Episode 7: What we are thankful for this Thanksgiving Season

As families supporting young adults with disabilities, our days can be full and complex — but they’re also full of moments worth celebrating. In this week’s episode of Life Without a Filter, I share a personal reflection on the things we are especially grateful for as we continue building and managing L’s participant-directed program.

From the flexibility of personalized scheduling, to inclusive community opportunities, to dedicated staff and supportive partners — these pieces make all the difference in helping our young adults thrive.

If you’re a parent, educator, provider, or someone who works in adult disability services, I hope this episode offers both insight and encouragement.

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As a Disclaimer, I am NOT a lawyer, a medical doctor, or a licensed psychologist. I am writing this blog as a mom sharing her journey and opinions. My views are my own and should not be construed as any direct medical or legal advice. (I hate having to write a disclaimer, but this is the world we live in!)

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to this week’s episode of Life Without a Filter, the podcast where we talk about the ups, downs, and everything in between as we walk this road with our young adults with disabilities.

As we head into the Thanksgiving season, many of us find ourselves slowing down — even if just for a moment — to take stock of what we’re grateful for. Today, I’m sharing a few of the things our family is especially thankful for this year when it comes to L’s programming, his growth, and the community that surrounds him.

🍂We are thankful for… the flexibility of the participant-directed model.

L will be the first to tell you: he is NOT a morning person. With the participant-directed program, one of the things he loves most is that he can design a schedule that actually works for him. No more rushing out the door at the crack of dawn to catch a van or make it to a program on someone else’s timeline.

Most days, his programming starts around 10 a.m. That alone has reduced so much of the morning stress — and the nagging. Of course, we still have those tougher mornings (don’t we all?), but the later start has made a world of difference.

🍂We are thankful for… the individualization.

When we first visited a traditional program, L had one big worry:
 “What if I have to do something I don’t like?”

And the truth is, in many group programs, you don’t always get to choose your activity, and sometimes you’re moved along before you’re ready. Now, to be fair, all of us — whether at work or in life — have to do things we don’t always enjoy. We talk about that with L a lot, especially around work expectations.

But because he could share his vision and we could build a program around it, his days are meaningful, motivating, and rooted in what lights him up. That’s something we don’t take for granted.

🍂We are thankful for… L’s incredible staff.

Every single day, I am grateful for the wonderful adults who choose to work with L. They believe in his abilities, support his goals, and give him the scaffolding he needs to grow. Watching the relationship between L and his staff has been one of the biggest gifts of this journey.

🍂We are thankful for… the community opportunities that give L a place to belong.

Community has always been at the heart of L’s social life. Programs like Special Olympics, the YMCA, Gnome Surf, ASD Fit — they’ve become part of his weekly rhythm and his support system.

Yes, they offer recreation and wellness, but they also offer friendships, connection, dances, outings, and shared memories. At the end of the day, every young adult wants — and deserves — a peer group where they feel seen and included. We are so grateful to have found organizations that embrace L and create that safe, welcoming space.

🍂We are thankful for… volunteer opportunities that open doors.

We know not every community readily says yes to including our young adults, especially in work or volunteer roles. Too often, assumptions about what our kids “can’t” do get in the way.

But L has been welcomed by local partners who see his abilities and value what he brings. These volunteer experiences give him purpose, build real workplace skills, and, honestly, I believe they’re laying the foundation for future paid employment. That’s a gift we don’t take lightly.

🍂We are thankful for… watching L live his best life.

Sometimes we joke that we’re all just living in L’s world and hanging onto his coattails — and it really does feel like that. He’s been blessed with some amazing experiences: playing in State Games at Gillette Stadium, basketball at TD Garden, swinging at home plate at Fenway Park, golf clinics at TPC Boston… it’s been a ride. And seeing his joy reminds us of why we work so hard to build the right supports around him.

🍂We are thankful for… the ability to do a participant-directed program at all.

Not every family gets this opportunity, and we never lose sight of that. This program works because of the circle of care around L — our DDS Support Broker, his staff, our community partners, our family, and the friends who cheer him on.

I talked about this in last week’s blog, but it’s worth repeating: this isn’t a journey we walk alone. And we are deeply thankful for that.

Thank you so much for joining us for today’s episode. I hope hearing our reflections inspires you to pause and think about what you’re grateful for in your own journey — big or small, it all matters.

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Until next week, let’s keep supporting each other and honoring the unique journey of our families.