Mace Family for OPNH

There are certain milestones in life, for us and our children, that are transformative. They begin with a toddler’s first steps and continue through a driver’s license, a first date, first kiss, first crush, high school graduation, perhaps college, a first apartment, and possibly love, marriage, and children. All of these experiences have an impact on who we are… they help shape us. For individuals living with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) many of these milestones are hard earned, and some are challenging, if not impossible, to achieve. But… with the help of society and community, some of these hurdles can have different outcomes.

I have witnessed a transformative different outcome in the past year with my son, Caleb, who lives with a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Almost a year ago, Caleb moved out of our family home and into his very first apartment in downtown Dover with his friend, Allison. As his roommate, Allison also provides some natural supports needed for Caleb to have taken this next step into independence. And let me tell you… he has FLOURISHED!! The transformation, not just in Caleb’s independence but also self-confidence, is nothing short of remarkable. He no longer relies on me to do daily activities that most of us take for granted. He takes the bus to work, walks to the grocery store, his friend’s apartment, and his favorite restaurants, and independently makes plans to meet up with friends to hang out. Caleb is very proud of his apartment and always enjoys giving visitors a tour.

This transformative milestone in Caleb’s life should be available to every single person with IDD who desires the ability to have more independence. I want this for my daughter, Lily, who also lives with a diagnosis of DS, and all her friends and others who deserve this basic need in life… a safe, stable, supportive place of their own to call home.

This is why I passionately volunteer my time to help Our Place NH create housing solutions for adults with IDD. Imagine if your adult child’s independence depended on you: the ability to get to work, attend social gatherings, volunteer in the community, or grab dinner with a friend. What happens if you work, get sick, or are no longer here to provide this supportive independence for them? It’s a daunting question that haunts most parents of adult children with IDD.

Here’s the good news… we have the ability to solve this and provide hundreds of families throughout NH peace of mind. But the work is hard and we can’t do it alone. We’ve been fundraising over the past 5 years for our first property purchased here in Dover, which we hope to open in 2027. This will provide an apartment, more independence, stability, and community for 11 adults with IDD. We wouldn’t have made it this far without your help. We have plans ready to go, but as building materials and other related costs continue to rise, we continue the work to close the funding gap.

So once again, I am asking you to donate what you can to help us open the doors to our first property and witness 11 individual’s lives transform as we move them into their first apartment. No amount is too small to help… it takes a village and perseverance to get this done and it will happen! How exciting to have the opportunity to be a part of it! Thank you for your past, present, and future support. We appreciate you beyond words.

With gratitude ~ Peggy, Josh, Caleb, and Lily