Housing Myth Busting Community spotlight: Thalia D.

Families CCAN is proud to be a recipient of the PA Developmental Disabilities Council’s Housing Myth Busting grant.  The goal of our project is to break down some of the prevalent myths, or falsehoods, about housing for adults with disabilities. 

Along with our partners from Self Advocates United as One (SAU1), we are sharing information about Independent Living for Adults with disabilities.  

As part of our project, we are sharing a series of Community Spotlight Interviews.  These interviews highlight the stories of individuals with disabilities who are living independently in the community.  

Our Next Housing Myth Busting Community Spotlight Interviewee is Thalia.  Thalia lives on her own in an apartment in Chester County and is very involved in her community.  She balances her time between her job at an organization that supports vulnerable community members and her many hobbies, including art, cooking, and attending open mic nights at a local cafe.  

Thalia  was interviewed by  Housing Myth Busting team members and SAU1 power coaches Gretchen and Elijah.   This interview  has been lightly edited for clarity and length, but the words are all Thalia’s own. 

Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Thalia. We know you live on your own. The information you will provide is so valuable to people with disabilities.  First question:  What is one thing you know now that you wish you’d known before you moved out on your own?

“I wish I’d known about the existence of my house and the location.  It’s a bummer-- I lived near here and didn’t even know about it.  I was getting kind of impatient until it worked out for me. . . .  It was quite the process--moving out. . .  and living on my own.”

Thalia, can you tell us a little about where you live?

 “I live in the center of a rather busy street. It's in a town. . .  I would describe it as a small town.  [I live in] an apartment.  I rent it.”

How long have you been living on your own?

“Four years.”

Who helped you plan your move to your own place?

“My supports coordinator,  my residential manager, and direct support [staff], and my dad to a great extent.”

Thalia, what are some steps you took before you moved from your family home to get ready to live in your own place?

“That is a very good question.   I did apply for a Waiver, which I still don't have, but thankfully it has worked out, and here I am in my own home.  Thankfully I have other resources.  In the meantime, I also went through an application process for affordable housing.  For months and even years. . . .   I’m right in the center [of town], right around stores and restaurants, and I love it.   I can afford the rent, thankfully.” 

How are you paying for living in your own place, if you feel comfortable answering that?

“My dad  is helping, and my [support] organization is supporting to some extent.  I don't want to say quite all the details, but obviously I can afford it. . . .    I am on the waitlist for a waiver, on the Emergency Waitlist, but I have been waiting.  There’s a big number of people on [the Emergency Waitlist].”

Do you feel you are receiving enough support?

“Yes, I do feel I'm receiving good support.”

Can you share more about your supports?

“They are to have groceries in my house and to have rides when I want to go somewhere and support to get shopping and other errands done.  And also, I have positive relationships in my area and neighborhood and community.  That’s also something that’s very important, and a source of support as well.  I do enjoy living on my own.” 

What skill do you think has been the most important for living on your own?

“To be able to  cook on my own and be aware of safety procedures, I think.  [It was important to learn how to] walk in the neighborhood as well.”

What is one thing that is wonderful about living in your own place?

“That I can do things in peace the way I want.  I'm able to be in control of my life without being disrupted.  I think it's a good thing about living on my own and having more space--more quiet time when I feel I need it.  I do love to go out there and socialize, but I feel that living alone with no one else-- it’s good.  I can invite who I want [into my home.]  I can have the freedom to go where I like and do my thing.”

Do you have any housemates?

“I do not, and I think a lot of the reason why not is when I tried it, it got a bit challenging to agree on things;  like how we work things out around the house and the temperature and all that got a bit challenging.  But there are good things-- you have company and you don’t get lonely.  But actually, I prefer to have some peace sometimes, as I said, and be able to watch TV that I like without having to worry about either bothering someone or having to come to agreement if someone wants to watch something else.” 

Do you feel included in your neighborhood?

“I definitely do feel included.  People around my neighborhood and community acknowledge me, and are very friendly.  I think it’s not only that I have my own apartment, but I can freely and safely and pleasantly get around the neighborhood.”

Do you have social spaces in your community that you use or go to frequently? 

“Yes, I do. Yes. . .  to socialize, and sometimes to do arts  and crafts and fun things like music events and movies.  I do Open Mic every Thursday in a cafe in my town very close to where I live.  Some of my friends do that, too, in the neighborhood.”  

What advice do you have for other people with disabilities who are thinking about getting their own place?

“I think that it's important just to make sure it's a safe place and that they'll really be comfortable with it, and to make sure ahead of time support is arranged when they need it, whatever it is.”

Is there anything else that you want to share about living on your own?

“Let me think about that.  I do feel some responsibility.”

Can you share a little more about that, about the responsibilities that you have now that you’re living on your own? 

“I think organizing my schedule and my life and my routine and how to plan my day. . . .I do [that] with some support, [and] I think it's working.   And also to keep my place so organized and clean. [I suggest that] others should work on that if they ever get their own place.  That's actually a good conversation to have with friends.  I’d like to let people know about this. . . .  If they’re thinking that they’d like to have their own place down the road, to live on their own like I do.”

What sort of things do you like to cook living on your own?

“I try to cook  healthy.  I have been in a healthy eating group with a group of people in my community or organization.  It’s fun and the food tastes good and is healthy.  And I even learned something, to cook, to do it on my own.   I did buy from the bookstore a recipe book about cooking for Diabetics.  And I did manage to find some tasty recipes that I can do all by myself.  It’s a nice book, and they are healthy recipes.” 

You mentioned that when you were preparing to live on your own, you learned some safety skills.  Can you describe that?  Was it kitchen safety, or fire safety, or something else?

“Yeah, exactly. I think, kitchen and fire safety, these things.  I did, of course, have help. I even saw a video with people from my organization. . . .  Even before I moved in my home, I did things  like First Aid.  I even took a class years ago, even before I moved into this home. . . .  I may need it if I am home alone, or with a friend.”

You mentioned that  you like to cook.  What other things do you do for fun?

“Well, I do things like drawing and painting and I like to read or listen to music at times.”

Are there any things that you want to share that we haven't touched on?

“Actually, I do have employment. It’s very close to where I live-- I just  walk over.  It’s an office to support and have shelter for people who are homeless or don't have enough food and clothes or a comfortable home.  That's what I do. I mean for work, for employment.” 

How long have you worked there?

“Five years.  Even before living here.  Actually, they to some extent helped me make it work.. . . .Yeah, I wanted to share that, of course I'm happy to. That's part of independent life. . . .   And I am involved with the [SAU1]  board now, and even got elected. . . .   I am the Vice President of SAU1.  I am honored about that.   It's nice that you could reach out to me and have a conversation.”

“I feel grateful and honored.  [It]  seemed that I was also thinking about not just me, Thalia, myself, but also people out there to work on being free from institutions and more freedom and choices and being able to afford what they need and having their rights supported for a free and independent life.” 

This project is funded by the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council.  To learn more about the project and how you can get involved, please visit our Housing Myth Busting page.