Opening Doors to the World
By Natacha Krzesaj
Meet André. He is a 41-year-old man whose main interests are listening to country music, dancing and collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia. Sound like someone you know? Maybe a friend or neighbor?
André Sicard is a little bit different than you and I; he needs full-time daily supervision.
Over the last four decades, André’s
parents, the Sicards, have been on a journey
full of obstacles, trying to locate adapted services for André
while juggling his care, their jobs and raising their
two daughters.
Luckily for the Sicard
family,
A prime example of an adult day
habilitation center is
André
Sicard has participated in the GCTFS program for over
three years, and his family has actually seen improvements.
His speech and vocabulary have gotten better,
his social skills have flourished and his confidence and independence are
growing.
Adults with disabilities all across
Many adult habilitation centers, like GCTFC, offer
field trips into the community.
These
benefit participants in many ways. It is much better to have “hands-on”
experience and interact with others than to just sit in a classroom. For
example, going to the Baton Rouge Zoo is a much more instructive and
interactive adventure than looking at pictures of a safari.
Plus it’s a lot more fun!
André and his family members, along with many others all across the parish, have been helped by specialized adult facilities. Such programs also benefit the staff members and volunteers who know they have made a positive impact on the life of someone who has become a very good friend.
For more information about the program and/or to find
out how you can help, please visit
www.gctfs.org/ride