Jono takes the next step

 

Watching our son at his 29th Birthday, surrounded by his family and friends, at his very own apartment was such a proud day for us.

It was one of those moments of pure joy for us as parents, something that many may take for granted. We take such delight in these milestones, achievements that may be small to others are marvelous to us; they are triumphs for our son Jonathon.

Many of the milestones we have seen Jonathon achieve along the way would simply not have been possible without the support of Minda Incorporated and Minda Housing.

There are so many barriers people living with disabilities and their families have to overcome, and even when there is access to work, there can still be limitations to transport, employment, education, support and accommodation.

For many years we fought for accommodation opportunities for Jonathon because we knew how important it was for him to make the transition from the family home into a home of his own.

Just like his brother and sister, when they moved out and found their own homes, it would give him the chance to achieve independence. For us it is no different, just Jonathon has done it at his own pace and Minda Housing has been there to support him.

It was also such a relief to see Jonathon secure accommodation, because it can be so hard and has taken us a long time; as time marches on and we get older, it gives us peace of mind to know he’s settled and happy and we just hope other families get the same opportunities we have.

There were really mixed emotions about Jono moving and in our heart of hearts, we didn’t want him to leave the family home, but that’s just not fair for him. He won’t have the chance to grow up and out and have new opportunities, unless we let go. We’re apprehensive of course but really proud of him and I know how proud he is of his apartment.

Just like anyone else, Jonathon has the right to grow and develop and although as a parent you always want to protect your child, you also need to let them live. They need to be given the chance to achieve, to be independent and to succeed and Minda Housing helps Jono do this.

Jonathon’s new apartment, which is based at Minda’s Brighton site, also gives him the chance to wander around freely in his community; it’s easy to underestimate how much people like Jono value the idea of community. Although he has us, he has a family at Minda and Minda Housing too and being able to walk over to the café there, Isabel’s, and visit his friends, means he doesn’t feel isolated, which is fantastic.

We love it at Minda Housing too – we have both been volunteering there for around 10 years now. The guys at Minda Housing like you for who you are; they are accepting of all individuals and families, no matter their situation.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story.

Helen and Max Packer