By Angela Gartner • Photography by Kim Stahnke
We highlight individuals and families who are inspiring others by sharing their experiences in the workplace, participating in fun and meaningful activities, and demonstrating how advocacy can create a more inclusive community for everyone.
Planning to Live Life to the Fullest- Jacob Lorenzen
Jacob Lorenzen, 30, who has Down syndrome, lives on his own in Solon and has worked at Cafe Honeycomb in Woodmere for the past seven years. He also participates in a lot of activities after work from Broadway Buddies, an adaptive musical theatre program, to walking to the community center, hanging out with friends or just relaxing at home watching his favorite shows.
Ted Lorenzen says he’s seen a positive change since Jacob moved into Solon Community Living, a supportive community where his son can be a lot more independent.
For Jacob, this means he has access to independent providers who work with him throughout his daily routine, as well as having a monitoring system in place.
This isn’t unfamiliar to the family, as Jacob lived with two others who have developmental disabilities in a house the families purchased in Lyndhurst.
Lorenzen says he can’t see this current situation being any better.
“He can live his life to the fullest,” he says, adding these living arrangements also helps for a wider circle of the family, providing a safety net for Jacob’s other siblings.
“Every family is different,” Lorenzen notes, explaining that the care planning as kids get older depends on the children’s level of needs and how the family wants to handle living arrangements — or that maybe they are just not ready.
“Get all your legal affairs in order, special needs trust,” he advises and acknowledges that some families might have financial barriers “It’s work, but once it’s all set, like any good financial or estate plan, (afterward) you can live your life.”
And that’s what Jacob has been doing, to the joy of his family.
“He has a social life, has friends, plays sports and does everything he wants to do,” Lorenzen says. “He has it so good.”