has worked for inclusion Ireland for the past 20 years, travelled to Australia and China and even published a book on his life story.

Paul spoke up for himself many years ago, but is delighted to now make people aware of the new decision making service which would have been a godsend to him in his younger days.

"The DSS is a great service, it is confidential and will help people make their own decision and speak up for themselves," he said.

Paul is very happy with his life today which is a far cry from the time he spent in institutions, feeling like he was going nowhere.

It all changed for Paul when he decided that he had had enough and spoke up about his preferences. He wanted to work, to travel, to have his own place and to live his own life.

When Paul was a child he went to special residential schools and continued to live in institutions over he first 40 years of his life.

"I fought all my life to get out institutions and I never got a proper education. When I started work for inclusion Ireland I couldn't pick up a pen.."

He lived in dormitories, in group housing and at times had his own room in institutions, but was always frustrated at the lack of freedom.

"I wasn't happy. I had no choice where I lived or who I lived with. I couldn't make my own decisions about what to eat, what time to get up, work or how to spend my money."

He became involved with Inclusion Ireland, which made a great difference to his life and he began to speak up for himself.

Eventually a job came up in Inclusion Ireland which he was encouraged to apply for and he was successful in securing the position.

"I got training on how to travel independently to work on the Luas and buses. I made a lot of mistakes at the job, because I couldn't pick up a pen. I told them about my difficulties and they arranged courses for me in Mountjoy Square. I learned to write, use computers and got certificates."

Paul has been working for Inclusion Ireland for the past 18 years and although he was still in institutions after he took up the job, he had his freedom, travelling in and out to work in the city.

"I read books about Australia and I said I'd like to go. I booked a three week coach trip and the flights there on my own. We visited Ayres rock, Sydney and Adelaide."

One of his first experiences of exercising his autonomy was he read about a trip to Beijing. "I just took out my credit card and booked it. I said nothing to the staff in the institution and they told me I shouldn't have booked a holiday without consulting them, but there was nothing they could do."

Paul finally managed to get away from institutioa living in 2015 when he moved to his own home in Navan and he loves his current life.

"I go to bingo on Tuesdays, I go tto Irish music nights, the Arch Club and Special Olympics. I do the Park Run and go to Mens Shed."

For work, he now travels to the office some days and also works from home. He is off to Sweden this week to celebrate his birthday with his brother.

Paul has written his life story with the help of his friend, Stephen. "My first 52 years, one man's struggle for independent living" has been published and Paul hopes to publish the second chapter of his life story in the future.

The Decision Support Service (DSS), established under the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, is an essential new service for all adults who may have difficulties with decision-making capacity. This could include adults with an intellectual disability, a mental illness, an acquired brain injury, or those with neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia.

Anyone who requires support to make certain decisions on their own, can make a decision-making assistance agreement. This agreement lets you appoint someone you know and trust as a decision making assistant.

Those unable to make certain decisions on your own, can appoint a person you trust as your co-decision-maker. This lets them write down decisions they need help with and give someone the legal authority to make those decisions jointly. For those unable to make certain decisions even with someone else’s support, the court may appoint a decision-making representative.

Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service said: “Paul is a excellent example of someone who has lived a life, overcoming adversity to assert his right to make decisions independently. Any person should be support as far as possible to make decisions. The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, provides formal supports for people as and when they need them.”