The Art of Doing With, Not For
- Julian Vilsten
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Imagine a support worker walks into a home. They see a pile of laundry. They want to be helpful, so they wash, dry, and fold it while the participant watches TV.
That looks like good care. The house is clean. The job is done.
But in reality, that worker just stole a learning opportunity.
This is the core problem Person-Centred Active Support (PCAS) solves. Traditional care often does things for people. Active Support does things with people.
It sounds like a small shift. But for someone with a disability, it is the difference between being a passive recipient of care and an active participant in their own life.
What is Person-Centred Active Support?
PCAS isn’t about abandoning people to struggle alone. It is about providing just enough help to let them participate.
If someone can’t cook a whole meal, can they stir the pot? Can they choose the pasta? Can they get the spoon from the drawer?
If the answer is yes, and we do it for them anyway, we are teaching dependency.
The 4 Pillars of PCAS
You don’t need a degree to do this. You just need to follow four principles.
1. Every Moment Has Potential
Learning doesn’t just happen in “therapy hour.” It happens when you check the letterbox. It happens when you make a coffee. It happens when you water the plants. Real life is the best classroom.
2. Little and Often
You don’t need to run a marathon. Short, frequent bursts of engagement work best. Asking someone to button their shirt every morning is better than a one-hour “dressing skills” workshop once a week.
3. Graded Assistance
This is the art of support. You provide the right level of help and no more.
Too much help: They stop trying.
Too little help: They fail and get frustrated.
Just right: They succeed and feel proud.
4. Maximising Choice and Control
This isn’t just big choices like “where do I want to live?” It’s the small ones. “Red cup or blue cup?” “Walk or drive?” Control starts with the little things.
Why This Matters
When we implement PCAS, we shift the focus from managing behaviours to building a meaningful life. We stop just keeping people safe and start helping them thrive.
We often see behaviours drop simply because the person finally has something meaningful to do. They feel capable. They feel useful. They feel part of the team, not just a job to be managed.
At Outcomes Lab, we work with families and support teams to embed these principles into the morning routine, the grocery run, and the evening meal.
We believe that the best support is the kind that eventually makes itself unnecessary.
Ready to switch from ‘doing for’ to ‘doing with’? Our mobile team helps families turn everyday tasks into opportunities for independence. Reach out to Outcomes Lab today.
About the Author
Julian Vilsten
Founder, Outcomes Lab | Clinical Neuropsychologist | Advanced Behaviour Support Practitioner. MClinNeuro, BBNSc (Hons)
With over a decade of clinical experience, Julian combines neuropsychology with practical behaviour support. He is dedicated to neuroaffirming practice and building support systems that champion autonomy and genuine well-being.
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