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| Tracey Jarrett and her family have had a lifelong relationship with Abilities United |
The
wonderful progress that has been made over the years both by Abilities United and its clients could not have happened without the efforts of
many parents in the community. A great example is Laurie Jarrett.
In
1973, Laurie learned that her baby daughter Tracey had Down Syndrome.
“I was in shock,” says Laurie. “Tracy started in the infant
stimulation program when she was four months old. The agency (Abilities United) was an absolute lifeline for me; Tracy was learning and so was
I.”
“All
the literature for Down Syndrome at that time emphasized very low
expectations,” says Laurie. “That just did not sit well with me. I
raised Tracy with the same expectations I had for my other two
daughters. That was all reinforced at the agency as well.”
Through
what is now Abilities United, Tracy became involved with swimming and
then Special Olympics. She would continue swimming at Abilities United
for years. After going through the public school system, Tracy again
re-engaged with Abilities United in 2002, which led to a job a local
movie theater. “She worked there for five years and she loved it,” says
Laurie. “She was so proud to put on her uniform and go to work at the
theater.”
From
her participation in the Abilities United Independent Living Skills
Program Tracey developed the skills that enable her to live with greater
independence, and today she has her own apartment in Palo Alto. “ "The
Abilities United Employment Services helped Tracey get job at Stanford
working for food services in one of the dorms,” says Laurie. “It’s just
wonderful.”
“This
is a lifetime association with the agency,” says Laurie. “When Tracy
had her 40th birthday, it was a given that we’d have the party at
Abilities United.” Laurie shares a photo from an Abilities United Author’s Luncheon, where both mother and daughter are beaming. “You can
see there how proud I am,” she says, as she brushes away a tear of
happiness.
Her
advice to parents of a child with Down Syndrome? “Contact Abilities United right now. It will be the best thing that ever happened to you
and your family.”
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