One seizure, and suddenly everything she knew – her ability to speak, to connect, to be understood – was stripped away. Candace found herself in a challenging and isolating chapter of her life. For years, she lived in a large, institutional setting where choices were few and the care she received, although compassionate, didn’t help her express who she was. Her world felt small. Candace’s potential, though vast, remained locked away. 

A fresh start with SeeAbility 

When Candace moved into her new home supported by SeeAbility, everything began to change. For the first time in years, people truly saw her. They saw beyond the silence, beyond the limitations others had placed on her. Her support team didn’t just see someone in need of care - they saw a person with a story, a personality and a voice waiting to be heard. They saw a person with thoughts, feelings and the right to make her own choices. 

Rebecca, the deputy manager, had belief in Candace’s potential from the very start. She didn’t focus on what Candace had lost, she focused on what was still there. 

The journey to being heard  

It started with the small things - gestures, expressions and pointing. Every choice Candace made, no matter how simple, was acknowledged and encouraged. When she smiled at something she liked, they noticed. When she frowned, they asked why. And when she reached for something, they waited instead of assuming what she wanted. 

Slowly, Candace began to respond in new ways. A nod here, a shake of the head there. Then came the sounds - soft at first, but growing with confidence. Each response was met with encouragement, reinforcing the idea that her voice mattered, however it came through. Gradually, Candace was beginning to speak again. The voice that had disappeared for so long was, through encouraging support, making a reappearance. 

“She has a voice now - we just have to listen” - Rebecca 

Her father noticed the change in his daughter immediately. 

“Candace is laughing all the time now. She’s starting to speak again. She smiles, points, and asks for what she wants. It’s wonderful to see.” 

For him, it’s been an emotional journey to see Candace regain her voice. For years, he had feared she might never be able to express herself vocally again. But now, he’s witnessing moments he once thought were lost - hearing her voice, seeing her smile with confidence, watching her choose for herself. Now, thanks to her support team’s approach, he’s watching her potential come to life. 

Living with choice and confidence 

For the first time in years, Candace is making herself heard. She chooses what she wants to eat. She decides where she wants to go. She goes on weekly shopping trips, picks her own groceries and makes decisions about her day. Each small act of choice is a step toward reclaiming her independence, and with each choice, her voice becomes stronger. 

Rebecca and her team don’t see Candace as someone to manage. They see her as someone with a right to be heard, to make decisions, to shape her own future. 

“It’s not about making decisions for Candace, it’s about supporting her to make her own.” 

Now, when Candace speaks, people listen. Her world is no longer small. Her voice is no longer lost. And she knows, without question, that what she has to say truly matters.