Patrick Z.: My Self, My World, My Dreams

Patrick is driven by one simple goal for everyone he meets: inclusion. It’s easy for him since he defines his own life the same way, throughout all of his work as an active member of the Ontario ARC Speak Up, Speak Out Self-Advocacy Group, his educational path, and his full social schedule.

Patrick is intentional about including everyone in everything he does. Since writing the Self-Advocacy Group’s new mission statement entirely on his own, Patrick has thrown himself into being a great advocate for others as well as himself. He contributes a Teach Piece at every Self-Advocacy Group meeting, and created a program to issue laminated emergency contact cards as a service for people inside and outside the group.

Patrick’s favorite way to spread this message about inclusion is to do it out in the community. So much that when preparing for a car wash fundraiser, the event was planned at a centrally located site in the community in order to reach more people. He personally supports this mission by hosting a group game night, open to everyone he meets, in the rec room at his apartment.

Setting and achieving his goal of getting out into the community and being more independent is a goal that Patrick encourages for everyone. Within the last six months at his job with Spot On Cleaning Company, he grew from working with a group cleaning at the Ontario ARC main facility to singlehandedly managing a 4-6 hour shift cleaning at Ontario Honda and Ontario Mazda. Patrick credits Ontario ARC for helping him to take ownership of this goal and now that he has reached it, he knows he can rely on support if he needs it.

Next for Patrick is getting his driver’s license and enrolling in college to further pursue his interest in history—both of which will help him to reach more people.

“Patrick is really flourishing here,” says Michael Dowdle, Person Centered Specialist at Ontario ARC. “Everything he does is about including people and everyone really looks up to him.”

Ontario ARC is proud to be accredited by CQL, whose mission is to support individuals in achieving their life goals and dreams.

Speak Up, Speak Out Advocacy Group Mission Statement:

At Speak Up Speak Out, we believe in standing up for people who cannot stand up for themselves or have a voice for themselves. We believe people should not judge based on your race, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, or gender. We believe that differing abilities should not affect and change your life nor should you be judged by it. We believe in attitudes and beliefs that are inclusive of all.

Patrick passionately promotes his mission of inclusion by hosting a group game night, open to everyone he meets, in the rec room at his apartment complex.