One Point Can Change A Life

Sometimes, a defining moment is small – one connection, one minute or in Nasir’s case – one point.

The Palm Beach Lakes high schooler connected with Community Partners of South Florida’s Wraparound Supervisor Anthony through the Safe Schools program. Initially, he needed glasses but after a few minutes together, Anthony quickly realized that Nasir needed more services.

An ESE (Exceptional Student Education) student, Nasir was born with hearing loss and was intellectually disabled. Nasir's mom, Shirley, raised him on her own and also took care of Nasir's grandmother. As a new resident of Florida, she wasn't completely familiar with the services offered by Palm Beach County for her son.

Luckily, Anthony’s decade in the field made him an expert and he quickly connected the family with glasses, clothing and food as well as CILO – the Coalition for Independent Living Options – a South Florida non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the civil rights of people with disabilities in housing, travel, education, employment, and access to community and public services.

Nasir got involved with the job training program – they met once a season and he would get paid for his work. 

This was just the beginning and Anthony understood that for Nasir to thrive, he needed to live more independently. Working with Shirley, Anthony reached out to the Agency for People with Disabilities (ADP) to help Nasir secure a place in a group home.

“It’s a huge process to get in,” Anthony explained. “You have to take an IQ test and Nasir has a limited vocabulary but he can read well and he is excellent at math. But he needed to live more independently. For himself and for Shirley.”

When Nasir’s results came back, he scored one point too high to qualify for the program. 

The family was devastated but Anthony was not deterred.

“He had a sunny day,” Anthony said. “His academic history shows that he needs APD services and I had to prove it to them.”

Working with Palm Beach Lakes High School’s ESE Coordinator Misty Russo, Anthony went to the School District and found years of paperwork about Nasir’s academic progress. He then presented this information to the APD in the form of an appeal.

Anthony even worked with Shirley to compose a crisis letter, enumerating the ways that Nasir would thrive in a group home setting and writing, “I believe a group home would be the best place for him where he can be watched and cared for by people who are trained to care for people like Nasir.”

He won.

Nasir was accepted to the program under Category 7 – the lowest tier of acceptance and one that meant he would be waitlisted for a spot – but he was still in.

“Nasir was approved on the contingency that he will receive care in the future but is not eligible at the present while Shirley is able to care for him,” Anthony explained. “He needs to learn to be independent because Shirley can’t care for him forever.”

In addition to a future spot in a group home, the APD also approved a companion for Nasir – someone who will take him out and work with him in terms of socialization with the world around him.

“His whole world is his room and he needs to expand his boundaries,” Anthony said. 
At this point, Anthony could have closed the case, wished the family luck and walked away feeling good about how we worked with this family so they could thrive.

But he still wasn’t done. 

ESE students are entitled to public education until they’re 22 so Palm Beach Lakes High School deferred Nasir’s diploma and Anthony called The Career Academy of the Palm Beaches – a local institute run by Gulfstream Goodwill which provides education, training, and career pathways that promote self-sufficiency and independence.

They were receptive to accepting Nasir as a student so he could continue his education. 

“He likes culinary arts and helps his mom cook,” Anthony said.  “Now, he’ll get experience in a professional kitchen where he can prepare for employment in a hotel, restaurant or hospital.”

It took two years of fierce fighting, long phone calls and endless paperwork but working together – Anthony, Shirley and Nasir did it.

Anthony has been on the CPSFL Wraparound Services Team for almost a decade and says his proudest moment was that day. 

“Shirley put her arm on my shoulder and started crying,” he said. “She said, ‘Thank you, Mr. Anthony. You never gave up on us.’”

Community Partners of South Florida receives partial support for case management services from multiple funders, but we need support from donors like you to fill in the gaps. Your donation dollars ensure that families like Nasir and Shirley’s get the uninterrupted support and resources they need. To make a gift to Community Partners of South Florida, please visit our website at http://www.cp-cto.org/donate or email our Director of Advancement, Charlotte Gill at CGill@cp-cto.org. Working together, we can build strong communities where all residents can thrive.