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Home > News & Views > Currentnews A New Beginning for Rich DeLuca If you asked Rich DeLuca how he feels to live in his own home after his transition from a nursing home, he might say, “its freedom”. Rich sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury) when a drunk driver on July 14, 2008 hit him. After his accident he was forced to live his life in a nursing facility where he thought he would be forced to live the rest of his life and forget about the life he once led. Prior to his accident he was a chef and managed a restaurant in Florida and never thought he would ever live in a nursing home. Rich’s life was about to change when he met one of TRIPIL’s transition team members who helped him experience life beyond the nursing home. With the help of TRIPIL’s services after being confined to a nursing home for over three and a half years, Rich is now live independently on his own. Rich says that just because he is a person with a disability does not mean he is disabled. He stated without the help of TRIPIL he felt helpless until he met his Independent Living Specialist. He has lived on his own since November 23, 2010, a date he remembers well. Living independently has proved to him that each day of now is about improving his life on his terms. He says that he would have never given up and this is not the end of him, it’s a new beginning. First Accessible Dream Home - Ground Breaking in July! Accessible Dreams submitted an application to the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County (RACW) for approval of a Home Buyer’s Assistance program created to assist persons whose disability impacts their housing choice. A new client of Accessible Dreams named Mary Jo wanted to own a home that would fit her lifestyle. She has good credit; she fit within the income requirements and was approved for the program to build her new home. Mary Jo spent six months searching for an accessible home in Canonsburg ,PA. Due to the lack of accessible homes in the desired area she could not find a home to fit her unique needs. “I needed help finding a home that would allow me to live independently, because of an automobile accident that left me disabled and caused pain as I walked up steps. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) suggested I call Accessible Dreams for help. I made the call and I was thrilled to learn that this program could help me find a home to suit my needs”. Mary Jo’s met with an Accessible Dreams Associate and completed an assessment of her day to day living needs to determine her eligibility. Accessible Dreams found a plan that could meet her requirements for living independently at a price she could afford. On this program Mary Jo was able to choose where to build her new wheelchair accessible three bedroom ranch with an over-sized garage that would fit her and her two children’s needs. Now she will be able to be close to her doctors, stores, and transportation to her daughter’s school. This Accessible Dreams Home is expected to break ground mid-July, 2011. For more information, call 724-223-5115 and ask for Cindy Bodnar. |
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