Jake Nelson Stands SIDEbySIDE With Team of Support at Commissioner Meeting

Side by side, we offer an exceptional network of support and provide services to thousands of residents in Lake County who have developmental disabilities. In celebration of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and in honor of the Commissioners’ proclamation of such on March 17, 2022, we are proud to share Jake Nelson’s story.

Jake lives independently in Lake County with residential services from a HPC (Homemaker Personal Care) Provider ALS LLC. In order for Jake to get to and from his job, he uses Laketran as a Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) Provider. He has worked at Lake Metroparks for 20 years and receives support from Job Coach Allison Basta as part of the services received by his Agency Provider of choice Deepwood Industries through their Community Employment Services (CES).

With his family and our community by his side as well, Jake has flourished!

Watch the livestream of the March 17th Lake County Commissioner Meeting here or visit https://youtu.be/B3uchyU59go. The portion for DD Awareness Month and Jake begins at 16:35.

SIDEbySIDE with Jake:

Jake’s parents: Dennis and Maria Nelson

Lake County Board of DD/Deepwood: Superintendent Elfie Roman

Lake County Board of DD/Deepwood Service & Support Administration (SSA): Katie Debly

Transportation through Laketran: CEO Ben Capelle

Employment at Lake Metroparks for 20 years through Agency Provider Deepwood Industries: Director Bob Fratino and Job Coach Allison Basta

Residential/HPC Provider ALS LLC: Owner Aaron Suydam and staff member Kinney Dehamel