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"Toward Full Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities"

Developmental Services Inclusion - Judy's Story

By
Judy D

“ I live on my own. I can make my own decisions.”

I have my own apartment. I got it through a friend. I’d asked everyone I knew, and had been to see some apartments with my parents, but we didn’t find one we liked. Then a friend found one across from the police station, and I liked it and my parents liked it.

Before I got my own place, I live in a transitional apartment run by the local agency. Then one of the staff people thought I was ready to live in my own place. I thought so, too, so we brought it up to my parents at a meeting. They agreed. It took a long time to find the right place.

I know lots of people on Main St. I went to the local High School, and I hated to leave there. My mother said that I cried for three days. She still talks about that.

After high school I went to an artist cooperative for a while. Then I did volunteer work: at a nursing home, at a soup kitchen, and at a day care center. At the day care center I did such a good job that they paid me; it turned into a job. I’m a teacher’s aid at Sunday School, too.

I like to knit. I have business plan, and I’m going to put it on the computer. I knit dish cloths, and I want to put my orders on the computer. My staff person is helping me to find the right kind of computer equipment.

I help out with lots of fund raising campaigns. For the local senior center I raised so much money they gave me all the awards: a hat, a t-shirt, a sweatshirt and a zip up jacket.

I am the second oldest of a family of six. We have two sets of twins. I have lots of nieces and nephews; I’m the Godmother of one of them. I talk with my parents every day. I make my own decisions, and if I get stuck I call them. My parents have a list of my friends, so if they want to find me they can.

I like living on my own. I’m not a child any more. There are a few more things I’d like to do, but nobody can do everything.

 

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