getting to know our board – self advocate

Part 4 of the 2016 “Getting to Know Our Board”. This individual in on the board as a self-advocate. He sits at the table every month and speaks up for himself and his friends when it comes to the planning and decisions regarding the playhouse.

My name is John Garlock and I’m 26 years old.  I’ve been on the Board of Managers for GiGi’s Playhouse since it opened in 2011.  I LOVE attending the board meetings and Fantastic Friends to play games, do Jazzercise, do crafts, and sing and dance with my friends.

I attended Rock Island public schools all along, after a lot of battles my parents had with administration, including mediations and Due Process.  But they/I prevailed and I did very well.  I was on the honor roll, in National Honor Society, helped with Student Hunger Drive, and was elected Rock Island High School’s Homecoming King in 2008!  I work at HyVee in Rock Island, my dream job.  In January, it will be 7 years since I started.  I love seeing my friends and neighbors there, helping people by bagging their groceries, shoveling snow, getting carts from the parking lot, cleaning the restrooms, vacuuming, and emptying garbage.  When I’m not at GiGi’s or HyVee, I play baseball, bowl, ride my bike, shoot basketball and play PS4 with neighborhood friends, and help at church.

I live with my parents in Rock Island.  I make arrangements myself with ParaTransit for rides to/from work.  I cook a meal once a week with my friend Jack.  I also like to travel to see my sister, brother-in-law, two nieces and nephew who live in Charleston, SC.  I drove home with them this summer then flew home by myself!