Hi diddle de de.............

.................... An actor's life for me!!!!

Well, not quite an actor's life but i did enjoy the filming session yesterday.

THe reason for the filming is that Glasgow City Council are making a DVD about Self Directed Support. It's a new way for people for people with learning dificulties to access and pay for services and adapt them to what they need and want rather than trying to fit the person into a service that may not be suitable for them.

Our road to deciding to go this route was long (ish). Peter left school nearly 3 years ago. We went from 32 nights per year respite plus 4 hours a week support to just 21 nights respite a year. The council said that while they realized that Peter did need support, he was not a high priority and anyway, they did not have the money.

So we then haad a young adult who was taking 4 steps back and a family who were expected to put in a lot more time and work into supporting him. NOW = this we didn't mind, but give there were oter people in the family who needed time - like  - the rest of us!!! So off we went on a journey.

I'm not going to bore you with all the details, but we were allocated a budget, told that a certain amount was for respite and the rest was for support workers and for various things Peter might like to do - art class or whatever.

We started the support last october and so far it has  been going well - our 1st lot of respite in Skye was great and the workers have been great. One or 2 small changes, but hey - we don't get everything right 1st go.

So i was asked if i would like to do some publicity and would i be avaiable to chat with others who were thinking of SDS??

Well - ok, i said, just so long as people realize that i'm not an expert and what we have done with the money won't be what oters may want to do. BUT - i'm gooing at times with coming up with ideas and suggestions.

So that led to yesterday and the filming. Luckily, a media guy came out a couple of weeks ago and went thru the filming - dos, don'ts, just act yourself and so on
So the camera guy and the PR girl from the council arrived, set up, lights, camera, miked me up - hey, i got techy there!!! I was a bit worried that i'd either dry up, or give it the verbal poop!! But it was ok - the PR girl asked me some questions, i told them stuff, the camera guy sugested a few things to help keep on track given that they are trying to "sell" this as a way of doing the support.

THey also filmed the boys together and are going to college on friday to do some filming. So all went well, it was worth the make up to do it and hopefully it'll help others.

Just don't ask me to look at the finished stuff - i'm too critical!!!