Pay Day

Every Friday when Anne would get paid I would call to get a report on her paycheck from Advo.  The checks were never very big because it was a sheltered workshop but that didn't matter to Anne.  She would talk it up big time....It was a big one this week!.......I'm getting pretty rich!........You are not going to believe my paycheck this week!..........I've been working my butt off folding towels and earning money!.......I earned it!.......She had plenty of 1-liners.  After playing it up for several minutes, I would finally coax it out of her.  Holding back her giggles, Anne would proudly announce her weekly wages:  $7.42!!! (or something in that ballpark).  It was great to see Anne so proud of a hard day's work.  Advo was a great place for her.

Fan Fair

Going to Nashville for the country music festival was the event of the year for Anne.  Anne went several times with Mom and Brett, and I got to go with them a couple of times.  Anne would save her paychecks every week to keep as spending money for Nashville.  There were tons of concerts in the afternoons and evenings and basically every popular country star converged on Nashville for the week.  Anne couldn't get enough.  In the mornings, the convention center would be lined with booths for all the record labels.  The labels would rotate the artists in during the day to sign autographs and have "photo ops" with the fans.  The first couple of years we took turns waiting in line like everyone else. Each of us would get in a line, and then we would rotate Anne to whoever was closest to the front of the line so that she could meet the most "artists."  Sometimes we would wait in line for 2 hours to see a really big star.  Anne liked filling up her autograph book, even though they just looked like scribbles (we had to label each page so we knew who had signed it).  She also liked to eat at a favorite pancake restaurant every year.  It has a reputation of having famous country music stars stop by for breakfast.  We went there the first year and saw Heidi from Trick Pony.  Every year after that we had to go back but I don't remember if we ever saw anyone else famous.

For whatever reason, there were tons of special needs fans like Anne that also converged on Nashville for Fan Fair. Something about country music, maybe the catchy songs, or easily understood lyrics was a big draw for Anne and all her friends.  One year we noticed that they let all the special needs folks in early before they opened the convention center to the rest of the fans so they could get the prime spots in line.  Anne figured out that they got to go in early and she wanted to go in early too.  It worked out because that year we had taken a wheelchair for Anne so she didn't have to walk around in the heat all day.  One morning she plopped down in her wheelchair and said, "Let's go!  We have to get there early so we can get in with all the Handicaps (that was her term for everyone in wheelchairs)."  We asked Anne why she got to get in early with "the Handicaps".  She said, "Well I've got a wheelchair!"  To her, she would not have been included in that select group in previous years, but this year she had figured out how to work the system.  Pretty sweet deal.

I can remember the phone call of her telling me she was in college just like Rebecca and Scott- she was so proud.

