She’s living a dream many take for granted
Humankind: Florida community helps woman with autism be independent
WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. – Before her 29th birthday, Rachel Rodrigues is living the dream.
She has a job and an apartment in which her cozy bedroom is bathed in pink light. The complex is under construction, but soon, it will include a swimming pool, a gym, an art center and a dining room.
Rodrigues and her roommates and neighbors can enjoy activities such as dance class and yoga.
A note on her fridge reminds her: 4:30 p.m. Resident Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Dance Fit.
This dream of independence, taken for granted by so many, seemed out of reach for Rodrigues.
“Since she graduated from high school, despite the challenge of autism, my daughter’s dream has been to live on her own, work for herself and have fun with friends,” said Rebecca Rodrigues, Rachel’s mother. “We just hoped she’d be safe — and happy. After seven years of frustration, turned down for job after job, we’d watched her bright, eager hope extinguished.”
“It can get depressing,” Rachel said, “because you can’t do anything to foster your future.”
A few weeks ago, Rodrigues moved into an apartment at Promise in Brevard, an independent living community in West Melbourne where adults with special needs can live and work.
“I’m really, really happy,” she said. “It seems like the Lord is taking good care of us, and good care of me.”
She’s adjusting to apartment living. “It really is refreshing,” she said. “It’s fun to live with people my own age instead of with my parents. It’s kind of like a college dorm.”
It’s not all fun and pajama parties with roommates, though.
Rodrigues works at Five Guys at the Avenue Viera, where she wipes down tables with meticulous care to make sure the dining room is tidy and pleasant for guests. She hopes she’ll be able to transition soon into washing dishes and food prep.
Her father, Stan Rodrigues, is teaching her to manage her money. Her mom stops by sometimes with groceries but reminds Rodrigues that food isn’t always going to magically appear in the kitchen.
Promise has a van to take residents on grocery runs, and Rodrigues is learning to navigate the store to get the things she needs, including snacks.
She’s learning to take care of routine housework.
“I do my own laundry,” she said. “I’m keeping up real good with that. Every now and then, I’ll dust, clean the floor, clean the bathroom.”
She’s been so busy settling into the routine of normal life, just like other 20-somethings, she hasn’t had time to be homesick or to miss her parents.
“It’s always good to see them,” she said, “but no, I don’t really feel sad. It’s really happy that I’m here and independent.”