**Katryna Gould Award

William Lee Pickette, Roanoke, NC

This award is named in honor of Katryna Gould, who served on the NADSA Board of Directors as a consumer advocate. This award was created in 2006 to recognize a consumer of Adult Day Services who, through advocacy efforts, has increased the visibility and recognition of Adult Day Services as a viable community-based long-term care option. 

Lee Pickette (center) is an outspoken advocate of the Valley Adult Day Center in Weldon, NC __________________

Lee is a participant of Roanoke Valley Adult Day Center in Weldon, NC. He has participated the past two years in our annual long-term care advocacy day at the state legislature in Raleigh. Lee has spoken directly to the members of the aging committee and other legislators about his experience in adult day services, and how much it has meant to him and his father.

The first time Lee addressed this group it was the anniversary of his mother's death. He explained how much he's missed his mother, but also explained that because of the Center, he and his dad are doing well. He even shares that he started coming to the Center in part because he and his dad would get to each other. "We just needed some time apart," Lee explained. "At the center I have friends. I can help some of the others, I go on trips and the staff depends on me to be there." I am sure you can envision the tears, the smiles and the awareness that Lee gave to everyone in the room.

This past year when Lee asked to return with us to the Advocacy Day, he again went to the microphone. This time he shared that he has grown to depend on the Center. He loves the family farm and the horses and the time he spends at home with Dad.  But he also loves his place—the Center. "Dad and I have great times on the farm," Lee shared. "He needs my help sometimes and it is good for us to work hard together. But the center is MY PLACE! Dad understands that, too." 

Lee then went on to explain that one of the participants had passed away a few months earlier. Lee expressed his sense of loss. But he also shared that it was good to have his friends at the Center help him with that because when his mom passed away he had no one to help him. Lee turned from the mic and looked at his dad and said, "You see, Dad was hurting too, and we did not know how to help each other. The Center has helped me and I now know how to help Dad." Lee then turned back to the mic and closed his comments with a prayer asking God to bless the Center and to make sure these important people in this big room understand how much the Center means to him and his dad.

Lee is in his early 30's and has Downs syndrome. I am sure he does not completely understand the total impact he made, but he does know that he loves and needs the Center—his place. It is also certain that no individual in the room, especially the lawmakers, will forget the comments of this gentleman.

Written by Jean Reaves, Executive Director of Roanoke Valley Adult Day Center, Weldon, NC