Jasper's story
Read Jasper’s story — an inspiring journey of communication and growth at St Brannocks.
When Jasper arrived at St Brannocks, his limited speech made communication difficult. With tailored support, his speech improved significantly, progressing from simple words to full sentences. Now, he confidently communicates and engages with others, impressing his family and care team. Priory proudly celebrates his achievements.
Jasper's story at St Brannocks
Jasper, a young adult with a diagnosis of global developmental delay, ADHD, epilepsy, and a sleep disorder, faced significant challenges when he first arrived at St Brannocks. His limited speech made communication frustrating, as he could only manage a few words, such as: “tea tea” for dinner and “ding ding” when he wanted to go out on the bus. This communication barrier made it difficult for Jasper to express his needs and engage with others.
St Brannocks offer person-centred care for individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and other complex needs. Upon his arrival, Jasper was welcomed into a safe, supportive, and homely environment where he could make choices about the care he received. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) at St Brannocks provided him with 24-hour support, including 1:1 assistance when needed.
The team at St Brannocks tailored their approach to meet Jasper’s unique needs, focusing on developing his speech. By regularly involving him in conversations and discussing his daily activities, they helped him improve his communication skills. Staff used menu cards to help Jasper choose his meals and discussed who would be cooking, encouraging him to take part in the process.
As Jasper’s speech improved, staff corrected his language when needed and praised his progress. Over time, Jasper developed the ability to speak in sentences and hold conversations with both staff and visitors. He can now clearly express his needs, using sentences like, “I want to go out, who is taking me out?” and “what’s for dinner?” Jasper even asks, “can I help with dinner?” and compliments the staff, saying, “that was a nice dinner.”
Recently, Jasper demonstrated his growing confidence and ability to use language appropriately. After noticing a staff member sitting on his favourite sofa, he commented, “oh no, he did it again,” to everyone’s surprise. Jasper’s parents, care manager, and health professionals have been astonished by the improvements in his speech, praising the team at St Brannocks for their dedication.
Jasper continues to make remarkable progress, and at Priory, we are incredibly proud of the positive outcomes he has achieved.