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OPTIONS PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT: Going to OPTIONS is not just about having a fun and educational place to attend during the weekdays. It is about taking part in the community! James' enters a pre-school classroom, children swarm to him with animated greetings, wrapping their arms around his legs. He accepts the fuss with his trademark bashful grin and a soft touch for each child. Each Wednesday he comes prepared, proudly wearing his “Make a Joyful Noise” tee-shirt (and before the shirt, his official Joyful Noise name badge). Initially too shy to stand with the children, “Mr. James” observed musicclass from a distance, alone behind thecircle of children. Now, after twoyears under the guidance of Jeannette Brady, the owner of Joyful Noise music instruction, he co-leads Joyful Noise music lessons with an OPTIONS peer, Donna Reynolds, from the front of the classrooms. James also demonstrates responsibility and uses his gentlemanly manners by carrying the teaching equipment (boxes of instruments, props, CDs and music player) to and from Jeannette’s vehicle and between the two pre-school classrooms. On Fridays, James enjoys another DePaul Family Services’ OPTIONS community partner experience at Independent Lifestyles. A dynamic peer whom James finds amusing, Buddy Conner, has a fondness for vehicles and machines with motors. At Buddy’s urging, James started visiting the accessible equipment retail store and garage each week. For many weeks, James visited faithfully and silently watched the work of mechanics Sammy and Lee as they repaired and retrofitted vehicles to become accessible, occasionally chuckling and frequently smiling at Buddy’s antics and the guy talk in the shop. Now, after six months of weekly contact, caring relationships and self-confidence have built gradually and James has learned about vehicles. One day after teaching a music lessonwith Joyful Noise, James observed a brake light out on Jeanette’s vehicle. He applied his new mechanical knowledge by informing her of the problem and expressed concern that it may cause her to have an accident or get a ticket. James insisted she repairit immediately saying, “It’s not safe.” At a recent Joyful Noise lesson at theMadison Heights OPTIONS center,James stepped forward and confidently took teacher Jeannette Brady’s hand and cut loose, guiding her in twirls and other fancy dance moves. Surprised OPTIONS peers celebrated the animation and spontaneity of their shy friend with laughter and cheers.
Mary Janick-Smith, Coordinator |