1 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: I think we had about three hundred and fifty people 2 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: in that building, Holy Christ, within a year. And that's 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: why I said, we've always had a Waitliss. So within 4 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,239 Speaker 1: the first year we wet three hundred and fifty and 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: I think we were only we had four hundred was 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: Max in that building. So we had that building for 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: four years and then we bought another derelict building. 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: If nothing else speaks to the need and the beauty 9 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: of what you're doing. You went in one year from 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: ten to three hundred. 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: Forty seventy three hundred. 12 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 2: Ten to three hundred in a year in a line 13 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: that means parents and people were begging for something. So 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 2: how many people on this campus now. 15 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: Six hundred and seventy five as Yes. 16 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: By Gosh, welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm 17 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 2: Bill Courtney. I'm a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm 18 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 2: a father, I'm an entrepreneur, and I've been a football 19 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 2: coach in Inner City Memphis. And that last part somehow 20 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,479 Speaker 2: led to an oscar for the film about our team. 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 2: That movie is called Undefeated. Guys, I sincerely believe our 22 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 2: country's problems are never going to be solved by a 23 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: bunch of fancy people and nice suits using big words 24 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: that nobody ever uses on CNN and Fox, but rather 25 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 2: by an army of normal folks. Y'all. That is us, 26 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 2: you and me seeing a place in need and deciding, hey, 27 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: you know what I can help. That's what Charmaine Solomon, 28 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 2: the voice you just heard, has done. Charmaine is the 29 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 2: founder of My Possibilities, which serves who they call hipsters, 30 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: hugely important persons otherwise known as adults with disabilities, a 31 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: real college experience that they wouldn't otherwise get. I cannot 32 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 2: wait for you to meet Charmain right after these brief 33 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 2: messages from our general sponsors. Charmaine Solomon, Welcome to Memphis. 34 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. 35 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: What did you get here this morning? Did you yeah? 36 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: Ten minutes ago? 37 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: Ten minutes ago, yeah, straight off the flight? 38 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:37,399 Speaker 1: Yep? 39 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: Did you fly from Dallas? 40 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: Dallas? 41 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 2: Yeah? Okay, Well that's not bad. It's an American director. 42 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: Right down here and no issues today. 43 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 2: Well, welcome to Memphis, and thank you, thank you for 44 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: joining us. And you know I've been around. I do 45 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: a lot of business in Texas, and I've been around 46 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: a lot of folks from Texas. You don't sound like 47 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:55,079 Speaker 2: you're from Texas. 48 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 1: I was born and raised in South Africa and came 49 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 1: to America through my husband's employment. 50 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 2: How many you win. 51 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: In ninety nine and so we came here. We went 52 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 1: to London for three years in ninety six to ninety nine, 53 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,399 Speaker 1: and then we've been in Dallas in's nineteen ninety nine 54 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 1: with the Cadbury Schweps dr Pepper company. My husband was 55 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: an executive with them. That's what brought us to Dallas. 56 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 2: They've got doctor pepper down in South Africa. 57 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 1: No, Cadbury's had a whole portfolio of drinks. Doctor Pepper 58 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: is just the business here in Texas. That's what brought 59 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: us here. 60 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 2: I got it. So what did he do in South Africa? 61 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: The same? My husband has been in human resources forever 62 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: and ever, on the strategic side of human resources, you know, 63 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: where these companies buy out companies all the time and 64 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: then they make mergers and acquisitions and all this kind 65 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: of stuff, and he comes in to do all the 66 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: people things behind that. 67 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 2: I got it. So have you worked outside the home before? 68 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: Oh? Yeah, I've always worked. 69 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 2: What do you do? 70 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: I started off in human resources myself. 71 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 2: Well, I guess you and your husband just know how 72 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: to handle people. 73 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: Well, you would think so, but not always people are people, right, 74 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: So I started off in human resources, and then through 75 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: my son's accident, I went back to study to become 76 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: a therapist. Now I think when you're in human resources, 77 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: you're doing therapy anyway. 78 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 2: So that's right, that makes sense. So Charmaine, we're going 79 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: to get to for everybody. Charmaine is the founder of 80 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:25,239 Speaker 2: My Possibilities in Plano, Texas, which is just north of Dallas. 81 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 2: Really it's all well, actually it's just all become a massive, 82 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 2: sprawling metroplex from Fort Worth all the way up through 83 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: North Texas. Now I think Plano, North Texas, and we'll 84 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: get to obviously what my Possibilities is and the phenomenal 85 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 2: work that it does. But I think we need to 86 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 2: unpack a little bit of history to get there as 87 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 2: to why even why you even started with my possibilities. 