Naomi Realph is a ten-pin bowler, a hip hop dancer, a budding artist and administration worker, as well as a bit of a shopaholic, so her calendar is full to the brim. The 32-year-old from Phillip in Canberra has Down syndrome and cannot drive, so she is often reliant on others to get her from one place to the next. Fortunately, Naomi has a great support network, which includes her mum Karen and her Mercy Health Home Care Worker, Jane Hasler.
With such a busy schedule, having the extra support is great for Naomi and her family on many levels, Karen explains.
“Naomi leads a very busy, active life,” she says. “If she’s not at work, she’s out ten-pin bowling, at dancing classes, art classes or the gym. She also has appointments that she has to keep. Having help from people like Jane, her Home Care Worker, makes life that much easier for her. It means she’s not as reliant on us and also helps to grow her independence and develop her social networks.”
Naomi with her impressive collection of sports medals.
Naomi lives independently in her own unit, and manages well, but the support she has from Jane helps make life run a little smoother.
“Naomi is pretty independent but she does need some assistance,” Karen says. “She has a carer come in once a week to help out with cooking so that she has a bit more variety in her diet. The carer helps her plan meals, but Naomi writes her own shopping list and then goes shopping with her carer.”
“Jane also takes her to the gym each Friday,” Karen says.
Naomi will often catch buses and taxis independently to get to work or appointments rather than calling on others for help and she might head to the shopping centre by herself to indulge in her favourite pastimes — going to the movies and window shopping.
“She is empowered by that independence,” Karen says.
Having help from people like Jane, her Home Care Worker, makes life that much easier for her.
She is also empowered by participating in the social activities she enjoys with her great friends. Her dancing group is regularly asked to perform at key events. She danced at the recent moon landing anniversary event at Canberra’s Parliament House, and she competes in national competitions in ten-pin bowling.
“I really like ten-pin bowling and have been doing that for seven or eight years,” Naomi says. “And I love doing hip hop and funk dancing with my dancing group called xtremestars.”
Last reviewed December 16, 2019.