Chris's goal of staying at home

Chris's goal of staying at home

For over 14 years Chris Wilson has been a fulltime employee of Horizon’s Marketforce Mail and Finishing Services at Neumann Road, Capalaba.

Up until 2005, Chris lived at home with his mother. When she passed away, Chris experienced the grief of losing a parent, carer and companion.

Horizon Foundation was able to support Chris through this time. More than anything Chris wanted to stay living in the house he had shared with his mother for many years.

Support workers from Clear Horizons soon found out how much Chris wanted to achieve this goal. He quickly picked up many new skills for the first time. Within a short time he was self-sufficient at preparing his own meals, organising his grocery shopping, cleaning and doing laundry.

At the Horizon Foundation’s Awards Presentation Dinner in November 2006, Chris Wilson won the prestigious Ruth Neil Memorial ‘Triple C’ Award (named after the founder of Horizon Foundation).

“The Award for Chris was well deserved,” Horizon Foundation Director Joe Gamblin said. “It was in recognition of his positive attitude, and all that he’s achieved.”

The support for Chris has now been transitioned to an accommodation support service after the Horizon Foundation successfully helped Chris to gain Adult Lifestyle Support funding (from Disability Services Queensland).

He is visited in his home by a support worker for a few hours a week to give him any further assistance he needs. Chris is now considering having someone move in with him to share his house.

Joe Gamblin said that everyone who worked with him believed in Chris’s abilities.

“Chris is a very capable person. His goal was to keep on living a regular life and he’s done it,” Joe said.