Anne Sutherland is Sense Scotland’s ASDAN Co-ordinator. We catch up with her to find out more about how the programme matches Sense Scotland’s vision of every person we work with having the opportunity to live meaningful and independent lives.

What are ASDANs?

ASDAN’s mission is one we can all get on board with – transforming the life chances of the people we support through learning. It helps every person to realise their potential.

The most popular programme at Sense Scotland is ‘Towards Independence’. This helps those with moderate (MLD), severe (SLD) and profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) develop a range of skills which can help them in their personal, social and employment relationships. This ASDAN offers formal recognition for small steps of achievement towards a larger goal. Modules can be used separately and built up to create a record of personal achievement.

What does an ASDAN Co-ordinator do?

I support and guide the individual in their learning. Everyone’s different, and everyone requires a different approach. We ask the learner about their likes and dislikes, interests and future hopes and achievements. Then we decide which modules are best suited to them and how we could evidence their work.

I get them started and check in with them and their staff team to see how they’re getting on. I’ll do this as often as the individual needs me to – some like more support than others.

I keep up-to-date with changes to modules and work closely with Sense Scotland’s ASDAN tutors if they require these. I can also manage our ASDAN network of trainers. Another part of the job is to ensure all learners are registered with ASDAN.

Checking that workbooks are completed and looking through the evidence gathered means I usually learn quite a lot of things I didn’t know before! I check the material is correct and relevant to the questions asked.

We hold an annual awards ceremony and this work is ongoing throughout the year and is a large part of my job. It’s great to see the people we support and their families in the spotlight for their achievements – a fun celebration.

How are staff involved in learner’s work?

Staff and volunteers work alongside learners at their pace. Each candidate makes their own choices about activities and modules they choose to work on. Most of the modules are things they’re interested in. For example, our Groups service were looking at maps and choose to work on Geography for their module. They worked on it together as a group with help from support workers and myself.

What are the most popular modules?

Meal Preparation and Cooking, Developing Communication Skills and Engaging with the World Around Me.

What are the more unusual modules?

We’ve recently covered Relationships, Business Enterprise, Yogacise, Personal Care Routines.

What impact does undertaking ASDANs have on people you support?

ASDAN can help with:

• Supporting transition – preparing learners for transition e.g. leaving secondary school or college
• Work experience – gaining experience of work is a great way for learners to get to know themselves
• Self confidence – helps people we support to become more confident with communicating what they would like to do next.

What do you like best about being a Co-ordinator?

Meeting and interacting with the people we support. I enjoy hearing all of their experiences and listening to their stories about places they have been and people they have met. I love seeing their achievements recognised.