For most of his adult life, Geno Barrow has been working toward one main goal: living as independently as he can while still having the support he needs to thrive. Now at 39 years old, Geno lives in Oberlin with three roommates, each building their own routines under one roof.
Before coming over to Easterseals Midwest, he received similar services through another provider. A comparable support, but not the kind of structured, people-centric partnership he hoped would move him forward. Things began to turn upon joining Easterseals around six years ago. He found consistency, advocacy, and a team that met his needs with integrity.
Independence didn’t (and typically doesn’t) come easy. Geno’s daily routines, whether transportation, meal preparation, or home responsibilities, needed steady support. Building up confidence in these areas takes time, and Geno knew he needed the right people around him.
Outside of that, taking on new roles and forming better habits presented their own challenges. He wanted to be active in the community, proud of his work, and connected to those around him, but ultimately needed the right environment and right support system to make that dream happen.
The turning point came when Geno found a job he loves: Guest Experience at the St. Louis Aquarium, right in the heart of downtown. He speaks with visitors about the animals - where they come from, what they eat, how long they live - explains how to interact with them safely, and brings out the joy in people who are taking in the Aquarium for the very first time.
His favorite animal? The doctor fish.
“They suck the dead skin cells off your hand and give your hand this vibrating feeling. Some people think it tickles, but to me it’s like a massage.”
The experience has risen above employment and right into the core of Geno’s identity. It has given him a purpose, and a community, and place that values him.
He is also strengthening his independence at home. Easterseals helps him with hygiene, transportation, and meals, support that empowers him to live the life he wants while still giving him room to grow. He’s enjoying a peaceful coexistence with his roommates, each spending time in their own space and occasionally gathering in the living room to relax together.
Little by little, he’s built a rhythm that feels steady and self-directed by not only living his life, but shaping it.
His words speak for themselves. “I’ve never felt more supported than I do now," Geno says. "They’re giving me independence by helping support me with my everyday needs.”
When asked what he’d say to someone with a disability who wants greater independence, he was very clear:
“Easterseals would be a good pick. They’ll support you, they’ll help you grow, and they’ll help you get where you want to be.”
The journey isn’t loud or dramatic, and Geno would tell you that. But it’s steady, grounded, and humanistic, an example of how certain shifts can open doors to a brand-new existence. The right resources, a stable home, and a perfect job have allowed Geno to move forward with resounding confidence.
It’s a reflection of something essential about Easterseals Midwest: when people are supported for who they are they meet expectations…but often surpass them.
Geno is a prime example, and taking it one day, one choice, and one moment of independence at a time.
