A sausage sandwich

Let me make you the ultimate sausage sandwich!
I bet your mouth is dripping, imagining the best sausage sandwich you could ever have. Now, this has a purpose.

As someone who receives 24-hour support from support workers, I could ask for someone to make me precisely this. How your ultimate sausage sandwich will look may very well be different from mine, for example, my ultimate sausage sandwich would be white bread with no butter, brown AND tomato ketchup with butcher's quality apple and pork sausages. To some, this may be the worst sandwich, especially for a vegetarian! Imagine your disappointment now, having expected the best sausage sandwich and receiving MY ultimate sausage sandwich. How do you now feel?

Let’s relate this to everyday scenarios and how things can be so different. For instance, do you double shampoo your hair or leave the conditioner in while you wash your body? Do you stay in your pyjamas on the weekend? Or even when it comes to feeding your cat—would you prefer to give them half a sachet or a full one (not what would the cat prefer)? Everyone has different preferences. The need for support should never diminish your individuality or your sense of self. It’s crucial for workers, parents, and friends to ask, "How do YOU like it done?" Communication difficulties, learning disabilities, or conditions like autism may make this process take longer. However, taking the time to ask can help prevent challenging behaviours that stem from a loss of identity, frustration, and disappointment (like when you don’t get the sandwich you were hoping for).