Anew day care options support service has opened in Mount Gambier, fulfilling a dream for the woman behind it.

Limestone Coast Ability (LCA) is a NDIS registered disability company which has been successfully providing support services for people living with a disability for just over two years.

LCA offers a wide range of services including respite care (short-term accommodation), in-home and community support, group getaways, supported independent living and a day options program which officially started last week.

The property where the day options program is located – aptly called Roseville – is a three-acre farm on the outskirts of Mount Gambier that includes an orchard comprising of 35 fruit trees amid the expansive gardens, as well as various bushes and plants growing a wide array of produce.

The newly renovated house contains three spacious bedrooms with double beds, scenic living room, a fully accessible bathroom, communal outside area and a casual lounge.

Walking further into the property there is a large entertainment room used for games, drama productions and music.

The property offers animal care and therapy, housing rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep and guinea fowl.

There is also an aviary containing an assortment of birds such as quails, cockatiels, budgerigars and canaries and a greenery area with a fish pond complete with a peaceful, trickling waterfall to add to the relaxing atmosphere.

Limestone Coast Ability director Kylie Withers said it had been one of her dreams to offer a locally-run day options program and was now seeing her dream turn into a reality.

“It’s definitely been a long time coming. A lot has happened in the six months we have had the property, that’s for sure.” she said.

“It’s been very exciting to see our different ideas coming together and is something we have been really looking forward to.”

Mrs Withers said the company was taking an encouraging and positive approach to disability care.

“The disability comes second, it’s all about seeing the person and their abilities first,” she said.

“It’s really just concentrating now on making services great here and building these ones up and making sure they are running well.

“We work more on capacity building and independence, it’s really about getting the best out of our participants and being able to help them reach their goals and give them the opportunities and the tools to be able to succeed.”

Mrs Withers reiterated the LCA property focuses on skill development and building independence.

“It really is about building the individual’s skills and capacity by focusing on life skills including but not limited to cooking, gardening, woodwork as well as crafts, health and fitness and music which are all great for your fine and gross motor skills et cetera, but also teamwork and being involved in the community we all live in,” she said.

“The idea is to teach and support participants with skills such as money handling, food safety and preparation, using the produce to make things and then be able to take them down to the farmers market and create a little enterprise to teach clients everyday skills and give them the feeling of achievement and purpose.

“We have got greenhouses and with the orchard we are really able to teach and learn the whole process of planting and caring for the plant in the growing process, to picking the vegetables and fruits.

“Then using them to create jams and sauces, all while learning the life cycle of plants from start to finish.”

Mrs Withers said the company was very person-centred and offered a high quality of respite and other services.

“Quite a few of our team have lived experience with disabilities and we’re all very passionate about what we do,” she said.

“There’s lots of little things that we have thought about on the safety side to ensure it is safe for the guys but it’s fun and making sure they get the best out of life.

“It’s just giving them the tools and having the right team and we match clients with staff.

“People come here for respite for their clients, family, caregivers or if they need respite themselves away from where they live.

“Respite should not be substandard because of disability.”

Mrs Withers said due to Mount Gambier being a regional city, there was not as much accessibility for people with disabilities in comparison to metropolitan areas, but Limestone Coast Ability is available to help.