dyscover – rediscovering communication

Posted 20th October 2020

Invites for our Annual General Meeting have been sent, along with our Annual Report. Please let us know if you are attending as we need to give you the on-line Zoom joining instructions.

Posted 20th October 2020
SLT, Gayle is running a new Friday group she says “Everyone has now settled in. We have agreed collectively that the ‘awkwardness’ of those initial weeks, where no one knew each other, and we have never met face to face, has now reduced somewhat.

One member in particular – Brian – is now driving having completed his assessment to be on the road formally. This has released a huge amount of independence for him, and the supported golf also run by Dyscover has played a really significant part in this.

Our initial relatives meeting was a great chance to learn more about recovery from stroke, talk about rehab, different types of difficulties and importantly the word ‘hope’.

We are carrying on with topic based sessions, members are choosing each week what they would like to talk about and share stories on the following week.”

Posted 20th October 2020
Kim Wilson from Surrey Hills Rehab is running a 6 week AphasiaFit course for 8 Members, all via Zoom. Kim is an experienced Neuro-physiotherapist and has been working with groups online throughout lockdown. Each Member had an individual assessment with Kim prior to the first session. The Group exercises are adapted for sitting and standing and last an hour. Mick felt it was challenging, in a good way and his wife said “ Mick had to concentrate hard, again very good for him, but it kept him engaged the whole way through, he was really pleased when you encouraged him by name”.

Posted 20th October 2020
This week the Social Communications Group members had great fun sharing and hearing each other’s stories about achievements and events they were proud of. From catching big fish and filming the Sydney Olympics to abseiling and flying in helicopters the tales were astonishing and entertaining. Gary shared with the group a dare-devil experience he’d had – doing a loop-the-loop in a bi-plane which he flew himself (accompanied by an instructor who was lying down in the photo!).
Several members were able to successfully ‘screenshare’ photographs, following some training they’d had in the group a couple of weeks ago.

Posted 20th October 2020
John gave a fascinating Spotlight talk to other members in the Tuesday Afternoon Group this week about his time spent doing National Service in Kenya with the King’s African Rifles regiment. His engaging descriptions of the different tribes, the difficulties of learning Swahili and his experience of climbing Mt Kenya (suffering terrible altitude sickness!) accompanied by a fabulous Powerpoint presentation really impressed the group.

Posted 6th October 2020
Following the success of the summer Pilates classes, Natalie returned to run classes in 6 of our regular groups. She has coached over 45 Members ranging in age from 45 – 83. She carefully adapted each exercises to assist Members with hemiplegia and other physical limitations. She said “It has been lovely teaching the Members and great that everyone has got involved” David really enjoyed the chance to stretch and practice sitting properly, and Brian was looking forward to a rest at the end! Several Members have asked for a course next term.

Posted 6th October 2020
‘The write offs’ with Sandi Toksvig – if you missed it you can still view it on All 4 on demand. A TV programme following several people with dyslexia and literacy challenges including one gentleman with aphasia, which our reading group might find of particular interest.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-write-offs/episode-guide/

We hope it raises more awareness the hidden often invisible disabilities like aphasia and dyslexia.
We loved seeing evidence of how valuable peer support is and wish there were more episodes – the techniques and strategies used to help improvement would perhaps of been of general interest?

Posted 24th September 2020
Accessible Golf has been a popular Dyscover activity for nearly 4 years and we are thrilled to welcome back 8 Members, plus relatives & volunteers, to Leatherhead Golf Club this Autumn.
This is the first opportunity to bring Members face-to-face again after the long months of remote contact. Previous golfers mingled with brand new members whist the relatives benefitted enormously from the valuable support they give each other.
Suzanne said “it is a joy to be back!”

Posted 16th September 2020

As our Autumn term fast approaches we’ve had some good news from our landlords as Leatherhead Court will re-open next week!
We will have a phased return for our staff to the office with all of our services remaining on-line this year. Some staff will continue to work from home so that we can continue to socially distance and limit sharing offices as much as possible, but the team look forward to having some face to face contact with one another and being on hand to answer the phone!

Posted 16th September 2020

So great to start our 14 week Autumn term yesterday with some carefully managed face to face planning sessions for our staff team and groups of volunteers. Plenty of chat and creative planning – watch this space!