CPSN facilitated a panel discussion at the VALID Having a Say conference 2026 about “Life in Transition: Change, Choice, and Confidence”. CPSN Marketing Officer Josh interviewed CPSN client Michelle and her support worker, Cindy.
To set the scene, Michelle spoke a little bit about the catastrophic brain injury that led to her being admitted to a nursing home at the age of 19. After 16 months of being in the nursing home, Michelle had to relearn how walk, talk, and care for herself. Since then, Michelle, along with her Support Worker Cindy have been rebuilding Michelle’s life from scratch, creating learning strategies to aid Michelle's memory to help her succeed with everyday tasks, one step at a time after having to relearn to walk, talk, toilet and eat.
"Doing and Done" procedure
One such strategy Michelle uses is the “Doing and Done” procedure. This involves two baskets, a "doing" and a "done" basket. Once a specific part of a routine is started, it is taken from the doing basket and returned to the done basket after use, e.g., when using shampoo. This is a practical strategy that allows Michelle to remember important routines, despite the absence of a working memory.
Although Michelle is living with a serious brain injury, She is living a full and happy life. She works as a public speaker sharing her story to give others hope and is part owner of a business called Two Sisters Creative Arts Studio.
This business was created in lockdown as a way to keep busy. From a single YouTube tutorial on how to make a bar of soap, the business has evolved to provide classes to students. One thing Michelle strives to do in all her classes is to create a welcoming and encouraging environment for every student, as you never know what is going on in their life.
Alongside the expert support from the CPSN team, Cindy works closely with Michelle to coordinate her support, which includes a dedicated team of nine support workers. She works with Michelle and her family to understand her preferences, break goals into small, achievable steps, and ensure support is delivered consistently and in the way Michelle wants. This supports Michelle’s memory, learning and independence, helping her live with less confusion and frustration.
CPSN exhibited at the Our Choices Expo – we had so much fun meeting everyone and we can’t wait to do it all again at the South East Expo on the 27th and 28th March 2026. We can't wait to meet everyone there!
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