Derek - Hutt Valley

My name is Derek and I am 43 years old.  I am deaf and have Aspergers.  My support worker Pamela has supported me since December 2009 to date. I am friendly and Pamela tells me I always have a twinkle in my eye. I am able to express myself using minimal sign language as well as writing small notes to communicate.  I am capable of planning my own support on a day to day basis, and do so by writing small notes which I pass on to Pamela.  I enjoy visiting the library and drawing.  I also like reading information books about New Zealand.

Every Saturday Pamela and I catch the bus to Upper Hutt Library and we spend a couple of hours reading the local news paper, information books, and using the internet.  When I have finished reading, I enjoy volunteering at the library; my job is to place letters in envelopes. The staff in the Library have been very helpful and they have the envelopes ready for me every Saturday.  I feel comfortable to approach Library staff for assistance, for example if I can’t find information in the books, I will ask the Library staff to look for it on the internet.I look forward to going to the library and would like to learn to take on new tasks.