“The approach we’ve taken, the changes we’ve adopted, and the adjustments we’ve made in the home and to his routine all have one over-arching goal: to ensure JT lives the best life possible.”

The author of that quote is Zaire B, Residential Supervisor of one of UCP’s homes in Harrisburg. “JT”—the subject of the quote—is a 28-year-old man who has a diagnosis of Autism and lives in the home with 2:1 support from a team of UCP staff led by Zaire.

JT came to UCP in the spring of 2020. In November of that year, he moved into a new UCP home that was thoughtfully modified to meet his needs. Zaire joined UCP as supervisor in the home, as did JT’s support team from a previous provider. The combination of consistent staffing and strong leadership led to a smoother transition than anyone anticipated. Together they have developed a bond that started from a place of respect. “From the beginning I told the team that we were going to appeal to JT’s likes and interests,” Zaire explained. “Rather than tell him what we think he should be doing on a given day, we’re going to give him choices. He’s a grown man; it’s time to let him decide how he lives his life.”

JT’s primary goal last year—once the worst of COVID was behind us–was community inclusion. Since JT does not formulate sentences on his own but is capable of repeating words and phrases, the staff put together a board with options for various activities he could do on a given day. JT picks and chooses what appeals to him. But first, Zaire said he had to look the part.

“We started off simple, by changing his wardrobe. If he’s going to go out into the community, then he should look like a part of the community. I didn’t want people seeing us as a 2:1 but as three guys just hanging out. So we got him some better fitting clothes that are more suited to a 28-year-old. We got him some cool sneakers and a couple ball caps. And immediately people began to take notice,” Zaire recalled. Staff, family members, and others in the community complimented him on his shoes, his caps or his t-shirts. And it had an effect on JT. It began to build up his confidence to the point where he now picks out his clothes. .

The newfound confidence coincided with progress JT was making on a second goal: to lose weight in an effort to get healthier. Over a period of less than a year, he went from 267 pounds to 234. He has since leveled off at 242 and maintained that weight for the past four months. The success he’s had can be attributed to some key lifestyle changes that Zaire and his team helped put in place. These included replacing certain foods, moderating his intake of others, and getting regular exercise. JT began walking with staff every day twice a day, around the neighborhood, at local parks, or at destinations like Italian Lake and City Island. But all the changes in the world wouldn’t have mattered if JT wasn’t on board. He not only accepted, but ultimately embraced, his new lifestyle because it wasn’t forced on him. The team gave him the ability to live his life his way.

“We set the foundation for success early on,” Zaire continued. “I emphasize with my team at all times the importance of critical thinking as opposed to robotic responses. We will make adjustments according to JT’s moods (and oftentimes his meds). And we will always give him the respect he deserves.”

When asked if there is an especially meaningful moment that stands out in his mind from his time with JT, Zaire was quick to respond. “When we got to the end of this past year and we looked back at the monthlies (the reports of everything JT had done in the community)—from Hershey Sweet Lights to the Kipona Festival downtown and from Lancaster Barnstormers ball games to the Elizabethtown Fair, just to name a few—it hit me how many new experiences he had had. JT learned that the world is so much bigger than a van ride.” That community inclusion goal? JT shattered it! (And along with it, the perception of what 2:1 support looks like in the real world.)

Today Zaire said the team is looking forward to what lies ahead for JT. They hope to take him to Philadelphia to the Museum of Art (scene of the infamous “Rocky” stairs) and to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. “We’re looking to continue to expand his community by exploring new and different places. Because we’ve seen firsthand how new experiences have led to a much greater version of JT. That’s what gets me going. That’s my passion.”