Support, Inc. Helps Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Live Life to the Fullest! Please read about Stephan and Melissa’s wedding below.
“The Support, Inc. team utilizes a unique, whole-person approach that allows our caregivers to develop a deep understanding of each individual’s needs,” explains Kayla Ribron, Associate Director with Support, Inc. “We work with each of our individuals to identify and set manageable goals to help them make their dreams a reality. For Stephan Fury and Melissa Allen this meant finally having the wedding of their dreams after being together for five years.”
Stephan and Melissa have mild intellectual disabilities. The couple worked with Ribron, the Residential Coordinator at the time, and their Support, Inc. care team to plan the wedding. Melissa wanted the big event to have a country feel – she wanted to wear cowboy boots and incorporate the colors black, white and turquoise. It was also important to the couple to have the ceremony near water since that is where Melissa feels closest to her mother who passed away.
“We worked together to decide on a location for the ceremony and the reception,” says Ribron. “The special couple led the planning, tasted and picked the food, and enjoyed every moment. It was my pleasure to accompany Melissa and her maid of honor to the bridal boutique to try on and pick out her wedding dress. We even had a video call with Stephan’s mom to make sure she got to be a part of the experience. It was so special and such a privilege to accompany her on that special day.”
In September of 2022, Stephan and Melissa had a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception. Their families traveled from near and far to be there.
“The Support, Inc. team specializes in designing innovative creative budgets so the individuals and families we serve can utilize their waiver funds in the most person-centered way,” says Ribron. “Because of our unique structure, we were able to use Stephan and Melissa’s waiver budget to pay for the wedding including their honeymoon trip to travel to Galveston. Throughout their relationship, Stephan and Melissa have supported each other through thick and thin. They recently moved into a new apartment and are loving it. The love these two have for one another is unmatched. They help each other grow and learn and really listen to each other’s needs. It has been a joy to see their love and union grow and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for them.”
