A meaningful day does not need to be packed with activities. Sometimes it is learning something new. Sometimes it is spending time with other people. It might be cooking, getting creative, staying active or heading out into the community.
And sometimes, it is simply doing something you enjoy. That is the thinking behind person-centred Day Options.
What Are Day Options?
Day Options provide opportunities for participants to take part in activities and experiences outside their usual daily routine but a good day program should never feel like everyone is expected to follow exactly the same schedule.
Different people enjoy different things. Someone may love sports and outdoor activities. Another person may enjoy cooking, art, music or games. Someone else may be interested in developing practical everyday skills or becoming more comfortable in social situations.
The most meaningful activities are usually the ones that connect with the person’s own interests and choices.
Choice Should Come First
Imagine being told exactly what you were going to do every day without anyone asking what you actually enjoyed, most of us would not like that.
Participants should have a genuine voice in how they spend their time that can mean offering different activity choices, asking what someone wants to try, noticing what they enjoy and being willing to change plans when something is not working.
Person-centred support is not simply creating a timetable and calling it individualised. It is listening and adapting.
Building Skills Through Everyday Experiences
Skill development does not always need to happen in a formal classroom.
Cooking together can involve planning, following steps and making choices.
Shopping can provide opportunities to practise everyday decision-making.
Games can involve communication, concentration and taking turns.
Community activities may help someone become more familiar with places they want to visit independently in the future.
The activity itself can be enjoyable while still creating opportunities to learn and build confidence naturally.
Connection Matters Too
For some participants, Day Options can also create opportunities to spend time with others who share similar interests that does not mean everyone needs to be highly social or constantly involved in group activities. Some people enjoy busy environments. Others prefer smaller groups or more individual support. Both are completely valid.
The aim should be to help people participate in ways that feel comfortable to them rather than expecting everyone to participate in the same way.
Current NDIS Core Supports can include assistance with social and community participation where this relates to a participant’s goals. Capacity Building supports may also help participants build skills and become more involved in activities and their community, depending on what is included in the individual plan.
What Makes a Good Day Program?
The answer will be different for every participant.
The important question is not simply, ‘What activities do you offer?’
A better question is, ‘How will you get to know me?’
A good provider should be interested in what the participant enjoys, what they would like to explore, what makes them comfortable and what they would prefer to avoid.
Activities should have enough structure to feel organised, but enough flexibility to still feel personal.
Day Options at Kaya
At Kaya Disability Supports, we want participants to enjoy their day rather than simply attend a program. Our approach is centred around meaningful activities, everyday experiences and opportunities for participants to explore their interests, connect with others and build confidence at their own pace.
If you are exploring Day Options for yourself or someone you support, talk to Kaya about what a good day looks like from your perspective. That is usually the best place to start.
Official sources consulted
• NDIS: What are Core Supports? (ndis.gov.au)