| Karen's Story
Karen
has serious Down syndrome and no ability to communicate verbally.
She used to live a ‘pseudo-life’ doing routine work in sheltered
workshops. As a result,
Karen turned inward.She
was clearly depressed and had no self-confidence.
She was also frustrated at the lack of control over any aspect
of her life and would grow angry and resistant to the slightest
change, such as a move in work stations at the sheltered workshop.
Over a period of years, the workshops closed and Karen ‘supported
to enrich her world’, a process that was scary for her at first.
Gradually,
she found her place working in a family resource centre where she
helps kids. (It is not a childcare centre, but women go there for
help with various issues – parenting, financial, new immigrant issues
– and are frequently struggling with self-esteem for many reasons.)
Women come together, the children play and the women broaden
their meager support networks.For the first time in her life, Karen is an adult woman supporting
kids, not a “severely disabled woman”.
She has become the caregiver.
Karen has changed the atmosphere of the place.
When Karen is there, “happy and valued and contributing”, the
women see this as a place where everyone is appreciated and everyone’s
gifts are appreciated….as Karen’s has been.
The Centre becomes a place where their gifts will be honoured
and not just a place they come to have their needs met.
Karen
knows that she is valued and appreciated. She holds her head higher,
walks taller, and has a new calmness and serenity about her.
She knows she matters.
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