Launching a child into adulthood is hard enough for any parent, but when the young person has a developmental disability, the challenges are even greater. Particularly hard, says Ann, mother of Ryan, is preparing the adult child for a life without parental support. Ryan is 28, but Ann says he remains in adolescence. “He can manage some things, but he still relies on help,” she says. Since last August, that help has been provided by Sunnyhill, a nonprofit organization that aims to give people with developmental disabilities as much independence as possible.
“We work with the individual wherever they’re at and help them gain the confidence to live a fulfilling life,” says Vicky James, Sunnyhill president and CEO. “We try hard t
o ensure that individuals feel empowered to live and dream for themselves.” The nonprofit provides different degrees of residential care (either in the family home or in one of its residential settings) and provides opportunities for work and social activities, like weekend getaways to Branson, Memphis, Kansas City and Nashville. “The trips have given Ryan great confidence,” says his father, Tim.
His mother says they were determined to find the right place for Ryan before he turned 30. However, it was more complicated because of behavioral problems that “put another layer on the onion.” But under the guidance of Donny Mitchell, vice president of client services, Ryan received behavior therapy and learned ways to overcome his anxiety and calm himself both at home and work. Now, he lives in a Sunnyhill house with two roommates and has a full-time job with Lafayette Industries, a work center. “Ryan’s parents did the right thing by preparing him for a future without them,” says James. “We helped them navigate that difficult process.”
Although Ann says Ryan is where he always will be, cognitively, he does have the ability to learn certain life skills. “When he was with us in the family setting,” she explains, “I did things for him that he now can do for himself—make a sandwich for lunch, use the microwave, do laundry.” In just six months, Sunnyhill staff have taught him those skills and given him so much more independence. “He has blossomed,” Ann says. Ryan still receives round-the-clock support when he is not at work.
“Knowing someone is there for him gives us peace of mind,” his mother says. Ann and Tim add that regarding contact with their son, they take their cues from Ryan. They don’t see him much, but he telephones regularly. They say he has become fully integrated into his new life. “Had he told us he hated it there, it would have been a different matter,” his mom says. “But he loves his new life. He is where he needs and wants to be.”
Pictured: Vicky James, Ryan, Donny Mitchell and Rob Libera of Lafayette Industries
Photo: Bill Barrett
Sunnyhill hosts its annual Jim Hart Celebrity Golf Classic fundraiser April 25 at The Legends in Eureka. A celebrity dinner takes place the evening before. For more information, visit sunnyhillinc.org or call 314.845.3900. Pictured on the cover is Sunnyhill client Ryan.
