Ty Erd Smith
Changing the self-fulfilling prophecy, Ty grew up both in extreme poverty with no family resources and locked in the mental health system. He was told that he would never amount to anything and would spend the rest of his life behind bars. Now he is an active high level policy maker, benefits planner, ABLE account owner and proud homeowner! Ty is saving in his ABLE account for home repairs and improvements and has a savings goal to purchase a newer car.
I want to help others find their path after carving out mine.
I am a person with unseen disabilities and grew up in extreme poverty. I have a very loving mother who chooses to be a single parent. We did not have much but she was there for me in any way she could be. In third grade, I had a bad teacher, and my mom took me out of school to be evaluated for disabilities. I got my first diagnosis of sensory integration disorder. The treatment involved rubbing a surgical sponge with stiff bristles all over the body except the stomach as hard and as fast as they could. I quickly got my next diagnosis of Anger Management Disorder. After that, I spent my childhood in “the system.” I lived in residential treatment centers and went to contained classrooms for my schooling. The only socializing I was allowed to do was in groups. I felt immensely hurt by the system and not allowed to develop naturally.
After an exceptionally long time and a change from the child system to the adult system. I almost dropped out of high school because I was too afraid of telling people why I was absent for weeks. I was in a bad spot in my life where I did not leave home for months. This meant no school, no friends, no work and no treatment. I was waiting for someone to talk to me on social media, yet I was afraid to talk to them. It was during this time that my mom told me about a high paying job as a Young Adult Peer Specialist.
The job was not high paying, but I found a passion. I used that job to graduate from high school and resumed treatment and was an active member in my treatment. I became a subject matter expert in all things involving youth, policy development and advocacy. I developed my own non-profit, community-based, youth advocacy group. I recognized that to have an impact
on any one system; we need to have expertise from all communities!
With support services and support through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), I got my bachelor’s degree, and I got my first full-time job. I work at Atlantis Community Inc., one of Colorado’s nine Centers for Independent Living where I help people work towards their own goals of Independent Living. I have been working for Atlantis for over two and half years. Shortly after I got my job, I opened an ABLE account and started to save. Not too long after that, I used my ABLE funds to help me buy my first home! Having my own home provides me with privacy, my own space for a game room and a comfortable place for my pets. For work, I am now receiving training to become a Benefits Planner. I love my new role as I will be helping people maintain the benefits while maximizing their income. I will be promoting ABLE and hopefully creating systemic changes to make these resources more accessible. Ultimately, I want to help people find their own path to independence like I have!