Impact Story - Curtis
Curtis moved into a Search Inc. community living arrangement in 2016.Prior to his placement at Search, he had tried a number of other residential services providers, but none of these attempts at community living were successful.
Though Curtis is now happy and thriving now, his transition to Search 5 years ago was difficult, and made more complicated by the loss of family connections. His aging grandparents were unable to care for him during his home visits with them, and had stopped having him visit. Then, shortly after that, Curtis’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and was also unable to see him. Her passing was hard on Curtis, but he didn’t have to cope with his loss and grief alone.
His dedicated care team at Search was there to support Curtis through it all. At Search, he was able to access counseling and behavioral therapies to help him cope with his feelings. Most importantly, his new Search family provided him with a safe, welcoming and therapeutic environment where he could slowly learn to trust in others and integrate into community life.
Before long, his long dormant passion for sports resurfaced. He began attending local sporting events, and enrolling in park district classes. He began competing in sports contests through Search’s Special Olympics program, winning medals in snow shoeing, basketball and track and field events. Last year, Curtis boarded an airplane for the first time in his life and flew to Florida to attend games at the Mets spring training camp through Search’s unique adventure travel program, Search for Adventure. Curtis also began participating in paid-work opportunities at Search’s Planet Access Company Warehouse in Des Plaines, where he excels at product assembly, order processing, and materials handling.
Five years on, Curtis has adjusted to life in the community, forming friendships, participating in sports as an athlete and spectator, working and exploring all of the opportunities and new experiences community living has to offer.
Click here to read about the generosity and compassion of two of our most dedicated donors, David and Linda Wesselink.
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If you have already included Glenkirk in your estate plans, or are thinking about making a strategic gift to Glenkirk, please contact our Senior Development Officer, Dan Facchini at 773.360.4474 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..