Adult Services

Andy is a great young man. He is helpful, courteous, and curious.  Andy also he recently graduated from Elim’s school program. His teachers, his classmates, and those who worked with him during his time in the school will miss him. So what comes next for Andy?

Once he graduates from the school, Andy will be fortunate enough to find placement in our adult services program – a placement that is only possible because of people like you. Your support of Elim makes it possible for us to provide a vibrant adult services program that carries on the values of Elim’s entire agency, and serves each of its 200+ adults to equip them to achieve their God-given potential. However, it’s best to share the words of Lori Swartwout, Andy’s mom: “It is very important to us that Andy is able to continue at Elim in the adult program, because we’ve always wanted Andy to be as independent as possible. We wanted him to be in a community job, but it became apparent that his needs made a workshop the right option. But the workshop needed to be a place where he could be safe, be understood, and where he could do meaningful work.  He wants to do work that earns a paycheck and work that serves others.

At Elim we found the right place for Andy.”   Lori loves what Elim does, what it stands for, what you have built here through your support. Among those qualities is our emphasis on the value and potential that people with disabilities have to be used by God to bless others and to impact lives for His glory. Lori has seen Andy do that in her own church, and she has shared the following thoughts on his service:   “His heart for service has changed how I view what it means to ‘contribute to society.’ It’s not about position, money, success – even though that can help. He can reflect God’s unconditional love. He shows me that you can contribute by joyfully serving others, and finding out how God has wired you and doing that to the best of your ability. It means doing and being all that God has created you to be – it still holds true despite your abilities or disabilities.”  

“He smiles and he holds his device out, and he presses it so that you can hear it clearly. He just has this big smile on his face,” recounted Linda Friel, a Speech Pathologist at Elim Christian Services. Linda is talking about Jeremy, a young man at Elim who requires the use of a communication device. Christine Scholma, Jeremy’s teacher, remembered, “When Jeremy came to my classroom last Fall, he would get very frustrated that I struggled to understand his speech.”

With the use of his communication device Jeremy, “is able to use it to clarify himself when he is misunderstood,” said Scholma. But, Jeremy has gone well beyond using his device just for clarification. Sharon Maack-Connolly, the Assistive Technology coordinator at Elim, matched the device with Jeremy. She’s excited to see that now, “Jeremy makes a point of going out of his way to use his communication device to pay you a compliment.” Pushing his potential in class, “Jeremy is typically the first one to raise his hand. He’s grown into a leader. He definitely understands that this is an extension of his voice,” says Maack-Connolly.

Jeremy’s teacher, Scholma, commented as well on his wide usage of the device in the school and community to, “socialize, answer questions, participate in activities, and create complex sentences to make sure his thought is understood.” As Jeremy has grown during his time at Elim, so have his skills with his communication device. Today, he is free to express his own thoughts and opinions.

Jeremy is reaching his own God-given potential through opening his own door to others with his device. Often times you may forget just how lost you may be without the ability to express yourself to others, As for Jeremy, “He really does see how important it is, the value of communicating,” says Maack-Connolly. Christine Scholma went further to explain, “This tool will help to build his confidence over time and will benefit him in his future pursuits as well.” We can all share in the pride and joy that Jeremy feels with his ability to communicate. Your gifts give Jeremy and other students at Elim Christian School the gift of communication through Assistive Technology. Give a life-changing gift to support this program today!