sent for a 30 to 90-day trial of the facility and has been there since. “It’s hard. You know, you take your 8-year old there, drop them off and drive away. It was hard. Very hard,” she explained. For two weeks after she dropped him off she could not have contact with him, no phone calls or visitations. She could call and ask staff how he was doing, but could not talk with him directly. They wanted to get him to adapt to the new environment. As a fellow mother, I can’t imagine the heartbreak that she felt. Coffman would pick him up nearly every weekend and every holiday to come home. Because routine is crucial for Jordan, she would consistently pick him up on Saturday and take him back on Sunday. Now he is trying a new behavior program and is in a points system where he needs to earn his privileges to come home. Looking Forward LifeScape allows Jordan to attend school up to age 21 and Coffman would like to see him continue with school until then. He has been working in the on-site store, learning about customer service while he helps wait on people. Jordan has been taking part in the facility’s sorting and wrapping program, helping to hone in on his skills, along with the laundry, cooking and shopping programs. Coffman is hoping that Jordan may be able to advance to a supervised facility with other roommates or to an Adult Services facility. Because Jordan requires Professional Crisis Management (PMC) restraint when he has crisis behavior, where he needs trained personnel to help restrain him for safety, facilities that offer this are limited. Jordan is working hard on adjusting his behavior to remove this necessity. Jordan still faces challenges, though it has become much better for him throughout the years. Coffman explained, “We have a hard time with a quiet voice. It’s hard. We’ll be at a restaurant and people are looking, like, why is that kid so loud?” Her comment brought to my own awareness that out and about, remember to withhold judgment about others. It’s like seeing someone parking in a handicap spot when they look fine, but truly they have a handicap that we can’t see. Don’t be judgmental. I think everyone can be reminded of that. Awareness Coffman explained that, prior to this interview, she was recently invited to do a radiothon on autism. She will also be attending a legislative social in Pierre, South Dakota to discuss the importance of LifeScape and places like it and was excited for the opportunity. “Be aware. It’s everywhere,” she explains that autism is more common that we realize. “The bottom line is keep it simple. Don’t treat them differently than you would anybody else. They are people, just as you are. Awareness is huge, because there is so much about it that no one knows. Keep it simple, be kind and become aware.” Coffman continued, “I remember reading something when Jordan was first diagnosed…. It was ’10 things your autistic child wants you to do.’ The one that stuck in my head was ‘I have autism. I am not autistic.’” She explained how Jordan knows he has autism. He doesn’t know what it is, but he knows that things are harder for him. In working with an autistic child, Lori recommended to keep it simple. “If you say something like ‘It’s a piece of cake,’ then you better have dessert. They are very black and white.” “Jordan’s doctor explained it to me that he understands the things that he wants and the rest of it doesn’t make sense to them,” she continued. “And I have learned through the years that he is exactly right.” Bringing Happiness Jordan tends to bring joy wherever he goes. He has become very close with his older siblings and loves to Skype with them. One year for Christmas, he received a Santa suit that he badly wanted. He now looks forward to dressing as Santa every year during the Christmas season to visit others and spread holiday cheer. “He has brought me more joy, he has made me laugh with some of the things that he says,” Coffman laughs. I could see the pride for her son on her face as she showed me a picture of them at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City for Jordan’s eighteenth birthday celebration. Coffman’s hopes for Jordan? She gets asked this every year for Jordan’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. “My answer is always the same. I want Jordan to be happy. I just want him happy.” She smiled as she said it and I could hear in her voice that she truly wants nothing more than his happiness. A goal no different than most parents want for their child. And from what she’s done for Jordan, it appears that she’s put him on the right path and done a phenomenal job in achieving the same happiness for her son that he brings to the lives of others. vBy Julie Eickhoff We protect it. You live it. Rhonda L. Wesseln, Agent I’m here to help life go rightTM – so you can enjoy it, while I help protect it. Let’s talk about your life insurance options. CALL ME TODAY. 1023 W. 9th Street Yankton, SD 57078 Bus: 605-665-4411 rhonda@rhondainsuresyou.com 1601487 8vHERVOICEvMARCH/APRIL 2017 State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY or WI), State Farm LIfe and Accident Assurance Company (Licensed in NY and WI), Bloomington, IL