Adam fulfilled a dream recently when he had the chance to move into Meadowbrook, New Danville’s residential community. “I’m in heaven, but I haven’t died,” he said with a smile during a recent conversation.
A participant in the dayhab program, he immediately felt like New Danville was home from the outset of his connection to the people here. “I felt loved and I still do. And now I get to live here.”
He has six years of experience living independently, but nothing has compared to the experience of being in a community of peers. His mother re-located closer to New Danville to help support his life journey.
“I am living life to the fullest,” Adam said, which includes a wonderful mix of activities and friends. “I live, learn and grow…it is awesome,” he added, closely tracking New Danville’s motto of “Live, learn, work, grow.” Time with peers, an abundance of activities, coffee with his roommates and being able to hang out with friends fills his days. “It is all about living independently,” he said.
“I enjoy walking out to the horses, to see Perfection (horse’s name). I like being part of this community.” For Adam, perfection is about life and living, not just the name of the horse, and he is happy to share stories any time.
“Call me!” Chad Remains Part of the New Danville Family
Known for his “Call Me!” gesture and message, Chad will now be counting on calls to stay in touch with his friends that he made over his eight years at New Danville. With changes in personal circumstances, he has had to move on this month from living at Meadowbrook, New Danville’s residential community, to where he can get a different level of care. Chad made an impression with Wranglers, volunteers and staff during his time here.
Chad was a busy guy, taking in all sorts of class offerings from the day program. Among his favorites were gardening, cooking, bowling and art. The best part of the classes and of living independently was his friends.
His mother said that the “Call me!” message began many years ago. “He is really saying, ‘I love everyone. You’re my friend!’” she said. “He is the most happy-go-lucky person you’ll ever meet and has been since he was young.”
That spirit helps explain why the friendships he made were among the highlights he cited for being part of the New Danville family. He actively participated in the Social Club which provides opportunities for residents to go on a couple of field trips for social activities in the community.
There are plenty of team member stories because of Chad’s spirit and charm.
Nicole Martinez, program coordinator, got married twice on the same day – once at New Danville and once at the formal wedding. She wanted to be sure to have a ceremony at which Wranglers could participate. Chad was a groomsman for the event held here.
Anthony Juneau (aka AJ) has what amounts to a book full of Chad stories. “I call him ‘Chadwick,’ which he loves, and he calls me ‘Daphne,’ which is pretty close to Anthony. He is full of joy and always happy to help with anything around here. He would take on tasks in the gardening class that few others wanted, particularly if he felt it would ‘earn’ him a trip to the gas station. I think given a choice between going to Hawaii and going to the nearby Circle K for a Polar Pop drink, he would choose the Circle K.”
His mom noted that one thing, above all, was Chad’s favorite part of living independently at New Danville. When she referenced it, he finished her statement with “Being an adult.” To be able to make decisions about what to do with his time, whether to come home on weekends, to gather with his friends…making these decisions meant the world to him, she said.
Some decisions are tougher than others; the decision to leave New Danville among the toughest. Life is that way, but relationships are forever. “Hey Chad, call us!” (Editor’s Note: It is for people like Chad that New Danville’s leadership team has included in its vision for the future the addition of assisted living facilities.)
Michelle moved to New Danville shortly after its residential community, Meadowbrook, opened in 2010. Her experiences with group home routines left her frustrated; she has a stronger sense of independence than routine activities and routine meals provided. “I told my parents that I needed something different. They found New Danville. I moved in and I love it.” Her mom received a recommendation for New Danville and they quickly knew it was a match.
Michelle considers the two-minute walk to day program one of the perks of living on site. She laughs when the trip is referred to as a “commute.” Walking to day program activities aren’t the end of her getting around the campus. “I enjoy walking on the weekends. Sometimes I visit the animals. It is nice out here.”
The current, long-lasting heat wave makes walking a bit tougher, but she enjoys plenty of other activities to keep her busy. “I have a laptop that plays DVDs, so I enjoy watching movies. Scary movies like Halloween, in particular. I like reading, too. I really enjoy doing puzzles.” Her puzzle preference is the holographic type, “including the 500- or 1000-piece puzzles,” she said. “I would do puzzles with my grandpa when I was a young. I have been putting them together ever since.”
Living on her own provides her the opportunity to make more of her own decisions about what to do with her time, what to eat and other things that give her the sense of her life instead of being someone else’s routine.
She would like to see the addition of a facility where Wranglers and residents could be active and exercise. Until that facility is built, the upcoming outdoor fitness pocket park and walking will do.
Jessica was nervous when she first began to live on her own in Meadowbrook, New Danville’s residential community. “It was kind of like the first day of school,” she said. She said that she felt like she was going to “live in the middle of nowhere” when she saw the rural environment. But the nervousness faded away and the new environment became familiar quickly. Her family learned about New Danville thanks to her sister’s research and they had their eye on it for years before she moved in.
