Linda & Chuck's Story: Part II
Chuck and Linda got married in 2004.
“I asked her to marry me the year before, at a Tigers game,” Chuck says. “I went down on one knee. A bunch of the Tigers came out of the dressing room to find out what was going on, and then one of them said, “OK, kiss now!””
Chuck and Linda have always been supported at home, but about a year ago, they decided to start getting that support through REDIconnects. They’ve both enjoyed the switch. “It’s better [with REDI] because they try to find ways to make it easier on you,” Linda says. She feels more in control of her life. “We’re more in the driver’s seat.”
The transition was also easier because they were paired with Meagan, someone who knew them both already. “When I meet with Meagan,” Chuck says, “first, we see if there’s anything that needs to be cleaned. If everything is good, sometimes she picks me up and we go to the bank.” He likes Meagan’s flexibility. “I’m not stressed. Things are more relaxed.”
“We always support them separately,” Meagan says, “because even though they are married, they still have very different goals that they are wanting to reach. When I'm working with Linda, we are focusing on home management skills. Linda has the skills to do this independently, but like 99.9% of the world, sometimes she gets overwhelmed. My job is to help her sort it out and start at step one.”
REDIconnects’ support always focuses on each client’s specific needs, something Meagan appreciates about her job. “My favorite thing about my job is that, not only does every day look different, but every client interaction is different. Every client has different strengths and weaknesses, and our goal is to help them live independently. For some clients, it’s more about house management and home-making skills, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, buying groceries, etc. With others, it’s more about community involvement and getting involved with other agencies, [like] Medicine Hat Housing, Canadian Mental Health, and Addictions and Mental Health in the Provincial Building.”
Helping Chuck and Linda increase their confidence and independence is always Meagan’s goal. “As staff, we know what they can do,” she says, “but getting them to see it in themselves is the main purpose of what we’re doing, with TAG and with REDIconnects.”
Chuck and Linda recognize the change REDI’s made in their lives. It’s made them want to share their new perspectives with others. “I have more desire now than I did before to help people with disabilities be treated how they should be,” Linda says. “I learned that I have a voice and people can take me seriously.”