Why Red Giraffe Exists?
Why Red Giraffe Exists?
Red Giraffe was named by our daughter. Her favourite colour is red. She is passionate about giraffes. Combine the two together and you get Red Giraffe.
Red Giraffe was named by our daughter. Her favourite colour is red. She is passionate about giraffes. Combine the two together and you get Red Giraffe.
As parents, when our daughter was born, we quickly learnt about the challenges she would face in her life. But like every parent we were determined that one day she would live as independently as was right for her. This meant her learning all the daily livings skills that support independent living, having a purpose to her day and enjoying meaningful relationships. In short, all we want is for her to be safe, secure and live a rewarding and fulfilling life.
In the beginning, like many parents of children with additional needs, we didn’t have an answer. Worse still, we didn’t know where to look. But at those points of transformation, like moving schools, we realised we needed a robust plan for the future. If not, we could see that ‘cliff-edge’ becoming a reality, where her life would simply stand still after the structure of full time education.
This led us to think more deeply about her future. It led to the Expanding Worlds Podcast, the four lines of the Red Giraffe Route Map, the VOCAL method, personalised training and support, where we share our knowledge and experience, to support other families just like ours.
As parents, when our daughter was born, we quickly learnt about the challenges she would face in her life. But like every parent we were determined that one day she would live as independently as was right for her. This meant her learning all the daily livings skills that support independent living, having a purpose to her day and enjoying meaningful relationships. In short, all we want is for her to be safe, secure and live a rewarding and fulfilling life.
In the beginning, like many parents of children with additional needs, we didn’t have an answer. Worse still, we didn’t know where to look. But at those points of transformation, like moving schools, we realised we needed a robust plan for the future. If not, we could see that ‘cliff-edge’ becoming a reality, where her life would simply stand still after the structure of full time education.
This led us to think more deeply about her future. It led to the Expanding Worlds Podcast, the four lines of the Red Giraffe Route Map, the VOCAL method, personalised training and support, where we share our knowledge and experience, to support other families just like ours.
About Us
Debra is a teacher, both in Australia as a University Lecturer and in the UK as a College Tutor. She has used her professional experience and knowledge to support her daughter, not only in school but also at home with skills that allow her daughter to become more independent and live her own life.
In 2017 she started the Expanding Worlds Podcast. She reaches out to parents and professionals to discuss different approaches to support independence around daily living, purpose and relationships. She has always believed that:
1. every young person with additional needs should have the same opportunities as everyone else
2. every young person with additional needs should be able to decide exactly how they live their lives
Her aim now is to share what she knows works. She wants you to be able to utilise the same tools she’s used with her daughter to support your child to develop and build the skills they need to live a more independent life.
Debra is a teacher, both in Australia as a University Lecturer and in the UK as a College Tutor. She has used her professional experience and knowledge to support her daughter, not only in school but also at home with skills that allow her daughter to become more independent and live her own life.
In 2017 she started the Expanding Worlds Podcast. She reaches out to parents and professionals to discuss different approaches to support independence around daily living, purpose and relationships. She has always believed that:
1. every young person with additional needs should have the same opportunities as everyone else
2. every young person with additional needs should be able to decide exactly how they live their lives
Her aim now is to share what she knows works. She wants you to be able to utilise the same tools she’s used with her daughter to support your child to develop and build the skills they need to live a more independent life.
Graham is a parent and author of What’s Possible? Plan A Better Future Your Young Adult With Additional Needs (Coming Out September 2023). Owning his own business gave him time to spend with his children and even today he reads with his youngest daughter every weeknight and she believes he is much improved under her guidance. Through his writing he is aiming to share what has worked for his family in supporting his daughter with additional needs to live her best life.
Graham is a parent and author of What’s Possible? Plan A Better Future Your Young Adult With Additional Needs (Coming Out September 2023). Owning his own business gave him time to spend with his children and even today he reads with his youngest daughter every weeknight and she believes he is much improved under her guidance. Through his writing he is aiming to share what has worked for his family in supporting his daughter with additional needs to live her best life.
