Cherishing Progress

Photo: Jennifer, Craig and Karen Barrett wearing the family tartan with their dog, Callie.

Joyfully defying expectations

—Karen speaks about her daughter Jennifer

On the first day of kindergarten, Jennifer Barrett took her turn sharing something about herself with her new inclusion class. She stood in the circle with 25 classmates, along with her special education director, teacher, speech therapist, and occupational therapist. Jennifer had lots to say, but the only word that anyone could understand was the last: “mom.” Her teachers asked her to repeat her introduction, which she did. Still, no one could make out her words.

“Even at that time, the special education director said Jennifer may never read past first or second grade,” recalls her mother, Karen, whose daughter was diagnosed at birth with Down syndrome. “They said she will probably not do math, speak clearly, read, or take part in some of the physical activities. ‘She will not do this, this, and this.’”

But Karen and her husband David did not accept this litany of prognoses. They were committed to cherishing Jennifer’s innate spiritual perfection. And 25 years later, with a loving home and a foundation in Christian Science, Jennifer continues to joyfully defy expectations.

“Now Jennifer talks non-stop,” Karen laughs. “She reads novels like Harry Potter, Twilight, and other chapter books. She reads the Bible Lesson, Science and Health and GoVerse. As a child she would sit with the Children’s Dictionary and read it for hours.” At 20, she earned a certificate from Berkshire Hills Music Academy.

“I am so grateful I have Christian Science to rely on because I don’t really know that I would be able to cope with everything that’s thrown our way,” Karen says. “We still have challenges to meet, and we’re meeting them. But a lot of people didn’t expect us to meet them the way we did.”

***

Jennifer and her brother Craig were born in their father’s native Scotland, and the family moved to Ashland, Mass., when Jennifer was 5. Then in 2019, when Jennifer was turning  22, the family moved to South Hadley, Mass., to be near Berkshire Hills Music Academy, which is a college-like program that offers adaptive arts and education, and social, vocational, and life skills in a music-infused environment. This fall, Jennifer entered her eighth year in the programs. 

Jennifer’s days are busy. In addition to all-day classes, she enjoys theater; and she sings and plays keyboard and drums in a Friendship Band, which plays gigs at various community functions. She bowls and swims in Special Olympics, and she likes to listen to music, take walks, swing, do yoga, dance, play mini-golf and work out.

One constant in Jennifer’s life is Christian Science. While her father was a lifelong adherent of the Church of Scotland, he was very supportive of Karen bringing the children to the Christian Science Sunday School, and relying on prayer for healing. Sadly, David passed away a few years ago, leaving Karen as the sole caregiver for Jennifer.

Jennifer’s Sunday School teachers supported her along the way with Karen’s help. “One teacher in particular simply made classes fun,” Karen recalls. “He and Jennifer would walk to McDonalds and sing hymns, talk about Bible stories, and buy an ice cream at 10:30 in the morning. He just loved Jennifer, and she loved him.”

Karen and Jennifer now attend a small branch church in Greenfield, Mass. Jennifer follows along with the service in her Full Text Quarterly. The pair enjoys reading Sentinel articles, and Jennifer loves the book Big With Blessings. Most of all, Jennifer loves hymns. On road trips, they often listen to hymns for hours.  

Until Karen learned about CherishAbility from a Christian Science practitioner in 2018, she knew no other Christian Scientists with special needs. “I thought, ‘There must be somebody—am I the only Christian Scientist in the world that has a child with special needs?” she says. Karen and Jennifer attended their first CherishAbility Adaptive Family Camp in 2018, and have been active participants in programs ever since. Karen attends CherishAbility’s monthly online Parent Gatherings, and appreciates the community of spiritual thinkers. “David and I were never ones to get involved in support groups,” Karen explains. But with CherishAbility, “it’s about seeing the abilities and not the disabilities, and just being around Christian Scientists who have that spiritual thought which uplifts the atmosphere. That, to me, is very comforting and supportive. Hopefully I am helping others, too.”

Jennifer participates in numerous CherishAbility programs, such as Loved One Gatherings, Peer Connect, Adaptive Family Camp, and the online Family Christmas Gathering. She recently completed her second year working in CherishAbility’s two-week vocational training program at the A/U Ranches. As part of the Lodge Crew, Jennifer enjoyed setting and clearing tables, sweeping, and demonstrating independence. She showed her care and empathy in the way she lovingly supported fellow trainees in a challenging work environment. She returned home with a new sense of ownership over many other chores at home, starting with looking after their dog, Callie. 

Karen hopes to find Jennifer a part-time, paid job in the community where her innate empathy and desire to help can bless others. While the way forward isn’t always clear, they take comfort in the words of a favorite hymn: “Thou Love that guards the nestling’s faltering flight! / Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight” (Christian Science Hymnal, No. 207).

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Photo: Cindy Pritchard and her sister Liz Murray

Flourishing in the atmosphere of Love

By Julie Finnin Day
CherishAbility Executive Director

May 2022

We stood on the wooden deck outside Valerie Lodge last October, welcoming families to CherishAbility’s 2022 Family Enrichment Program at the A/U Ranches’ 100 Elk Outdoor Center. The late fall air was cool in the shade, as families slowly arrived for the program.

Cindy Pritchard arrived with her sister, Liz Murray, who lives in Buena Vista. Clearly, Cindy had been waiting for this moment. She leaned in with a smile and said, “Wanna see something?”

“Sure!” I said.

Cindy let out a little shimmy. “Tina Turner–‘Proud Mary,’” she added gleefully, referring to one of Turner’s signature song-and dance moves.

