PEOPLE

Students: Stories of Triumph

Meet Tom Lake


“Before coming to The Hatlen Center, I did not think I could go live on my own. However, I have always strived to be independent. The Hatlen Center is great because of the individualized training and working in my own apartment. I have to live there and when I cook, I have to clean it up or live with the mess. Another thing I experienced at The Hatlen Center is freedom to make my own choices. The staff goes home in the evening and on the weekend. Students are allowed to make their own decisions about what they want to do and do not have to ask permission. It’s an incredible freedom I never dreamed I would have. I also never thought I would be crossing busy streets with lots of cars. Even with the audible signals they have here, you have to think about what you are doing as you cross. Now I can travel on my own! Regarding financial management, I thought the $1,000.00 per month I get from Social Security would be a lot of money; I thought “Man I’m rich!” Then I began to pay bills and over half of my money was gone before buying groceries. I learned to budget!

“Looking back at my one year at The Hatlen Center, I know that I am ready to take on the challenges of living on my own. This experience had a great impact on my life. I am now ready to move forward in my life and live independently.”