Mel Cacenski is building a life filled with friendships, new experiences, and the freedom to pursue what matters most to her.
With flexible support and opportunities to explore her community, Mel continues to build a life that’s uniquely her own. She’s an amazing aunt, a caring pet parent to Prince and Theo, an artist, and a skilled PC gamer.
Through Citizens’ Self-Direction Services, Mel receives support that helps her explore her interests, build connections in her community, and develop greater independence. Citizens also provides broker services to help coordinate budgets, build a support network, and develop a Community Habilitation (Comm Hab) plan.
“I really love to go out with my Comm Hab workers, and I like to have a fun time,” Mel said. “We find things to do. The awesome part about it is teamwork and working together to find something to do.”
One of Mel’s favorite activities is participating in Pride for Youth, a service that supports the health and wellness of the LGBTQIA+ community by offering programs where people can connect and share experiences.
Recently, Mel’s friends at Pride for Youth threw her a birthday party.
“I think it’s been a good place to make contact with old friends and new friends that I meet there,” Mel said, adding that recently she marched in her first Pride parade with PrideAbility, an advocacy and support movement for LGBTQIA+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Comm Hab Worker Jameson Torres has supported Mel for about a year and has watched her confidence grow.
“I’ve seen a big increase in mood,” said Jameson. “She has all these friends now. She’s become better at managing her own money. She’s become more independent. She’s become more of an expression of who she wants to be.”
Mel also volunteers at HorseAbility, which offers equine-assisted services to children and adults with developmental disabilities, and contributes to HorseAbility’s monthly newsletters.
“I write about people who are attending the program for that specific month, and what they have done this month that has been recognized as something good,” Mel said.
Cooking is another one of Mel’s favorite activities. Through classes at Smart Start Centers, she’s learning new recipes and building skills she uses at home.
Mel likes to help her mom, Jacqueline Cacenski, make dinner and clean up afterward. Sometimes, she bakes pumpkin bread with chocolate chips for the whole family.
Jacqueline has seen firsthand how Self-Direction has helped Mel become more confident and independent. “Mel has a really good relationship, and she feels comfortable talking with her Com Hab workers,” Jacqueline said.
In addition to programs like Pride for Youth, HorseAbility, and Smart Start, Comm Hab workers help Mel learn skills like shopping and making healthy grocery lists.
“I would tell my friend to get a Comm Hab worker, because first you can go out and do something, second you can have a good time and find something really fun to do,” Mel said.
Learn more about Citizens’ Self-Direction Services. Self-Direction is currently accepting new enrollments. Contact Michele LaSpina for more information.