88 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: How many children do you have? 89 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: I have four? My husband and I in a blended 90 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: marriage two and two made four and we were like, 91 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:00,039 Speaker 1: no more. 92 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: That was it. That's a South African Brady Buncher. 93 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: That's enough. 94 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: That's enough. 95 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you do the math. 96 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, And so their ages are. 97 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: So my oldest son is forty two, and my youngest Kyle, 98 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,359 Speaker 1: who's the adulthood disabilities, is going to be thirty eight. 99 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 2: Thirty eight, yes, wow, thirty eight to forty two and 100 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: two in the middle they're pulled up in there. 101 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: The same They were all the same age. 102 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay ours two ours are twenty nine, twenty eight, 103 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: twenty seven, twenty six. So we weren't blended. We made 104 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: them all together. 105 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: But it was yeah, I know what your house was 106 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: to look, yeah, because they all the same age, and 107 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: especially when the adolescens. 108 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 2: So that's it. You know, grew up in South Africa, Mary, 109 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: have a family, moved to London, moved to Dallas, good careers, 110 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 2: going on, this beautiful family, and then something happens and 111 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: you have a son more special needs? Correct, how'd that? 112 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 2: How's that tell us about that story? 113 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: So you know, my son wasn't born a person with 114 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: a disability. I was involved in a car accident in 115 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: South Africa when he was a baby and he sustained 116 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: a head injury in that accident and that's what changed 117 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: his trajectory and actually mine too. So that's how we realized. 118 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 1: Actually at the time, we didn't realize how complicated. It was, 119 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: but we found out over the years to be able 120 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: to do that. So that's how we Krl is now. 121 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 1: Carl is now thirty eight years old. He's a person 122 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: with an intellectual disability. And you know, these kids are inspirational. 123 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: They give you a different perspective on life. They make 124 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: you change your lives. You know, when Karl was born, 125 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: I was on maternity leave, and you know, I had 126 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: a company car I was a regional manager and I thought, oh, 127 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: you know how you think life is good, life is great, 128 00:06:55,800 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 1: and then in seconds your life can change. And up 129 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: until that time, I will tell you that I didn't 130 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: notice a person with a disability. I never went to 131 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: school with somebody who had a disability. But boy, that 132 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: world just opened up to me quickly. That whole veil 133 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: just fell apart, and suddenly there were people with intellectual 134 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: disabilities all around me. 135 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: How old was Kyle when you left South Africa? 136 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: He was probably ten. 137 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: So at what age did you start to notice the disability? 138 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: Probably in the beginning. I noticed a little bit, but 139 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: they would say it to me. I Alwa's just delayed. 140 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: You know. He was a bit slower to walk, and 141 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: he was a bit slower to talk. They would say, 142 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: he's just you know, Milestone's are slower children, regret. But 143 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: at age five, the gap began to change. When you 144 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: were thinking about school and thinking about Peers's age, we 145 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: began to notice the big difference between that, and so 146 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: that's when we noticed at age five that it was 147 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: really the gap was why. And you know, my son 148 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: is visually impaired as well from that accident, so everybody 149 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: would also just his visual impairment, that's why he's so 150 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: he's later. But at age five it became very clear 151 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: that there was something else going on. 152 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 2: I'm going to ask you a question now because I 153 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 2: have a very personal relationship to the question. Sure, but 154 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 2: I think it's very important our listeners feel what you 155 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 2: feel and felt what you felt, and understand the drive 156 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 2: and the passion for my possibilities. What age was Kyle, 157 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 2: when you first noticed people looking at you differently? 158 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: Oh, my gosh, right from the get go, right from 159 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: after the accident, before the accident. No, but straight away 160 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: people would be looking at me differently, and they would 161 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: be I wouldn't be as included with all the other 162 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: babies and the mummies and all of that kind of stuff. 163 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 1: It started very early to say that there was a 164 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: different journey for me compared to the traditional children. Having 165 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: had a traditional son, and you know, you have playdates, 166 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: you get invited over the mummies and all that kind 167 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 1: of stuff. Not so much. It was very different from 168 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: the beginning. 169 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,599 Speaker 2: Did you Did you vocalize that? 170 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: Not really, you know, you just look at it and 171 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 1: you just go, well, okay. Then I mean, what do 172 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,719 Speaker 1: you say to someone, Gosh, why don't you include me 173 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 1: because I have a child with special needs? And it's 174 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: a silent conversation. It's not even something that people say, 175 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: it's just things that people do. They sort of step back, 176 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 1: they don't call you as much. It's not like it's 177 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: a conversation. It's just a withdrawing that you see people 178 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: do around you. It becomes very lonely. 