Staff Stories

Keith Duclos
As a child growing up with cerebral palsy, I have intimate knowledge of the barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. For me, those barriers began almost from day one, when my parents were told that I would probably never walk. Fortunately, my parents saw that despite the prognosis, I was already trying to walk, and with years of physical therapy, leg braces, and daily exercises, I have been able to walk without difficulty. But for me and others with disabilities, the barriers are not isolated incidences. They are battles that need to be fought on a daily basis.

As I matured, doctors and other professionals continued to place me in a certain category because I carried the label of "disabled". Some of my most salient experiences included being placed in classes for students with developmental disabilities, being discouraged from obtaining my driver's license, and being told that I should not bother applying to college. As an adult, I look back on my accomplishments with pride and confidence. I live a busy and active life, both professionally and personally. I love outdoor activities like running, hiking, and mountain biking. Not only did I go on to college, I also completed my graduate education at a prestigious institution.

I have learned that through persistence, a positive attitude, and a strong support system, one can accomplish their goals. It is not that I have conquered my disability, but rather that I am able to utilize the unique perspective that my disability has afforded me and turn that perspective into a source of strength.

I founded Side By Side Supported Living, Inc. to assist people with disabilities to identify their unique talents and utilize those talents towards greater self-empowerment. On countless occasions I have heard stories similar to my own in which people with disabilities have been told that their dreams and goals are not possible due their disability. I strongly believe that we, as a society need to shift our thinking away from this oppressive view and move towards the assumption that dreams and goals are achievable when the proper supports are present. It is through this paradigm shift that we create system in which almost anything is possible.

Tatum Johnson
I enjoy working with Side By Side Supported Living, Inc. because of the agency's dedication to improving an individual's quality of life without the constrictions associated with larger and more traditional services. I really love what I do, and the sense of reward that I receive from playing a role in an individual's treatment and success goes beyond words. Side by Side not only provides high quality services to the clients, but also supports and educates its staff so that we feel valued. I truly feel that Side By Side Supported Living, Inc. has given me the opportunity to work with many wonderful dedicated people and enhanced my own quality of life in countless ways.

Colleen M. DeGowin
I have always been interested in helping people, and I've been especially drawn to those who present a challenge. One of the most defining moments for me in this field, when I knew doing this work meant being a part of something special, came during my position as Assistant Program Director in a residential program. One week after I began working there, I had my very first challenging situation with a young man who required psychiatric hospitalization after becoming aggressive and threatening. At that point I realized how important my work with these clients would be, and I was nervous and unsure of how this position would work out. After months of hospitalization and medication changes, this young man reentered the program. Both staff and I were hesitant, but we were developing a new program for young adults and we decided that this young man needed another chance, in an environment in which he could succeed. To my amazement this individual rose to the challenge and showed all of us how well he could do. With supports in place that were better suited to his needs, he began attending day rehabilitation programs, enrolled in a health club, and even made plans to gain employment. He is still continuing on the right path to wellness today, making everyone proud! My experience with this individual made just as much of an impact on me as I ever could have made on him. This is what keeps me interested in the field of disabilities. I also feel that I can see the strengths and the potential in people that they themselves may not see, and I enjoy assisting them in recognizing and using those strengths.

I ended up at Side By Side Supportive Living Inc. out of luck. I am lucky to have found an agency whose sole purpose is to better the lives of others. I am lucky that laughing, teaching, and learning are a part of this job. I am lucky that I can come to work each day and watch people gain motivation and self-knowledge. I am lucky to have such an excellent group of fellow staff members that share with me a vast array of knowledge and experiences, so that I can better serve my clients. I am simply lucky!

Stacey Edwards
I've really enjoyed my tenure here at Side By Side Supported Living, Inc. As a person with a family member who has schizophrenia, I've spent a lot of time watching the complex difficulties faced by individuals with disabilities. That is part of what has brought me to the social work field. After working for so many years in residential services for adults with psychiatric disabilities, I began to realize that there were many rules and regulations that unintentionally allowed some clients to fall through the proverbial "cracks" of the system. SBS has an extremely flexible service provision system catered to each client, so that the holes normally found in other systems do not exist here. Due to the personalized nature of the program, I have observed that clients are able to experience a more normalized and supportive relationship with the SBS clinical team. SBS also values and encourages family involvement, which I consider an integral part of the clinical work that we do.

As the staff at SBS has grown, it becomes increasingly clear that every staff member cares about each one of the clients that we serve. With each client success, I become more and more excited and invested in the work we are doing at Side By Side Supported Living, Inc.