My name is Emil Varghese Mathew, a Keralite from India. I've completed my grade 12 and I'm new in this field.

I've not had much experience in this field but as I was busy with my schooling. Yet I've worked in care homes that our church owns.

While I was in high school I slowly became active in my  church youth league. After completing grade 10 we held a summer camp in the care home I mentioned above. At first I was not interested to volunteer there but my best friend insisted me to go with her. Being a talkative person I made friends with everyone and I became interested to work there. I understood that I could handle the terrible situations over there and started researching about care homes and understood who worked there. I wanted to pursue it as my career and I'm here in Fanshawe as a DSW student.

I hope to learn about the program in a detailed manner and work with everyone in this field. I hope that I could be beneficial in the field I work.

I believe that building strong and trusting relationships is one of the most important parts of this work. When people feel safe, respected, and heard, they are more comfortable and confident. I always try to create a space where the people I support feel important and listened to. Whether I am helping them with their daily activities or just talking with them, I want them to know that I care.

As someone who moved to a new country, I understand how hard it can be to feel alone or different. This experience has taught me to be more open and respectful to people from all cultures and backgrounds. It also helps me support others in a way that makes them feel accepted and understood.

There are two main ideas that guide me in my work: person-centered support and advocacy for inclusion.

Person-centered support means that I always focus on what the person wants and needs. I do not make decisions for them. Instead, I listen carefully to what they say and try to understand what makes them feel happy, safe, and confident. Everyone is different, so I change the way I support each person based on their goals, choices, and abilities. This helps them feel more in control of their own life.

Advocacy for inclusion means I believe everyone should be treated equally and be a part of the community. I want to make sure that people with developmental disabilities can take part in school, work, social events, and other parts of life, just like anyone else. I also help others see the abilities and strengths in the people I support. I talk to families, community members, and others to help them better understand and accept people with disabilities.

In my work, I follow strong values such as respect, honesty, kindness, and responsibility. These values match with the main skills needed as a DSW, like keeping people healthy and safe, building good relationships, encouraging inclusion, clear communication, and working in an honest and respectful way. By using these values and skills every day, I can support others in a meaningful way.

In the end, I believe that everyone deserves to live a good, full life with choice and dignity. I want to keep learning and improving as a DSW so I can make a difference in the lives of the people I support and help create a more inclusive world.