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On December 15, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced a proposal to eliminate the state’s Medicaid waiver waitlist by 2025. This announcement signals a profound opportunity for the disability community—as today there are more than 3,000 individuals with disabilities awaiting waiver benefits in the state of Arkansas. Given Life Styles' 45-year track record of supporting adults with developmental disabilities, we know firsthand how impactful waiver services are to individuals and their families.
Governor Hutchinson's goal is to see his proposal passed during the coming fiscal session, which starts in February. Please consider contacting your local representative and/or state senator to ensure this important legislation passes.  

David Lyman asked the Life Styles Supported Employment department to help with his job search way back in 2005; he began working at the Chick-Fil-A on North Shiloh Drive in Fayetteville not long after. If you do the math, that adds up to a 17-year-career!

A Life Styles job coach matched with David to help ensure his on-the-job success; she remembers David being exceptionally shy at the start—but times have changed: Now David loves to both make people laugh and make small talk with regular customers like Coach Farmer, who boasts, "David is the greatest. He's my hero!"

David's work ethic and sunny disposition earn the praise of his co-workers. “David is an example of how your position in life or the circumstances you're faced with don't have to control your disposition," notes a fellow employee and top fan. "His joy and fearlessness in facing each day is truly something to behold. He inspires me every time I work with him.” 

His manager agrees. “David has brightened the lives of many people here—like remembering everyone’s birthday or start date. David really makes you feel special because he remembers it all.”

Sounds to us like David has earned a special place in the hearts of his co-workers—along with an especially bright future at Chick-Fil-A.

With mom Emily and the entire LeBlanc family cheering him on, Daniel enrolled full time in the Life Styles College For Living (CFL) nine years ago, following his graduation from Fayetteville High School. This exceptionally talented artist—who has designs on operating his own animation studio one day—was a natural fit in our Blair Center art classes and elsewhere around the Life Styles campus. Accompanied by a one-on-one aide, Daniel flourished in the CFL program and soon set his sights on joining our more rigorous Launch college experience.

With the LeBlanc clan encouraging his every aspiration, Daniel began attending 6-hour-a-day, 5-days-a-week Launch classes in 2016. As during CFL, he was initially accompanied by an aide, but made such strides in confidence and independence that he no longer requires one at all—even despite the upheaval recent pandemic school years have wrought. “Daniel has shown such resilience!,” Adult Development Director Lindsay Broshears confirms. This star student has designs on successfully graduating from the Launch program this coming May.

Lindsay also has high praise for Daniel’s family: “Emily [Daniel's mom] is such a great sport and takes everything in stride. If Daniel isn’t feeling well, or a homework assignment is missed, she’s quick to communicate with us and keep us in the loop, often with some zany humor thrown in for good measure.”

We love the upbeat attitude and open lines of communication the LeBlanc family has fostered, along with their willingness to share their experiences to benefit and encourage others, as when Daniel and his mom served as Keynote Speakers at our annual Celebration Of Possibilities Luncheon several years ago. The LeBlanc clan's enthusiasm and positivity are just some of the reasons they are a perfect fit—and valued members—of the Life Styles family.

The Longer family have been enthusiastic Life Styles benefactors for many years. Life Styles founder Carol Hart remembers their instrumental role in many a Polo auction—“bidding high and often” in the most profitable element of the annual fundraising event. Specifically, Elaine was the “high bidder in our Murder Mystery dinners many times,” a unique experience which she purchased to team-build with her staff at the Longer Financial investment firm, which Elaine founded in 1985 following her tenure as vice president and investment officer for First National Bank of Fayetteville. Life Styles staff doubled as wait staff at these dinners, and always delighted in seeing the (sometimes tropical-themed, per above) mysteries unfold firsthand.
 
David Longer, an esteemed professor of Agronomy at the University of Arkansas, served as a Life Styles board member for many years, and the couple were instrumental in our Support Center expansion project. Rounding out the family commitment to an inclusive community embracing adults with disabilities, David and Elaine’s son Eric and daughter Gretchen worked as Direct Support Professionals for Life Styles as well.

The whole-hearted support of the entire Longer family has earned them a special place in our collective Life Styles hearts.

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Life Styles enthusiastically supports individuals with disabilities in reaching their full potential as contributing members of the community.

We are always grateful for donations in support of our mission:
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Our mailing address is: 2590 West Sycamore | POB 1114, Fayetteville, AR  72702
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