Life Skills & Support Finds New Home for Ryan Young
Program Has Supported Individuals and Families for Over 20 Years
Ryan Young’s landlord gave him a 30-day notice to vacate last year, and he wasn’t sure what to do.
He had lived in the same complex for most of his life, starting at age 12 with his family. Then his grandmother passed away and his father found a new home, so Ryan moved into another unit of the complex at age 20. It wasn’t the best location for him because it took a long time to get to work, requiring two buses every day to get to his job at Walmart that he has held for over 10 years. However, it was a place he had known for more than 30 years.
That’s when Life Skills & Support, a program of Rocky Mountain Human Services, stepped in. Residential Specialist Jessica McKnight connected Ryan’s developmental disability (DD) benefits to pay for Supported Residential Services that would allow Ryan to get a new-and-improved apartment. She was so skillful that Ryan nicknamed her “Boss.”
“I’ve never seen anyone put everything together like Boss – I was amazed,” Ryan remembered.
Jessica and his Life Skills & Support team worked to find Ryan an apartment that fit his needs. The move opened the opportunity for Ryan to find a home that was closer to his work, which will be important as he gets older. Life Skills & Support found Ryan a home that is a short bus-ride away from his job.
Ryan loves his job at Walmart and wants to continue working there as long as he can. He has a wall of work awards that includes his 10-year anniversary there in April 2018. Alongside improving his commute, Ryan now has an apartment that offers him a more comfortable space that he enjoys.
“I have everything I’ve ever wanted all in one place,” he said with a smile.
Ryan is one of around a dozen clients in the Supported Residential Services program through Life Skills and Support. This program helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live independently in their own homes.
Supported Residential Services offers:
Assistance locating an apartment, moving and ongoing support with property management.
Education in independent living skills such as money management, shopping, meal preparation and home safety.
Community involvement and social enrichment based on individual interests.
Support accessing transportation and navigating public transit.
Life Skills & Support has helped many adults find and move into the most suitable homes for them and offers continuous support with daily living.
Ryan’s life has improved since the move thanks to his shortened commute and more comfortable living space. His Residential Specialist also helps him manage his money and medical records to make sure he is taken care of.
“Moving was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it’s been better for me. I have everything I’ve ever wanted all in one place,” Ryan said. “I look at it like I bettered myself.”
To learn more about Life Skills & Support, visit www.rmhumanservices.org/lss.
