Meet Our Residents

Hillary
Hillary is a resident of the Miesel Group Home. Over this past year, with the help of her Senior Counselors, Hillary was able to lose 80 pounds. As a result of this weight loss she has become more conscientious about the foods she eats and is motivated to exercise on a regular basis. In fact, the basement of the Miesel Group Home has been converted into a special home gym with multiple exercise and work-out machines. Unfortunately, Hillary suffered a broken ankle from a minor accident and was unable to exercise for awhile, but she continues to strive to maintain healthy eating habits. Hillary’s enthusiasm about her weight loss, and the new gym, has motivated the entire home to be more aware of their health and to participate in regular work-outs.

In preparation for the home’s trip to Disney World, Hillary went shopping with the Senior Counselor to purchase a new wardrobe. She was so excited to fit into a smaller size and to see the way she looked in her new clothes!

Hillary works as a front desk receptionist.
 

Nan
Nan is a petite and energetic woman. She grew up living with her parents in Garrett Park, MD, and is the youngest of 4 children. Nan is very proud of the fact that she is one of the original JFGH residents. In 1983, at age 22, Nan joined JFGH and moved into the Gelman Home. After 2 years, she joined the Oshinsky Apartment Program. Nan purchased an apartment at Tuckerman Station in Rockville in 1990, and has been living there independently without a roommate, receiving JFGH drop-in counseling. Nan is quite independent and travels in the community using public transportation buses and Metro. In fact, Nan received the Transportation Award by Montgomery County because of her efforts to expand Bus Routes 38 and 48 to include Saturdays and Sundays.

Nan graduated from the high school in Bethesda at age 18 and has worked ever since. She performs clerical duties, delivering bulletins to coworkers, copying documents, and answering phones. She loves her job, and her coworkers appreciate her.

Outside of her work, Nan has been involved as an advocate for developmentally challenged individuals since 1989. In 1995, Nan received the ARC Outstanding Self-Advocate Award. In addition, Nan enjoys playing bocce in the Special Olympics, and won 2 gold medals at the Maryland State Championships in 2007. Nan also takes trips each year through People and Places, or through Guided Tours.
 

Liz and Phil
Liz and Philip are one of six married couples in the JFGH Oshinsky Apartment Program.

Philip is confident and outgoing, and has lived in Montgomery County since his family relocated to Bethesda when he was 2 years old. He experienced a wonderful cultural change while his family lived in India for 2 years during his early teenage years. Philip graduated from high school in Bethesda in 1992.

Philip has had an interesting and diverse employment history. He volunteered for Bill Clinton’s election campaign and was then employed at the White House during the entire Clinton Administration in the Correspondence Department, sorting the President’s mail. Since 2000, Philip has had a clerical position a law firm, reconciling bills and sorting mail.

Since 1998, Philip has been a strong advocate for individuals with disabilities. He held the Chair position for People On the Go, a self-advocacy organization, where he was responsible for running meetings, and helping disabled individuals to stand up for their rights. Philip met Liz through People On the Go in 2000, but they didn’t start dating until 2002, when Liz joined JFGH.

Liz has also been a long-standing advocate for individuals with disabilities. Following a diverse educational experience, Liz graduated high school in 1986 in Massachusetts. In 1998, she received the Elizabeth Monroe Boggs Award for Young Leadership, an award given to young leaders in the field of developmental disabilities.

Currently, Liz is a full-time employee of The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). She participates in CQL’s accreditation program, provides training and technical assistance to state agencies, private providers, people with disabilities and families. Liz also represents CQL in a variety of national, state and local forums that address issues that concern quality of life for people with disabilities.

On the national level, Liz was Vice President of the national organization, Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) from 1993 to 1996. She currently is the Chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. Liz also sits on the board of the National Association on Developmental Disabilities Councils. She was appointed by President Clinton to the President’s Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the early nineties.

As part of their strong self-advocacy mindset, Liz and Philip always dreamed of meeting someone special and marrying. When Liz joined JFGH in 2002, they became more acquainted through the JFGH activities and were married in 2005. They currently live together in an apartment as part of JFH OAP.
 

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