For our My Life, My Choice campaign, we are proud to share Sunny’s story, a powerful example of what can happen when people with disabilities are given the freedom to direct their own lives. Sunny’s journey didn’t begin with choice, but it has become defined by it.
After graduating from the Maryland School for the Blind in 2007, Sunny was placed directly into a sheltered workshop. She remained there for eight years, often spending her days waiting for work that rarely came. Her last paycheck was just a few dollars for two weeks of effort, a painful reminder of how little autonomy and opportunity the sheltered workshop model provided. “I didn’t have many choices in my life,” Sunny shared. “A lot of times, I would just be sitting there. I was confined.”
Everything changed in 2015 when a former staff member told Sunny and her parents about self-direction. It was the first time she learned that she could hire her own staff, make her own decisions, and build a life based on her gifts rather than limitations. “Self-direction is the best program,” she said. “I hire my own staff, I make my own choices. I’m flourishing. I’m doing more in the community.” Sunny now works with a team of three staff members – including a day-to-day administrator – along with her support broker, CCS, and her parents. Together, they support her goals while ensuring she has full control over her schedule and services.
But what truly lights Sunny up, and what she gives generously back to the world, is her music. Blind since birth, Sunny plays the piano and sings with extraordinary talent, viewing her musical ability as a gift meant to uplift others. She performs both paid and unpaid gigs, choosing opportunities based on the impact she can make. “It’s not about the money,” she explained. “It’s about blessing people with my music.” She is currently preparing to volunteer with Partners In Care’s Christmas program and is always seeking ways to share her passion.
Looking toward the future, Sunny hopes to continue performing for as long as she can. She wants to remain connected to her community, find new places to play, and someday explore independent living options. More than anything, she believes her calling is to use her music to touch lives. “I don’t believe I’m going to retire from playing the piano,” she said. “This is where God wants me right now.”
Sunny also hopes her story will inspire families of young adults transitioning out of high school to explore all their options. Her message is clear: “Don’t default to the sheltered workshop model. Ask your child what they want to do. Weigh your options and consider self-direction. It was the best thing that happened to me. It gave me choices, goals, and a life I could direct myself.”
Sunny’s journey reminds us that self-direction isn’t just a service model – it’s a path to purpose, dignity, and fulfilling the potential every person carries inside them.