For Cathy and Natasha, working is a family affair. The mother-daughter duo can be found in Bedford Day Options centres in Wallaroo, Port Pirie and Port Lincoln. Mum Cathy is the Northern Day Options Manager and Natasha, 19, works in Business Services and attends Day Options on Fridays. Cathy has four other adult and teenage children to juggle and describes herself as a “working wife, mum and nana, trying to keep it all together.”

Cathy experienced a normal pregnancy with Natasha but at 10 days overdue was preparing to be induced and noticed Natasha’s movement had slowed. For peace of mind, she went for a check up and, after discovering Natasha’s heart rate was very low, was given an emergency caesarean section. Natasha’s Apgar score at birth was three and by mid morning she had started to suffer seizures. Doctors had Natasha and Cathy flown to Adelaide, where they stayed for weeks. Natasha was initially given a very poor prognosis and over time was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy, speech dyspraxia, epilepsy and a mild intellectual disability.

These additional life challenges have not held her back. In Cathy’s words, “Tash is a young woman with dreams, aspirations and goals just like all my other kids. She is aware that sometimes she can’t get the right words out and that she forgets what she brought for lunch. This frustrates her at times, but it’s okay. She continues to move the goal posts. In fact, she has jumped them a number of times – so much so that she astonishes me on a regular basis."

For Cathy, the future can’t be overlooked, “I do have concerns, mainly around Tasha’s accommodation and whether she will be able to continue to have a social life within mainstream community. I just don’t know what will happen. I worry a lot about this and have had endless conversations with my big kids.”

However, with the support of family and the reassurance of seeing Natasha face life head-on, Cathy remains positive “Tash knows what she wants and, without fail, keeps on persisting.”

Adam started work with Bedford Packaging five years ago, straight from high school. He says he enjoys the work, a fact reinforced by the smile on his face and his frequent, friendly greetings in the Bedford corridors.

While he says he took a little while to get used to working, Bedford is now a regular, reliable part of his life. Adam used to catch the bus, but now mum Roslyn has also joined the team he gets the added benefit of a lift each day.

Rosyln, single mother to four boys, a step son and step daughter, has experienced intermittent depression and anxiety and relies predominantly on her wheelchair after childhood rheumatic fever left her with a physical disability. While able to walk for short distances, she says her confidence has gone after more than one fall and prefers the safety and support of her chair. Having witnessed how helpful Bedford had been for Adam, Roslyn, who had been volunteering for various agencies, thought a role for her might be worth a try and the extra money would be useful. She hasn’t looked back, “I feel safe here, and who else is going to employ someone who is too scared to walk?”

Asked if they see too much of each other, both wholeheartedly disagree.“Not at all,”offers Roslyn. “If anything, it’s better for our relationship and this is a big place, we can go all day without seeing each other.” Adam agrees, “We have our own friends, we sit in different spots, I don’t mind mum here at all.”

At 28, Adam’s biggest goal is to get his licence and maybe one day own his dream car, an XE Falcon. Black, V8, manual, of course. Roslyn is tentative but suggests she will encourage him, “I can only be positive. We just take each challenge as it comes.”

As for Rosyln? “I’ve requested a ramp to be placed out the back of our house. I’d really like to be able to sit out the back and enjoy the sun. But I am happier now I’m working here. I like keeping busy and Bedford helps to distract me and keep me positive.”