Sally Coomer is the founder of Bridge of Promise and has a strong passion for improving the lives of people with developmental and physical disabilities. She is the mother of an adult daughter Becky who lives with developmental disabilities. Sally has worked in the field of disability for over 17 years. During her work as a Washington state contracted provider, she has advocated for hundreds of clients to qualify and receive services that would meet their needs. Sally continues to consult with families in navigating the Developmental Disabilities system, access services and assists with long term care planning. She is a committed advocate both in her own community and at the legislative level.
Sally & Becky’s Story
Raising a child with developmental disabilities is not what any parent plans for. Initially I never looked beyond one day at a time. This was my way of accepting the fact that my vision for Becky was going to be different than what I had originally hoped for. The many years of physical therapy, school IEP’s and adjusting to life caring for a child with significant needs made it obvious what level of supports Becky would need to thrive throughout her life.
As Becky grew, I became more and more concerned about her qualify of life after high school. As a Washington State provider, I was all too familiar with the many challenges that families would face after high school ended. Over the years, I had visited with hundreds of young adults who had transitioned out of school to find that the resources were severely limited after age 21. I found many of these young adults regressing as they spent a good portion of their time at home becoming more and more isolated. Families were frustrated and at a loss trying to manage their child’s new life without the consistency, structure and supports of school.
I did not want this life for Becky, she needed a reason to get up every day, a life with purpose, meaning and friendship. I knew that Becky and others like her needed a community based supported program that would offer continued learning, socialization and recreational opportunities.
This was the inspiration behind the creation of Bridge of Promise. My hope was that every community would be able to offer a Bridge of Promise Program, a safety net for individuals with disabilities and their families. Bridge of Promise has been the answer for Becky and for our family. It has given her meaning and purpose to her days, it has offered learning, life experiences, friendship and allows her the chance to be an active member of her community.
The name Bridge of Promise represents a promise made to bridge the gap that so many face after school is over. As I shared in the beginning, Initially I could never look beyond one day at a time, but now after 29 years of parenting a child with disabilities, I have learned that time doesn’t just heal all wounds; it refreshes your sense of hope. It helps you see all the possibilities that exist, instead of mourning the ones that don’t, its realizing that the visions we hope for are the ones we can create.