Comments by Mrs. Patricia Davis Johnson
January 8, 2009

Initially Reggie was admitted to New Lisbon via a court ordered evaluation. This evaluation should have taken approximately 30 days. Reggie remained there for approximately 18 and half years, because I was not aware of the availability of an alternate community based program.

Initially when I was informed of the existence of an agency such as Q M A and then introduced to the members of the team, I was somewhat apprehensive due to the fact that I was afraid of transition. I was comfortable with the developmental center and I thought Reggie was comfortable as well. I did not want to deny Reggie the opportunity to grow, to exist in the community to go to work, to bring home a paycheck, to go to Wawa in his own community.

Now that we (not just Reggie but my daughter and I) have transitioned into the group home under the wings of a community provider, our lives have truly been enhanced. I am so very proud of Reggie because he now exudes his individualism as well as his manhood and I respect him all the more.
The most impressionable extension of a community agency and the members of its staff is at Reggie’s home is not just their professionalism in caring for the needs of the guys in the home but the uniqueness of the depth of their concern for the clients. I perceive a down pouring of love that is not just external but genuine. It doesn’t only exist 8 hours a day but 24/7.

It would be selfish of me to want to keep such a wonderful thing to myself. Don’t be afraid of transition when you are being guided down an unfamiliar path, do your homework, but above all things trust in your spiritual guide.