Summer 2007 Table of Contents
Versión Español de este artículo (Spanish Version)

Tough Love

By Kevin Hutchins, Transition Counselor, DARS–Division for Blind Services (DBS), Lubbock, TX

Abstract: Learn how one family created a life filled with enjoyment, productivity, and responsibility for their son who is deafblind, as the owner of his own successful business.

Keywords: Family, deafblind, customized employment, evidence-based practice, self-determination, family wisdom

We have all heard stories of parents who have had children go astray or get into trouble, and the parents were strong enough to administer a little tough love so the children would learn from their mistakes and be responsible for the consequences of their own behavior. This is a story of tough love, with a twist.

Preston with his document shredder. The child is not a trouble maker or a delinquent. He has never abused drugs or alcohol, and has never been in trouble with the law. Instead, he is a young man who was born deafblind and developmentally delayed. This is a story of two parents who wanted to make sure their child grew up to be productive and responsible, with the support structures set in place to allow him to succeed.

Keith and Leslie Fansler, Preston’s parents, have always been determined to protect their child. When he was a baby, Preston’s mother would walk behind him with her sheltering arms to make sure he didn’t bump into anything or bruise himself. Preston became a consumer of the Blind Children’s Program (the Blind Children’s Vocational Discovery and Development Program or BCVDDP with the DARS–Division for Blind Services) shortly after his birth. Both of his parents became very involved in activities through BCVDDP and participated in interactive events such as the annual Family Conference in Lubbock and the Deafblind Symposium sponsored by the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The family also networked with other parents of multi-disabled children, and they became active in the Deaf-Blind Multihandicapped Association of Texas (DBMAT).

Through perseverance and networking, Preston’s parents decided that with the right support systems in place their child was capable of being successful, and they proceeded to become very involved in his ARD/IEP meetings. Leslie realized that Preston would never be able to perform academically at the same level as peers his own age, but she wanted to ensure that he would have the skills he needed to be productive in some way, and the ability to stay busy after he graduated from high school and entered adulthood. Over the years, Preston’s parents have made sure his ARD/IEP meetings stayed focused on the long-term skills and the supports he will need after leaving high school.

Preston is now 19 years old. He is still in high school and will continue in school until age 21. He communicates through tactile sign. He uses a white cane to travel, and he helps mow the lawn. An elderly neighbor once told his parents they shouldn’t make that poor boy do so much. A few years later, after watching Preston help mow the yard, the same neighbor commented, “Our Preston has sure come a long way, hasn’t he?”

Preston is an excellent swimmer, and he like to ride horses. His cousins have even taught him to ride a four wheeler. (Mom was spirited away into the tent at the camp site first, which eased having to deal with her fears.) Most amazing of all, Preston is now a self-employed business owner!

Keith and Leslie, along with networks of support, have worked diligently to establish a small business for Preston. Through vocational training at school, Preston found that he loved to shred paper. He will shred for up to 60 minutes without prompts. Thus was born Handy Able Hands, a document shredding business, and the slogan, “You create confidential data, I destroy it confidentially.”

Business Card: Document Destruction. As he grew older and acquired improved independent living and work skills, Preston progressed from the Blind Children’s Program to the Division for Blind Services Transition Program. His Transition Counselor was able to arrange the purchase of two industrial-sized paper shredders to get his business going, and business is booming. He now has three weekly customers and two customers who call him when they need shredding. (All of his customers are doctors’ offices, so you can imagine the volume of shredding they have!) He is proud of being a “full service” business, either shredding on-site or transporting the documents home to be destroyed—whatever the customer prefers. He has business cards and employer references. Preston accepts payment by the job, or he’ll negotiate a monthly salary. He sends out monthly statements and receives monthly paychecks. The family is even looking at ways to expand the business!

It is amazing what can be accomplished when you apply a little tough love, have the necessary supports, and are motivated to succeed!

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Last Revision: October 4, 2007