“I first started working with Marc in 2017. When I met him, he was a shy young man, on the quiet side, still in High School. He struggled a bit in High School. He was bullied and although his family advocated for him, the district did not intervene or do enough to put an end to this. Marc's social skills were adequate, but his independent skills needed some work.
I began working with him and his family to put a plan in place that would meet all of Marc's needs and provide social and recreational activities. His grandmother, a long-time employee in the Human Service field, was as strong an advocate as I had ever met. I was a little nervous that I wouldn't meet her expectations and run with the torch as she had been doing up to this point. It didn't take long for Marc and I to find our groove.
I began to learn as much as I could about him and what was most important to him in his life, what his future goals were. Marc decided to leave school after graduation, they were not providing him with any skill building he felt he needed or wanted. Then we launched his Self-Direction plan in 2019. This new freedom of choice that Self-Direction provided to him was such a motivating confidence booster. He began volunteering in the community, taking Karate classes, learning to cook, attending social groups, and most importantly, finding his voice.
Always a kid who sees the glass half full, Self-Direction has taken him to a whole new level. He's found meaningful friendships and acceptance. He finds joy in helping others and I never leave him without a smile on my face. Marc and his family are great advocates for those on the Spectrum. They attend several events and fundraisers throughout the year to bring awareness to Autism.
The differences I've seen in his skill building, compassion for others, and focus on achievements in such a small amount of time are simply a reminder why I love what I do. Marc makes it easy for me to remember why I do what I do and why I love doing it. There is no mountain high enough to hold this young man back!”
