Alex, aged 60, lives alone without close family or a social network, and ongoing health issues mean she is unable to work. In March 2024, as she began her autism diagnostic journey, she found support through My Life My Community.
Before accessing My Life My Community, Alex was extremely isolated — only leaving her flat to do essential shopping. Now, she is gaining confidence and gradually stepping out of her comfort zone, including taking public transport and making use of local amenities she once avoided. Recently, Alex also enrolled on the Understanding My Autism course offered through the service. She has embraced this fully and is thriving with the opportunity to learn more about herself, her life, and how autism shapes her experiences.
Technology was another barrier for Alex. She didn’t have an email address, smartphone, or online banking, which added to her isolation. This became a real obstacle when she tried to buy concert tickets and couldn’t because they required mobile barcodes. Seeing how this limited her independence, the Daisy Chain team supported her by making a referral to our Digital Inclusion service.
The Digital Inclusion team quickly stepped in, supporting Alex to choose a second-hand tablet, install Wi-Fi, and set up her first email account. Her main motivation was being able to buy tickets — and she now has a Ticketmaster account and has already booked more concert tickets for herself.
Since her initial support from digital skills, Alex has utilised her new tablet in so many new ways. She sometimes finds it stressful as she is learning something new, but says that it has ‘changed her life’. Most recently, our team supported her to use Google Maps to plan a route between public transport stops and she has been independently making travel arrangements for trips and booking activities she’s always wanted to do. She said she been pushed out of her comfort zone and says she ‘hardly recognises herself.
With the right encouragement and support, Alex has opened up to new opportunities, both socially and digitally. Her journey is a great example of how My Life My Community and our wider adult services work together to build confidence, independence, and meaningful connections.