As Angie was fast approaching 21 years old, I started getting nervous. In Cincinnati when a person with special needs turns 21 they are no longer eligible to remain in the school system. They must “graduate.” Where could she go? What could she do? We had all been comfortable and safe at Breyer School. The staff was excellent and we loved them. So, for me, her graduation was really a sad day because she had to move to an adult center or stay at home. Our obvious options were a workshop or adult day care center. At first glance I was skeptical, so I set about visiting a couple of places.
My first visit was to Elmer P. Beckman Adult Center which initially made me feel kind of sad and depressed. The place looked like a big open warehouse where a lot of adults with special needs were sitting in rows doing some kind of assembly of some small things. Basically, the clients were doing piece work. One job I remember was the boxing of poker chips. Each line had a leader or coach that made sure people kept on task and helped out when necessary. I just simply couldn’t imagine Angie there. She couldn’t use her hands except to knock stuff off her tray. (She especially liked to knock off food or drinks if I set them there. She has always wanted to get a reaction.:) What could she do in a workshop setting?
So, as I took the tour, met the director and talked to a few staff members, I started to see the possibilities. I learned that she would be supported in a way that would make it possible for her to join the workers. I also learned that she would have an Individual Plan (IP) with goals that would be monitored, so it would be similar to the Individual Education Plan (IEP) in many ways. In addition, the workshop had on staff Occupational, Physical and Speech therapists so the clients would continue to have her health care needs met regularly. Once I discovered that there were places for clients to take breaks and rest, I started to appreciate the potential.
After visiting several other programs and comparing their services with what the county had to offer I knew the Beckman center would be the best place for Angie. Shortly after graduation, Angie started attending the workshop. She had transportation service every day, just like school, plus we continued to pack lunches just like school. In addition, she continued with therapy regularly and eventually got a job as a Walmart Greeter, which she held for seven years. The transition was actually easy, so all of my worries were for nothing. Angie’s life continued to a happy one for her and because of that, I was at peace. The link below is to Hamilton county developmental disability services.