Despite the difficulties Matt faces every day, he is one of the most open, honest, and humble individuals you might ever have the chance to meet. He will be the first to admit the path that led him to where he is today has been destructive. Diagnosed with ADHD in kindergarten, the journey from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood was precarious to say the least. While he recalls having…
Optimistic, goal-oriented, encouraging and positive – If you ever have the pleasure of speaking with Simone, these are just a few words that might come to mind. In spite of her mental health struggles, this vibrant young woman has big plans for a bright future. Growing up, Simone was the youngest of three girls. She has many fond memories of her younger years and recalls laughter playing an important part…
When you first meet Sean, you notice he is soft spoken and even gentle. But if you are lucky enough to engage him in conversation, you will soon learn that there is so much more than a first impression offers. Growing up in Wauwatosa, he remembers a rocky childhood. School yard bullies made his formative years very difficult. “High school was particularly hard. I got picked on a lot. Kids…
2020 has been quite a year…an understatement to say the least. While most people are not sad to see the year come to a close, we would be remiss to let it slip away without appropriate reflection and perhaps even a bit of thankfulness. This past January, when the clock struck midnight on a new decade, the world anticipated great things. 2020 seemed the perfect year to reset our lives,…
“Just because my eyes don’t work doesn’t mean that I am not a human being, capable of offering the same support and help that anyone else can.” Shalene Fayne – Our Space Peer Support Specialist There are people we have the privilege of meeting that just make us want to be better. They cause us to focus less on our problems, and the things we cannot do, and make us…
In part one of The Our Space Peer Support Model blog, we introduced the Our Space peer support model, utilizing individuals with lived experience walking alongside someone battling a similar issue. This week, we invite you to learn more about peer support, through stories recounting how it makes a difference in the lives of those served through this program. Each Peer Support/Consumer relationship is as unique as the individuals they…
“Walking a mile in someone else’s shoes isn’t as much about the walk or the shoes; it’s to be able to think like they think, feel what they feel, and understand why they are who and where they are. Every step is about empathy. ” – Author: Toni Sorenson Day in and day out, this is the role of the Our Space Peer Support Specialist – empathetically walking in someone else’s shoes.…
