Greenfield, Ind.—For millions of young girls growing up in the United States during the ‘60s, having a house and a husband was the all-American dream. Annie Day was no exception, even if her circumstances were exceptional.

“When I was a little girl growing up, I wanted to get married,” said Day. “Wasn’t sure I ever would, though.” As a child with developmental disabilities living in Muncie, Ind., getting married was a dream that, like so many others, seemed out of reach.

For nearly half a century, the Greenfield resident’s dream was sidelined. Then Annie met Gearen Day at a social event in 2001. Annie says it was love at first sight.

While Annie’s long-time friend and advocate Betty Duhamell supported the relationship, other roadblocks stood in the way of the couple’s future. In order to pursue the relationship, Annie needed special services and professional advocacy that would support the things important for her (such as her health and safety needs), as well as things important to her (such as her dreams, hopes, and goals). Annie’s unique needs and dreams required a living environment conducive to a romantic relationship, as well as the flexibility to respond to social situations as she chose.

In 2003, Annie received a waiver from the State of Indiana’s Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services, a department of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration, who administers the Medicaid waiver program. Waivers provide for services and supports to meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities within the state of Indiana.

With the waiver, Annie began to receive person-centered support and advocacy from Indiana Professional Management Group (IPMG). As the sole provider of case management services in Indiana, IPMG provides case management to more than 12,000 Hoosiers receiving an Autism, Developmental Disabilities, or Support Services Waiver—including Gearen, who began receiving a waiver a year before Annie.

Soon after waiver services for Annie began, a meeting occurred that included Annie’s case manager, Annie’s advocate Duhamell, Gearen’s family and case man-ager, and the couple. The result: specialized supports to meet Annie’s needs, changes to Annie’s life that provided the flexibility and living circumstances she required, and an understanding by all regarding Annie and Gearen’s relationship.
“Annie is a strong-willed person, and she had her mind set about Gearen,” said Kent Powell, Annie’s IPMG Case Manager. “By working together, we were able to develop a plan that met the needs of both Annie and Gearen, as well as opened the doors for the relationship they were developing.”

Originally from Sanford, Florida, Gearen, a self-proclaimed ‘Navy brat,’ graduated from Greenfield High School in 1983. For the last 20 years, he has held the same job at Shares, Inc., and filled his days with sports, his work, and maintaining his independent, bachelor lifestyle—until he met Annie.

The couple was married in July 2005 on Annie’s birthday, in a simple ceremony at Brandywine Community Church in Greenfield where Gearen’s dad, John, walked the bride down the aisle. “Annie reminds Gearen she gets two gifts that day: one for her birthday, one for their anniversary,” says Powell.

Of the more than 60 million married couples reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2008, the Days are part of a small percentage of couples where both spouses have a developmental disability. More than 4.7 million Americans (about 1.5 percent of the population) have an intellectual or developmental disability, which includes cerebral palsy, autism and autism spectrum disorders, and intellectual disabilities.

For the couple, marriage has provided structure and support that complements services each receives as a Medicaid waiver recipient. “Annie and Gearen are just like any other married couple, just with a little extra support,” said Powell. Powell is one of more than 350 IPMG case management professionals statewide who support Indiana’s waiver recipients.

As part of the waiver program, Powell helps the Days each determine their needs and personal goals. After the Days have chosen service providers with whom they wish to work and receive services for these needs and goals, Powell helps them determine how the waiver services they select will help meet those needs and move them closer to their goals. Additionally, Powell works collaboratively with Gearen, Annie, and their chosen service providers to ensure their waivers are being utilized to grow their dreams and meet their needs.

Among other services, the Days use their waiver services to provide daily-living support. Each morning, a support staff member from Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc. assists Annie and Gearen, with cooking, transportation to and from their jobs, and housework. Additional services include health-related needs, such as filling prescriptions and scheduling appointments.

“The waiver ensures Annie and Gearen have the support they need to lead productive, fulfilling lives in the community,” said Powell, who also became Gearen’s case manager in 2004.

Bethesda employee Rose Daugherty is one of several support staff working with the Days as part of their waiver services. Daugherty, who helps the Days with daily needs at their Greenfield apartment several days a week, sees the Days as any other couple. “It’s amazing how well they do with the challenges they have,” said Daugherty. “There are a lot of couples who don’t get along this well without having any of the issues they face.”

Couples with developmental disabilities can face challenges beyond their own disabilities. When Annie and Gearen were children in the ‘60s, many states had legislation that made it illegal for individuals with developmental disabilities to marry. During the ‘70s, legislation began to turn the tide and provide greater rights to individuals with developmental disabilities. Significant legislation included the reauthorization of the Developmental Disabilities Act and Bill of Rights in 1975, and continued with the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

For some, however, legislative changes may not be enough. Family pressure to remain single can be a factor, but this was one challenge the Days didn’t face. In addition to support from Duhamell, Gearen’s father showed his support of the couple’s union when he stood with his future daughter-in-law and walked her down the aisle on their wedding day. “That was real nice,” said Annie, whose family is not involved in her life.

Through the help of community and paid supports, the Days are like many other American couples. Gearen continues his long-running career at Shares, Inc.; Annie also works at Shares, as well as Long John Silver’s in Greenfield two days a week, where she has provided kitchen and cleanup support for almost five years. After work, Annie and Gearen can be found at home caring for their two cats, Molly and Suzie, or out shopping. Gearen is often at Special Olympic events where he participates in several sports, including basketball.

Later this summer, four years after their wedding, the Days are fulfilling the second part of Annie’s childhood dream as they move out of their apartment and into a rental house. And, like a typical American couple, Annie plans for Gearen to do most of the heavy lifting when they move. “That’s what he’s here for,” she says with a gentle smile toward her husband. “He’s the one with the muscles.”

“She’s beautiful. I’ll do anything for her,” said Gearen.