“Oh, she’s always learning new things...they’ve done craft and pottery types of things, so she’s learning all types of things and learning social skills as they’re out in the community.”
If there’s anyone who can attest to the impact and fun that comes out of Hattie Larlham’s Franklin County Recreation program, it’s Jane and her sister, Lisa. Jane has been a member of Franklin County Recreation (FCR) for over thirty years and she’s still learning new things, embracing new experiences, and building lasting friendships. Lisa is Jane’s legal guardian and has been with her over the years, helping her to gain her independence and thrive as an adult.
“I just think that Jane’s been fortunate to be able to be involved in the community and in the programs that she has. And I think Hattie is a good example of an organization that recognizes the need for individuals to have experiences and exposure to different activities as well as the opportunity to participate in those.” After more than three decades of watching her sister thrive with FCR, Lisa explained why the program is so important. We asked her what makes Hattie Larlham stand out among other disability services providers and she said, “Well, it’s the people, number one. And the individuals that I know that are employees of Hattie Larlham are always top, top notch and they really care about the individuals they serve.”
As perhaps a credit in part to the personal growth Jane has experienced through her time with FCR, she recently celebrated a major milestone. Having always lived under the care of her parents, and more recently her sister, Jane and Lisa decided this summer that Jane was finally ready for a next step toward increased independence and moved into an independent living apartment with her close friend. Lisa explained that this was a huge step for Jane, and it has been an exciting transition for her. Of course, Lisa visits often and Jane receives visits from support staff who help with daily living needs she may have, but Jane values having her own space and takes pride in her new living situation.
We had the pleasure of meeting Lisa and Jane at her new apartment, where she graciously showed us around the common areas and was quick to talk about an upcoming costume-themed dance party with FCR that she was looking forward to. At her new apartment, Jane has access to transportation that helps her get to all the FCR activities she likes to attend, as well as to her job at Panera, where she’s worked for many years. We asked her what she would tell someone who was thinking about becoming an FCR member but who was unsure if they’d enjoy the experience. Jane said, “We go to the Clippers games, and the Bluejackets games. And we go play putt-putt and we play video golf. You’ll have fun!” And Jane certainly knows a thing or two about having fun. She’s one of the most active FCR members and photos of her frequently grace the monthly event catalog that features a look back at the previous month’s activities and gives members the opportunity to RSVP for events in the upcoming month. Each catalog offers an average of 25 activities every month, most taking place during late afternoons and evenings to accommodate members’ work and day program schedules. This is a unique feature of the program and fills a programming gap left by many other providers. Statistically, adults with disabilities are some of the most isolated individuals in a community due to a variety of factors, including a lack of community-based programming. FCR helps remove some of those barriers by offering members the opportunity to build friendships, socialize, and engage within their communities during times of day when they may otherwise be without access to such options.
Hattie Larlham and our incredible staff at Franklin County Recreation are honored to facilitate a program that has such a meaningful impact for its members. As Lisa said, not only do FCR activities and events afford members the chance to learn new hard skills like pottery, cooking, gaming, but the program also offers priceless opportunities to learn important social skills, time management, money handling, self-advocacy, and relationship building. None of these opportunities to learn would be possible without donor support of Hattie Larlham and our programs like FCR. Your year-end gift today could mean so much to someone like Jane, who’s relied on the FCR program for over thirty years, to help her thrive and learn through new and cherished experiences.