179 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: Actually, that was my next question. 180 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: How does that feel very lonely and very isolating, because 181 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: actually it's a lot to deal with when you have 182 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: a child with an intellectual disability. I mean it's twenty 183 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: four to seven, especially when they're young and older, it's 184 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: lonely and it gets difficult. Sometimes you just want to 185 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,079 Speaker 1: talk to someone and say this is hard, but you 186 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: don't get to do that opportunity as much. 187 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: How did your husband handle that reality? 188 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: Well, actually, my Carl's dad is not my current husband. Actually, 189 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: shortly after the accident, and shortly after all the stress 190 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 1: of this young child, we divorced. Our marriage ended and 191 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 1: it wasn't The man that I'm married to today is 192 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: not my son's dad. That all fell apart immediately. I 193 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 1: mean it was fragile to begin with, but that stress 194 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: just put it over the top. 195 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 2: Sorry, I mean, do you know the data on it. 196 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 2: I know it's really high. The divorce rate for people 197 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:38,119 Speaker 2: who have a child with disabilities. 198 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: I think it's eighty. 199 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, the stress is immeasurable, unbelievable, and oftentimes the misplaced 200 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 2: guilt and the conflict that results from that guilt oftentimes 201 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 2: leads to a blame game that. 202 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: Just tears people upon correct And also sometimes you're just like, 203 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: I've got so much to deal with. I really don't 204 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,319 Speaker 1: need to deal with the other stuff. I'll rather deal 205 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: with one thing as opposed to the other. That was 206 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: certainly for me. I'm sure. 207 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:13,079 Speaker 2: What is your husband's name. 208 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: My current husband is Larry. 209 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: Larry, So Larry willfully married a woman knowing what he 210 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: was getting into he did. What a fine man. 211 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. And actually when when he first proposed to me, 212 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: I was like, Nope, we're not doing this. I was like, no, 213 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: we're not doing this. No, I've got this child with 214 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: special needs and you know what, his dad couldn't cope 215 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: with them. How are you going to cope with them? 216 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: I mean, he's not your biological child. And he just said, 217 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: we'll figure it out. And you know what, Actually, the 218 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: other little brats were much more difficult to deal with, 219 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: and this young man, you know what I mean, they 220 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: were much more difficult to deal with than our child 221 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: with special needs. And so we were able to figure 222 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: that out. 223 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 2: So describe what there is to quote deal with? 224 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: I think well, from an emotional point of view, I mean, 225 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: it's difficult to see your child different and not being 226 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: able to do all those things that other children can do, right, 227 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: I mean riding a bike. My son will not get well. 228 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: I hope he gets married one day, but I don't 229 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: think so. He will not be able to have children, 230 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: he won't be able to drive a car. Those are hard. 231 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: You know. I've got friends whose children are the same 232 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 1: age as mine. They are married, they have children, they 233 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 1: can drive their own homes. That's not the journey for 234 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: my son. And that's hard, right, That's a loss that 235 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,599 Speaker 1: you deal with. And then the second part is they themselves. 236 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: It's hard to see this child struggle just with daily things. 237 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: And then you do the math and you start saying, 238 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: I'm not going to live forever. What's going to happen 239 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: to my vulnerable adult? What's going to happen to him? 240 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: We're not not here anymore. I mean that's a hard 241 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 1: part for any parent to be thinking about it. I 242 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: Mean it's hard enough when you've got traditional children, but 243 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,839 Speaker 1: when you have that are so vulnerable, you think to say, well, 244 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: what now? So there's so many there's many complexities of 245 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: emotions and thoughts and feelings, and it doesn't go away 246 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: because you're with them twenty four to seven. 247 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 2: Right. Functionally, where's Kyle Like, I'm a great level? 248 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, So because he's now out of school, Carl can 249 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 1: function very well independently. His vision is the most restrictive 250 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: thing for him. But he's a smart young man. He's funny, 251 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: he likes music. And for me, my journey is less 252 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: complicated than some of our other parents, right, because some 253 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: of our other parents their children are much more complicated 254 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,599 Speaker 1: than Kyl. Carl is behead, really stable, he communicates, So 255 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: our life is easier, but it's it's still not the same. 256 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 1: It's still different to be able to do that. And 257 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: you know, Karl's got this wonderful brilliance about music. He 258 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: can tell you whatever it is from the first bar 259 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 1: of that kind of stuff. So you celebrate those victories 260 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: to be able to do that. But Carl will never 261 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: be able to live independently without supervision, and so that's 262 