A mother’s journey into disability support work
New Zealand Tertiary College: 04/06/2024
A decade ago, Jayne Bryant’s son started having seizures out of the blue. The year that followed changed everything for Bryant and her family, but set her on a path working in disability services.
“Up until then, his development was completely normal. We were unable to control the seizures when they started and he was having between 80 to 100 a week. When we finally managed to get them under better control, we were faced with a very different child who was a sensory seeker, had strong autistic traits, and who only used functional language,” she shares.
“Our son was attending a preschool through this journey, and we worked closely with them to adjust and deal with the new challenges.”
Once her son left the preschool, Bryant was approached by the centre manager to ask if she would work with another child, who was non-verbal with Prader-Willi syndrome.
“She felt like I had adapted well to my son’s new behaviour, and I had empathy towards those with extra needs. That was the start of my journey working with people with disabilities.”
Since then, the former teaching assistant has found a new career as a whānau support worker, helping her clients to explore interests and socialise with their communities.
A New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing – Health Assistance Strand (Level 3) and her own personal experience has “massively influenced” her work and the strategies she puts in place to support her clients.
“I naturally seem to be drawn to people with intellectual disabilities, but I’ve also been working with a lovely lady who is quadriplegic, helping her with personal care. It’s new to me but good experience!”
Now working towards a New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced Care and Support) (Level 4), Bryant shares her time between study and work. The flexibility of NZTC’s online learning, and the combination of self-directed study and discussion forums, also allow her the freedom to offer different support opportunities.
“I’ve recently started a neurodiverse cooking group as I see quite a few teenagers needing to socialise in a safe space, and parents who are trying to find things for their children to do. I also help to manage a Special Olympics football team,” she explains.
“For some of these kids, it’s the first time they have been part of a team. It’s a safe and non-judgmental group and really special to be part of.”
Looking to the future, Bryant is confident that she’s in the right career.
“I might look at a different role in the industry, but disability is definitely the area I want to continue in. Having a child with a disability myself, and meeting families who struggle with support, I want to be able to give our loved ones the care and purpose they deserve.”