Story by Karen D. Smith karen.d.smith@amarillo.com Photography by Steven Dearinger steven.dearinger@amarillo.com Anne Hubley turned the ruler over and over in her hands. The inch side, not the centimeter side. She wanted the inch side. Tutor Megan Hardy patiently pointed to the proper edge. Together, they held ruler to paper. But Hubley concentrated so hard tracing and retracing a line that she never realized it extended much longer than the 3 inches assigned. Drawing A Line: Anne Hubrey, left, practices using a ruler with help from West Texas A&M University education major Megan Hardy. Hubley is the newest student in Where The Learning Continues, a program for high school graduates with intellectual disabilities. "This is hard," the 24-year-old sighed. College, it's not. But the program – called Where The Learning Continues – feels like college to Hubley and three other students with intellectual disabilities. Their formal education might have ended in high school, when they either graduated or "aged out" of the public school system at 22, but it didn't. Set at West Texas A&M University, WTLC joins an estimated 100-200 postsecondary educational options now offered to students with intellectual disabilities, said Nancy Hurley of the University of Massachusetts Institute for Community Inclusion. "The more I talk to people, the more I think we're just scratching the surface," Hurley said. UMass ICI has a federal grant to count programs and share information about them through its ThinkCollege Web site,www.thinkcollege.net. The survey effort has identified three categories of college-based programs for the developmentally disabled: students who attend regular classes with modifications to help them; students who attend separate, lower-level courses unavailable to the general student population; and a mix of the two. Buffaloes Of Differing Varieties:Jacob Cooper, 23, got involved immediately in campus activities at West Texas A&M University by joining the Herdsmen, who are responsible for tending the university's live mascot. Cooper was photographed Jan. 21 feeding, Sadie, now retired. Amarillo College offers hybrid opportunities. Students with intellectual disabilities might have difficulty taking regular courses, but they can take Continuing Education courses that are not graded or work on skills at their own pace in the ACcess Learning Lab, said Brenda Wilkes, coordinator of disability services. WTLC, a joint effort of WT and the nonprofit Hali Project, offers separate instruction for participants, but most enrollees have become involved in campus life. Blake Bagwell helps the WT football coaching staff. Kati Artho works part time in the campus Admissions Office. Jacob Cooper joined the WT Herdsmen, college guys who wrangle the university's buffalo mascot. "I've been so thankful to the Herdsmen, because they've really embraced him," said Cooper's mom, Carol. continue reading Jacob Cooper was the lone student when WT and the nonprofit Hali Project launched WTLC as a pilot program in 2002. WT provides space and administrative oversight. The Hali Project pays coordinator Jeane Miller, added in September, and mentors, who are mostly WT education majors, said Dr. Henry Moreland, Continuing Education director. An individual is considered to have an intellectual disability if his IQ is below 70-75; he has significant limitations in two or more adaptive skills, such as communication or self-care; and the condition manifests itself before the age of 18. American Association on Mental Retardation Each WTLC student pays tuition to WT to cover access to facilities and privileges, Moreland said. Spring semester tuition was $1,060. Because it's cost-intensive, with one-to-one teaching work, WTLC "will probably always have a size limitation," Moreland said. Training focuses on increasing students' job opportunities by improving reading, math, writing, money-handling and social skills, Miller said. Class mornings appear a riot of activity, with mentors alongside students as they use rulers, count pencils and pennies to visualize math problems, read newspaper articles aloud, learn to fill out job applications, or tackle other tasks. "We're working on life skills," Miller said. "I think it has expanded their horizons." Parents agree. "We didn't feel like he was finished learning," Bobby Cooper said of his son. "I feel like I've made a lot of progress," Jacob Cooper, 23, said. "I read better. I can use a computer now." Many things the students will learn simply by being around other people their age, Hurley said. "They're going to get certain skills they would never be exposed to in the special ed classroom," she said, "like using cell phones. That's a huge skill for them. "Keeping a schedule, that's another one. At (public) school, it's all bells. There's no need to look at your watch." Though the 21-year-old Artho already had been working part time on campus, her mother still worried WTLC might overwhelm her. On The Same Page: Blake Bagwell, 22, left, reads aloud from the West Texas A&M University newspaper, "The Prairie," while Where The Learning Continues Coordinator Jeane Miller, center, and Bagwell's WTLC classmate, Kati Artho, 21, follow along. "Would she get to her parking place OK? Would she be where she needed to be on time? Would she have her ID with her?" said Sammie Artho, assistant director of WT's Student Advising, Registration and Retention Center. "I kept waiting for her to come by my office. She never did. She didn't need me. "The more she can read, communicate, follow instructions, get where she needs to be, the better she's going to be." Bagwell, 22, has exhibited the same expanded independent streak, his mother said. "He has just matured," Jo Tyler Bagwell said. "He's been exposed to seeing people do for themselves, making decisions. This experience is helping him learn his own abilities." Hubley's mother, Kelly Baker, could not emphasize enough the value her daughter receives. "She's always happy and outgoing, but it's like this has given her a sense of purpose," Baker said. "She's practicing her reading every night and is real serious about it. "And having somewhere to go every day is wonderful." Baker believes the community will benefit, as well. "These kids will mature through the program," she said. "They'll rise to a higher level of function and they'll be able to contribute, whether working or just in their everyday lives. m

I think of Anne everyday but since the anniversary of her death it seems I think of her all day long.  She is  on my mind and in my heart when I wake up and when my day has ended.  A memory is sticking with me.  You were meeting at Momma JO;s house to go back home after visiting with Mike.  You bounced out of the car just beaming, so excited to give your mom the present you had picked out for her "just cause you missed her".   I miss you everyday Anne.

