Success Stories
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.