Cindy could not contain her excitement for the days ahead. CherishAbility’s Family Enrichment Program is one week out of the year when she can leave the world behind and join fellow Christian Scientists in an atmosphere of joy, acceptance, and spiritual uplift. “It carries her the whole year,” says her sister, Liz.

~~~

When Cindy was a child growing up in Pasadena, Texas, “the school said, ‘Oh, she’s never going to be able to do that’”—about everything—says her sister, Liz. “Our parents just never accepted that.” Yet, in those days, Liz says, there was nothing like CherishAbility for her sister and family. “I wish CherishAbility activities would have been available then. To have this as a younger person” would have meant a great deal.

While today there are many social services available to those with developmental special needs, Cindy has always succeeded with the support of her loving family, Christian Science church, and her own skills and talents. Because of this support, she’s never needed to rely on disability pay or services.

Cindy now resides south of Houston in Friendswood, Texas, where she has her own apartment, drives a car, and works full time as a greeter at Walmart. “I’m a hostess. Everybody loves me,” she says. Cindy will mark her 17-year work anniversary in July, and is looking forward to retirement in the near future.

In those many years, Cindy has greeted literally thousands of Walmart customers and she is well known around town. While she has many friends, some people can be cruel, too. They tease her and make unkind comments. Cindy relies on God, and on support from Liz. “When I call [Liz]—when I’m stressed out or if I’m hurt—she’s always there to pray for me. She’s so sweet!” Cindy says, tearing up. The first year Cindy attended CherishAbility’s family program, the metaphysical speaker asked the participants to name some of their favorite superheroes. Cindy’s was Wonder Woman. The speaker went on to tell them that they each have a superpower that they can call on. That has really stuck with Cindy. “There’s something about [Wonder Woman] I love,” Cindy says in her sweet Texas drawl. “I guess it’s how she’d fight off the bullets” with her deflective golden wristbands. “You don’t get mad,” Cindy explains. “Just treat everybody equal. In my work, you have to know the truth about them.”

Attending CherishAbility’s camp session with other Christian Scientists has been “life-changing,” says Liz. “Just being in the environment with such supportive and caring staff—and no judgment or ridicule—is indescribable. It carries her through the year.”

At last fall’s session, Cindy enjoyed canoeing, cooking, painting pottery, and adaptive horseback riding. A highlight of the week, however, was karaoke in Valerie Lodge where she and her fellow participants took turns singing their favorite songs in front of a screen, as music blared from the sound system.

“That’s what’s so great about camp,” says Liz. “You can go up there and just totally be yourself—and everyone’s behind you. It was Rebecca [Creighton, CherishAbility’s Program Director] who said, ‘Cindy, what’s your favorite song?’ And Cindy said, ‘Tina Turner.’ Rebecca said, ‘Why don’t you do it?’ And Cindy says, ‘Oh no, no, I don’t want to.’ But Rebecca said, ‘What if I do it with you?’ To have someone who would jump up and do that. How many adults would do that?” (“None,” quips Cindy.) “And Rebecca has some moves!” Liz laughs, adding: “Rebecca has the ability to make each one of those participants feel so special.”

“What these participants gain from the CherishAbility camp experience is truly beyond—beyond—anything they’re getting any place else,” Liz reflects. “I know it’s one week of the whole year—but Cindy talks about it all year, and she can draw on that experience. When she returns from camp, family members notice a difference. Our sister-in-law has observed that she has more self-esteem.”

Cindy adds: “When I come back [and go to work at Walmart], I do have a whole lot of esteem. I don’t let anybody get to me. If I take something [negative] in… I say ‘Nope! It’s not gonna bother me.’ That’s where I think that super power kicks in, inside.”

“She’ll call me and say, ‘I kicked in my superpower,’” says Liz. “People can be cruel. And to say, ‘You just cannot touch me,’” Liz says, thinking for a moment and then adding: “‘Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you’” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 571).

“Being in that atmosphere of love at the CherishAbility program—I just can’t say enough,” she adds. “It’s hard to put into words how much it has helped Cindy.”

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Comments on Regional Event, December 2023

—Lee Ann Schlatter

I had been aware of Rainbow Valley Ranch, now CherishAbility, for several years but it has been only in the last few years that both myself and my daughter Jenna began participating in some of its programs. Jenna has been part of the Peer Connect group from time to time; I have regularly participated in the Parent Gatherings, and both of us enjoy the Christmas holiday celebration.  When the Regional Gathering location was announced for our area, we were eager to attend and meet in person some of the friends we knew from ZOOM.

It was great to personally meet some of our ZOOM friends and we also met new friends as well.  The event was well planned – beginning with attending the local church service which we all know and love; afterwards, there was an opportunity for the families to get to know each other a little more with a few holiday game activities, perfect for all ages. 

We had lunch together at a local restaurant and by this time, we were comfortable and at ease with everyone; happy to share and connect with our new friends.  The opportunity to meet other families on a similar journey, some of whom we knew from ZOOM, was really invaluable – especially for Jenna.  This summer she’s going to participate in the Vocational Training Summer Program as are a few of the other young people and staff she met at the Regional Gathering.  This made a difference in our decision to move forward and apply for this summer program.

I was grateful to talk with other parents about this journey and particularly within the state in which we live – sharing and learning things from each other which may benefit us all; and I also loved getting to know Rebecca and Sara, too – to hear about how they came to CherishAbility and why they love it. 

Participation in the regional event was really fun but more than that, Jenna and I felt embraced by CherishAbility – families and staff; and this showed us that we belong to something bigger, something that is making a difference in our lives and that we in turn can pay it forward and make a difference for others too. (“What blesses one, blesses all!)

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Photo: Jenna Schlatter (right) and her friend Jennifer at a CherishAbility Regional Event

CherishAbilitly l 555 S.E. MLK Blvd. l Suite 105 #6508 l Portland, OR 97214 l 503.583.6743 l info@CherishAbility.org