7 Questions With
Matt
Maynard
How long have you been opening your home to adults with developmental disabilities or living with someone with a developmental disability?
I’ve only been an official HLADD provider since 2017, but my wife Faith has worked with LADD for about twenty years or so, and in that time we’ve had many folks with disabilities come spend time with us for holidays, for birthdays, or just for fun.
What advice do you wish you received when you first started providing services?
Almost every individual that comes into your home is bringing some type of past trauma. It’s going to take patience and time to work through it with them and get to the point where they really feel safe with you and like they are part of the family.
What is the hardest part about the work you do?
It is probably the same complaint I have about raising my children; Aside from a few days of respite a year, It is a 24/7, 365 days a week commitment. Their needs don’t just go away if you’re tired, having a bad day, or dealing with your own issues. But when they’re gone, even for just a few days, you miss them terribly.
What is the best part about the work you do?
I really love it when I can truly feel like I’ve helped someone to level-up their life. If I can help find them a new medical intervention or assitive technology that lets them get more out of life, I could live off just that for days.
What is a dream that you have for yourself?
This kind of was my dream. I was working as a web designer fifty hours a week with an hour commute each way. I never got to see my family or do any of the stuff that I loved. My wife and I had always talked about doing the HLADD thing, so when I got laid off, it seemed like a good time to go for it. Now I get to see my family all the time and I have time to work on myself. It’s not always a perfect paradise, but even 5 or so years later, I do not regret doing it.
What is the dream you have for the person(s) you are supporting?
I dream of John being able to legally drive a motorcycle through the streets of Cincinnati. It’s all he really wants, but it’s probably not in the cards for him, so we’ve tried to recreate the experience using a simulator I helped him build. We both know it’s not the same, but it’s the best I can do at present. Maybe someday in the near future assitive driving technology will allow him to tear through the streets, laughing maniacally. I hope so.
Who do you consider a hero and why?
I try not to put people on a pedestal like that. I feel like it’s kind of limiting for them in a way. Also recently we were all too willing to call front line workers heroes, but still not pay them what their labor is worth. But gun to my head, it’s probably someone like George Washington or Bobby Seale.
