Celebrating our Interdependence

Gerry Beagles • July 8, 2022

None of us can ever save himself; we are the instruments of one another’s salvation, and only by the hope that we give to others do we lift ourselves out of the darkness into light.

-Dean Koontz

I was thinking this past weekend, as many of us were finding ways to celebrate July 4th, a holiday set aside to recognize our declaration of independence from our British forebears, how what is truly needed is a daily acknowledgment of our real interdependence on one another. I appreciate the quote you’ll find on this page as it emphasizes that our journey towards real liberation and understanding can only come about if we are making that walk hand in hand.

I want to believe that it is this quality of connection that makes Garden Center the nurturing place that it is. There is constant experience of how the overlapping lives of the individuals that attend our programs, their families, and our staff, become a source of joy and healing for all of us. During the on-boarding of new employees at the agency, they participate in a 120-hour training program, and during that time I’ll have an hour or two to discuss the history of Garden Center and more importantly, our philosophy around service delivery. I will typically weave into the conversation how for me, over the many years that I’ve spent time with persons with disabilities, one of the greatest perks has been the incalculable impact of being with others that accept you as you are, and to know that you can provide that to them as well!

One of the new sites where these wonderful connections are happening is the Second Chance Thrift Shop that opened June 15th at the 10444 S. Kedzie location. We’re very pleased to have the store opened and have been happy with the steady flow of customers that are stopping by. It brings me great joy that every weekday, Tuesday through Friday, there is a small group of participants from our Community Day Services program accompanied by a staff person that are providing real help at the shop while receiving training on a myriad of skills.

The store is generating some revenue for the agency and is also helping us to have a greater presence in the Mt. Greenwood community. I also want to stress that we are still in need of volunteers! If you have a few hours a week you can dedicate to help us out, it would be greatly appreciated. Just contact our delightful store manager, Alaina Roche, at aroche@GardenCenterServices.org

Please have a safe and happy rest of the summer. I hope to see many of you at the 15th Annual GCS Walk ‘n Roll. Don’t be surprised if I try to reach out and hold your hand!!

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I Still Have Passion for This Work

By Gerry Beagles • May 14, 2025

Little did I know, on May 2nd, 2003, that I would be undertaking the role as Director of Garden Center Services that I am blessed enough to still be fulfilling today! Some of you probably remember that at the time I came on board, the name of our agency was Garden Center for the Handicapped. Changing the wording was easy; changing the approach to how the individuals we support are emboldened to make their own choices and create their own lives has been exhilarating and extremely hard work. There are many reasons that my passion for this work hasn’t waned but let me just share a few with you. First and foremost, it is the people we serve. I have spoken frequently, especially when spending time with new employees, about the tangible benefit that comes with working in this field; interacting with caring, curious, resilient adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, who are the most unpretentious people you could ever spend time with. Next, if you are lucky, you end up working side-by-side with so many compassionate, committed employees that are like-minded and spirited in their desire to raise up the individuals we support and help them to have the lives they deserve. At Garden Center Services I have often felt the line between fellow staff members and chosen family gets quite blurry. Lastly, it is an incredible opportunity to be working in the disability services area during a time of change, when individuals are being empowered to learn and use their own voices, to advocate for themselves, and to make choices such as where do they want to live, who do they want to live with, how do they want to spend their days, …etc. I want to express a deep appreciation for the families, parents & guardians, friends, and the local business community that have been exceptionally supportive of the direction that we have taken the agency. Change can be difficult, and that’s why I am so thankful for the open-mindedness, trust, and respect that I have experienced as the Executive Director. We have a very committed, involved group of individuals that serve on the agency’s Board of Directors. They give up their time, energy, and often their resources to ensure that Garden Center is following through on our commitment to the people we serve. I want to express my gratitude to three members of the board that stepped down after serving 2 three-year terms. Ms. Donna Blair, Mr. Tony DiMiele, and Ms. Ava Rhodes-Smith. Their guidance has been invaluable over the last six years! Let me also introduce the four new people that have just joined the board. Ms. Kate Akin, Mr. John Considine, Ms. Kari Riordan, and Ms. Jenny Wojcik. You will learn more about them in the coming newsletters. A Happy Spring to All, Gerry

Response to US Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr.'s, April 16th Briefing on Autism

By Gerry Beagles • April 17, 2025

Any of you that listened to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s remarks yesterday about the “autism epidemic” would have spent your time more intelligently if you had watched an episode of the Three Stooges. Kennedy referred to autism as a ‘disease’, versus a developmental disability, and stressed how it destroys families and greatly limits the contributions that persons with this neurological condition can make to society. What a bunch of hogwash! There are many individuals dealing with autism that are living contented, productive lives filled with connection, contribution, and meaning. There are people in the arts, playing sports, employed, paying taxes, enjoying loving relationships, and certainly sitting on the damn toilet! The Secretary’s message is just more misinformation and simply reinforces the stigmatization that holds individuals with an autism diagnosis down and keeps so many in our country from experiencing the gifts and positive impacts that they share. Please join us and the many advocates supporting persons with neurological differences in seeking a future for these incredible, courageous individuals, where they are suitably championed to create and enjoy the lives they deserve!

Elation to Anxiety

By Gerry Beagles • March 3, 2025

The joy and happiness of inclusiveness and acceptance were all around us, fanned by the heavy beat of 70’s rock music being played by the volunteer DJ. It was our agency’s Valentine’s dance, hosted by the varsity baseball team over at St. Laurence High School, and both the individuals we support, and the student-athletes were having a blast. One of the major changes I have personally experienced over the last 50 plus years around services to persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities has been the movement to see all of us as people first, realizing that it is all the marvelous differences that brings life its’ juiciness! I was very impressed with the welcoming spirit of the baseball team and their strong determination to ensure that our folks would have a terrific time. The entire coaching staff, led by head coach Pete Lotus, demonstrated true leadership as they jumped in and enjoyed the party as well. Whatever the baseball teams’ record is at the end of the season, the Valentine party was a huge W! Sadly, it only took a few days for the elation we had experienced from the dance to change into stress and anxiety due to statements and actions taken by President Trump and those that seem to be blindly following his agenda. Initially, it was the attempt to stop Federal funding that was a threat to the continuation of our services which caused intense fear and worry with many of our parents, guardians, and families. There was a short reprieve as that executive order was rescinded, only to be followed by the next gut punch in the form of a bill that would cut $880 billion in Medicaid funding, which is the main source of financial backing for disability services in Illinois and throughout the country. It has become the highest priority for all of us to communicate to state and U.S. legislators the unfathomable negative ramifications of this bill becoming law! Some of my colleagues and I are traveling to Washington D.C. next week to share our collective stories with as many congresspeople as possible. Inside the March/April special issue of The Leaflet are some heartfelt reflections by persons whose lives are uplifted daily by the services we provide. I hope you will take a few minutes to reflect on the stories they share. May you be safe, and LOUD!