For nearly 20 years, Donna has shared her home with Larry through Shared Living, a model of support where an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability lives as part of a provider’s household, building their life alongside a family.
Ask her what the experience has meant over those two decades, and she doesn’t start by talking about services or supports. She talks about the puppy that wandered into Larry’s room one day and became his best friend. She talks about her granddaughter climbing onto Larry’s bed to work on puzzles together after school. She talks about watching Larry build confidence, take pride in himself, and walk with his head held high.
Donna is the first to admit that sharing your life with another person isn’t always easy. In the beginning, it was just Donna and Larry learning how to share a life together. There was no roadmap, only time, patience, and a willingness to learn each other’s routines, preferences, and personalities. But when she thinks about the moments that have made the journey worthwhile for both her and Larry, one memory stands above the rest.
“Larry has limited verbal communication skills, so I’ll never forget the day I overheard him talking to our dog, Ellie. He said, ‘Night night, Ellie. I love you.’ Then he said my name a few times. I got emotional. Those are the moments that remind you you’re doing the right thing.”
Over time, trust grew, confidence grew, and what started as a new living arrangement became something so much deeper.
Today, their home has grown to include Donna’s husband, who shares Larry’s love of sports and has developed a close bond of his own with him. Looking back, Donna sees a relationship shaped not by any single milestone, but by countless everyday moments that helped Larry become more comfortable, more confident, and more at home.
Donna tells the rest of the story better than we ever could. Watch the video below to hear more about the life she and Larry have built together, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and the moments that continue to remind her why this work matters.
If you’re drawn to the connection, companionship, and sense of purpose Donna describes, learn more about becoming a Shared Living provider at https://allinc.org/shared-living/.
