We’re celebrating a fantastic achievement for HK, who is supported in South East Wales and recently attended a dental appointment calmly and confidently—something that had previously been a real challenge.
Over the past two years, HK’s support team has worked closely with him to build communication and trust, particularly around touch, which was something HK found difficult when he first moved into his home. As Polish is HK’s first language, this progress is an even bigger accomplishment—his team have gone the extra mile to ensure that communication tools and support are accessible and meaningful for him.
A big part of this journey has involved a personalised desensitisation programme developed in collaboration with dental services. Using social stories and PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) symbols—visual tools that help explain what to expect—HK’s team helped him feel safe and prepared.
And it’s paid off. HK now walks into the dentist calmly, sits in the chair willingly (even asking for it to go “up”), and proudly says “teeth” as the dentist checks his mouth. His family shared how challenging these visits once were, but now HK attends with confidence and ease.
Service Manager Julie shared: “HK has made such amazing progress. Seeing him take control of the situation and feel safe enough to participate is such a proud moment for all of us. It really shows the power of consistency, patience, and the right support.”
She added: “We know how much of a challenge this used to be for him and his family, so watching him walk into the dental room with a smile and ask for the chair to go up was incredibly moving. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do.”
Thanks to the dedication and care of his support team, HK continues to grow in confidence—not just at the dentist, but across all areas of his life and communication.
Well done HK—and a huge thank you to the brilliant team who made this breakthrough possible.
We can’t wait to see what’s next on his journey!
