By Kathleen Chapman
One of the benefits Support Coordination provides is the ability to locate natural supports for people which they have not had in the past.

As I began working with the individuals assigned to me, I realized I could help by finding natural supports--places where all people enjoy going to play, exercise and join in with others.

An important consideration was the cost of the natural supports as most people I work with are of very limited income and cannot afford high membership fees.

In helping a young man develop his future vision with his Circle of Support, we listed the activities he enjoyed. One was to walk everyday which became difficult as the colder, wet weather of fall and winter approached.

His options were limited, but family and friends had many good suggestions and one was to join the YMCA. As his Support Coordinator, I "took the bull by the horns" and, with the help of his family, who provided the name of the local YMCA director, started calling the local YMCA chapter in Maury County.

I was really surprised and happy when the director, Jeff Parsley, returned my call. He was very receptive to my idea of signing up not just this young man but many of the people I work with who were anxious and excited about joining. Mr. Parsley was very clear about the idea that the YMCA is an organization who wants to help the community.

Working with Mr. Parsley, we developed a membership plan which included many of the people I work with who were interested in joining.

One of the most important parts of the memberships was that they were based on scholarships--meaning no cost to people who really could not afford to pay a fee. I coordinated the meeting between the YMCA and the Impact Center, the agency where the people I work with are enrolled.

Both agencies were enthusiastic about the memberships and worked to develop a plan of how the new members could attend the club accompanied by trained staff from the Impact Center.

This was my first attempt at finding natural supports for people in the community where they live. I realize not every call is going to end with such happy and successful results, but any time I am able to help people in this way I feel I am making a positive difference in their lives.