Someplace That's All Her Own                                                    

Since Jenny Durio graduated from Kell High School in 2004, she was on a waiting list for a daycare situation where she would be both well cared-for and stimulated to help her thrive and enjoy her days.

Jenny is non-verbal, but uses gestures to communicate her needs, and she understands everything people say to her. Her symptoms don't fit into a specific category, but doctors told her parents that her brain simply didn't develop the way it should have.

Her mother, Nan, says Jenny has “Princess Syndrome” - “she loves music, loves watching people, and if you say the word 'shopping,' she's ready to go.”

Jenny has found a place to call her own at Next Step Ministries in Woodstock, where she has been coming since the day it opened in 2009 – although Nan was on board even before Next Step found a building to start its program.

“It makes me feel good that she starts squealing with excitement the minute we pull up in the parking lot,” Nan says. “She knows this place is for her. She enjoys all of the people here and gets along well with all of them.”

Before starting at Next Step, Nan admits that Jenny was bored at home. “I did what I could for her, but she enjoys coming here,” Nan says. “She enjoys a schedule.”

Next Step's program also has helped Jenny thrive outside of the program. “It has helped her tremendously with her communication skills, and she is relaxed,” Nan says. While Jenny does have a handful of words she uses on a regular basis, she had never said, “Daddy.” After hearing the word used by one of her friends at Next Step, Jenny added “Daddy” to her vocabulary. “That means the world to her dad,” Nan says.

Jenny is happy, and her family is ecstatic, knowing that Jenny has a place where she can be herself and thrive. “It's an answer to my prayers,” Nan says. “We could not have picked a better place, and we are so thankful that this has come available to us.”

Next Step Ministries provides therapeutic day care for moderately to profoundly involved special needs young adults in a safe and loving environment.  Saturday Respite for ages 5 and older, and Camp sessions over summer and school breaks are also provided, all conveniently located in Woodstock.