Being the Best Matthew He Can Be

By Matthew Simon

I am absolutely amazed and yet not! Matthew left this past weekend for a trip to Israel. He is with a group of special needs young adults on a trip of a lifetime. As anxious as he was, he bravely left his family for a At 23, Matthew is living
a truly rich life.completely new adventure in life. And it’s one more step toward independence. At 23, Matthew is living a truly rich life. He works out a gym, takes Access transportation, works at a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant, continues to act with a community theater group, and is now attending a unique performing arts training program for adults with developmental disabilities. And he has 3 good friends. It hasn’t been a completely smooth road and he still struggles with anxiety and rigidity, but he also has remarkable resilience, compassion, and persistence! He inspires me and everyone else who knows him!