Finding the Right Balance
Finding the Right Balance
Virginia and Joe Lonergan have watched their son Shawn go through many transitions. Now middle aged, Shawn has gained the skills needed to live in his own apartment, work at King Soopers and pursue his hobbies. “We always gave him responsibilities around the house, just as we did with our other children. He likes living on his own and Solutions gives him just the right amount of support to make that independence work,” said Virginia. The couple often take Shawn on hikes up in the mountains and Joe has helped him perfect his golf game. “Shawn is a world class golfer, he won 1st place in the Chapel Hill Special Olympics match in 1999,” Joe noted.
“One of Shawn’s strengths in living alone is the schedule he keeps. It’s rigid, but that attention to detail helps him keep up with everything he needs to do each week. He gets along well with his Community Access Partner, Rosie Thede. She goes to his martial arts class with him and we have seen an improvement in his balance as he progresses,” Virginia said. “We’ve been impressed with Colorado Solutions, they’ve helped Shawn make significant progress. When we call, everyone, including the managers, take time to listen and they resolve problems quickly.”
Virginia and Joe are happy they encouraged Shawn to live on his own. Retired now, Virginia paints landscapes that capture the beauty of Colorado. Joe used to make furniture but now he creates compelling carvings of nature scenes. Both Joe and Virginia deal with health challenges. They are happy Colorado Solutions offers so many opportunities to help Shawn pursue his interests.
