November 11, 2011

Care team and adult family home reunite brothers

Andy and Leonard Davis joined Care Wisconsin’s Waushara County Family Care program in fall 2009, shortly after Andy’s high school graduation. Both brothers have developmental disabilities and neither was receiving the attention he needed living at home. Andy was placed at Jim Polcyn’s adult family home in rural Princeton through Catholic Charities, while Leonard moved into a Berlin adult family home.

The two brothers have not always gotten along, but as soon as they lived apart, it was apparent how much they missed each other. Care Manager Jennifer Eisenga made it a priority to reunite the two. She worked with Andy’s residential provider to see whether it might be possible to make room for Leonard there. 

Jim had the excellent idea of finishing an unused cottage next to the main residence as a shared apartment for the two brothers. Renovation began in February and when the cottage was ready in May, Andy and Leonard moved in, with Andy proclaiming that “the brothers are back!”

The time apart has helped them appreciate each other. Leonard’s leadership keeps Andy on track and making good decisions. They eat meals in the main living space next door, where all the residents have chores and are encouraged to invite guests to dinner. But Andy and Leonard have additional guidelines in the cottage. They clean every Sunday, and have rules about respecting each other’s things.

Jim notes that Andy has been an invaluable asset with another resident, Ryan, who is very shy and never had a good friend before. Both Davises enjoy having Ryan stay in their guest bed in Andy’s room.

Andy and Leonard do a variety of jobs at supported employment agency Fox River Industries (FRI). Surprisingly, Leonard—the patient, quiet, responsible older brother—is the bigger spender of the two, using his money to purchase sports equipment as quickly as he earns it. Energetic, big-talking Andy is saving to buy a computer, and hopes to go see live WWE wrestling in Green Bay.

Jim notes that with medication and preventive care, the asthma that affects both brothers has been much improved. Besides maintaining their health, another goal established by the care team for both of the brothers is to get them jobs in the community. Andy is extremely intelligent and skilled with electronics, while Leonard’s easygoing manner, determination and excellent people skills would serve him well in a job requiring interaction with others.

The artistic Leonard, who has already taught himself to play guitar, now takes piano lessons from Jim, a former piano teacher. And both brothers enjoy and are very good at sports, playing basketball in winter and competing in the state Special Olympics in baseball in summer. It’s great having the brothers on the same team, with Andy playing shortstop and Leonard in the outfield. It’s nice to see that, with some great collaboration, Leonard still has his brother’s back—both on and off the field. 

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