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: always what does that look like going forward? So that's 263 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: why we work so hard. 264 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 2: And now a few messages from our general sponsors. But first, 265 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 2: the Army currently has forty five premium members and we're 266 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 2: trying to grow that to one hundred. If you'd be 267 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: open to becoming one, we genuinely appreciate it. By becoming one, 268 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: for ten bucks a month or one thousand dollars a year, 269 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 2: you can get access to cool benefits like bonus episodes, 270 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 2: a yearly group call, and even a one on one 271 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 2: phone call with me. But frankly, guys, it's not about 272 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: all that. Premium members help us to grow this army 273 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 2: that we believe our country desperately needs right now, so 274 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 2: I hope you'll think about it. We'll be right back. 275 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 2: My beautiful wife, Lisa, who've been married to for thirty 276 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 2: three years, my first date after months of begging her 277 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 2: to go out with me months, I went to pick 278 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 2: her up. And I grew up in apartments and things 279 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 2: like that. And I drove up to this forty four 280 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: acre home, a home that sat on forty four acres, 281 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 2: is beautiful land behind it, and this gorgeous Williamsburg property, 282 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 2: just beautiful. And drove up this very long driveway. And 283 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 2: the closer I'm getting the house, the more and more 284 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 2: nervous I'm getting because I'm thinking, this girl, first of all, 285 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 2: is gorgeous and out of my league, and clearly these 286 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 2: people are out of my league. And I'm just driving up, thinking, 287 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 2: oh my gosh, what the heck is going on? And 288 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 2: I go to the front door, and this beautiful woman 289 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 2: answers the door her mother and says, Lisa will be 290 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 2: right down, And she said, how are you? Where are 291 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 2: you from? Small talk waiting for Lisa come down, And 292 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 2: midway through that conversation waiting on my first day with Lisa, 293 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 2: peers around the corner of the den into the foyer 294 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 2: this dark headed, brown eyed, big grinnin kid named Ben. 295 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 2: And when Ben walked up to me and reached out 296 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 2: his mutton joint to shake my hand and say hi, 297 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 2: I'm Ben, it was very clear that Ben was special. 298 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 2: I had no idea what he was, not a child 299 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 2: with Down syndrome, but he certainly was different, which you know. 300 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 2: In high school I was part of the Key Club, 301 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 2: and every once in a while we would go like 302 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 2: bowl with some of the kids with special needs and stuff. 303 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 2: So I'd been real folks, but not intimate at all. 304 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 2: And at any rate, went on a date and one 305 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 2: thing led to another, and Lisa and I got married, 306 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 2: and so I have had thirty three years thirty four 307 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 2: years with Ben. He was four or five, that's incorrect, 308 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 2: he was eight at that time. I have taken Ben 309 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 2: Christmas shopping to Radio Shack. He loved radio Shack, and 310 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: that's something I have been to special Olympic events. I 311 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 2: have visited him in one or two or three of 312 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 2: the homes in Kentucky and Austin, Texas. Actually the Brown School, 313 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 2: if you've ever heard of it. Yes, yeah, we have 314 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 2: vacationed with Ben. We have been out to eat with Ben. 315 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 2: We have been Ben has just been an integral part 316 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: of our life. I will never forget the first time 317 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 2: I took Ben to Walmart because he always liked to 318 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 2: go for rides and walking through just hours minding our 319 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:09,400 Speaker 2: own business, doing our shopping and the stairs, and how 320 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 2: little it made me feel. And it took me, I mean, embarrassingly, 321 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 2: it took me some time to get over my insecurities 322 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 2: about being in public. 323 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: And how people stay. 324 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 2: Can you identify with. 325 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: That, Oh gosh, unbelievable, even going through an airport. You know, 326 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: we travel just like you do with Kyle. I mean, 327 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 1: it just people stare, People are rude. I mean, it's 328 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: amazing that people feel that comfortable to stare at something 329 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: another human being like that. These are just human beings. 330 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: And so it's difficult and as you say, I mean, 331 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: and also you just want to think. You want to 332 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: say to that person, Colley, really do you need to 333 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: stay that hard? If you're that curious? Would you like 334 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: to come over and have a conversation or can I 335 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: help you with something? You know, it's really it makes 336 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,120 Speaker 1: you sometimes it gets so blatantly uncomfortable that you really 337 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: want to get up and say something, but you don't 338 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: because I mean, why would you cause this unite? 339 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 2: Well? Because you have more class than the people stare 340 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 2: exactly exactly, So, Ben, I would say, is a fourth 341 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 2: grade level functioning person. He can he certainly can hold conversations. 342 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 2: He more than enough. He loves gadgets like you know, 343 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 2: sunny PlayStations and stuff, and he's into that. The thing 344 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 2: I've learned about Ben, I learned this many years ago, 345 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 2: but I still hold it dead him hard is Ben 346 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 2: is interesting because he is high enough functioning. He's low 347 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 2: enough functioning to be visibly and audibly different. If he 348 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 2: walked in here, everybody would know he was special needs. 