“He’s Growing a New Tree”
By Debra Shelley, Supported Living Coordinator, Beartooth Industries
A Montana Career Design Initiative Demonstration Site
Imagine . . .
. . . a home of your own;
. . . a job outside the workshop setting;
. . . the ability to sleep in a bedroom without having to close
the door to gain privacy from others;
. . . falling asleep on the couch because it was quiet and you
felt warm and safe;
. . . taking all the showers you wanted without waiting for schedules;
. . . doing the dishes when you wanted;
. . . making food purchases for only yourself and not having to
keep seven other people in mind;
. . . realizing that space, time, and decisions are entirely yours
and not shared.
Now imagine waiting twenty years for that to happen. Sadly, Bernie K. did and without realizing until just recently that these options were available to him.
Bernie moved into his own apartment on May 1, 1998.
I worked with Bernie in a group home for close to ten years. He was very unhappy and I helped him through years of insecurity, explosive behaviors, violent episodes, and confusion. He secluded himself in his room most of the time. He couldn’t deal well with activity, noise, “sharing,” and schedules. Each time he participated in any event, staff could anticipate an emotional episode.
Over a year ago, he and his psychiatrist began working with different medications and through the process of elimination, found a medication called Zyprexa. We started seeing some changes and noticed decreased anxiety and episodes, but Bernie still had some difficulties within the group home.
Since Bernie moved into his own place, the changes are overwhelming to many of us who have worked with him. His smile is constant and catching. He is calm, happy, content, and proud of his life and new home. He is more attentive, focused, and relaxed. All his struggles in the group home setting were eliminated with the help of the Zyprexa and his new lifestyle. Bernie has yet to “lose his cool” and deals with problems that arise in a positive way. I overheard some say, “he’s not turning over a new leaf, he’s growing a brand new tree!”
A month after this transition, Bernie started a new business. He sells puppets at the Beartooth Nature Center (BNC). BNC is a non-profit facility that cares for wild animals who have been injured or are too tame to be returned to the wild. Bernie’s puppets represent the actual animals being cared for and his business is doing very well. What I find interesting about this is the responsibility he takes in making sure the inventory is counted, the puppets are labeled and priced, and the tree he displays them on is stocked and ready each week. He has been featured in our local paper, The Carbon County News, and during the 4th of July his puppet stand was at a benefit for the Beartooth Nature Center hosted by Jack Hannah, well known TV personality and Director of the Columbus Zoo. Bernie met Mr. Hannah and had his picture taken with him. As I took the picture, I couldn't help but marvel. A year ago, I would have said, “No way! This is too much for him to handle.” Instead I watched with great pleasure as Bernie politely talked with Mr. Hannah, mingled with a very large crowd, and smiled from ear to ear.
Until I participated in this whole new adventure with Bernie, I truly felt we were successfully moving ahead and promoting growth within the group homes by increasing personal choices, independence, and quality of life. As I watched Bernie make this transition, I realized that the group home setting, especially for long term residents, is really no more than a less restrictive “institutional” setting. Twenty years is too long to wait for a home of your own. It’s unfair and unrealistic. With the right supports, imagination, and dedication, everyone can live in their own homes and work or own their own businesses. Bernie’s story can and should become reality to every single person we serve in our organizations.