I met Geoff at Rosie’s Cantina (his favorite restaurant) on a sunny winter afternoon. He introduced himself and told me about his love of foxes. When asked what he thought of the popular Ylvis song, “What does the Fox say?,” he rolled his eyes dramatically. He did not seem as in love with the tune as my class of 5 year olds. It appeared that he may even have found the song degrading to his beloved collection of foxes. I immediately decided that I liked his sense of humor.
David Stidger, Job Coach and Owner of Open Door, explained his mentor relationship with Geoff: “When I met him, he was in a rut I guess… ‘Wouldn’t you say?’ he asked, turning to Geoff for permission to broadcast this information, “Now he has his own apartment, pays his bills, and has been working at Clementine’s for over a year-‐ right? It’s been a year, right Geoff?” David loves to brag about Geoff, and it is very endearing. Geoff beams at David’s praise and downplays the compliments by acknowledging his struggles.
The essence of Geoff’s story lies in the way he has not only managed to successfully find a career and an apartment, but further how he has managed to maintain this lifestyle for an extended period of time, an equally huge accomplishment. When I asked Geoff if he has any advice for other adults on the spectrum who are struggling to find a job or become more independent, he responded with a big smile, saying “Hire David!” Geoff very graciously offers the credit for his success to Job Coaching through Open Door, and acknowledges that it was a turning point in his life.
I think we all agree that Geoff deserves the greatest accolades for his success in living independently despite the challenges of his diagnosis. I don’t know if anyone knows what the “fox says”, but I do know what Geoff’s beloved collection of orange fur on top of his dresser conveys to him every night when he returns from work, “We’re proud of you“.
Huntsville, AL
