Day 6: Great Close To Home Story..

Jeff Stewart



Perception is a funny thing... While for many, it's considered everything, it can be very deceiving. And dangerous as assumptions typically follow; assumptions based, for whatever reason, on how we believe things should be as opposed to how they really are.
Jeff Stewart has lived his 57 years staring perception down and, well, living his life as best he can.
How well has he succeeded? Well, consider the Down Syndrome he was born with is but a mere footnote in the story that is his life. Has been for some time now.
That's not to downplay the chromosome-related condition's effect on his journey, both then and now. It has been a trial at times, both for himself and his family. But Down Syndrome is not at Jeff's centre. It's not what makes his broad smile broad, his infectious personality infectious and his boundless enthusiasm boundless.
These are the things which define Jeff Stewart. These are his gifts to all he meets.
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"If he lives to age 20, he'll die of old age."
On May 22, 1954, the day after their son Jeff was born at the old Peterborough Civic Hospital, Helen and Neil Stewart heard those words from their doctor, who ealier confirmed their newborn had Down Syndrome.
But as blunt as that message was, it paled in comparison to what their pediatrician told the couple a short while later.
"If it was my child, I wouldn't have brought him home."
In that doctor's defence, one could argue it was a different time; a time when anyone with any intellectual impairment was labeled "mentally retarded." A time when many faced with the challenge that Helen and Neil faced didn't bring their child home.
"That was never an option," says Helen.
"We brought Jeff home and looked after him just as we did all our children.
"Everything was fine with my pregnancy. Down Syndrome was the last thing on our minds. Even my doctor, the last time I saw him, said he was still shocked. Down Syndrome children are usually born to older women or there's a history in the family."
What Helen didn't know then is that both she and her father are carriers of Down Syndrome, as are the Stewarts' two other sons, Cory and Philip. Their first child, Cathy, isn't a carrier but a granddaughter, Beth, now 29, also has Down Syndrome. But back to 1954 and life at the Stewarts' modest south Peterborough home, where the couple still resides today.
"Jeff was a little slow learning to walk but I can't say we treated him any differently than any of our children," notes Helen, understating how vital Jeff's full integration in family life was to his development.
"We tried very hard not to let him dominate. He can be a little forceful but we made him toe the line. Really, though, he was a good kid."
Education for Jeff involved half days at nearby Trafalgar School until age 10. Six years later, he was taking classes at Trafalgar Senior School and did so until age 21.
From there, for the next 11 years, ARC Industries, which provided work opportunities for people with developmental challenges, was the centre of his life outside the home.
Helen, meanwhile, immersed herself in what was then the Peterborough and District Association for the Mentally Retarded -- the forerunner of what is today known as Community Living Peterborough. She made it her mission to learn as much as possible about the supports the developmentally impaired require in order to better support her son, eventually serving as board president.
"I was determined to get whatever support I could for Jeff. He was our son. There was nothing we wouldn't do for any of our children."
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"I don't like jazz...and I don't like opera."
With that, Jeff Stewart defines his love of almost all things music -- a love that he clearly expresses each Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m., via Country Cousins.
He has co-hosted the Trent Radio program with "Washboard" Hank Fisher, his second cousin, for an astounding 22 years.
But Jeff's involvement with the radio station goes back even further to when he did custodial work there -- he still does -- as well as hosted a music 'n' talk program titled What's In It For Me?
"I like to entertain people," notes Jeff, breaking into a wide smile before stating the obvious.
"I like to talk."
Longtime Trent Radio general manager John Muir is more blunt.
"Jeff is a ham...it's hard to picture things around here without him.
"He's brought a great deal of fun and humour to this place. What he and Washboard do is typical of the hair-down type of entertainment Trent Radio is known for. He plays the straight guy to Washboard's comedy. It really is something."
But Jeff's radio work is the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to his weekly volunteer work.
He also waters plants and collects library books at Fairhaven; cleans windows and vacuums at Marycrest At Inglewood; stuffs billing envelopes at the MNR; and folds church bulletins at St. James' United Church.
At the latter, he has secured some small parts in St. James' Players productions -- an experience complemented by his work with Dream Players, a variety performance troupe for people with intellectual challenges. In 2007, Jeff's gift for gab came in handy as he emceed Dream Players' annual show.
And then there's his beloved Peterborough Petes. A season ticket holder, Jeff attends home games with longtime friends John and Sheila Beak as well as spends time at their home -- a relationship struck and maintained via the Special Services At Home program.
"There is nothing Jeff thinks he can't do," says Helen, pointing specifically to the past year-and-a-half and what has undoubtedly been her son's biggest challenge to date -- living outside the family home at St. Monica House at the former Mount St. Joseph property.
There, with housemates Doug Clifford and Jim Watkins, Jeff is experiencing independence on what is, for him, an unprecedented scale.
"I prefer staying here (at the family home) but Mom and Dad are getting a bit older," says Jeff.
"But I like it very well, being a part of the community of the City of Peterborough."
In Jack Gillan's mind, Jeff's community integration, and the strong support of his family, should be held up as a shining example that any barriers facing those in similar circumstances can be overcome and then some.
As CEO of Community Living Peterborough, which serves some 360 people with intellectual disabilities, he see Jeff's journey as the ultimate success story.
"His parents always had a positive vision for him and that's really obvious in what success he's had," says Mr. Gillan.
"Educating the community at large that people with intellectual disabilities can contribute in a meaningful way is still the big hurdle. It's better than what it was but there's still some ways to go. Jeff is an example of what can be, and is, accomplished by many.
"We're lucky. Peterborough is such a welcoming community in many ways. That has given our clients, like it has Jeff, so many opportunities. This really is a feel-good success story that is heartwarming on so many levels."
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"We're both extremely proud of Jeff...so are his brothers and sister," notes Helen, enjoying having her son home, if only for a bit before his busy life sees him head off.
"There's no secret here. Accept your kids for what they are. Give your support and accept them and things will work out."
With that, Jeff ventures into his family home bedroom, still maintained for him.
There, draped over a dresser mirror, are two medals. Both are of the gold variety, won by Jeff for his freestyle swimming prowess at the Special Olympics in 1969 and in 1971.
"Rose Kennedy presented the first one to me," he says, no shortage of pride in his voice.
With that, returning the medal to its rightful place, Jeff bids a hasty goodbye.
He has a bus to catch and, more to the point, a full life to tend to.