Annie in wonderland

   Hey all, this is going to be a controversial post, and it ties into the overview of the podcast this year. There are some dangerous lines that you shouldn’t utter in front of management. In support and care work, I’ve learned from talking with support workers that there is never truly “nothing to do.” So here are some suggestions for support workers in in-home care or SIL homes. I want to address something I’ve heard people say: “I’m not a cleaner,” or “I can’t do that because of an injury.” If that’s the case, it’s worth asking: is it safe for you to continue as a support worker, or should you focus on roles like community access? There are no ifs, buts, or maybes around this—personal care and cleaning are a significant part of the job, even in community access. Many people see support work glorified on social media and only realise later that it involves much more effort, cleaning, and planning than they anticipated. When it feels like there’s “nothing to do,” that’s o...

I Am a Disabled Content Creator: Podcast Insights on Ethics in Support Work As a disabled content creator, I often draw inspiration for my podcast from personal experiences. Today, I want to explore the ethics of support work—a topic deeply tied to the realities of my life. Some of my housing team, who are pushed forward by our provider despite lacking the necessary training, struggle to de-escalate difficult behaviours. Despite a doctor’s note and my advocacy efforts, progress has been slow due to red tape and regulations surrounding harmful practices. These situations often leave low-support-needs clients like myself bearing the brunt of the fallout. Before you wonder why I’m discussing this online, it’s worth considering that many people haven’t spoken with those directly impacted by poorly trained support workers. Often, the issue isn’t what they do—it’s what they don’t do. This lack of action underpins the need to thoroughly examine ethics in support work. By unpacking what ethic...

 I find the power dynamics in SIL (Supported Independent Living) houses challenging. I recognize that I have a lot of privileges, and I understand that there are things one must accept, but I was told these adjustments were short-term. To me, short-term means a couple of weeks to a month. I wonder if people realize the effect this has on me or if I am simply complaining. This past weekend, I requested that people not come into the house, but a newer support worker who was working next door arrived. This worker didn’t know where things were and seemed to not understand that it’s my home. When I push back, it’s because I am reaching my limits. This support worker and another client have behaviors of concern. I can understand someone coming over briefly to ask where things are, but I felt it was an excuse to come over rather than look for things themselves. This is one thing I find particularly frustrating: when I ask for things to be done and the response is to put earphones in becau...