Success Stories
Mark Garrity's Story
Mark Garrity was born developmentally challenged. Mark had an active childhood and continued to lead an active adult life working at an employment program through Road To Responsibility in Braintree, MA. Mark loved his job and his friends.
At the age of 24, Mark was involved in an automobile accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. His neurosurgeons said he had a 10% percent chance of survival and there was not much hope for his recovery. Mark remained in a coma for 3 months with many complications and struggles. He was always surrounded by his family where they waited for any sign of improvement. Mark eventually responded to them with a smile. Speech was difficult prior to the injury but now with a tracheotomy, he could not make any sound at all which made communication difficult. Soon after awakening, Mark used sign language to make the symbol for “work”. He wanted everyone to know that he had a job to do and he wanted to get back to it! This became Mark’s driving force to get better ... knowing he had a job waiting for him!
Mark stayed in the hospital for 13 months. It became clear this injury would change his life forever. Mark was now physically disabled as well as mentally challenged. He had to learn everything new … hold his head up, sit, even swallow.
Finally, Mark went home to start outpatient rehabilitation. Over the next 2 ½ years he learned to stand and take small steps but it was obvious that his physical independence was gone forever. However, Mark accepted his challenges with dignity. Using a wheelchair never discouraged him. This is what is so significant about Mark’s recovery … he never gave up. He never got depressed or discouraged. He kept his goal of going back to work in sight and went for it.
Many times during Mark’s recovery, he would visit his work program and see his friends and the work they were doing. This was the best medicine for Mark; to see that his therapy would eventually allow him to return to work. Finally, four years after Mark’s injury, he returned to his work program. He now works a full day with his friends in an environment where he can thrive and grow.
It is now 16 years since Mark’s injury. The hardest realization is that a full recovery will never come. It is amazing to see Mark’s acceptance of his challenges and his effort to get better. The rehabilitation Mark has endured over the years has been extremely difficult. Still he pushes on. Mark had his own goal and he knew what he wanted … to get back to his life, his work at RTR, and his friends.
A New Job and A New Car!
John* was referred to RTR, Inc. to receive support to find a job. Not only is he now working full-time for a local retailer, he also has transportation with his new car to get back and forth to his job.
John was first referred to Road To Responsibility, Inc. (RTR) for a vocational assessment. When he completed his assessment after a couple of weeks, a RTR Career Specialist, Jenn LaRose, worked with John on resume writing, submitting employment applications, interviewing techniques, and also identifying his transportation needs. John was offered a full-time position with the local retailer in the South Shore area as an overnight stock associate. At the time John did possess a Massachusetts drivers license, but did not own a vehicle. He had to borrow a family vehicle to go to work, but this was only available as a short term arrangement. Jenn was able to identify a program called the "Good News Garage" which donates used vehicles to individuals in need at no charge. John and Jenn worked with the Good News Garage to establish a proper vehicle match. Now John loves his job and his new car!
*Name has been changed for privacy
A 74 year old individual with CP, MR, and Prostate Cancer takes art classes every Tuesday at Open Roads. A major accomplishment of his is that his art work will be displayed at the Brockton DDS Art Gallery this fall.
During the past two years Open Roads Day Habilitation Program has been reaching out to those students turning 22. Open Roads has been supporting two individuals who have been very successful in making the transition from educational services to adult services. The Open Roads programs provide therapeutic services to enable individuals to improve the quality of their lives by offering a variety of therapies. One of Open Roads areas of expertise is Behavior Therapy in conjunction with Occupational, Speech and Physical Therapy along with Music and Art therapy.
Two of our turning 22 individuals presented with aggressive and self-injurious behaviors. One individual was accepted into our Braintree Open Roads program who initially needed 1:1 behavioral support due to aggressive behavior of scratching and biting others. He was offered a consistent structured schedule of therapeutic activities which served as replacement behaviors for the individual to engage in. Communication skills, allowing the individual personal space to relax and music therapy have allowed this individual to regulate his own behavior and decrease his aggressive outbursts of aggression and self-injury. He no longer requires 1:1 staff and is an integral member of his group. Staff was able to recognize that often his aggression and screaming were means of communications since he was non-verbal. His behaviors were often due to the transition from home to the day program or he was hungry. Staff would offer him a snack or allow him personal space to adjust to the transition. This individual has been successful with his transition from education to adult services. Staff is able to approcah him now without an outburst of Aggression and enjoy his companionship.
The second turning 22 individual is a young woman in our Middleboro Open Roads program who engaged in PICA behavior which was exhibited by her chewing on her clothes especially her jersey. She would ingest the materials. This young woman required constant supervision, since she would be constantly wandering and was prescribed mitts and a vest of heavy material as a protective and supportive device to prevent her chewing. She was successful in chewing through many of the protective devices. At the Middleboro Open Roads Program a Behavior Plan was developed to provide consistent monitoring and a consistent structured schedule of therapeutic activities. She was allowed to wander, explore the program and staff in each group would engage with her. Two years later this woman no longer requires the use of mitts and the vest has been faded to an apron which is used very infrequently. Her Level I Behavior Plan will be discontinued to an interaction strategy. It is a joy to see her smile and her face light up in response to staff's interactions. Turning 22 and moving to adult therapeutic services has been a successful transition for this young woman.
