The Winnick Family

Told by Larry (Dad)

“When Alex walks into Jill’s House, they ask him, ‘What do you want to do?’ And when he’s finished, they ask, ‘What do you want to do next?’ That’s it! He gets to decide.”

If there’s one thing you should know about my son Alex, it’s that he likes to keep moving!

Alex is 16 and has Down syndrome. He loves basketball, bowling, baseball, and swimming. He rides boogie boards at the beach, cruises around in his electric drift car, and rarely stays in one place for long. In fact, the staff at Jill’s House have nicknamed him “the nomad” because he’s always on the go!

A Place to Just Be Alex

Alex has been coming to Jill’s House since he was six years old, and it’s one of his favorite places in the world.

What does Alex love most about Jill’s House? You might think it’s the pool (and he really does love that warm pool!), but honestly, I think it’s the independence and freedom.

All day long, at school, in therapy, and at home, people are asking things of him. Follow these instructions. Work on this skill. Finish this task. But when Alex walks into Jill’s House, they ask him, “What do you want to do?”

And when he’s finished, they ask, “What do you want to do next?”

That’s it! He gets to decide.

He might head to the gym, playground, sensory room, or chapel. He knows Jill’s House inside and out. And he loves the people! He remembers his caregivers by name and asks whether he’ll see his favorites the next time he visits.

For a kid who works hard all day to meet expectations, having a place where he can just be himself is pretty special.

From Nervous Beginnings to a Second Home

It’s funny to think about how far we’ve come, because my wife, Deidre, and I were incredibly nervous about Alex’s first overnight stay.

Deidre put him on the Jill’s House waiting list before he turned six. Alex had some challenging behaviors when he was younger, and we worried about how he’d do in a new environment.

We didn’t go anywhere that first weekend. We figured we’d better stay close to home because surely we’d get a call asking us to pick him up!

But everything went great.

That was nearly ten years ago, and Jill’s House has been part of our lives ever since. We’ve developed tremendous trust in the people who care for Alex. Everyone looks out for the best interests of the child, which in turn looks out for the whole family.

A Gift for Our Whole Family

When Alex is at Jill’s House, Deidre and I get something that’s hard to describe unless you’re raising a child with special needs: a chance to really rest.

I’m usually the one keeping up with Alex, constantly watching where he is and what he’s doing. So when he’s away, I might take a long motorcycle ride or tackle projects around the house.

We can each do what we need to recharge. Sometimes we sleep in, go out with friends, or even take a quick trip. And we get precious one-on-one time with our younger son, Zach, who’s 15.

Caregiving can be exhausting. Over the years, you get worn down. Having that mental and physical break is invaluable.

But what makes Jill’s House so special isn’t just the respite. It’s the people.

Everyone we’ve encountered has been kind, compassionate, and genuinely committed to the families they serve. After nearly ten years, we feel like we’re part of a family at Jill’s House. It’s not just a place where we drop Alex off. We know the people, and they know us.

In fact, Jill’s House has meant so much to us that when Deidre and I recently updated our estate plan, we named Jill’s House to be a beneficiary. It was an easy decision. We want other families to experience the same love, care, and support we’ve received.

Jill’s House has been an incredible blessing to our whole family.

And for Alex? It’s a place where he can walk through the door, be greeted by people who know and love him, and decide for himself what adventure comes next.

That’s pretty special.