A Heartwarming Story

Yolanda Carreon, From Babysteps to On The Go
When I first met Yolanda last year, she was very dependant on other people to help her with things she was capable of doing on her own, such as getting to appointments, picking up her check and going shopping. Yolanda has been a client of The Arc since 2003 and suffers from multiple disabilities, which include an intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and mental illness.

She spent most of her days sitting in her apartment watching soap operas and was unwilling to advocate for herself or take part in events or activities that would give her more independance. Before her previous case manager left, she had set Yolanda up with Special Transit Services (STS) to give her access to very low cost transportation within the community. Her case manager knew that Yolanda needed this independence, but Yolanda adamantly refused to participate in these services.

When I became Yolanda’s case manager I set clear boundaries that I would not be able to drive her to her appointments, and she was not happy about my limits. I encouraged her to ride STS and explained all the positive aspects of this service. I even offered to ride STS with her the first time so that she wouldn’t be so nervous, but she refused. In fact, she was quite upset that I would not continue to do things for her that she was very capable of doing. I told her she was correct, I wouldn’t do things for her, but would encourage her and praise her for things that she would start doing for herself.

Luckily, her husband as well as her case managers at MHMR, Family Eldercare and I were all on the same page and continued reinforcing the need for her to gain these skills. This dialogue lasted for six months, until the day when her husband was unable to take work off to bring her to a doctor’s appointment. I told Yolanda she had two choices: she could schedule a ride with STS or miss her appointment. 

Yolanda was unsuccessful at convincing me to drive her to the appointment, so she reluctantly chose to ride STS to her appointment. She rode STS successfully, and we met for breakfast afterwards to celebrate. That was 5 months ago, and she hasn’t stopped since. She takes STS to her appointments and to Family Eldercare to pick up her check. She even walks to the bank by herself to cash it.

Just recently, Yolanda agreed, after months of encouragement by all of her case managers, to attend a class with me at ARCIL, which provides classes for independent living, and she ended up loving it. Not only did she agree to participate in a game that encouraged money management skills, she even helped another client distinguish between a quarter, nickel, dime and penny.  Yolanda is excited to enroll for classes at ARCIL and has even expressed a new interest in attending events at The Arc. She asked me to schedule STS to come to movie night this month.

This has been a difficult year, knowing that by not enabling my client, she would start taking part in her own self advocacy and at the same time, probably not like me very much in the process. With tough love, encouragement and praise she has grown so much, and we have formed a really great relationship in the process. She is aware that she is capable and knows that we just want the best for her. This has been years of hard work and baby steps by all of her case managers at The Arc, MHMR and Family Eldercare to get Yolanda to where she is today. Words cannot express how proud I am of her!  And, more importantly, she’s proud of herself too!