Press Releases
L-R: John Hannah, Ronnie Kaufman and Sean Faulkner Autism challenges serves to help others
By LINDA D. SMITH, Public Relations Director
Champaign Residential Services, Inc.
Urbana: Sean Faulkner, 18, has joined the staff at Champaign Residential Services, Inc. (CRSI) as a Consumer Advocate Assistant as announced by Advocacy Director Kathy Rader.
Faulkner is a 2010 graduate of the Ohio Distance Electronic Academy (OHDELLA), a home-school program; and has also been inducted into the National Honor Society. He plans to attend Clark State in the fall. Sean Faulkner is also living with the challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Son of David and Sissy Faulkner of Urbana, he began his school years at the age of three with low verbal skills for his age group. He was soon transferred to the New England Center for Autism in Massachusetts near where the family then lived. He was enrolled in the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) program which enabled him to be eventually mainstreamed into the typical classroom. After the family moved to Champaign County, Faulkner attended St. Mary’s Elementary through the sixth grade before beginning the home-schooling program.
According to his mother, Sissy, “Sean has been nearly a straight A student since elementary school. He graduated 4th out of his class of 126” when services were held at the Civic Center in Akron on June 12. He maintained a 4.0 GPA his senior year and graduated with an overall 3.85 GPA. That doesn’t mean he is without his challenges. She explains that he had to work very hard to earn his grades and that there are challenges that will never go away. However, “Sean wants to help other people like himself.”
Faulkner has an interest in community work and has served as a volunteer at the Springfield Animal Shelter. He began his office experience by also volunteering part-time for Ben-El Child & Family Center. “At Ben-El, they liked my work so they started paying me then they transferred me (to CRSI) because they thought I was doing a good job”, says Faulkner. Rader agrees, “I’m proud of him because he is adapting to the change in his duties…he is doing great.”
Faulkner has an interest in community work and has served as a volunteer at the Springfield Animal Shelter. He began his office experience by also volunteering part-time for Ben-El Child & Family Center. “At Ben-El, they liked my work so they started paying me then they transferred me (to CRSI) because they thought I was doing a good job”, says Faulkner. Rader agrees, “I’m proud of him because he is adapting to the change in his duties…he is doing great.”
Job Description: The Consumer Advocate Assistant must possess knowledge of types of services received by persons with developmental disabilities and must have a keen interest in the quality of services provided to persons with disabilities.
Mentored by long-time Consumer Advocate John Hannah, Faulkner is currently assisting and learning. His duties are to communicate with consumers and their family members or other individuals to assess consumer satisfaction with the agency. He is an advocate for consumer needs, wishes and rights, and he encourages self-advocacy. “I am helping them (consumers) to learn to do their own-decision making”, says Sean of his new responsibilities which still include some clerical and computer tasks.
Faulkner currently works part-time for CRSI. He spends some of his time in the Adult Day Services program, assisting with recreational activities such as arts and crafts; while taking the opportunity to talk with participants on a casual level.
Sean Faulkner understands and can relate to the needs of consumers with developmental disabilities, primarily because of his experience living with Autism. He can relate to the challenges and provide help and guidance for others.