349 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 2: But he is high enough functioning to know he doesn't fit. 350 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 2: Is still a human being with the soul and emotions 351 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 2: and desires and wants just like you and I. 352 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: And he's different because everywhere he goes people treat him differently. Right, 353 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,879 Speaker 1: you know, in some I never want to say that 354 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: my son's disability or his visual impairment is a blessing 355 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 1: sometimes because sometimes he doesn't see that because it's he's 356 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: not that visually. You know, you have to be quite 357 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: close to him to be able for him to be 358 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: able to see. So sometimes it's such a blessing because 359 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: he actually doesn't see some of that, but I see it, 360 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: and it hurts me as his mother, because I know 361 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: if he could see that, it would upset him. Because 362 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 1: he's similar to men. He knows and he's sensitive. He's 363 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: not he you know, he may have an intellectual disability, 364 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 1: but he understands. He understands emotions, He understands what people say. 365 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: He understands the tone that in which you speak to him, 366 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: and he knows when you're speaking to him in a 367 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: condescending tone or you're speaking to him differently. He knows that. 368 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,480 Speaker 1: But sometimes when you're in a public place and someone 369 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: is doing that, I am grateful for the fact that 370 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: he's visually impaired because he doesn't get to see it 371 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: as much as I do. 372 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 2: As Kyle, ever voice to you or some type of 373 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 2: inclination or communicated to you in any way that he 374 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 2: was unhappy with his life. 375 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:33,360 Speaker 1: No, never, no, never. I remember from a young boy, 376 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: I would just see him giggling in his bed and 377 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: I would like, what is he laughing at it? And 378 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 1: it would be some little bird, you know, chirping on 379 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: the window, still outside and he could hear it. And 380 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 1: Kyle is the happiest of the boy in the world. 381 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: He has no he doesn't let anything get in his way. 382 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,679 Speaker 1: And that's the most remarkable thing about him and all 383 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: the other hipsters of my possibilities. These guys, they don't 384 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 1: let their disability get in the way. They don't feel 385 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 1: sorry for themselves. He just gets on with it. He's happy, 386 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: He goes ife. He is hungry, and you don't give 387 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 1: him food. That's a whole different story, right, He gets 388 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 1: angry big time, but the rest of the time life is, 389 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: you know, he loves and it's the and I think 390 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: for me, the simplicity of his life. He wants his food, 391 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: he wants his friends, he wants his music, he wants 392 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: his room. Don't mess with his room, but just those 393 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: basic things, and he's as happy as anything. And for 394 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: us who have everything, it's often never enough. Right. 395 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 2: So for those of you listening, there's a little insight 396 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 2: into what life with the special needs person is. And 397 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 2: it is interesting because until they're eighteen, there is typically 398 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 2: some type of school or school environment. Even if you 399 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 2: try to mainstream or even mainstream schools that have special 400 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 2: needs class work or special needs classes that in our experience, 401 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 2: got you through eighteen, correct, was that your experience? 402 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 1: Actually in Texas, you can go to school to the 403 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 1: year of your twenty first or twenty second birthday. 404 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 2: Actually, I think that's the same intimacy. 405 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 1: Yes, up until the year of your in school, if 406 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: you're in public school, you can go to the year 407 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 1: of your of your twenty second birthday. 408 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:18,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. But the point is there's a plan. 409 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: Exactly, and there's a place they have. 410 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 2: A place they have the happiness. It's wrong, there's people 411 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 2: around them, correct, But twenty two is only a third 412 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 2: to only a third to twenty five percent of one's life. 413 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 2: And I don't think people understand candidly the depth of 414 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 2: despair that parents go through. When when does when those 415 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 2: those last couple of years start approaching, Because the question 416 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 2: then is now what I say? And you don't want 417 00:23:53,840 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 2: to These are living, breathing, thinking, emotionally feeling human beings, 418 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,640 Speaker 2: and although people look at them very differently, until you've 419 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 2: had a relationship with a special needs person, you will 420 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 2: find you will understand very quickly the depth of their 421 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 2: real emotion. And to put a twenty three year old 422 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 2: in front of a TV and turn on it and 423 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 2: say sit here all day and then go to sleep 424 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 2: and repeat for the rest of your life. 425 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: It's just criminal. 426 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 2: But it's what we do. 427 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 1: Yes, we do, and it's we put them out to 428 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:33,640 Speaker 1: retirement age twenty two, right, and we just forget about 429 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: them or that's the that's the philosophy, is that oh, 430 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: well they can just be they fine, they don't have 431 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: or they're not going to miss anything. 