Family & Friends
Circle of Support
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At nineteen, Michael had a car accident. Sustaining a traumatic brain injury, he was in a coma for six months and even pronounced dead at one point. He spent the next seventeen years in a nursing home. By sheer determination he taught himself to talk, to dress, and to transfer in and out of his wheelchair. What kept him going was a dream to one day live on his own. During this time, Michael became involved with a local church. As some of its members visited Michael regularly, they were haunted by Michael’s persistent plea, “Help me escape this funeral home!”
Acting on his request, his new friends began searching for programs for young people like Michael. His circle of support grew to include a state employee, another person with brain injury who coordinated a local support group, and a woman who met Michael at the nursing home while visiting an elderly friend.
Everyone has dreams. Left alone, dreams remain fantasies. The transformation into reality begins when someone listens then finds words for the dream. Judith Snow, internationally known teacher/speaker/writer on disabilities defines listening as “Being a mirror such that a person can see themselves in a new way.” Dreams listened to in this way provide a sense of the possible and a new energy emerges. This is the beginning of manifestation.
A circle of support is a group of people who come together on a regular basis to support a person with disability. After listening to the person’s dream, they assist the individual in accomplishing whatever tasks must be undertaken to make the dream a reality. These people are selected by the focus person (sometimes with input from family) and are the people the person with brain injury trusts to have his/her interests at heart. They usually are friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, church members, advocates and, sometimes, service providers.
The person who assists the individual and his/her circle members to define the dream and to create a plan for the future is known as the facilitator. The facilitator coordinates meetings, takes notes, helps the group stay focused, and encourages follow-up.
Each of the members of the circle of support brings a gift to the circle. One may bring enthusiasm, another bring dogged persistence, and another, access to resources. It is the combined value of the individuals that makes this community a rich experience for everyone involved. The family especially benefits by no longer being isolated and overwhelmed by these extraordinary circumstances.
Michael’s story confirms the powerful dynamic of the circle. Michael’s friends were successful in obtaining support services through a state Medicaid program (the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver). A case manager joined his circle soon after and helped with implementation of the plan. Today, Michael lives by himself in a wheelchair accessible apartment. The government provides personal support and assists in paying his rent. Thanks to Michael’s determination and a circle of support willing to listen and help, Michael’s dream of independence is a reality.
Carolyn Lacy, owner of Lacy & Armstrong, has supported Georgians with disabilities for over twenty years. Lacy & Armstrong, a case management/consulting firm, supports over 50 people on the Independent Care Waiver and the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver programs. The firm is committed to empowering people to achieve their dreams through circles of support.