An Extraordinary Life – Laurel’s Story

“I often forget how it’s the small things that the people we support enjoy and love.”

This simple reflection from a direct support professional who supports Laurel offers a glimpse into what makes everyday moments truly special.

Laurel approaches each day with a deep sense of curiosity and fun. She loves being out in the community, sipping her favorite beverage – a hot tea from McDonald’s – browsing thrift shops for hidden treasures, swimming at the local leisure centre, enjoying pampering days, and exploring garage sales on the first bright days of spring.

Although she’s described as calm and content at home, something remarkable happens when Laurel steps into a new environment. She becomes fully engaged in the world around her, taking everything in with excitement and genuine interest.

She has a special appreciation for all things official or ceremonial. A person in uniform, firefighters, police, and military dress, instantly captures her attention. She’s equally drawn to the quiet symbolism of historical artifacts and ceremonial displays at places like the Royal Ontario Museum and the CNE Airshow.

Laurel is deafblind with some vision in her left eye, and communication is central to how she connects with people around her. She uses Signing Exact English (SEE) and some American Sign Language (ASL). When something catches her attention, her signing becomes lively and expressive.

A recent outing captures her essence perfectly. After a routine appointment, Laurel was invited to choose where she’d like to go for lunch, and she chose her favorite place – McDonald’s. A member of her support team shared:

“It was simple and small, but it changed her day instantly. I had such an amazing lunch with Laurel. We had a great conversation with some laughs over tea and French fries.”

At DeafBlind Ontario Services, specialized services are customized to each person’s unique needs, communication methods, and goals to live their best life. This person-centred approach is what gives people like Laurel the confidence to explore their communities and to communicate in ways that help them feel connected to the world around them.

Laurel’s story reminds us not to take for granted the small things that brighten our day, highlighting how, with the right supports, the potential of a person who is deafblind is limitless.