A Partnership in Care Management
For the Close family, care management isn’t just coordination, it’s partnership. When Darice became Lauren’s Care Manager in 2019, the relationship clicked immediately.
“It’s essential that the personality and partnership feel right,” Karen shares. “Darice made us feel that she cared. She’s a partner in this journey.”
When Darice began working with the family, their self-direction services had been stalled for over a year. Through collaboration with the broker and persistence with the state, progress finally began moving forward. Within months, services were active, and today, Lauren and her brother are maximizing their supports.
Lauren is now transferring to Manhattanville University to pursue her dream of becoming an elementary special education teacher. Her passion is deeply personal.
Lauren was nonverbal until age eight. As a child and teenager, she experienced exclusion. But in college, she found her voice, joining a sorority, building friendships, and advocating for her needs through the disability office. She now wants to give that same opportunity to other children.
“I want kids to have opportunities like I had,” she shares. “I want them to be inclusive.”
Karen credits care management as the glue that holds everything together.
“If I hit a roadblock, Darice always has a hand out to help.”
For Darice, watching Lauren grow into a self-advocate is the most rewarding part of the role. Lauren is proof that when services align, when self-direction works, and when families and care managers partner together- futures expand.
At ACANY, we support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in coordinating services that help them build independent, meaningful lives.
Lauren’s journey is just getting started.