432 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 2: And that was your experience. 433 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Age twenty one. We go 434 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:49,560 Speaker 1: into the last odd meeting. They're like, oh, so, I mean, 435 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: what are you going to do with Carl. I'm like, 436 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: I don't know, what can I do with Carl? And 437 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 1: the same thing back, I don't know what And so 438 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 1: they give me some little list with that head names 439 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: on and I went out and did some homework and 440 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: I was even more depressed by that because the places 441 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,160 Speaker 1: that I went to, I was just devastated to see 442 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,119 Speaker 1: the states of the facilities that they were in. They 443 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:09,160 Speaker 1: were in some back room. 444 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,360 Speaker 2: It almost feels like the scene out of one Flow 445 00:25:12,359 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 2: over the Cocaoinile. 446 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 1: I promised you. It felt like institutions and it smelled badly. 447 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: It smelled, you know, of urine, and I was like, 448 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: I wouldn't even put my dog there, and there's no 449 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: way that I'm going to put my child there. And 450 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:26,239 Speaker 1: that began the journey. All I remember thinking, I'm going 451 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,399 Speaker 1: to get a bus. These people are coming with me. 452 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 1: I don't know where they're going, but they're coming with 453 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: me because I can't leave them in this place. 454 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 2: I remember the same, not verbatim and certainly not with 455 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 2: your accent, but almost the same. My mother in law, 456 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 2: Peggy Ben's mother. I remember her same anxiety, her same stress. 457 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 2: What am I going to do? And the options are few, 458 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 2: exactly and honestly, and I you know, minus the drama 459 00:25:59,840 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 2: of the movie One flo Over as a cuckoon us, 460 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 2: but if you think about an institutionalized, barred up place 461 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 2: with seats and a TV in a corner and a 462 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,400 Speaker 2: bunch of people sitting around doing nothing, staring at that TV, 463 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 2: that's what these places feel like to me. 464 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 1: And they were not, I mean, and it's not even 465 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: a decent facility. It's like a little back room somewhere. 466 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 2: We'll be right back. 467 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, we live in Texas, so we 468 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 1: still have a state school, and I don't know why. 469 00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:47,639 Speaker 1: Somebody invited me to come to the state school to 470 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: come and see if that could potentially be an option 471 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,880 Speaker 1: for my child. I remember going to visit that state 472 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: school and I was like, Oh, my gosh, exactly what 473 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,200 Speaker 1: you're describing, except that everybody was highly medicated. And so 474 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 1: I was looking at this and I was like, you know, 475 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: that's how they, I guess, do compliance is with medication. 476 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 1: I was like, what is this? How is this? How 477 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: is this even allowed to be a thing that we do. 478 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: These are human beings. They have the same ones in 479 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:18,440 Speaker 1: designs and needs as you and I. Why would that 480 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: be denied to this population? And it's a silent population. 481 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:23,159 Speaker 1: Nobody says anything. 482 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 2: I want to share with our audience. And you may 483 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 2: or may not have heard this, but you probably do. 484 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 2: You're far more of an expert at this than I am. 485 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 2: But I once asked about the medication and the answer was, 486 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:40,920 Speaker 2: there's five or six staff. There's seventy or eighty people here, 487 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:45,640 Speaker 2: and when they have behavioral problems or outbursts, we can't 488 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 2: handle them, so we just dumb them down with MUDs. 489 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,120 Speaker 2: And then the question is, well, why in the world 490 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 2: are they acting out well? I don't know. Let's forget 491 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:00,520 Speaker 2: special needs. Everybody listen to us. Take your two or 492 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 2: twenty three year old child and stick them in that 493 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,479 Speaker 2: environment and see if they don't get frustrated pretty quickly exactly, 494 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 2: And see if they don't start acting out, And see 495 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 2: if they don't start start acting out on their own 496 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 2: frustration and boredom and all of that. It is no different. 497 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:24,000 Speaker 2: These special needs people. Don't think they don't know what's 498 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 2: going on. They do, they do. 499 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,360 Speaker 1: And also the lack of dignity, you know, you take 500 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: that piece as well. 501 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,159 Speaker 2: The dignity is such a good way. 502 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,360 Speaker 1: That somebody is touching you, you know, doing all these 503 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: things to you, and you can't say yes or no. 504 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: It's just done. I mean, can you imagine. I don't 505 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: think I would do well. They'd have to medicate me too. 506 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: I mean I wouldn't do well with that kind of stuff. 507 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: So no, it was it was really a hard I 508 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: mean I just remember thinking to myself, oh my gosh, 509 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: I am so depressed. What am I going to do? 510 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: I'm working full time. I mean, I'm a career person. 