by Cody & Lisa
Cody: We met 4 years ago at Noah’s Landing in Florida, a special needs housing community. We knew we liked each other because of the same likes, the connection we had, and the same passions. We both love Josh Grobin, music, Disney, family, love, dancing, singing, and art. I knew I wanted to marry Lisa because I am doing it out of love. She is a caring person. She will always be my honey. She likes to hug me a lot, and she is outgoing and social.
Lisa: I knew I wanted to marry Cody because he is an inspiration to me. He cares so much about me and really wants to have a life with me. He inspires me in so many ways, you cannot even imagine–through his heart, his soul. He is the kind of loving person I wanted to have. He is the most genuine person.
Cody: I decided to ask Lisa to marry me at Amore restaurant. I knew I wanted to marry her the day I met her. It was always in my heart. My gut, soul, mind, body, and brain told me so.
Lisa: I knew I wanted to marry Cody from the moment I met him. He looked amazing, lol! I wanted to marry him because I want to make him happy. We both want to make each other very happy.
Cody: As far as independent living, we feel happy and excited! I knew it was going to be a challenge without other roommates, but I know that Michigan has a lot of amazing opportunities for people with special needs. I feel a little bit nervous, but not too much. We will have a lot of support.
Our plans for the future are to NOT have children. We want to have happiness, joy, love, and respect. We want to stay busy and go to concerts. We want to host our own family night, game nights, and dinner parties!! We both plan to get jobs or continue with day programs. People with disabilities have the same rights to get married and be like any other adult couple in the world.
We want to tell other adults with special needs to watch Monica and David or Born This Way. If you have a dream, you need to go for it because it’s important to have faith in yourself, be honest with yourself, and someday you will find the right person who may make you as happy as you can be.
We started a GoFundMe page to help us pay for the steep cost of our housing. We would be honored if you donated.
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/special-needs-housing-for-cody-and-lisa
My name is Chloe Bayer and I work as a Benefits and Information and Referral Specialist at Disability Advocates of Kent County and have worked for various other nonprofit organizations that serve people with disabilities in the Kent County area for the last 20 years. I am married and have three boys ages 11, 14, and 16 . I became involved in DSAWM because my brother Phil, who also lives with me, has Down syndrome and I believe that organizations like DSAWM are crucial to assuring that people with Down syndrome and their families in our community are represented, supported, and provided with opportunities to be their best selves. During my time on the Board, I would like to share both my professional and personal experiences and expertise to be a source of information and assistance to this organization and the families we serve.
My Name is Niurka Diaz. I live in Kentwood with my husband Alberto and my 3 children Allyson (15), Anna (13), and Ethan (12). Anna has Down syndrome and she is the reason we found the amazing people at the DSAWM. When Anna was born we did not know of her diagnosis and we felt a little lost. Thankfully, God sent us an angel in the form of a sweet volunteer at Spectrum Health who brought us a new parent packet from the DSAWM and her grandson was the boy pictured in the front of the packet! She sat with us and listened to a million questions with a smile on her face and that was it for us. This community we found has seen us through highs and lows and we have met the most amazing people along the way. We have been participating in the Association for the past 13 years and I feel honored to be able to serve on the Board and give back in a small way for all we have been given.
When I was about seven years old, my Aunt Jeanie moved into my home after my grandparents could no longer care for her on their own due to multiple health problems. Being so young, I couldn’t quite understand why Jeanie looked a little different, or why she wasn’t living on her own. I was curious in learning what Down syndrome was, and how it would affect our family dynamic. I am very fortunate to have parents who were willing to teach my older sister and I what Down syndrome was, and how it really makes no difference in the way that we treat people.
Throughout middle school and high school, I became heavily involved in working with the special education classrooms and Special Olympics. I loved the idea of the “Inclusion Revolution” that my school implemented, because I wanted my classmates to understand that Down syndrome is not a disability, but rather, it is a unique perspective into life that we get the privilege to explore with our loved ones together. My family has learned so much from Jeanie, probably way more than she will ever learn from us. Jeanie has taught me what patience and kindness is; she has also taught me what resiliency looks like (especially when she wants to eat a big scoop of ice cream or peanut butter- she won’t take ‘no’ for an answer!). She knows how to make people smile through her chattiness, singing, and dancing. Jeanie radiates so much joy, that you can’t help but join in on the fun.
I truly think that Jeanie has helped shape me into the person that I am becoming. She has helped lead me to my career goals, and has taught me simple life lessons that everyone could use. I am so thankful that she came into my life at such a young age, because I was able to learn what love looks like in one of the simplest forms. More than anything, Jeanie has become like a sister, rather than an aunt, to me.