Gareth: An Everyday Life

The modest house sits quietly in a State College neighborhood, looking much like any other on the street. But step inside, and you'll find a home where independence takes root and belonging thrives. Since the intellectual disabilities residential program first opened, this has been Gareth's home for the past eleven years. He was one of the original residents who moved into Strawberry Fields' Ash House.

As the seasons change outside, the decorations inside shift, too. Today, wooden Easter eggs and a bunny house from Target wait in Gareth's room, ready for his careful hands to paint and decorate. Seasonal crafts mark the rhythm of life here: Halloween parties in the fall, Christmas lights in winter, and a burst of color for Easter and St. Patrick's Day in spring.

"Dorms," Gareth says with a big smile, pantomiming sleep. Spending the night in Penn State's residence halls during the Special Olympics Summer Games is a highlight he looks forward to all year. A committed Special Olympian, Gareth plays volleyball in the fall and tennis in the spring and summer.

Gareth shares this home with the same two housemates he moved in with more than a decade ago. Staff often describe them as brothers—they have moments of harmony, occasional squabbles, and a sense of connection. Around Strawberry Fields, they're affectionately known as the Ash Boys.

After graduating from Penn State's LifeLink program for young adults with disabilities, Gareth had one clear goal: to live in a place of his own, just like his brother. That goal became a reality through the Everyday Lives philosophy that guides our work at Strawberry Fields.

Twice a week, Gareth heads to Good Day Café, where he's a valued kitchen team member—baking, assembling lunch orders, and being part of a welcoming workplace. On Monday mornings, he goes to tutoring through Mid-State Literacy at Barnes & Noble, where he works on reading and math. It's a non-negotiable part of his week—something he looks forward to and takes pride in.

Beyond these structured activities, Gareth joins friends from The Arc of Centre County for community engagement and volunteer activities, further expanding opportunities of connection and purpose.

The staff at Ash House aren't just there to supervise. They're there to walk alongside Gareth and his housemates—supporting skill-building, fostering independence, and ensuring each resident is active and engaged in community life. Every resident has a personalized care and goal plan that reflects their hopes, strengths, and needs. For Gareth, this means supporting his work at the café, his participation in Special Olympics, his tutoring, and his love of crafts.

Gareth's mom, Margaret, remains deeply involved. She brings him home every weekend and coordinates his medical care, including specialist appointments outside Centre County. At Strawberry Fields, we deeply value this kind of family partnership—working together to support a life of dignity, joy, and connection.

This is the essence of the "Everyday Lives" philosophy—the belief that individuals with intellectual disabilities, with the right supports, deserve the same opportunities to live fulfilling, self-determined lives as everyone else. Gareth's story isn't extraordinary because of unusual circumstances. It's incredible because it's so beautifully ordinary: a life filled with work, learning, friendship, celebration, and choice.