Kids & Family
Everyday Inspiration: Tony Thomas' Mission to Help Those with Developmental Disabilities
Patch readers told us who the "Everyday Inspirations" in their communities are, and we're sharing their stories and the work they've done locally.
Everyday Inspirations is a series that features people in Patch communities who inspire others through their work, or people who have faced extraordinary situations and grown from them. They have been featured by other people in the community that have been inspired by the nominees.
Name: Tony Thomas
Town: Cleveland Heights, OH
Nominated by: Sandra Stafford
Why is this person an "Everyday Inspiration?"
Tony Thomas, executive director of Welcome House, is an everyday inspiration because he has made it his life’s mission to help those with developmental disabilities live full and rewarding lives. Welcome House’s mission, “Opening Doors to People with Developmental Disabilities,” is played out in every effort that Tony Thomas sets forth.
Tony opens doors to independent living, making sure that residents or any member at Welcome House lives a life that is fulfilled by rewarding tasks. Folks work, get paid, help around the house and have self-fulfilling lives based on independent tasks.
Tony opens doors to healthy lifestyles, making sure the residents live in an environment where healthy living is enforced via food choices, healthcare and more.
Tony opens doors to friendship, group homes are a place where residents interact with their peers. They play board games, go to movies, watch television and have important peer groups.
Tony opens doors to peace of mind for loved ones...families of folks with developmental disabilities rest knowing that their loved ones are happy, eating healthy, working and living fulfilled lives now and in the future. A renegade of sorts, Tony even opened a brand new state of the art facility for the aging population of Welcome House, The Michael T. George Center. Each client has their own room and special amenities for the aging population for folks with developmental disabilities.
Tony opens doors for future generations of people with developmental disabilities. He is constantly identifying needs and making new opportunities available. He recently purchased the Rhodes Center for Community Living in Ohio City. Originally built in 1874, Tony will convert the building to a home that will house 24 individuals with developmental disabilities. Each will have its own apartment suite with its own kitchen and bathroom and communal living spaces will be used for therapy and recreation.
Has the nominee's life been changed in an extraordinary way?
An avid runner and cyclists, Tony practices what he preaches. Several years ago, in an effort to infiltrate his healthy lifestyle to his staff, Tony ran from Cleveland Heights (his home) to Rocky River (the office space at the time) for Welcome House.
His commitment to health and wellness has been offered to not only his employees but his residents. He calls every employee and resident by their first name and will not rest until his goals and objectives of not only making residents live full and rewarding lives has been fulfilled, but to also dispel any prejudices against the residents that he serves.
Most recently, Tony organized an art sale at the Porter Library in Westlake to allow residents to earn money by creating artwork, displaying it and selling it!
How does this person work to make others' lives better?
Tony operates 32 residential sites serving 150 individuals with developmental disabilities in Cuyahoga County. He employs more than 300 qualified staff members and is growing every day. More than 87 percent of the funding is directed toward serving clients.
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