Ethel Everett

Ethel Everett remembers 1989 well. All at once, her mother passed away and she became guardian of her adult sister, Sandra, who is living with a variety of developmental disabilities.

She says their mother had been trying for years to move Sandra out of the Illinois institution, where she had been living since she was seven, to Massachusetts. Her mother’s hopes were finally answered when Sandra was welcomed into The Association’s community.

Upon Sandra’s arrival here over 15 years ago, The Association began a lifelong commitment to helping her feel more at ease among others and deal with the numerous challenges she faced.

Sandra now shares a home with several other women in Springfield. There, over the years, The Association has helped Sandra discover a life which is truly hers.

A few years ago, The Association arranged for a reunion between Sandra and her grandfather in Mississippi shortly before his passing, accompanying and supporting her on the trip. “She lit up and knew exactly who he was,” Ethel recalls.

“When we first moved to Massachusetts, Sandra didn’t interact well with people,” she says. “She was afraid someone would take her food, so she’d hurry to eat it.

“The Association worked with her on socialization. She’s more outgoing and she loves to be around kids. She’s walking and eating better. She’s come a long way! And it’s a relief for me to know my sister’s in a good place and has a good life.”

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