CJ’s Story: Discovering Community, Friendship, and Purpose

“CJ is one of our most helpful individuals,” says Jamey Jondle, Community Services Specialist at Easterseals Midwest. “He’s always initiating, ‘Can I help you with this?’ or ‘What can I do for you?’ There’s never a day where something doesn’t astound me.”

Lending a hand and creating friendships has helped CJ find purpose and a sense of belonging. “Back at school, I would always run off,” he shares. “But here I feel like I belong because I have friends.”

CJ always radiates joy, whether he’s gardening in memory of his great-grandfather, bestowing a smile to the people around him, or exploring the community he’s a part of. “He looks like a gentle giant who is always willing to help and that’s very much who he is,” says Jamey.

The future? He’s figuring it out. “I really want to get a job,” he says. “I kind of want to start working at a coffee shop.”

“Back at school, I would always run off. But here I feel like I belong because I have friends.”

Amidst the support of Easterseals, CJ is building skills to pursue his goals, along with helping to break down the stigma along the way. “There’s such a negative stigma out there,” Jamey explains. “But when our individuals are seen in the community living their lives, it changes people’s perspectives.”

The mission is clear for CJ: “The thing with autism is that it’s okay. Take it one day at a time. We’re not different, we’re just more special than more people.”

Each day, CJ reminds us what we can achieve when we meet people where they are and celebrate the greatest parts of who they are. Through kindness and determination, he’s shown that with the proper support, limits are boundless.