For the last year, I have been based in Burlington, VT, working at Champlain Community Services (CCS), a nonprofit that provides developmental services and health care to Vermonters with intellectual disabilities and autism. I joined the CCS team as a Direct Support Professional last January and worked one-on-one with individuals helping to support them in the community, navigate their daily life, and respond to challenges as they arise. In June, I stepped into a new role as a Service Coordinator and I now manage a caseload of 11 clients. My responsibilities include: helping individuals manage their finances; scheduling medical appointments; coordinating supports both in the community and in the workplace; and overseeing the many other details that help enable people to live as independently as possible. I love being a part of this organization, which helps foster a more inclusive and supportive community here in Vermont. I have learned a great deal from the people I work with and can truly say that I have become a better person because of my time with them. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my clients, their families, and my colleagues for challenging me to think more deeply about what it means to live in a community where everyone has the opportunity to feel included, nurtured, and sustained. Thank you to MVYouth for helping me get to where I am today.