Writing on the Wall: Spring 2022
The quarterly newsletter of Wall Residences: a Virginia agency who provides services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Services include sponsored residential, group homes, community engagement & community coaching, nursing, therapeutic consultation, and behavioral support. This issue highlights recent achievements of residents, providers, staff, and the agency as a whole during the first quarter of 2022.
The quarterly newsletter of Wall Residences: a Virginia agency who provides services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Services include sponsored residential, group homes, community engagement & community coaching, nursing, therapeutic consultation, and behavioral support. This issue highlights recent achievements of residents, providers, staff, and the agency as a whole during the first quarter of 2022.
- TAGS
- employee owned company
- employee ownership
- person centered care
- person first language
- disability awareness
- disability inclusion
- disability advocate
- group home
- medicaid waiver
- professional caregiver
- family caregiver
- sponsored residential provider
- direct support professional
- wwwwallresidencescom
- nursing
- virginia
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Listen With Your Heart<br />
Communicati<strong>on</strong> is important in any<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ship. For Mackenzie and Provider<br />
Jeanette Perry, it is <strong>the</strong> center of<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir life toge<strong>the</strong>r and takes multiple<br />
forms. When c<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong> fails <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y have found writing down what<br />
<strong>the</strong>y are trying to express for <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
to read helps clarify meaning. Working<br />
to understand each o<strong>the</strong>r goes bey<strong>on</strong>d<br />
words. Jeanette describes when<br />
<strong>the</strong>y met. “I b<strong>on</strong>ded with her immediately.<br />
I told her mom I would not just<br />
listen to her with my ears, but with<br />
my heart.” The two were a match and<br />
have lived toge<strong>the</strong>r for nearly two<br />
years. “Mackenzie is a funny young<br />
lady. Kind. C<strong>on</strong>siderate. Helpful.<br />
Energetic. She keeps me going! She’s<br />
just really fun to be with.”<br />
That heart b<strong>on</strong>d goes both ways. Of<br />
“Ms. J,” Mackenzie says, “She’s<br />
a nice pers<strong>on</strong>. I like her. She’s my<br />
friend.” Mackenzie also notes what<br />
a good cook Jeanette is, with chicken<br />
pot pie and “mac ‘n cheese in <strong>the</strong><br />
oven” particular favorites. Jeanette<br />
believes in providing Mackenzie with<br />
as many opportunities to make her<br />
own choices as possible. This extends<br />
from meals to activities and bey<strong>on</strong>d.<br />
Those choices have created a life that<br />
is full and busy! Mackenzie loves<br />
spending several days a week at<br />
Momentum 180 where she has many<br />
friends. “I love my job!” she enthusiastically<br />
shares, listing people she interacts<br />
with <strong>the</strong>re. They claim Fridays<br />
and weekends as <strong>the</strong>ir days toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />
for chores and to just relax. They purposely<br />
set no schedule <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong>se days,<br />
leaving <strong>the</strong>m free to choose. Striving<br />
for balance is key with eating out and<br />
going to <strong>the</strong> gym to swim both named<br />
as potential choices. Often <strong>the</strong>y love<br />
just getting in Jeanette’s red truck and<br />
driving. Sometimes <strong>the</strong>y have a destinati<strong>on</strong><br />
in mind, o<strong>the</strong>r times <strong>the</strong>y decide<br />
as <strong>the</strong>y drive what local spot <strong>the</strong>y’d<br />
like to see that day. Nearby beaches,<br />
local restaurants, and parks offer many<br />
opti<strong>on</strong>s, as does <strong>on</strong>e of Mackenzie’s<br />
favorite outings: shopping! She’s an<br />
avid collector of all types of bags,<br />
backpacks, and purses. Not <strong>on</strong>ly does<br />
she purchase <strong>on</strong>es that catch her eye,<br />
she also makes <strong>the</strong>m! She creatively<br />
combines plastic bags, paper, and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
materials to fashi<strong>on</strong> each, sometimes<br />
even including a handwritten note as<br />
part of <strong>the</strong> design when making<br />
<strong>on</strong>e as a gift.<br />
The tight twosome becomes a<br />
trio to <strong>the</strong>ir shared delight when<br />
Jeanette’s granddaughter Nyah<br />
visits in <strong>the</strong> summer. Family<br />
is important to both women.<br />
Mackenzie is a proud aunt to<br />
an adorable niece and shows<br />
off pictures. She’s looking forward<br />
to a return trip to Alaska<br />
this summer to visit with her<br />
bro<strong>the</strong>r and his family again. Closer to<br />
home, Mackenzie and Jeanette enjoy<br />
friendships with neighbors, church<br />
7<br />
members, and o<strong>the</strong>rs. “People are<br />
drawn to her,” says Jeanette. She also<br />
lifts up <strong>the</strong> unexpected joy of gaining<br />
a relati<strong>on</strong>ship with Mackenzie’s<br />
family and her own family gaining a<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ship with Mackenzie as <strong>on</strong>e<br />
of <strong>the</strong> benefits of being a Sp<strong>on</strong>sored<br />
Residential Provider.<br />
Jeanette has spent her career working<br />
with people with intellectual disabilities<br />
and mental health diagnoses, with<br />
over 40 years experience including<br />
working at Eastern State Hospital and<br />
for local community service boards.<br />
About two years ago, she decided to<br />
become a provider because she was<br />
“at a point where I didn’t want to<br />
show up 9-5!” With her <strong>on</strong>ly child<br />
grown, <strong>the</strong> house felt too big for <strong>on</strong>e.<br />
She knew she had room in her home<br />
and heart for some<strong>on</strong>e looking for<br />
support she could provide. “It was<br />
time to just enjoy life with some<strong>on</strong>e<br />
else. Enhance <strong>the</strong>ir life, as well as my<br />
own.” As <strong>the</strong> stories c<strong>on</strong>tinue to flow,<br />
it is clear heart listening has indeed<br />
led to an enhanced life for both Mackenzie<br />
and Jeanette.<br />
~Angie Covingt<strong>on</strong><br />
Center: Mackenzie with just a few of <strong>the</strong><br />
bags in her collecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Above: Jeanette Perry & Mackenzie