By Moises Fuentes, Case Facilitator
A Ball of Warmth
I would like to take the time to introduce a ball of warmth and joy named Allison. Allison is a nonverbal client in the RCRC region. She is a sweet loving person and has an ability to warm your heart with simplest of gestures and signs. Through a gentle squeeze of the hand, she can let you know when she is greeting you or simply expressing happiness. She loves beaded necklaces that not only wears like a princess but likes to interact with for sensory reasons. She has a contagious giggle that she does when she thinks something is funny. Although she cannot give you a hug, when she feels comfortable with you, she will lean in, so you give her one. In addition, she loves to give you a kiss on the hand to demonstrate her love. She utilizes nontraditional communication and has numerous ways to show joy and affection in her unique way.
Family and Community
Family and community engagement is super important to Allison. She has a family that checks in daily via zoom. Being such a resilient person, Allison also makes the effort to visit her mother up north with a 3.5 hour drive each way. Allison has also made a family here. She quickly became a strong member of this community. Allison has gone to camp multiple years and plans to add another year of attendance in 2024. We enjoy having her and feel that she enjoys being part of it as well. She participates in the Compass events such as camps, day trips, and holiday parties where she can interact with other members of the Compass family. She also does well with her doctors. She is very patient and has a calm demeanor. Allowing the doctors to do what they need to do without a whimper. However, if needed, she is not afraid to communicate any discomfort with a vocalization or distancing herself.
Continuous Growth
Although Allison is a very dependent client, she has continuously shown growth in learning new skills for her activities of daily living through the time that she has been with us. She has made great progress in self-hygiene. She used to depend solely on staff for showering, but now only requires assistance as she showers herself and does her hair. There has also been vast improvement in getting dressed; she wants to help and has started doing so. This is a great part of what Compass SLS can do when we partner with our staff and clients. She has gained more freedom by participating more in her self-care. We are so proud of Allison’s growth and determination to live an independent life in her own home.