Circles Of Support

Individuals with
developmental disabilities
find support and friendship
in five circles.

straight line may be the short-
est distance between two
points, but the most direct
route to Robert Werney's
dreams is a circle — a "circle
of support," that is.
As the "focus person" of
his circle, Mr. Werney, 31,
is surrounded by a group of
friends, relatives and pro-
fessionals who work to-
gether to help him turn his
dreams into reality.
Five ongoing circles be-
gan in early 1994, with
participants ranging in
age from mid-20s to late-
, 50s. Some circles include
only family members; Robert Werney with participants at a recent Circle meeting.
others have no family involve-
ment and rely instead on
friends and professionals to lend Health and administered by Unit- permanent job became another
ed Cerebral Palsy of Metro De- priority.
support.
These dreams were realized
The circles are facilitated by troit. The goal of the program is
Shirlee Wyman Harris, family as- to help those with developmental when Mr. Werney was hired as a
sistance coordinator and "Redi- disabilities live independently bagger at Farmer Jack's in South-
rections" supervisor for JARC within their own communities by field. After working for one
(Jewish Association for Residen- providing the support they need month, he and his prospective
to achieve and maintain self-re- roommate, Jim, found an apart-
tial Care).
ment and began the application
Redirections is an independent- liance.
The first few meetings of every process. The two young men plan
living program funded by Oak-
land County Community Mental circle are spent outlining the to move in May.
dreams, hopes and goals of the
At a recent circle meeting, the
focus person. Then a workable ac- group helped Mr. Werney orga-
tion plan is developed to make nize the remaining moving tasks,
the dreams come true.
such as obtaining furniture and
"The most important question working out a system with Jim
we ask is 'What do you want?" for sharing housekeeping duties
Ms. Wyman Harris said. "In the like grocery shopping, bill pay-
past, we (family members and ing, cooking and cleaning.
professionals) tended to plan the
Another of Mr. Werney's
lives of disabled people for them. dreams involves his love of mu-
Sometimes what the focus per- sic. After telling fellow circle
son wants is very different from members that he dreamed of be-
what we thought was right for ing a rock-and-roll performer or
him. Circles give people the op- working at a radio station, Betsy
portunity to dream their own Share, his Redirections counselor
from JARC, arranged for him to
dreams."
Mr. Werney's primary dream tour the facilities of STAR 97.1
was to move from the Southfield FM, a radio station that special-
home he shares with his mother, izes in music from the 1970s.
Rose, into an apartment. Since
Circle participants agree that
he will have to pay his own rent Mr. Werney has grown since the
Rose Werney: Enthusiastic about her son's plans.
and living expenses, finding a meetings began.

PHOTOS BY GLENN TRIEST

RONELLE ROSENTHAL GRIER
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

"I'm delighted that this has
happened for Robert," his moth-
er said. "They're a terrific bunch
of people. They allowed Robert to
express his feelings about how he
wanted to live and work, and they
took him very seriously."
Even when there are dis-
agreements, Mrs. Werney said,
"it's easier for Robert to take ad-
vice from the group than from his
mother."
Since the Werneys do not have
a lot of family members in the
area, Mrs. Werney is relieved that
her son is forming a strong sup-
port network. Like every parent
of a child with disabilities, her
greatest fear is what will happen
to Robert when she is no longer
able to care for him. The commit-
ment of the other circle members
has helped ease that fear. She also
is enthusiastic about Robert's
moving plans.
"He'll be moving at a happy
time, not a traumatic one," she
said. "He'll have more indepen-
dence, which he can handle, and
still always have the help he
needs."
The other four circles facilitat-

CIRCLES OF SUPPORT page 98

