Think of the most positive person you have ever met.What you may not realize is that if you
haven’t met Tim Holt, you haven’t met the most positive person in the
world.Tim Holt is a 38 year-old
gentleman who lives in his own 1 bedroom apartment in San Marcos.He works full time at Camp Pendleton
Monday through Friday, has a long-term girlfriend who lives a couple miles from
his pad, and has a full and rich life recreationally participating in a number
of activities including bowling, going to dances, Disneyland trips, and
sports.Perhaps the most amazing
part of Tim’s life was the journey that led up to where he is now.
Tim grew up in a foster care group home in Lakeside, where
he moved when he was 3.Tim lived
there for 3o years.He had been
working at Pizza Hut for 10 years, when his job coach asked him about his
living situation.Tim, at the time
a very passive guy, mentioned that he wanted to move out of his group home.This information got to Tim’s Regional
Center caseworker and the process began.Tim’s group home had no confidence in his ability to live independently,
and actually fought to block his move.In the end, Tim was able to move out.He chose Life Works as his supported living agency.
Tim moved out with a tiny television, a broken stereo he
referred to as his “boom box”, and one garbage bag full of clothes, which were
mostly his Pizza Hut uniforms.Tim
had little to no money and had to borrow money to move.Tim had 24/7 support when he moved out,
though it became evident quickly that Tim had been over-supported for his
entire life, and was capable of living life in an independent fashion.Tim quit Pizza Hut and got a job at
Albertson’s.He decided that the
original apartment he moved to wasn’t in a neighborhood he felt safe in, so he
moved to North Park.The first of
many great decisions Tim has made as an independent adult living in the
community.
Tim met his girlfriend on a blind date in September
2007.She lives in San Marcos, and
as their relationship grew stronger, Tim expressed a desire to live closer to
her.In May 2009, Tim moved to San
Marcos.Unlike what he moved out
of his group home with, Tim now required a full-sized U-Haul truck to move all
of his belongings.He quickly got
his job at Camp Pendleton, which is full time and has benefits.He no longer has a roommate, living in
his own one bedroom apartment, and no longer has 24/7 support.Tim is supported a few hours a day, and
is otherwise completely independent.
Tim’s road was one of underestimation by everyone in his
life until a job coach and service coordinator decided to give a man without a
voice, or knowledge of his rights, a chance at living the life entitled to
him.Tim is now a fully included
member of the community of his choosing. He has a meaningful job, meaningful relationships, and is
living the life of his dreams.
