Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned about why people flourish have come from my brother Kevin.
Kevin was born with a cognitive disability and was blessed with a genuine love for people and a desire to help others. Over the years, I've watched him flourish whenever someone recognized his gifts and gave him a place where he could contribute.
Kevin helped me realize that none of us flourishes on our own. Every life is shaped by people who encourage us and by communities that welcome us and give us the chance to grow. If you look back on your own life, you’ll probably recognize both.
When Kevin was growing up, those kinds of opportunities weren’t nearly as common for people with disabilities as they are today. We’ve made remarkable progress since then through changes in our laws and institutions. But helping people flourish also relies on people who choose to open doors and make others feel they belong.
Making space for others
Growing up, life was harder for people like Kevin. Expectations were often too low, and opportunities too few. Often, people focused on what those with disabilities couldn’t do instead of imagining what they might become.
I remember my parents renting community centers where Kevin and other children with developmental disabilities could spend time together while their parents found support from one another. I now realize they weren’t just renting a room but creating a place where families felt welcome and children like Kevin had the chance to belong.
That same spirit found a national expression on July 26, 1990, when President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA expanded access to schools, workplaces, transportation, and public spaces, affirming that people with disabilities deserve the same opportunities to participate and build meaningful lives.
Over the past three decades, the ADA has helped open countless doors. But every door still needs someone willing to hold it open. That’s the work of all of us: believing in someone’s potential and creating opportunities for them to thrive.
The next step
Opening a door is only the beginning. What happens next depends on whether people are trusted and given the chance to contribute. That’s where relationships take root and people begin to discover what they’re capable of.
I’ve had the privilege of watching that happen for more than a decade through Smile Farms.
When my family and I started the nonprofit in 2015, our goal was straightforward: to create meaningful employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities like Kevin. What we’ve experienced since then has exceeded anything I could have imagined.
I’ve watched Smile Farmers grow in confidence as they mastered new responsibilities, welcomed new coworkers, and took pride in their work. I’ve seen families celebrate accomplishments that once felt out of reach. And I’ve seen genuine friendships take root.
One story that always makes me smile is the friendship between Grace Benevento and Doreen Adinolfi at IGHL. They met as coworkers at Smile Farms. Years later, they’re still showing up for one another — not just as colleagues, but as best friends.
Meaningful work is about more than earning a paycheck. It gives people the chance to contribute and know they matter. Grace and Doreen didn’t just find jobs. They found each other.
Keeping the door open
We all have the ability to shape the environments around us. Sometimes it begins with a job. Other times, it’s as simple as an invitation, a vote of confidence, or someone willing to believe in another person.
The Americans with Disabilities Act helped open doors that had been closed for far too long. But keeping those doors open has always depended on people who choose to welcome others and create opportunities for them to contribute.
That’s exactly what happened for Grace and Doreen. They came to Smile Farms looking for meaningful work. They found purpose, confidence, and a lifelong friendship.
As we mark another anniversary of the ADA, I hope we’ll remember that helping people flourish is the work of all of us. Every time we open a door, we strengthen another person’s life and our communities. Every opportunity we create gives someone the chance to contribute and belong.
All the best,
Jim
Written by 1-800-Flowers.com Founder and Chairman, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.
I love your articles. They always invite me/us to look below the surface to the gifts Life offers to all of us. Thank you, Jim!
Cheryl Mayes, Yakima WA