Having a busy life at New Danville has helped. In addition to living on-site, participating in the day program, and having a part-time job here, she likes to keep busy in her off times. She enjoys crafts and baking goodies like muffins, cookies and brownies. “Brownies are best with ice cream. Vanilla ice cream,” she said. As good as the yummies are, they are not the best thing about living at New Danville.
“I have a lot of friends here. I think I am popular. I am usually in a good mood. I think people like that. I am also nosey; I know that. I like to know what is going on. We have ears to listen, right?” she said with a broad smile.
She likes to participate in the many activities put on by the volunteers of Legally Authorized Representatives Alliance (LARA) which include birthday parties for residents and various other social activities. Jessica likes riding her bike around the New Danville campus, though you won’t find her with the animals like many of the other residents. “I’m not into farm animals. I like dogs, though. I like animals.”
“I was nervous moving here. Then I was excited. Now I have many friends and neighbors,” she said. She is also looking forward to the day when New Danville adds new houses, increasing the neighbors that she will have.
“I came here with nothing,” Michael said, “and now I have everything I ever wanted…a roof, food and a wife.” Life’s circumstances have challenged him to the point that his arrival to New Danville four years ago felt like the last chance to get things right. Having lost everything to Hurricane Harvey, the time for a fresh start from scratch was in order.
“Once I got to New Danville, things began to get better,” Michael said.
Michael enjoys the quiet rural environment. He, his wife and their dog are making the most of the opportunity at New Danville. They enjoy the chance to settle down. He grew up in a military family, so there was a lot of moving as he grew up, and more moving as an adult.
He attributes the New Danville environment to helping him focus on the things that matter to continue his development. Attending church services and bible study complement his other interests. “I’ve learned a lot from a lot of people over the years,” he said, “and now I’m trying to use that.”
Michael has had to be resilient. He attributes resilience to a perspective that he has gained because of his experiences, which is “just take one day at a time.”
“I’m not getting older,” Michael said, “I’m getting better. One day at a time.”
“I had the same answer to everyone who asked me. Teachers in high school and college would ask me about my plans for the future. Sometimes they asked for essays. I always had the same answer. I had it in my desire to live here (New Danville). ‘I want to live at New Danville.’ That was always my answer.”
Mariann has lived in Meadowbrook, New Danville’s residential community, for several years. She had been on the Meadowbrook waiting list for a long time. She clearly believes it was worth the wait.
Prior to moving to New Danville, Mariann lived with her parents. With her eye on being a resident in Meadowbrook, “It felt like forever to get here,” she said with a broad smile.
Having friends and neighbors, and the chance to socialize as well as have private time, make for a great environment to live in for Mariann. She is involved in the day program, too, and has several things she enjoys doing when she gets home after a busy day in classes and activities. “I like walking around outdoors, relaxing and cooking. I used to cook at home with my mother and now I cook in my own home.”
She learned how to deal with bullies in high school and college, “But we don’t have that here.” When asked how she would describe Meadowbrook in her own words, she replied, “In my words: nice, peaceful, the sounds of fun.” She said she sometimes enjoys listening to her neighbors and friends having fun with get-togethers. “I like the sounds of my neighbors having fun.”
As a man who loved Boy Scouts and camping as a kid, Brad believes New Danville’s Meadowbrook community is a great place to live. Having lived in a variety of places over the years, being “in the country,” which is a first for him, suits him fine. Leaving the temperatures of Illinois behind, his solution for the heat of Texas is simple: “Don’t go out.”
Brad likes being able to take walks and enjoy nature. “It is healthy. It is good for you,” he said about his jaunts. He has always enjoyed walking, recalling his walks to school and church when he was younger. Walking is not his only way of getting around.
“I drive,” he said. “I go to the grocery store, my mom’s and the library. I don’t go on the highway though. That would be dangerous.”
Brad remembers first learning about New Danville when there was little development on the campus. He didn’t move here until years later. “I have seen a lot of changes. There is a lot here now,” he said.
Brad enjoys cooking a lot and is happy to share with others his menu of the day or day before. When asked whether he took the culinary class at New Danville, he shook his head. “No, I have been cooking a long time. I enjoy it.”
Does New Danville’s environment inspire him to try camping again? “I like camping. Tent camping, like in Scouts. Not big trailer camping. I don’t think I could camp outside like I used to. It is too cold.” Part of life is leaving behind some activities and learning new ones, which Brad embraces fully at New Danville.
John lived at New Danville for several years, but had to recently change where he calls home. Still a Wrangler (day program participant), he was happy to share his thoughts about his time as a resident.
The easiest summary of John’s observations about living at New Danville would involve two words: fun and friends.
