Gunnar’s family has had the opportunity to provide care for their son through Evergreen Service Providers under Colorado’s Family Caregiver Program for about four years. His father, Tom, shared that when they first learned about Evergreen, they were delighted to find that it is a family-focused organization, as opposed to a more corporate structure, and appreciate Evergreen’s sense of community that fosters a feeling of belonging.
Community connections are an important part of Gunnar’s life, and his activities and outings are chosen with intent and purpose; opportunities to make decisions as an adult are an important consideration. He and his dad – who fills the role of Supported Community Connection Coordinator – have a conversation about every two weeks dedicated to planning upcoming activities.
Including Gunnar in the decision-making process is an opportunity to encourage him to think beyond the limits of the routine and to choose activities that are physically or mentally challenging. It’s also an effective exercise in focus. They talk through Gunnar’s likes or dislikes of both activities and the settings in which they will take place. His mom, Emily – who Tom refers to as “the gatekeeper of everything in the household” – researches upcoming events, activities, and new environments then keeps up with the schedule.
Activities include mainstream community events, such as their recent visit to the Parker Fair. They also appreciate and take advantage of events that are
designed especially for special needs individuals. One example is Nights at the Zoo, when the Denver Zoo is closed to the general public, giving special needs people the chance to experience the zoo from their perspective and on their terms. Special events like these offer more flexibility and are less stressful. For example, as Tom pointed out, if an individual has an issue or an outburst, everyone understands and is not staring. It also gives an opportunity for Gunnar to express empathy, recognizing and pointing out when someone may be having a hard time.
Gunnar’s favorite activity is going to Roadhouse Cinemas which affords great one-on-one time with his dad. In preparation for this outing, Gunnar maps out his food choices, and they have a conversation about ordering and what he’s most looking forward to. Although Dad treats for lunch, he ensures that Gunnar has money in his wallet so that he can pay for any extras he may want like a beverage or dessert. Gunnar orders what he wants and organizes his table – proudly practicing and demonstrating his independence. Sometimes they will visit the arcade next door where Gunnar selects the games he wants to play.
Gunnar shares daily chores around the house, pitching in with his four brothers. Dad works with Gunnar to make additional chores available so that he can earn money for things he wants to buy, including teaching Gunnar how to negotiate his own wage for the job he’s offered. He’s learning about exchanging labor for money, and how the time it takes to complete the task factors in.
Gunnar values his money and time and is learning the value of a dollar as he considers purchases. When he finds an item he really wants, he will look at the price, take a photo of it, then, with his dad, will walk through how much money he has and how much he needs to earn to make the purchase. Another of Gunnar’s favorite activities is going to the store and making his own purchases – a perfect example of being a part of his mainstream community while giving him the satisfaction of successfully completing adult activities.
A primary benefit of Gunnar’s community connection activities that Tom and Emily observe is that he is constantly challenged to go above and beyond what he has done. Tom explained, “Our goals include helping him understand different settings, appropriate behavior for those settings, and experiencing and understanding different environments. He does well at adapting.” Visiting National Parks – each of which has a unique environment – is part of exposing Gunnar to new places.
Tom sums it up well: “He has his own personality, and we find real value in planning activities that are tailored specifically for him. We are both enriched by sharing the time and the focused attention – Gunnar and Dad. As we walk this path, we truly appreciate Evergreen’s support. They genuinely love and care about the Individuals they serve and it’s a great organization to work with.”
