February 2023: Feeling "Fully Human"
Can you recall a time you were in survival mode? Someone in our community in survival mode recently shared, “I just want to feel fully human again.”
What moves a person from survival mode to feeling “fully human”?
At Do For One, we often talk about the universal "Good Things Of Life.” These are things that people need to feel fully human. Sadly, ordinary privileges like applying for a job, choosing who you spend time with, or having the ability to travel to your sports league or church of choice all drift out of reach for a person with disabilities.
When a well-connected Advocate enters a Partner’s life, a bridge is built for the Partner to access more of these universal "Good Things Of Life.”
Read about Jess and Maggie below!
Jess & Maggie
Jess and Maggie at Rockefeller Center around Christmas 2021.
During the pandemic, Jess (left) lost her job as a dog groomer. She felt increasingly isolated as the social groups she was part of with other people with disabilities were canceled.
At their first meeting in 2021, Maggie shared that she has a background in dance and theater. At this, Jess lit up and began sharing her dreams of acting and dancing with people outside of the special needs programs she was part of.
Since then, Maggie and Jess have made unforgettable memories of seeing several shows, including the Rockettes, celebrating Jess’s birthday, and even attending a Bollywood dance class at a fundraiser!
“We went to the gelato place in my neighborhood. Maggie listens to me. She introduced me to her friend who gave me a piano lesson for free. I was so excited I had an old book from the 80’s that I used with her. It’s something I wanted for a long time.”
Jess celebrating her birthday with Maggie at their favorite neighborhood restaurant!
Freely given relationships are key for people with disabilities to move beyond baseline survival and towards a life teeming with good things. Having the chance to pursue a dream, having access to people who know good people, and having a person who loves you to call up and grab gelato are all ordinary privileges that allow any one of us to feel “fully human.”