I was given this brochure back in October. I actually followed the suggestions. I wholeheartedly advise diligence with this task.

I also asked every, single person who already had a SCA who they were using and if they were happy with the service being provided. I asked every agency and program that I had contact with that serves people with developmental/intellectual disabilities who they felt was doing a great job. I asked them which agencies they loved, and if they would divulge, who they really did not like. This all went in The Notebook.

A name popped up three times! Three, I think, is the charm.

I knew during our first phone call that Sarah (name changed to protect the awesome!) and I could work together. She knew her job and she knew my job. She knew the physical area, every program I had seen and no question I threw at her could stump her. She was chock full of information and pleasant and energetic. These are going to be priceless qualities when you think of what Sarah and I are charged with doing together.

What we have to do together is build a life for Ethan. She is in the nitty-gritty details of how, where and why. Sarah’s agency holds the purse strings for any budget that Ethan will receive from DDD in order to support his adult life. I cannot access any day programming, employment supports, transportation and a host of other services without her assistance and approval.

Our first meeting was last week. I’m not much of a hugger, but I announced to her on her arrival that we were, in fact, hugging. We are going to be close during this process. I should have totally taken a selfie – darn it! It was the first time in a long time that my heart and shoulders felt lighter. We spent 3 hours discussing what our family is about and what is important to us, our values and goals. She met Ethan and saw, first hand, how he spends his time and what he likes to do. She listened to what hopes I have for this transition process and what I would like to seeing Ethan doing this year. She asked Ethan what he wants to be doing. 🙂

Knowing that I have someone to work in tandem with on this planning process – someone that I have vetted and that I like and trust – lightened a little of what feels like a large, cumbersome load.

“Two are better than one, because they have
a good return for their labor.”
~ Ecclesiastes 4:9