Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/543152
Life is filled with many adventures. Some of these adventures appear to be obstacles, at first. These however, barriers serve as learning experiences that shape the person you eventually become. These adventures are filled with highs, which help our self-esteem soar, and lows causing us to question ourselves and wanting support. Over time, these experiences form what we like to refer to as one's "authentic self." At Road To Responsibility Inc. (RTR), it is our privilege to support adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities through those highs and lows through our array of state-funded services including: Residential, Employment, Day habilitation, and Community Based Day Supports. Our however, experience has taught us state-funding is sufficient for a safe existence in the community, but fundraising dollars provide the resources for the value-added experiences necessary to create the enriching lives everyone deserves. Over the past few years we have taken the special talents of our staff to create a number of programs to provide the kinds of enriching experiences which build a meaningful life filled with seeing new places, outdoor/fishing activities, sports, art/creative self-expression and agricultural/animal care experiences. These unique opportunities are funded exclusively through private fundraising dollars (from people like you) and executed through the love, drive and compassion of our amazing Employees who help demonstrate "Anything is possible" on a daily basis as we strive to make life better for those we serve! Here are two true stories from earlier this year: Our "We Love To Fish" program has gotten national attention for the life-enhancing benefits of fishing under the supervision of a well-trained guide for persons with Intellectual and developmental Disabilities (I/DD). Our success led to an invitation from an agency similar to RTR located in Arizona seeking to copy our fishing program. After securing sponsorships from the fishing community a small group of "We Love to Fish" program participants embarked on a life changing adventure of their own. A team of seven (4 adults with I/DD and 3 RTR Employees) set out on a cross-country trip to Arizona serving as ambassadors for a program which has opened up their lives in ways no one could have foreseen when we launched "We Love To Fish" three years ago! The adventure began with the long flight from Boston to Arizona. All were excited for the new experience but also a bit nervous being so far from home. They knew where they were going but could not truly understand what lay ahead. Everyone deplaned filled with anticipation as they viewed the city of Phoenix in the distance. Next stop: the Grand Canyon! Knowing this group might never get out to this part of the country again we made sure the busy itinerary included a visit to this world-famous wonder of nature, which none of the group had ever seen before. The nine-hour car ride through three different climates (a truly unbelievable part of the country!) helped the group bond with surprisingly good spirits despite being cooped up in a vehicle so long. The road was bumpy and filled with many stops along the way, but it was worth it in the end. Each sat in amazement looking over the south rim of the canyon. To say that this adventure had started in "grand" style was an understatement. The next day proved to be even more exhilarating. It was tournament day! We had spent many hours recruiting some of the biggest names in the professional Bass-Fishing world to create a fishing exhibition 26 by Rob Lever "We Must Take Adventures in order to Truly Know Where We Belong"