Thirtieth Anniversary Issue on Progress and Priorities in Direct Support

This is a first-hand account of the journey Kathy and Johnny Walker have taken within the realms of support through day programs, residential facilities, Independent Living Services, Narcotics Anonymous, and Alcoholics Anonymous. Kathy and Johnny have been together since 1996.

Kathy and Johnny enjoying a date together.

How They Met

Kathy and Johnny met at Person Centered Services, a service provider in California where they attended the 12-Step peer-based drug and alcohol addiction recovery group I facilitated with direct support professional Ben Guzman.

Johnny shared, "I was drinking every day and hanging out at Marioni's, where I was able to buy drugs and alcohol. I didn't do too much during the day except get high and drink. My service coordinator introduced me to Person Centered Services and told me that they offer Drug and Alcohol Services. I was tired of addiction and wanted to quit, so I went to Person Centered Services and joined their 12-Step Group. That is where I met Kathy. I also met Kim and Ben.” He laughed remembering, “we were all so young then. You guys really helped me to quit and not go back to Marioni’s.”

He continued,"Kathy and I started dating. We lived in different homes, so we had to have our 'private time' in bathrooms and motels, etc. Back then, people didn’t get to have private time where we were living, so we had to do what we had to do. We did, after a while, move into the same home together and eventually got married. We got married out back of the home. It was really nice out there. It was a great day."

Moving In Together and Marriage

Kathy remembered, "Yeah, we moved in together with help from our service coordinators. After we moved in together, we talked about marriage. Johnny didn't want to get married at first." They both giggled. “My foster mom suggested we go through counseling through a priest. So, we did, and it really helped."

Johnny nodded as Kathy shared her story of what occurred. I asked them, “Who proposed to who?” They both started giggling. Johnny said, “Oh, no!” Kathy explained, "I told John, We are getting married, and that's that!’" They both laughed and squeezed each other’s hands. Johnny agreed, "Yup, that's how it happened. She told me we were getting married and I said ‘yes.’" He continued laughing.

The Struggle with Relapse and Reaching Out for Help

Kathy continued, "John and I eventually moved out of my foster mom's home and lived in an apartment with support from Person Centered Services. We both began to drink all the time. It got real bad to the point we fired PCS so they wouldn’t know what we were doing. I don’t think that was a very good decision back then for either of us.”

John stated, "I was so lonely and sad and afraid my wife was going to die. I called Kim to see if we could get help and live at Hana Hou Alliance. Kathy didn’t want to move at first and I begged her. I told her I didn’t want her to die. I cried because I was so scared. Kim helped us move into Hana Hou Alliance and we went to 12-Step meetings, made friends, went back full time to Person Centered Services. I started working again and making a paycheck. We both stopped drinking. We have been sober since around 2018."

Current Living Situation

Since February 2026, Kathy and Johnny both now reside in different homes due to Kathy having a heart attack and needing more support. Johnny continues to reside at Hana Hou Alliance. With continuous support through 1:1 counseling and support from his DSPs, Johnny continues to maintain his sobriety and relationship with his wife, Kathy.

Johnny and Kathy are currently working on having dates again and spending more time together away from their homes. Kathy's goal is to move back into Hana Hou Alliance with her husband, Johnny. I asked them a few questions about the support they received and what they want DSPs to know.

Over the years, what was important about the direct support you both received?

They both agreed that it was important that, “people listened to us and helped us get married and stop drinking. People stayed out of our business and didn't tell us how to have our relationship. People really cared about us. People at Hana Hou really love us and want the best for us. We trust staff at Hana Hou and Person Centered Services—they don't lie or play games."

Have DSPs ever gotten in the way of your relationship?

Kathy remembered, "It was always hard to find a safe place to have private time in the beginning. We could have been arrested. Sometimes people didn't like that Johnny helped me so much and would try to get all up in our business, telling me to do things instead of Johnny doing it all. That made us mad."

What is the best support DSPs can give to folks?

Kathy stated, “Don’t ever lie or play games with people’s heads. Talk nice and let people make their own decisions. Help people by listening to what they want and talking with them nice. Don’t be disrespectful. Let people make menus and cook what they want. I lived in a home that locked cabinets and kept nothing in the refrigerators. That happened a long time ago. They always cooked the same food and didn’t care what we liked. One time I lived in a home where people didn’t talk English very well. I couldn’t understand them. One time I was made to go to this church that I didn’t like, and everyone who lived in the home were made to go. They never let me stay home; everyone had to go to the program. I ran away from that home. At Hana Hou, they took me to Mexican festivals, Greek and Chinese get-togethers, Gay and Lesbian parades, Pow Wows, all kinds of places. They didn’t make me go if I did not want to go. I can stay home anytime.”

Johnny stated, “Let people date and have private time. Help them plan their dates and get there. Make the home like family. Hana Hou is my family. I get to do anything I want to do. They don’t make me do anything I don’t want to do. I can stay home anytime I want, and it is OK with them. They talk to me so I can understand what they are saying. They break down what they are saying and that really helps me. I laugh a lot at Hana Hou.”