Extend your hand to Ruben Torres, and you're guaranteed two things: a healthy handshake and a welcoming smile. The next thing you are guaranteed is a great conversation.

Like most people of his age, the 35-year-old has a developed opinion on a number of things affecting his life. Combined with his high-energy level, Ruben's sincerity and keen attention to your side of his opinion creates an atmosphere that allows time to slip by surprisingly quickly.

Ruben is a man of many interests and talents, and is happy to share on either subject, but it is his painting talent that has made him known in the Valparaiso, Indiana area. A slight, momentary blush peeks through his dark beard when he's asked about the impressive, colorful pieces to which he contributes. His pieces have been sold to businesses in northwest Indiana, are seen regularly in local displays, and are often requested for openings, he proudly announces. Ruben's success is major feat of accomplishment for anyone, but an even larger milestone for an individual with a developmental disability.

While the presence of cerebral palsy has been a challenging facet of his life, Ruben's curiosity in a wide range of subjects and his determination to move his life forward has created a large canvas upon which he paints his own success. By working with an extended team of support personnel, which is led by his IPMG case manager and includes his selected service providers, Ruben has overcome a number of obstacles to reach his dreams.

"My most recent goal was to go on vacation. Everybody needs a little time away now and then," he said through a brilliant smile.

Patsy Reinhart, Ruben's selected IPMG case manager, explained some of the additional challenges presented to his team when helping him plan for a weekend getaway. "Ruben's person-centered plan calls for personal assistance throughout the day for a number of areas he's requested. Working with a service provider to schedule trained personnel for an out-of-town getaway was just one area that presented a challenge to the team."

"It took some time to plan, to get together all the things I needed to have lined up before I went, but it was really worth it," Ruben said. "My team works with me real closely, and it took almost a year to get everything lined up just right, but we did it!"

As one of over 10,000 Indiana residents receiving a Developmental Disabilities, Autism or Support Services Waiver, Ruben obtains guidance from his team based on not only the things that are important for him, like safety, food, and attention to his medical needs, but also the things that are important to him. This is where he dreams big.

"Ruben is a very active participant in his life; he comes to meetings with a list of things he wants to discuss and with opinions ready," said Patsy. "When we are able to move him toward one goal a little--or even reach that goal, as with the vacation--he already has another goal to take that place! He is very determined, and that makes my position as his advocate even more important. I want to make sure everything we do as a team is focused around his goals, dreams and needs."

Another goal Ruben recently accomplished was acquiring a cell phone. "That was really, really important to me, and I let the team know: this is what I want! Then," he said, leaning in closer for impact, "we had to all sit around and figure out how we could do it."

To help Ruben move toward his goals, the team developed a series of steps that he could work through. These steps, each a minor goal in and of themselves, assisted Ruben with learning some of the skills he needed prior to becoming a cell phone owner. "I liked the plan we came up with," Ruben said, "because I knew I had to first do this, then that, then that. And if each step went good, we could go on to the next, and I felt like I was moving closer to that dream, rather than just dreaming."

Ruben's close involvement with his team has led him to place another goal on his list: to actively self-advocate for himself and others. "I want to be able to speak for other people, to help them understand what the Waiver means, what IPMG can do for them, what their team can help them with," he said. "Not everybody can understand what all of this means, and I think I can help some of those people."

Recently, Ruben became involved with the Self-Advocates of Indiana, a group run by and designed to support the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. The Crown Point group, Friendship Union, is one of a growing number of meetings throughout the state of Indiana in which individuals with developmental disabilities can be involved.

"Ruben's involvement with the Self-Advocates of Indiana has given him a greater voice in his life and within the community," Patsy explained. "It's great to help him create ways to put his skills and talents to use. Self-advocates is one way for someone like Ruben, who is expressive and has a desire to help others, to reach out and move toward one of his goals."

While Ruben acknowledges that his list of goals has changed occasionally or has been realigned for personal reasons as his life has changed, he says working with his team has been a growing process. Ruben explains his point like any other artist would: with an illustration. "Working with IPMG and my team is like growing a tree. First you plant the little seed in the dirt, that's the dream. Then you water it--that's the steps to move you along. Some of the seeds don't grow, but some of them do, and they grow and grow," he said, waving his hands in the air for effect as he continued, "and then, one day, a tree grows out from the ground! It works the same with me and my team, and I really love it."