My Life My Choice - David’s Story
David joined My Life My Choice (MLMC) in the summer of 2024. Prior to this, he had experienced complex medical issues that required a long period of recovery. At the age of 26, David was left with reduced mobility and was feeling isolated, lacking in confidence, and rarely leaving his home. As David explained, “The only people I used to see were my family.”
David was introduced to MLMC by a support worker from Oxfordshire County Council’s Learning Disability Team and began attending his local Self Advocacy Group in Didcot. Although he felt nervous initially and found it difficult to speak in front of the group, he described how “it was great to meet new people.” His support worker accompanied him to the first few sessions, after which David felt confident enough to attend independently. Over time, his confidence grew and he began to take an active part in group discussions.
David at the Didcot Group
Over the past year, David has attended every session, demonstrating the value and positive impact the group has had on his life. During this time, he has participated in a wide range of workshops, including Budgeting, Communication, Staying Safe, Travelling Independently, Physical and Emotional Wellbeing, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The group has also benefited from visits by the local Police and the Oxfordshire Employment Service.
A key turning point for David came during a session on travelling safely and independently, where he learned about the MLMC Travel Buddy Scheme from fellow group member and Travel Buddy, Dean. Inspired by the opportunity to gain paid work while supporting others, David applied to become a Travel Buddy himself. Having now successfully completed his training, he is preparing to begin his first paid role, supporting other adults with learning disabilities to learn new journeys and travel independently.
Through his involvement with Didcot group, David has developed a strong understanding of self-advocacy and built significant confidence. One of his most notable achievements has been taking on the co-facilitation role within the Didcot group, where he now helps welcome new members and shares his skills and experiences. This progression led David to stand as a trustee at the MLMC AGM, where he delivered a speech to a large audience. His speech, which focused on his personal journey and his desire to encourage other young adults to advocate for themselves, was so well received that he was successfully elected as a trustee.
In addition to the Didcot Self Advocacy Group, David now regularly attends the Young Adults group and Games Club. Over the past year, he has taken part in a wide range of social events, including Wood Festival, a London museums trip, a wheelie boat trip, and open-air swimming. He has formed close friendships with other members and now travels independently across the county to meet them—something he says he would never have imagined before joining the group.
As David sums it up: