When I first met Paul, I sat at his kitchen table, met his family, visited his cats and discussed the challenges that the family was feeling with getting him into the community outside of his time at school. He preferred staying at home or going on outings to a small set of already familiar places. New places, new smells, new sounds all felt overwhelming, and when he went out into the community there were very few places he liked to go. He preferred one or two restaurants and only a couple of activities. He kept his world contained and predictable but missed out on so much else that there is out there to experience.
It took some time, but we found him a staff member that he worked well with and who started taking him out for an hour here and an hour there. He didn’t push or rush him but instead offered steady encouragement and support. He became Paul’s partner in discovery — someone who celebrated small victories and understood quiet worries. Paul started to expand his list of places he liked to go and things he liked to do. He started to learn to trust that exploration of the world around is safe and his moments of bravery grew.
As time has passed, those small discoveries have grown. Paul has expanded his restaurant palate, has started visiting his local parks, and even enjoys weekly bowling outings. With every passing week his world gets bigger and bigger, and those moments of bravery and discovery continue to grow.
With support, patience, and courage, Paul has proven that horizons don’t expand all at once — but they do grow one small, beautiful step at a time. With supportive staff and a caring program, a person’s world can change – a family can find comfort as their loved one grows and expands. And with each passing day, we will continue with Paul on his journey – learning and growing right along with him.