Matthew’s Journey to Independence
By Diane Tomlinson
When I first met Matthew in November 2023, two of our biggest goals were to help him socialize more and become more independent. At the time, he leaned heavily on his mom, Deb—so much so that his go-to answer to almost any question was, “Ask Mom.”
Together, Deb and I worked to change that.
We encouraged Matthew to take the lead in his daily life, while making sure he knew we were always there to back him up.
Over time, he began handling more on his own—asking and answering questions, managing his checking account, balancing his checkbook, and paying his bills. His confidence grew, and he no longer relied on us for every decision.
Rekindling a Love for the Game
Basketball has always been one of Matthew’s passions. In school, he proudly served as the basketball team manager for six years. That passion came rushing back when, during one of my grandson’s games, Matthew noticed a young man with developmental disabilities sitting on the bench with the coach. It made him wonder, “Could I do something like that?”
At the time, Matthew was attending the School of New Hope, a place he didn’t enjoy. It was often “too loud” or “too cold” and he came home unhappy. Then, fate stepped in.
An Unexpected Reunion
During another one of my grandson’s games, Matthew spotted a familiar face: the girls’ coach from Valley Springs – someone who had been one of the “guys” on his basketball team when he was a manager years ago. They reconnected instantly, and Matthew was thrilled. They exchanged phone numbers and kept in touch.
Encouraged to explore his curiosity, Matthew reached out to Coach Yates to ask if he could volunteer with the basketball team. Coach Yates’s response was immediate, “By all means!”
Not only did he welcome Matthew aboard, he officially offered him the role of Volunteer Assistant Coach.
Taking the Lead
The next steps were all up to Matthew—and he rose to the challenge.
He scheduled his own appointments, completed a background check and fingerprinting, and finished nine or ten certification courses—all on his own.
With every requirement now met, Matthew is ready to start his next chapter as a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Valley Springs Girls’ Basketball teams.
A Team Effort
We couldn’t be prouder—not only of his achievement, but of the independence, confidence, and determination he’s shown along the way.
And while Matthew did the hard work, he had a strong team behind him.
Matthew couldn’t have done this without the encouragement and support of Achieve Community Alliance.
Be Part of the Next Success Story
Matthew’s journey shows what’s possible when someone has the right encouragement, resources, and belief in their potential.
At Achieve Community Alliance, we’re committed to helping people reach their goals—whether that’s mastering daily living skills, building confidence, or stepping into a dream role like Matthew’s.