511 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: I've always worked. What am I going to do? Because 512 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: you know, at school and we said well, what happens 513 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: when the bus stops. Because the bus comes in the morning, 514 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: it brings them home in the afternoon. You can manage 515 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: working when that happens, But what happens when that goes away? 516 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: And that was you know that that's what happens when 517 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 1: school's over. 518 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 2: And anxiety sets in, frustration sets in. And then we 519 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 2: ask ourselves, knowing all this while, would parents put their 520 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 2: kids in that spot? Well, if desperate, if you're making 521 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 2: a living and barely hanging in there, and you have 522 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,320 Speaker 2: a special needs child, especially if you're a single parent, 523 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 2: what other option do you have? Even though it breaks 524 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 2: your heart? 525 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: And what I came to understand is that people had 526 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: become kind of like, it's kind of like the same thing. 527 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 1: You just get used to this, this lack of service 528 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: or this this well, this is what there is really 529 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: and people have become quite okay with that. Even parents 530 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 1: had come to the point where they're like, well, they 531 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: resigned themselves too that this could potentially be the only 532 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: place for them. And you're like, really, how does that happen? 533 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: You think, oh, well, this is the only thing that 534 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: they can do, and you need something to help you, 535 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: So you're going to take this, and you kind of 536 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,680 Speaker 1: settle for that. I was so surprised to see that 537 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: people would even be okay with that, if they would 538 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,719 Speaker 1: settle for something like that. But desperation, right, you need 539 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,720 Speaker 1: to work, you're a breadwinner, or you know, the child 540 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: is a lot to handle all the time. You need 541 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:23,200 Speaker 1: a break. I can see why people are forced into 542 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: those situations. 543 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 2: But you weren't having it. 544 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: Oh no, the Good Lord made me very stubborn, and 545 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: so that's part of that's part of the thing is stubbornness. 546 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 2: So I want to read these numbers. There's two hundred 547 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 2: and fifty thousand in North Texas with an intellectual and 548 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 2: or development. This development, it's really IDD two hundred and 549 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 2: fifty thousand in North Texas. 550 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: And that's an old census report there, or that is 551 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: not the most current census report where that data comes from. 552 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:03,440 Speaker 2: Only eight percent of adults with IDD are employed in 553 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 2: the community. Nationally, it's not good either. Only fifteen to 554 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 2: twenty percent correct. Fifty two percent of adults with the 555 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 2: cognitive disability leave high school without a diploma. Sixty two 556 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:21,560 Speaker 2: percent of parents of adults disabilities do not have a 557 00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 2: plan for the future, and that does not. Don't take 558 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 2: that as the parents aren't thinking about it. It's just 559 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 2: there's no option. 560 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: It's options. 561 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 2: And so you said, na, we're going to do something different, 562 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 2: and that became my possibilities and this thing I love. 563 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 2: What began as a vision of three months looking for 564 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:51,360 Speaker 2: a better future for their children has turned into first 565 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 2: of its kind continuing education and job placement program for 566 00:31:57,760 --> 00:32:01,280 Speaker 2: adults with intellectual and development disability in North Texas aim 567 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 2: to give adults with IBD the chance at a higher 568 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 2: education and an opportunity to let their untapped possibilities shine. 569 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 2: That's what began. That was your vision. Yes, so tell 570 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:19,320 Speaker 2: me about the beginning and that and how easy that was. 571 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: You know, nothing came easy. It was hard. We had 572 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: no money, we didn't know what to do. And there 573 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 1: was so much criticism as well, you know. 574 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 2: From the cared that okay, here's a squirrel, I'm chasing 575 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 2: up a tree. I read that when you when you 576 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 2: when you were looking for a building, that when people 577 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 2: found out you were going to be trying to teach 578 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 2: people beyond high school and get them job readiness for 579 00:32:45,240 --> 00:32:47,800 Speaker 2: special needs folks, that people didn't want to rent that 580 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 2: to you because that was what. I guess I was 581 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 2: going to screw up the neighborhood. 582 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 1: I don't know, I don't know what they were thinking. 583 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: But yes, we could not find anybody that release us 584 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: a facility that we could start. 585 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 2: We went criticized for even the criticize. Explain that, who 586 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 2: who was criticizing you? And why? 587 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 1: Well, a when we first started the school district, who 588 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,480 Speaker 1: were like, what do you guys know about this? To 589 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 1: start something like that? So we had that whole life 590 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 1: exactly where their caring system knows better than the correct 591 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:21,040 Speaker 1: so what do you know? What do you know about that? 592 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: And then some of the other parents because what we 593 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:28,000 Speaker 1: were trying to do wasn't what they wanted for their children, 594 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,720 Speaker 1: so then it was a selective few or something like that. 595 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: So it's so interesting because it's such a need and 596 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,800 Speaker 1: the portfolio of people that we serve are so large. 