Report By: Michelle Foy

RLSS Program Director

James Stockley was admitted into the RLSS program on January 2, 2007. He came to The Arc of Wake County as a referral from the Wake County Human Service Single Portal Division with the need of recreation and leisure services. Jimmy, as he likes to be called is a 54 year old non-verbal man who lives in Cary, NC with his very active and supportive 80 year old father. He is the oldest of four children, with one brother and two very supportive sisters that live in Raleigh. Jimmy and his family moved from Long Island, New York in 1977 to Cary, NC. Jimmy began working at Life Experiences for approximately three years, until he became displeased with his new job duty, which changed from working with sprouts (to be used in salads) to doing custodial work. Jimmy did not like doing custodial work so his parents took him out of the program all together. Jimmy has not been in any type of program for the past 15+ years.

Since Jimmy has joined the Retirement & Leisure Services and Supports Program (RLSS), his quality of life has changed 100%. Jimmy is so excited and thrilled to be participating in the program. Although he is mainly non-verbal with limited speech (“hello” and “no” only), you can understand Jimmy clearly by the expressions on his face, usually framed with a cheery smile, and by him pointing at things and waving at people with his approval. Even though Jimmy does not speak, he has very good receptive skills and can understand fully. Jimmy’s life has gone from sitting in the house with his mother (who passed away last April 2006) or working on a wood project for the house with his father, to riding the Cary Transit (C-Tran) bus 1x/week from his home to volunteer at the Food Bank of NC, to joining a walking group that walks for an hour in the mall on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, participating in a bowling league on Thursdays, along with working out at Pullen Parks Community Center Gym, volunteering at Meals on Wheels delivering meals every other week to independently attending a monthly social event called The Coffee House.

Jimmy’s life has truly changed for the best as he has been re-introduced to society through The Arc of Wake County’s RLSS program. Jimmy’s family is truly pleased with his progress in the program and can not believe the sense of pride, self esteem and independence that he has gained. According to Jimmy’s father, “he can not wait to leave the house to attend one of his scheduled activities”. And in addition to participating in his weekly scheduled activities, Jimmy participated in the Special Olympics Track and Field Event this past April and received a 1st place ribbon in both the 10m assisted walk and 25m walk along with participating in The Arc of Wake County’s annual Bowl-A-Thon bowling three games independently.