AL SIGL CENTER OF AGENCIES: CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERY DAY

SUBMITTED BY PEGGY FORTUNE, BOLSTERED BY EXCERPTS OF THE STORIES ON HTTPS://WWW.ALSIGL.ORG/2023 INDEPENDENCE DAY STORIES/

What does INDEPENDENCE mean to you? Is it the ability to take part in activities you enjoy, to choose how and where you spend each day? Is it the ability to be able to connect with others, to know that you are part of a community?

ese are the stories of just a few of the individuals who have stayed active in the community, achieved their goals, advocated for themselves and others, learned new skills, and more with the help of Al Sigl Member Agencies. Donors’ generosity has helped these individuals – and so many others – lead more independent lives.

Annie has participated in CP Rochester’s Day Habilitation for over 25 years, pursuing her unique interests and building skills while enjoying time with friends and staying connected in the community. Annie’s favorite activity is art; she can usually be found drawing in her coloring book and planning for her next art project. Annie loves to draw birds, owers, and all things Spring. She hangs up her art in her bedroom at home. She also loves to gi her art to her family, friends, and sta . Her most treasured piece is a butter y she drew in memory of her mom. “When I lost her, she said she was going to turn into a caterpillar and then she was going to be a butter y,” Annie said, re ecting on her mom and the inspiration behind her project.

Desiree is a tireless self-advocate and advocate for others with developmental disabilities. When Empowering People’s Independence (EPI) launched a new collaboration called EmpowHer Roc+ earlier this year for women over 21, she was excited to explore new interests. “I picked planting owers,” shared Desiree. “We each got a planter, picked out our own owers, and now they are sitting on my windowsill.”

Monthly meetings o er an inclusive and supportive space to develop personal goals, connect with like-minded individuals, and learn about di erent issues. is Fall, Desiree and the other women will showcase their leadership skills at a twoday camping retreat at Long Lake. ey will plan and give a presentation about their personal development throughout the year and the goals they achieved.

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Jason works at a community-based vocational program at an agency that is one of nearly a dozen nonpro ts who rely on Medical Motor Service (MMS) to help thousands of people of all ages and abilities stay connected in the community, work, attend programs, go grocery shopping, visit the doctor, and more.

Over the past few months, Jason has been dealing with some very serious medical issues that have forced his day-to-day schedule to change up quite a bit. O en riding with his driver Vickie, being able to depend on MMS despite these changes has helped Jason retain a sense of normalcy and balance during a rather chaotic and stressful time. He continues to earn his paycheck while also receiving the much-needed social interaction with his peers as he works through every challenge.

Before she learned about the National MS Society (NMSS), Debbie walked a few miles each night a er work once dinner and the dishes were done. She bowled with League teammates each week, and played golf with her husband, Gabe, or friends. en one morning she woke up with vision so blurry she couldn’t drive. Soon her ability to walk, even stand, without assistance, was a ected, but it would be ve years before Debbie was diagnosed with MS and advised of possible treatments to slow the progression. Unfortunately, much of the damage was done.

It was then that Debbie and Gabe became aware of the MS Society and Debbie’s isolation turned into comaraderie. She learned about treatment options and support. For the last ten years, Debbie and Gabe have chaired the annual MS WALK in Canandaigua, raising almost $400,000 in support of MS awareness and research.

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Timothy is almost 3 years old and has been on Monroe County’s Early Intervention (EI) waiting list for individual Speech erapy for almost a year. ere are currently over 1,000 kids on the waiting list. Last year Timothy’s mom, Lynne, discovered Rochester Hearing & Speech Center (RHSC). Timothy attends the TAALK Program (Teaching Age Appropriate Language for Kids), where he has been able to work with RHSC’s SpeechLanguage Pathologists along with ve other children once a week. At RHSC, they discovered Timothy also has sensory needs and he was connected with an Occupational erapist. He now receives Physical erapy and attends RHSC’s monthly EI Playdates, free to parents and children thanks to generous funding from e Golisano Foundation.

Lynne says Timothy loves the warm, welcoming environment and is making great progress, able to better communicate with his family and caregivers. She is grateful he can get all the support he needs in one convenient place.

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