Meet Harold: How Easterseals Helped Him Build His Best Independent Life

Harold had never experienced living on his own. He was always with a roommate. For 40 years. But in early 2021, he began receiving Independent Supported Living Assistance (ISLA) through Easterseals Midwest. With direction from his team, he began a path to achieve his goal of true independence. From the very beginning, his determination, confidence, and deep-rooted smile showed he was ready to take it on.

His first apartment was a studio that wasn’t financially sustainable. The ISLA team supported him and he was able to move into a two-bedroom apartment inside a friendly community that was a close commute to his workplace. The transition gave Harold room to grow. He also achieved a major milestone around the same time: 15 years with his employer, an accomplishment that Easterseals and the people around him cheerfully recognized.

Ever since, he has mastered a number of daily living skills that allow him to flourish on his own. He pays bills, manages mail, creates grocery lists, shops weekly, cooks crock pot meals, keeps a tidy living space, uses his smartphone, takes prescribed medications, and attends appointments by himself. Beyond that, Harold has secured joy in his life, thanks to an ever-growing network of friendships and connections.

He is also deeply involved in his community - participating in bowling leagues, attending baseball games, taking classes at the library, and joining local celebrations (like the Fourth of July Parade in O’Fallon). His church has become a home away from home. He sings in the choir, assists with greeting each Sunday, goes to weekly men’s dinners, and has found true support from his church family.

Today, Harold is not just accomplishing what he set out to do, but also inspiring those around him to do the same. His story is evidence of what’s possible when commitment meets the right support system. Even though his ISLA team has had the privilege to walk alongside him, Harold is the driver of his own success. He continues to encompass independence, community, and perseverance, serving as a role model to people with or without disabilities to see what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.