{CHARGE] Re: 's Home

[Guest guest]

I have been telling about 's growing up years but today I want

to tell everyone about were is now in his life.

After reading about Aubrie and her mission I wanted to show you all

that dreams can happen.

has lived in his home now for 5 years. Yes, it is a group home

but like no other group home you'll find. , like Aubrie, had

visions of living on his own. Being his own boss. Getting away from

his, a little to pushy, Mom. LOL He spent 11 months at the Helen

Keller National Center in Sands Point, Long Island. It was for him

to be evaluating on his abilities to live alone. They came back with

the recommandation that would need 24 hr. support.

When we took that back to our County MHMR agency, they brought up

about waiting list for waiver. How there was no hope of getting a

group home geared for a peroson who was deaf with MR. They

recommended Assisted Living homes.

Some of you may know a little on my background. I was fighting for

community living for because I was looking at having open heart

surgery. Because of complication experienced years ago during spinal

surgery, I was going into the heart surgery as a high risk. That

motivated me to start thinking seriously about 's future. What

if I wasn't around any more to take care of him.

THose Assisted Living homes were sooooooo not appropiate. The ones I

visited were a horrible idea for a young deaf man. From the first in

dealing with the MHMR agency I felt things were not right. I sought

out advocacy groups like Parent to Parent, Pa. Protection

Advocacy,Disabilities Law Project, and others. When I got no where

with my local agency I went above them to the State Office of MHMR. I

got involved with the issues surrounding funding for community living.

The full story of 5 years of fighing to get 's home is to much

to put it all here. But, success is there for those who don't give up

or go away. I became a mother with a reputation. I wouldn't take no

for an answer.

's home is a four bedroom modular that they helped design. Two

of his friends were in wheelchairs so they came up with a blueprint

that had no hallways. It's on a piece of land they picked in

ville, PA. Each one has their own room that are 14' by 14'.

They picked colors and bedroom furniture. They let two of us moms

pick the living room furniture. LOL

They interviewed all protental staff with our help. They got to

decide who was hired. They all work at different places. No one

drives so there is a van and staff take them where ever they need to

go. They make grocery lists and do their own shopping and cooking.

They are all active in a mulitute of different activities. Some

together and some seperatly. Just like a family. has a more

active social life than his Dad or I ever had. LOL His visits home

are always to short for my liking because he gets BORED with us and

wants to go home early.

The fight wasn't easy but it was well worth it. 5 years in the making

and now 5 years existing. When we come to Ca. for conference we will

bring lots and lots of pictures.

mom to (31)

[Guest guest]

-

I look forward to meeting you both and seeing those photos. It's good to

know that others have found their efforts to be worthwhile. I try very hard

not to become cynical or pessimistic. It's too important to throw up our

hands in frustration and defeat.

Michele W

Aubrie's mom