Christmas Parties

When we would come to visit around the holidays, often we would get to take Anne to her Special Olympics or Advo Christmas parties. These were always a big party and lots of fun for everyone. They were certainly one of the highlights of the year for Anne. All her friends were there. There was food. There was music and dancing. And best of all, there was Santa. We all remember that Anne never gave up believing in Santa, even when she was 30 years old. That was the same with all her friends. When Santa would come in the room, the crowd would go wild and everyone would immediately line up to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Anne would always get in line and tell Santa what she wanted while sitting on his lap! It was always funny because Mom would have a hard time figuring out what to get Anne for Christmas but Anne wouldn’t tell mom because “Santa already knew.” One time Mom tried to tell Anne that Santa wasn’t real, and that Mom was the real Santa. Anne responded indignantly, “You are NOT Santa! Do you have rosy red cheeks? Do you live at the North Pole? Do you have a white beard? Do you have a belly that jiggles like a bowl full of jelly? I don’t think so!” That pretty much settled it in her mind.

Of the many parties I attended, there are a couple of memories that stick out in my mind.

Once, after Jennifer and I had just gotten married, we were all at the Special Olympics Christmas party and when the music came on, we all started dancing. One of Anne’s friends asked me to dance. I can’t remember exactly who it was, but this particular girl who had a crush on me and always told Anne about it. While we were dancing, Anne followed us out on the dance floor to keep an eye on us. She was very concerned that this girl was going to lure me away from my new bride. Towards the end of the song, Anne decided she’d had enough, so she leaned over and told her friend, “He’s taken!” while pointing to my wedding ring. With that, Anne rested her case. She was always very protective of those closest to her and this was a perfect example of it.

Another time, we went to the Advo Christmas party. I had just arrived in town and everyone else had a long week, so just Anne and I went to the party. She was so proud that I came with her, as soon as we walked in the door, she yelled out, “We’re here! This is my brother Scott. He lives in Fort Worth.” The party was already going and it was so loud that nobody really heard us but Anne didn’t notice. The rest of the night, Anne repeated the introduction to everyone we saw, whether they were listening or not. She made me feel like a celebrity, and we had a great time.

Cats

As everyone knows, Anne LOVED cats so we had several over the years. Anne loved to run through all the names of all the cats she ever had. I thought I would write down some of the cat names while I could remember them (in no particular order):

1. Bucky

2. Tabby

3. Snowball

4. George Strait

5. George Strait 2.0

6. Mittens

7. Symba

8. Nolla

9. Spicy

10. Spicy

11. Spicy

12. Spicy

13. Spicy Five

14. Dog

15. Tibet

16. Tigger

17. Maggie

Anne always took great care of her cats. She fed and watered them every day, played with them in her room, slept with them, let them in and out, etc. She also always wanted to take them to the vet to get shots or “doctored for ticks.” It didn’t matter when they last went, the cats were always due for a trip to the vet.

One time she told me that she had a cat that weighed 60 lbs. She knew this to be the truth because she had weighed the cat herself on the bathroom scale. I tried to explain to her that wasn’t possible, even comparing to a 50 lb sack of animal food, but it was futile. You couldn’t reason with her. She insisted that her cat weighed 60 lbs. So finally I asked her to prove it to me. She took me into the bathroom where the scale was and showed me the cat weighing procedure. Anne grabbed the cat and put it on the scale. The cat was squirming and struggling to get away, but Anne persisted. She pushed down on that cat with all her strength, and sure enough, when the number popped up, the scale said 60 lbs! Anne was right, sort of.

Leftovers

When I became a part of the family I quickly learned two things that were important to Anne: Scott and food. She loved it when we came to visit and she got to see her brother. Kelly would always have lots of good food for us while we were there. This meant there were always leftovers! On the day we would leave, Kelly would (and still does) pack us a sack full of leftovers to take with us on the trip back to Fort Worth. Anne did not like this. As soon as she realized what was going on, she let us know she wasn’t happy…”Why is everyone taking my food?” “What am I suppose to take to work?” “I never get to eat what I want.” etc.

In the early years, I could say, “I’m sorry Anne, but do you mind if I take the food?” She would put on her polite face and agree to let the new sister-in-law take all her leftovers. But as time went on and I was around more and more, the politeness wore off. I was treated like all other members of the family. I remember one time when I asked her the same question about taking her food years later, she looked at me (from around the open refrigerator door) and gave me the same earful she gave everyone else!

Miss you Anne.

Love,

Jennifer-wennifer