APSI client Brooklyn is outspoken; whether at home or her day program, she stands up for what she wants. But she does more than that; she advocates for her peers, always ensuring their voices are heard.
“I could write a dictionary using all adjectives to describe Brooklyn, and they would all be positive. She is a phenomenal lady who has been through so much in her life, and she has not allowed it to slow her down,” Brooklyn’s former Protective Services Representative (PSR) Shirella said.
Since she’s been a client with APSI, Brooklyn’s life has transformed. When she first became a client, her family tried to take advantage of her financially, and she would express her opinions inappropriately.
“She came in really bumpy and really rough and really just traumatized,” Brooklyn’s former PSR Shannon said.
But with the help of her team at APSI Brooklyn overcame her past; she built appropriate boundaries with her family and learned how to better advocate for herself—and others. Brooklyn herself said, “I believe strongly in not just advocating for myself but advocating for other people. Because there's some people who can't advocate for themselves.”
Brooklyn’s former PSR Shirella equipped Brooklyn with coping strategies for her frustrations so they would not affect her communication. She encouraged Brooklyn to remove herself from irritating situations and temporarily work on a puzzle—one of her favorite hobbies. Over time, Brooklyn completed several puzzles, and Shirella helped her glue them and hang them in her room for “her to see like with every problem, sometimes at the end of it, it's beautiful. We can stay negative and we can stay angry and upset, but normally, if we work through it, it turns into a beautiful project.”
With her rep’s help, Brooklyn moved from an environment that was not a good fit into her current home with roommates she loves, and staff who empower her. She enjoys helping with cooking, cleaning, and even advocating for her nonverbal roommate’s needs.
“I think, prior to Brooklyn being where she’s at, that she never had the opportunity to spread her wings,” Shirella explained.
Shirella ensured Brooklyn ran her team meetings and encouraged her to raise issues that mattered most to her. As she gained confidence in herself, Brooklyn wanted to speak her mind politically and vote but thought she could not because of her disability. Shirella told Brooklyn she actually could vote, and she did.
“She’s enthusiastic to experience life... whenever you approach her about trying something new, just in general, a new job, a new living environment, anywhere where her opinions, her voice can be heard. She's all about it,” Shirella said.
Brooklyn’s advocacy shined bright as she attended the 2024 Developmental Disabilities Awareness & Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse, where she met face to face with lawmakers to tell them about issues that affect her. She attended with her fellow Advocacy Ambassadors, a group of APSI clients that meet monthly to discuss advocacy issues.
“Even though we have disabilities, they still listen to us and actually took in perspective our feelings,” Brooklyn said. “Which made me really happy. Because most people, a lot of people, don't give us a chance to talk... They just say, ‘Oh, no, you don't need the talk.’”
Michelle, Brooklyn’s current PSR, is extremely proud, saying, “I think they're perceived oftentimes as they don't understand. And I think it's good for them to be able to get up there and talk.”
Brooklyn also attends a job workshop three times a week to build up her skills so she can find community employment.
“People with disabilities can be the most outgoing, outspoken employee that they would ever have... It'd be nice for them to say, ‘Hey, let's give it a try,’” Brooklyn said.
As her independence and self-advocacy grow, Brooklyn looks to the future, aiming to live in her own apartment and end her guardianship services. And APSI will support her every step of the way.
Because of her amazing growth, Brooklyn was awarded the TJ Jackson Forever Friends Award in 2023, which is given to APSI clients who demonstrate independence.
“Brooklyn knows who she is now. She doesn't question who she is,” Shirella shared. “She knows what she likes, what she doesn't like, what she wants to do, what she shouldn't do, and she speaks up for it.”
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