He enjoyed hanging out with his friends. Among the many activities he enjoyed with his friends were joking around, watching television – the show MASH and wrestling on Monday were his favorites – spending time with the miniature horses and donkeys and playing basketball. Living here he could play basketball whenever he wanted, with friends or by himself.
“Sometimes on Friday we would go for pizza,” he said. “That was always fun, too.”
Among his favorite solo activities was riding his bicycle. “I like the quiet. Sometimes I would ride around the houses and ride around the road. I like to do that a lot.”
He enjoyed having friends nearby and having a place where his sisters could come visit. In a word, it was independence.
The start of a new year and the time that many people resolve to make changes, large or small, to improve themselves in one way or another. In a recent conversation with Wranglers Kaylyn, Pam and Richie, we gained great insights on what we call Wrangler Wresolutions.
Pam shared a resolution that many folks have at the start of the year: “I want to lose weight. It is a struggle to get the weight off. I really need to stay away from junk food.”
Richie agreed. He wants to tackle his weight, too. “We get off our diets during the holidays and it is hard to get back to a good diet,” he said. “I enjoy the Morning Mile walk here, but I need to do more walking.”
Kaylyn’s resolution took a different angle, “I want to come to New Danville as often as possible without feeling like I need to call my mom every 24 seconds.”
All resolutions face challenges, some in our control and others less so. The Wranglers agreed that tackling resolutions is not a solo experience; goals involve family and friends.
Pam hopes her family and friends can be on the same page with her goals to help minimize food temptations.
Richie focused on the loss of socialization that comes with masks and he looks forward to masks being a part of history.
Kaylyn’s challenge is twofold, “I need to get off my phone and start walking more,” she said.
We all face resolution challenges, whether our goals are subtle or profound, big or small. Perhaps the insights and the commitment of the Wranglers to their goals will help you with yours.
Perhaps some changes coming to New Danville in 2022 will help the Wranglers whose goals include weight control and exercise. Stay tuned!
Our First Respite Service Customer Shares Her Views
It didn’t take long after New Danville began its respite services that it had its first customer, a familiar face in the day habilitation program. Alyx began attending New Danville’s programs in 2008 and has long wanted to move to the residential community, Meadowbrook. The waiting list is long, but she is patient, and she got a taste of living here with a brief stay in the cabin now used for respite services.
“I loved it,” she said. “I can’t wait until I can move here someday. I am staying here for another week soon. I love it so much.”
Alyx is busy in various day program activities. A theater major, she is social and busy. The pace changed when all the other Wranglers left at the end of the day and she was able to stay behind.
“I had my own key, and wifi and the kitchen. Since I was staying, I could use the food pantry on Tuesday. When everyone was gone, I was able to put on my workout clothes, get a bottle of water and get some exercise outdoors. I enjoyed the grounds after everyone left.”
Alyx liked the sense of independence as well as the sense of community with residents who live on site. She hopes to stay often until the time comes that there is an opening so she can live at New Danville.
Lisa is no stranger to living in communities for adults with IDD. New Danville is the third in her lifetime. With such a wide range of experiences covering a few decades, she has important insights into what makes a great place to live.
Her mind is constantly busy as she shares family stories and lineage in great detail. The conversational detours provide a great chance to ask the same question a few times, and for each, the answer was the same. So true was her answer that she never wavered.
“Based on your experiences at the other communities, what do you like best about living at New Danville?” Her answer, each and every time was “the activities.” As busy as she has been throughout her life with various jobs, it is no surprise that activity means a lot to Lisa. She is very active in the various day program offerings at New Danville, and she enjoys the social activities for the residents of Meadowbrook. The recent Halloween costume party was one such event where she went “all in.”
It didn’t take long for her to switch from telling me about a movie she recently attended in town to the various Special Olympics events she has participated in. Even when she is not in motion, her mind is working, as evidenced by the thick book of word games and puzzles that she often engages with during lunch break.
Being busy is a big part of living for Lisa, and she enjoys every second of it.
Odd wildflowers are popping up all over New Danville’s grounds. They aren’t really flowers, but they are a sign of new developments.
The red, yellow, and orange plastic marker flags that flutter in the wind actually mark underground utilities. Knowing where they are is critical when it comes to how much work is soon to take place as a variety of drainage projects are underway at New Danville. “Some of the projects have been necessary for a while, and some are in preparation for plans we have for the future. It only makes sense to fix all the issues since we now have the opportunity to do so,” said Randy Smyth, Director of Operations.
Residents, parents, guardians and day program participants are happy about the changes that will change water flow on the campus and eliminate the puddling issues in Meadowbrook, as well as minimize standing water in other areas.
“As we envision a future with more facilities for residents, classrooms, gathering areas, and more, we need to begin changing the shape of our terrain. The changes are important first steps,” CEO Eva Aguirre said, “and we are blessed to have the resources to begin making these changes.”
