Bruce’s Story: Finding Self-Advocacy
Who advocates for you? Is it your family, friends, loved ones, or your community? Or is it you yourself? All these people advocate for you, but what about someone who cannot speak? Let me introduce you to Bruce and his family, his advocates.
Bruce Gross is an adult with autism who requires significant care for his day-to-day activities. As a nonverbal person, he communicates using sounds, his eyes, facial expressions, and body language to communicate and express emotions. He points and nods to "yes" or "no" questions. He responds to “Bruce are you good?” with a wink and a twinkle in his eye.
Bruce loves people and interacting with them. He trusts them to show happy, mad, and sad emotions. He responds positively to hugs and physical touch and is very touch-sensitive, which is unusual for someone with autism. If you are new to Bruce’s space, he will sit up tall and look for you and wonder if you will introduce yourself.
Before attending Employment Enterprises, Inc. (EEI)'s Bridge program, Bruce attended supported programs at elementary, middle, and high schools in Brainerd and Baxter, Minnesota. The Students Transition and Reach Success (STARS) program at Brainerd High School played an important role in preparing him for transition out of school and into adult programs. Bruce's primary caregivers are his mother and father, Lynda and Brett Gross, who are a nurse and a teacher, respectively. They understand the importance of being in a supportive community and hugely advocate for Bruce.
Bruce started attending EEI on June 6, 2023, and the staff in the STARS program and at EEI were creative in the transition, establishing safety and routine and figuring out the sensory elements needed for Bruce to be comfortable. The STARS staff volunteered time to come to EEI on Bruce's first days so that he had a familiar face in his new environment.
Like-minded people came together to observe and use the resources available to them to determine what was best for Bruce.
Bruce's world is different from ours. He cannot walk into a room and choose where he sits or choose a space where he is comfortable. Rather, he is put into a space where an aide wants him to be. Figuring out how he reacts or does not react is important to understanding Bruce. For example, he might be quiet and not interact with others. This reaction could mean he’s uncomfortable. Someone who understands him will read his communication and figure out if a better situation is needed for Bruce.
Bruce’s best interpersonal relationships are with people who talk to him. Bruce needs to be surrounded by people he trusts, such as his loved ones and caregivers who can offer him positive options. However, if he doesn't trust someone or something, he makes it known through his reactions. His parents say, “Good staff, good helpers will connect and find what’s best for Bruce.” Good staff and a positive environment are necessary.
Through the community at EEI’s Bridge, Bruce can meet more people. Individuals at the Bridge provide a more colorful world. Lynda says, “The spirit they have is incredible.” Bruce has a bigger world now than he has had. Bruce and the other Bridge individuals are good at reading each other. Lynda says about nonverbal individuals, “They know more than what people give them credit for.” At the core of the Bridge program, the individuals understand how their community feels and figure out how to work together. Outsiders entering the Bridge feel welcome. Usually, they are greeted by individuals without hesitation. The Bridge is a place full of diverse abilities; the playing field is level; everyone comes as they are.
Bruce can advocate for himself at EEI because he trusts the space. Lynda says, “We all have that inner spirit that wants calmness and contentment.” She also says, “You have to have the ability and drive to unlock these people.” As for good workers, you can tell who they are, because when they are working with Bruce, he is happy. He knows when people want to work with him. Bruce can grow because he has a positive environment. Lynda says the goal is to be a happy adult. EEI is providing Bruce with a community where he can be one.
