Editor’s Note: LIFTT’s overall success is measured in large part by the success of consumers and peers in achieving their individual goals. When a consumer or peer successfully completes a goal, their IL specialist, PCA facilitator, or Peer Program Coordinator writes up a “success story.” It is our privilege and pleasure to share some of them with you from time to time
Peer Success Story: John Paul Z.
John Paul Z. is a 48-year-old male whose primary disability is psychiatric. He has been a past Consumer and a long-time Peer at LIFTT. John Paul is nonverbal and may sometimes have trouble communicating his wants and needs. He lives with his mother, his primary caregiver, and has an aide who comes in several days each week to assist and accompany him in daily activities and adventures. He and his Aide participate as volunteers for a handful of local organizations to keep him active and connected to his community.
John Paul has been part of the Peer Program since 2018 and continues to assist the LIFTT team in various ways. Whether he’s helping with outreach preparations, like folding brochures or helping set up for an event, doing clerical tasks, like adding labels to outgoing newsletters, or simply wrangling the building’s refuse, John Paul’s willing spirit and good attitude are invaluable assets to LIFTT’s Peer Program.
John Paul is a beautiful and literal weekly reminder that positive actions speak louder than words. His fondness and affinity for changing our wall calendars and repeatedly revisiting the hand sanitizing stations are just small samples of why he is a joy on the LIFTT team.
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides people with disabilities with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple or Android Device.
You can donate to LIFTT by clicking here.