Earlier this year, Walt Willard made the courageous decision to move from his hometown in Vermont to Pennsylvania to be closer to his sister. While this move was scary and daunting, it inspired him to take his life into his own hands and pursue dreams he had always had but was too afraid to chase. KenCrest has supported Walt for almost a year now. Throughout his time here, he has not only secured his apartment through Supported Independent Living but has also begun pursuing a career in landscaping, a field that he loves.
KenCrest’s Supported Independent Living (SIL) program helps people with disabilities living in Pennsylvania’s Bucks, Montgomery, Berks, Philadelphia, Delaware, and Chester counties live independently by providing up to 30 hours of support each week based on their needs and desired outcomes. Participants in this program develop activities of daily living skills, money management, scheduling and attending appointments, and participating in their community, all while having access to on-call services. Plus, SIL uses Charting the Life Course to help individuals learn ways to communicate their needs, advocate for their support, and reach their goals to achieve a meaning-filled life.
When Walt came to KenCrest, he worked with Angela Marshall, the Director of Supported Independent Living, to develop a plan that would best help him reach his goals of living independently and finding a career he loves. For Walt, landscaping is more than just a job; it is a passion rooted in cherished memories and a sense of peace.
Growing up, Walt always helped his mom with the yard work. No matter the weather, he would spend hours outside, cutting the grass or mulching the flower beds, always having a tool in hand. He loved being out in nature; it was calming and put his mind at ease. But his world was turned upside down when his mother and father were both diagnosed with cancer. His mom passed away first, and his father followed shortly after. With his sister down in Pennsylvania, he didn’t see a reason to stay up north. So, he made the move and has a whole new outlook on life.
“My parents never thought I would ever be working in landscaping. When I was younger, back in Vermont, my mom and I always landscaped together, and I just got hooked. Moving here was an adjustment; getting used to the humidity was quite the change,” he laughs. “You didn’t have to worry about that back in Vermont, but here you step outside, and it feels like it’s 100 degrees.”
Since moving here, Walt has worked with several people in landscaping, including his apartment landlord. So far, he has completed three rental properties for them and hopes to do more in the coming spring. This fall, he even helped Angela Marshall by cleaning up her flower beds and cutting her lawn.
“When I did that job, it was night and day,” he explains. “The after-effects of any job are my favorite part because you can see the change. I’ll take a photo at the start of the job and then go back and take that exact photo at the end. The change is incredible.”
Currently, Walt is in talks with KenCrest’s Employment program to hopefully start his own landscaping business this Summer: Walt’s Landscaping. He specializes in softscaping: from cutting grass to mulching flower beds and doing fall clean-ups. Starting his own business is a significant step for Walt, representing his professional aspirations and his journey toward independence and self-fulfillment.
KenCrest believes that employment services should be available to everyone. The Employment team uses various tools, from person-centered planning to interest inventories and electronic resumes to digital networking, to assist any job seeker in achieving their career-related goals. They even support individuals like Walt, who want to start their own businesses.
Whether through Supported Independent Living, Employment, or any of our other services, KenCrest is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their dreams and lead meaningful lives.
If you or someone you know is interested in exploring Supported Independent Living or Employment services, we encourage you to contact KenCrest. Our team is here to provide the support and resources needed to help you achieve your goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you on your journey toward independence and success.