Danielle first used the Life Star and Work Star as a participant at NOW Group. Today, she uses these Stars in her own role supporting people accessing Now Group’s services. In this interview, she reflects on what it felt like to complete her first Star and how her experience now shapes the way she supports others.
You can read more about how NOW Group uses Life Star and the Work Star with autistic and neurodiverse people and people with a learning difficulty here.
First experiences with the Star
Danielle came to the NOW Group as a young autistic woman who had been experiencing anxieties, social isolation and difficult family circumstances. Danielle says she initially felt nervous when she saw the Star and all the different areas it covered. But Karen Sullivan, who was her Employment Officer at the time, put her at ease and she came with strong motivation to start on a pathway to change.
Danielle recalls, “There’s so much information that is being requested and it’s such a big thing, there are parts that are big parts of your life. It’s quite personal and I think that at the time I was just so willing to do anything I could and accept any help that I could get because I just wanted my life to improve so much. When I came to the Now Group, it was a chance for me to really get to where I wanted to be in life.”
Despite feeling overwhelmed at first, Danielle says the first Star was very revealing.
“There were quite a few areas where I suppose I would have thought that I was coping better than I was and it revealed to me where I really did need support in ways that I hadn’t really realised. It also led to Karen being able to support me and get me referred to a place that was able to help me with something I was going through, which was amazing because I really needed that. So, it really did trigger lots of positive change.”
Danielle continues: “Before I came to the NOW Group I had years of being very isolated and afraid of people. But I found it helpful that I trusted Karen so much. She was a friendly face and somebody that I just felt instantly comfortable with so that helped.”
“As much as I did feel the Star was a lot to take in, I was very impressed with the way its laid out with the visuals – so seeing the Journey of Change that lays the path out, the Star kept me motivated when I started to lose that and feel despair, it kept me moving forward as I had it on my fridge. Every time I could see the changes bit by bit it was like a wee bit of ‘okay well you might be afraid but everything’s going to be okay’.”
Finding a path forward
I had hope for the first time in probably ever and I could see the path. Before then there was no clear path and that really did outline what I needed to do and make me feel like I had something to focus on. And that's so important.
Danielle’s main goal when she came to NOW Group was to work towards finding employment one day – a goal that for some time had felt out of reach to her. She also wanted to connect more with people around her and become less isolated. Together with Karen, Danielle began setting goals to work her way towards these outcomes.
“At first there were little steps. I remember Karen got me to take things one thing at a time. Karen knew not to overwhelm me. She knew not to throw everything at me at once and to just take things slowly. I think that really helped even just from like the smallest challenges, just to set myself to see that I can do it, they can build confidence that I can achieve something first before moving into the bigger things.”
Mindset was everything, says Danielle: “I had hope for the first time in probably ever and I could see the path. Before then there was no clear path and that really did outline what I needed to do and make me feel like I had something to focus on. And that’s so important.”
From participant to practitioner
Danielle worked on her goals with Karen and the team at NOW Group. Over time, those small steps began to build into bigger changes. She integrated into group activities and tried activities like baking and cooking. Eventually this led to a placement in the NOW Group café, working at events as bank staff, which progressed into her first paid position. Danielle went on to become one of NOW Group’s ambassadors and currently works there as a Community Support Officer.
Danielle uses the Life Star and Work Star with others at NOW Group and says her own experience of completing them has given her invaluable insight she brings to every Star conversation.
Meeting people where they are
For Danielle the key to successful Star conversations is patience, giving things time and belief that everyone has potential.
“I think it’s important to help people feel comfortable and at ease and that they are in a non-judgmental environment, like they can say what they need to say and letting them know that they are supported and that we’re here for them,” says Danielle.
For some people energy levels can vary: “You can never even really guarantee how much someone’s going to be able to take part in it and really fully answer those questions. I had one person come in and he was absolutely exhausted by the time he even got into the room. And he’s the type of person who always tries his best, but you know that he was just not for it that day.”
While she understands why Stars need to be completed and revisited regularly, she believes the most valuable conversations happen when participants are given enough time and support to engage meaningfully with the process. The Stars being flexible enough to allow for completion in ways that suits each individual – be it once or over a number of sessions supports this.
Rather than seeing this as a barrier, Danielle sees it as part of good practice. Taking time to understand how someone prefers to communicate and process information helps ensure the Star genuinely reflects their experience rather than becoming a tick-box exercise.
I think it’s important to help people feel comfortable and at ease and that they are in a non-judgmental environment, like they can say what they need to say and letting them know that they are supported and that we're here for them.
Creating space for conversation
Danielle recalls one young man she worked with at NOW Group called ‘G’ to protect his anonymity.
“Before G started using the Star he didn’t come to people, he didn’t ask for help and wouldn’t really communicate at all,” says Danielle. G was often insular and only really socialised with one other participant who he felt safe with. However, since using the Star and via Star conversations, G began to express things which Danielle thinks has helped.
“I think it’s healing for him, like to be able to have that space to talk about what he’s going through. I think that he doesn’t have that space maybe so much outside of here. And so using the Star is giving him that perfect chance to sit there and know that he is cared for, he is listened to and he matters.”
Reflecting on her journey
Danielle says she has found a great deal of positivity in her experiences of being supported using the Star at NOW Group and also as a member of staff. “I was so lucky because everybody here is just so amazing. I feel like when you’re here, you’re in a safe place and I don’t feel that outside of my group so much, so I really appreciate it,” says Danielle.
Danielle says she loves her day-to-day work at NOW Group: “It’s everything that I hoped that I would be able to do because I’ve just got that passion for helping other people with learning disabilities and autism. My experiences with the Star were very positive for me and I want it to be that way for the people who I am supporting with it. The standout reflection that I have is just that it’s a mindset and it’s also getting the information to people in the way that suits them.”
“I think that everybody’s so different that it’s very hard to have those things all fall into place. I think determination is a big part of it. You have to be at a point where, for me anyway, I found that I was so sick of how things were. I really, really wanted things to change. And I think that that’s why it worked so well for me, like, you need to see change to be able to believe in it. And that’s what it does. It puts it right in front of you and you can see the journey.”
Click here to learn more about Life Star, and here for Work Star.