QSAC was Determined to Help Bradlee Rebuild His Life…

Imagine being alone,

Alone and unable to speak,

Alone and in an unfamiliar place,

Suddenly an orphan?

This scenario describes what happened to Bradlee. Last May, Bradlee was left alone in a hospital, possibly facing life in an institution. He is 24 years old, severely autistic - non-verbal.

But QSAC was determined to help Bradlee rebuild his life… A life worth living to its fullest.

Here’s his story: Bradlee’s mother died when he was a young child. He was left with one relative and one friend: his father, a loving and protective man who provided home schooling and kept Bradlee away from structured programs. They were inseparable.

On May 22, Bradlee’s father fell ill and called 911. When rescue workers arrived, he had already passed away. They brought Bradlee to the hospital to figure out what to do with this young man. A nurse found a QSAC business card in his father’s wallet and called us. Bradlee had been receiving a host of services from QSAC since 2000.

QSAC employees immediately went to the hospital and brought a letter board that Bradlee uses to communicate as well as his favorite food (he and his father had an extremely strict routine which involved only foods from specific restaurants). For nearly two weeks, QSAC employees returned twice daily to the hospital for lunch and dinner, with food and books to read him. QSAC remembered the mention of an uncle somewhere on Long Island, with whom all contact had been lost for almost 20 years, and started the search for the lost relative. QSAC also worked closely with the Queens DDSO to

find suitable housing placement for Bradlee. Within two weeks, temporary placement was found in family care; QSAC had located the lost relative and offered immediate enrollment into its Day Habilitation program.

Today, Bradlee’s home placement has been made permanent; aunt, uncle and cousins are rebuilding the family unit they once shared. He has adjusted beautifully in his QSAC Day Habilitation program, thanks to the staff that so diligently helped him with the transition. We often see him smile!

I am proud of my staff. I am also humbled because it is your financial support that enables us to nurture an environment conducive to the successful delivery of services to give Bradlee an immediate spot in our day hab program, or purchase a communication board or bring him the books he likes.

We urgently need your support today to continue to offer Bradlee and others like him a life full of possibilities, with exercise and recreation equipment, field trips and special activities as well as adaptive technology such as touch screen monitors, adaptor keyboards and software. These things will make the future bright for Bradlee. Can you imagine all the things your generous contribution could bring to numerous others in need?

On Bradlee’s behalf - and that of the many people whose lives are changed by the programs you make possible - I thank you for your steadfast support and the motivation it gives us to continue.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

PS1: More than 85% of all monies go directly to the services we provide. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, this classifies us as an “A” rated charity.

PS2: Ten years ago, our colleague, Anita Smith, lost her life… She was 22 when she was brutally murdered along with four others at Wendy’s in Queens. Anita was training for a career working with children with autism and about to start college. The Anita Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund allows Anita’s good will and determination to live on in perpetuity. Please consider an additional anniversary gift to the Anita Smith Scholarship Fund. It will make a significant difference in the lives of deserving students pursuing a degree in a human services field, for example in special education, psychology or sociology. They are those who will care for Bradlee in the future.

PS3: You can make your donation directly at www.qsac.com/appeal. Thank you.

EIN # 11-2482974. Potential contributors may obtain a copy of QSAC’s financial report from the Attorney General by writing to the Office of the Attorney General, Department of Law, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271, or directly to QSAC Inc., 253 West 35th Street – 16th Fl., New York, NY 10001.