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photo by Jerry Daliege
Whenever Judy Shelley walks through the door of LSSI's Shady Oaks, she says she feels like she is visiting brothers and sisters. "It's a wonderful feeling," she says. "It's a nice, warm atmosphere. When people come through the front door, we all know each other."
Judy comes to Shady Oaks to visit her daughter, Elizabeth, 32, who has cerebral palsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and some retardation. Judy describes Elizabeth, her youngest of five children, as "the best thing" that ever happened to her. "She and I have a real close relationship," Judy says. "We're kind of joined at the hip. She's funny and loves to tease me - and I love to tease her."
Judy says Elizabeth is in good hands at Shady Oaks, an intermediate-care facility for adults with developmental disabilities. "Whenever I call to see how Elizabeth is doing, the staff automatically know what Elizabeth is doing at that moment," she says. "But what I most appreciate is the love the staff have for the residents - it's genuine," Judy says.
Most residents at Shady Oaks have cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that results from an abnormality or injury to the brain before or during birth, or during the first few months of life. Cerebral palsy can result in abnormalities of movement and posture in various parts of the body. Physical signs range from muscle weakness and floppiness to spasticity and rigidity. Other residents at Shady Oaks are mentally retarded, autistic, epileptic or developmentally disabled in other ways. Shady Oaks' clients range in age from 19 to 68, with most residents in their 30s and 40s.
Shady Oaks' history began about 40 years ago when a parents association bought 10 acres of land in Lockport, adjoining the Shady Oaks Camp for Cerebral Palsy Children, with the intention of building a home where their disabled children could receive the specialized care they need. These dedicated parents' dream came true in 1994 and 1995 when LSSI built two 16-bed residences, commonly called Shady Oaks East and Shady Oaks West. Today, LSSI manages and operates the two buildings and leases the land from the Parents Association for Cerebral Palsy Residential Home, Inc.
A special partnership between Shady Oaks and nearby TLC Animal Shelter provides an opportunity for residents to interact with loving animals. At least once a week, TLC volunteers and gentle, affectionate cats and dogs visit Shady Oaks as part of TLC's community outreach program. "Residents love the visits," [Director] Salinas says. "Especially on Thursday afternoons when Kathy Kanak and her Sheltie, Levi Jean, come to visit." Salinas says the residents especially appreciate the albums Kathy made for the residents full of photos of Levi giving hugs and sloppy kisses to his friends at Shady Oaks.
Levi Jean, a visitor from nearby TLC Animal Shelter, gives Shady Oaks resident Elizabeth Shelley a kiss. "Residents love the visits," says Director Kristen Salinas.