Supporting People as the Age
Aging Gracefully
John Leo, David Liscomb and Michelle Leo
When I was asked to write an article about how David Liscomb maintains an active lifestyle in retirement, I intended to write about his numerous accomplishments, or about the great self-advocate he is for himself and many others. I thought this would be easy. But then I went to his apartment to talk with him. After one hour of listening to him reflect on his life, I thought, “How can I do this man justice with my words?”
David Liscomb is not just a self-advocate, and he is so much more than a person with a disability whom I occasionally support. David is smart, kind, soft-spoken, well-spoken, humble, interesting, a role model, generous, humorous, and sincere. But what I got most from the conversation is that he lives a fulfilled, happy life. David finds peace in his world every day. He could get upset about the bus driver who was not very nice to him, or the hotel room he had a while ago that was not accessible to him. Instead, he quickly changes his mind set to focus on the positive things happening, like when his landlord worked with him to remodel his bathroom, or when a deacon wrote an article recognizing David’s involvement with the Catholic church.
Thoughtfully Planning a Retirement Lifestyle
When David celebrated turning 65, he did what most men of his generation did: retired and planned a life of more leisurely activities! At that time, he had been in the workforce for many decades as an assembly worker, a telephone switchboard operator, a receptionist, and finally, a professional self-advocate. David worked long hours as a self-advocate on top of all his employment activities. For many years, David would travel to all corners of New York State every month, talking to people about self-advocacy.
John Leo, Advisor of the North Country Self-Advocates, has known David for a long time, in several different kinds of relationships—as advisor, neighbor, direct support professional, friend, and former supervisor. After he had retired from working for a month or so, David asked John to sit down with him and help reprioritize his life. John recalls, “We used some self-advocacy skills that David learned at a retreat in 2005 about circles of support, and seeking joy, and independence of thought.” The conversations helped him to decide over the next year to reduce his volunteer and Board commitments by about half, and he began spending more time traveling for vacations instead of work.
David remained involved with his two passions: the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Board of Directors and The Arc New York Statewide Guardianship Committee. Prior to retirement, David traveled the state with relative independence. As he got older, John provided direct support to David on many trips to Albany and Washington, and other cities for conferences and meetings. John recalls going to Washington with David, “One year, I met David after he and the NADSP board had spent hours meeting and planning things. Everyone said that it had been a productive day, and they were making dinner plans, but David was still seated at the table, getting ready for the next day’s discussions. This is an example of David’s first few years of taking it easy.”
You Have a Say in What You Want to Do
When I asked David what he liked about being a senior citizen, he said, “I really enjoy my independence and mobility, shopping for what I like to eat, and learning new things.” David said he never had the chance to learn when he was younger and in school. No one really gave him the chance. That is why learning is important to him now. David said the best part about being a senior citizen is that “you have a say in what you want to do [instead of] having to keep busy or get services all the time. For example, just last week, I went to a picnic put on by the Office for the Aging. We stayed a few hours, talked to people, ate, and left. There are programs they offer, too, where I could sit around and socialize all day, but that’s not for me.”
David said the best part about being a senior citizen is that “you have a say in what you want to do [instead of] having to keep busy or get services all the time.
David is currently on the Board of Directors for The Arc Jefferson – St. Lawrence and on the Board for his local Center for Independent Living. David is still a Special Religious Education teacher. “That is very important to me,” he explained.
“Supporting David all these years has been a piece of cake,” John said. “He is the best self-advocate I have ever known. We should remember that every self-advocate needs support at some time in their lives, whether from a friend, a family member, or a DSP. As with most everything he does, David is inspirational in the way he leads his life as a senior citizen.” David’s commitment to advocacy and his focus on the positive are defining aspects of his life in retirement. He is taking a slower pace but remains active for the good of his community.