Stories of Interest

Arthur's Story
By Arthur Streisfeld as told to John Kelly

My name is Arthur Streisfeld. I am a 54 year old man with a developmental disability. I was 52 when I got involved with self-determination. Self-determination changed my life. Except for a short time in 1982, when I lived in Florida on my own, I had lived at home with my parents all my life. I have always been someone who likes to work have been steadily employed since 1988. Each new job was an attempt to better myself. Since March of 1996, I have worked at the YM/YWHA. I started out working in the laundry, but now work the front desk, and as an attendant in the Nautilus room.

When I was 52, I realized that it was time to move out on my own. There was tension at home, and I knew my parents would not be able to take care of me all my life. The first situation I looked at was a group home in Tuckahoe, New York. I went there for a weekend visit, and didn't like it. There was not enough privacy, and although I didn't have a curfew, I also didn't have my own key. It was not what I was looking for. I wanted to be more independent, and in control.

At this point, my service coordinator told me about self-determination. We decided to do a proposal that would allow me to move into a place of my own, on my own. We submitted it to the first self-determination pilot at Hudson Valley Developmental Disability Service Organization, and I was selected to participate in the pilot.

My father became ill and passed away in the beginning stages of my Self-Determination project. But my mother and sister, both strong women, and my brother-in-law, along with my service coordinator and friends I have made since becoming involved in self-determination, make up my circle of support. They help me make decisions, give me the information I need to make good decisions, and encourage me.

I knew I wanted to live near my mother and my sister. I also wanted to be close to transportation, so I could get to work.

I looked at 2 or 3 places before finding my current home, a co-op in Scarsdale. I had to go before the Co-op Committee and be interviewed before I would be allowed to rent. I moved into my Co-op in September of 1998. My apartment is within walking distance to the bus I take to work and is close to a mall, restaurants, a movie theatre and my mother and my sister.

When I moved into the apartment, I needed some supports. I hired some residential habilitation staff from a traditional agency. I became dissatisfied with the services they were providing, so I decided to look elsewhere. With my mother's help, I found Martha. Martha is a neighbor who lives upstairs. Martha comes in for a couple of hours a few days a week, and helps me go shopping. Sometimes she helps me cook, and read the newspaper. She's staff, but she's also a friend. I have also hired people to help me budget, and help me learn to use the computer. I want to increase my computer skills, so I can get a better job. I also talk to Martha, and other members of my circle by e-mail. I control my budget with the help of my brother-in-law, who is my fiscal coordinator.

This past summer, I decided to buy the apartment I am living in as I am very happy here. I had to apply for a mortgage, go through another interview process with the Co-op Committee, get an attorney, and become involved with the Home of Your Own Program. It was not an easy process, and it took a long time, but on March 17, 2000, I closed on my apartment, and am now a home owner.

I have done presentations about self-determination at trainings and conferences. I would like to do more, and tell people about my life. I am hoping to get involved with Ameri-Corps this year, and am looking for a mentor. As a member of Ameri-Corps, I would go out to schools, agencies and groups and talk about how self-determination changed my life.

Lastly, I would like to say that Self-Determination is not easy. Self-Determination is hard work, and I had a lot of people, members of my circle, who worked hard and helped me. My dream was to have an independent life, in my own home, and to have control over my life. Any dream worth having is worth the hard work it takes to get it.