597 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 1: There's space for everybody, but it's that deficit model that says, 598 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,440 Speaker 1: there's nothing out there, so I'm just going to take 599 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: everything that you know I wanted my way, And you're like, well, 600 00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 1: it's for the great of good. It's not just for one, 601 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 1: it has to be for everyone, right, And so that 602 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,320 Speaker 1: was the interesting thing to be able to do that. 603 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 1: We went to churches to ask them your big you 604 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: know Texas has got megachurches on corners, and said, listen, 605 00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: you've got these big buildings. During the week, those buildings 606 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: stand opened. You think you could give us some space. Nope, 607 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:09,640 Speaker 1: not a mission, not a ministry, nothing like that. 608 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 2: And we were like, why it is this? 609 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:13,840 Speaker 1: So we really struggled to find a vacation. 610 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:16,279 Speaker 2: Why was it? What were the excuses given? 611 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: I'm curious one was that. The one in particular was 612 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 1: it was not their mission. And you're like, really, it's 613 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: human beings. The church is not that mission. And you've 614 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 1: got all these vacant buildings that you could use during 615 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:29,880 Speaker 1: the day, Why on earth would you not? I mean, 616 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:31,800 Speaker 1: we were willing to pay for it. It wasn't we 617 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:34,479 Speaker 1: going to you know, it would help the church, but nope, 618 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 1: wouldn't do it. And we went to multiple churches. They 619 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,359 Speaker 1: were not open to it. Again, I think it's our population, right. 620 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 1: They were concerned about the risks because that's what everybody. 621 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,439 Speaker 1: They don't say it to your face, but indirectly they're 622 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:46,759 Speaker 1: talking about the risks because I think there's so many 623 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:51,560 Speaker 1: misconceptions about people with special needs. Often mental health and 624 00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:54,759 Speaker 1: people with special needs are tied together, so when people 625 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,440 Speaker 1: are thinking of somebody with an intellectual disability, they're actually 626 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:00,880 Speaker 1: thinking about people that have serious mental illness and have 627 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 1: those kind of things. So I think those were some 628 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:04,719 Speaker 1: of the things that we had to do because we 629 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 1: had to fix up those stereotypes to say, Gosh, these 630 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: guys have an intellectual disability, they're not dangerous people. They 631 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 1: are loving and kind and just want whatever. So we 632 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:16,759 Speaker 1: had to do a lot of education. So I think 633 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:21,120 Speaker 1: it's that misperception between mental illness and someone with a disability. 634 00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a huge difference, right. 635 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:27,399 Speaker 2: And finally you found a crappy building with wires hanging 636 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 2: from the roof. 637 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:32,719 Speaker 1: Absolutely and a gentleman in Houston had a daughter that 638 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:36,800 Speaker 1: had special needs, so he understood and allowed us to 639 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:40,840 Speaker 1: use this building. But it was an old, dilapidated building. 640 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:42,960 Speaker 1: I mean, the wires were hanging down from the ceiling, 641 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 1: and he was like, okay, you can take it, but 642 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 1: then you'd have to fix it up. Was this Plano 643 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:51,959 Speaker 1: in Plano our very first location, and so we were 644 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 1: going to fix it up. I put my therapy office 645 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 1: in the back of it because we couldn't afford the rent. 646 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:58,320 Speaker 1: So that we could offset some of the rent, I 647 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 1: subleas some of the space. And we went to a 648 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 1: community and said, hey we could In the middle of 649 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: a winter, were sitting there with blankets, no lights on. Hey, 650 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,480 Speaker 1: this could be the future home of my possibilities. But 651 00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:13,360 Speaker 1: can you help us? And that's when that community started 652 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:15,560 Speaker 1: to come around us, I can do paint, Shirman. There 653 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:17,960 Speaker 1: was a gentleman networked for Sherman Williams. Hey I could 654 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:19,759 Speaker 1: do the paint. Hey, I could do the carpets, Hey 655 00:36:19,800 --> 00:36:21,800 Speaker 1: I could do this, I could do that. And so 656 00:36:22,200 --> 00:36:24,719 Speaker 1: we began to think, Wow, this could be a potential 657 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:26,800 Speaker 1: to do this. And the owner of the building was 658 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 1: so sweet to do a graduated least for us so 659 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:32,440 Speaker 1: that we could get on our feet and to be 660 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:36,320 Speaker 1: able to start and do this kind of thing stuff. 661 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: So we had to fix up this building where to 662 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 1: paint it. My first media ever is me and my 663 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:44,320 Speaker 1: son cleaning the most horrendous male toilets in this building. 664 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:46,880 Speaker 1: It was just disgusting, and there somebody snapped us and 665 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:49,120 Speaker 1: there's a photo of him and I cleaning up the 666 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:52,080 Speaker 1: male bathrooms. It was the most disgusting thing we've ever experienced. 667 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:54,719 Speaker 1: But again, when you start something, you have to be 668 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,480 Speaker 1: willings to put all that sweat equity and do everything 669 00:36:57,560 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 1: that you need to do. And we had to raise money. 670 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:01,279 Speaker 1: We had to raise two hundred and fifty thousand dollars 671 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:02,279 Speaker 1: to get the doors open. 672 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:10,960 Speaker 2: And that concludes part one of my conversation with Charmaine Solomon, 673 00:37:11,080 --> 00:37:13,799 Speaker 2: and you don't want to miss part two that's now 674 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 2: available to listen to. Together, guys, we can change this 675 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:21,319 Speaker 2: country and it starts with you. I'll see in part 676 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 2: two