Moving into her own flat meant Darya Small was able to achieve one of her personal goals.
Darya has a learning disability.
“My birth mum drank alcohol when I was in her tummy,” explains Darya.
Between school, StarJam and her involvement with Life Unlimited (Now Your Way | Kia Roha) programmes Life Fit and Life Friends she’s like any typical, busy 19 year old.
“I’m having fun. I’m in my last year at school. I do StarJam every Tuesday and I make lots of new friends.”
Darya has recently started flatting with a friend in Hamilton. And although she’s still adjusting to life in the city after living on a rural block with her parents, she’s enjoying her new independence.
“It’s really good. I have a boyfriend who doesn’t live far away so I pay him a visit. It’s really good because it’s not far from the shops and it’s not far from Countdown.”
Flatting has also allowed Darya to put the skills she’s learned in food technology at school to the test. She shares cooking duties with her flatmate, making things like beef stir-fry, macaroni cheese and pizza.
One of Darya’s goals for the future is to travel overseas to the ‘happiest place on Earth’.
“I love Disneyland…I want to meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Chip and Dale.”
You can watch Darya talk with Question Time about her life and plans for the future.
Visit our Online Information Hub for advice about going flatting. Read Tyler’s story about Navigating Life Transitions.
This story appeared in the Summer 2017 issue of our free disability e-newsletter Infolink.
