Matthew Darrah

Matthew Darrah, 46, is the second success story we’d like to share. Perseverance in the face of adversity and the pursuit of what matters to him is what drives Matt to accomplish all that he has.

Matthew has lived with his mother his entire life. They share a strong bond. When Matthew is not working, volunteering, helping out at church or attending train shows, his favorite thing to do is spending time with his mom.

Another immensely meaningful part of Matthew’s life is his job. He has a long history of employment. He worked at the CSG Options for over 20 years.

Unfortunately, the program was permanently closed in January 2025 and Matt was left without work.

He wasn’t deterred though, and knew he wanted to look for a new job immediately. After a long process of applications and interviews, Matt procured work as a cleaner at a local hotel chain. Matt worked here for several months, but over time, he faced challenges in the environment and came to the realization that it wasn’t quite the right fit for him. In another significant setback that would impact most peoples’ hopefulness, Matt persisted in chasing what he wanted.

He maintained his cheerful attitude and optimistic approach as he continued his search for more than just work, but fulfillment. Matt found just that at Red Robin. In his own words, “I adore my job and just because I have some differences doesn’t mean I can’t do it. It means to never give up on your dreams and keep thriving to do what you enjoy and what makes you happy.”

Matt has worked at Red Robin since December of 2025 and says he feels welcome and supported. It is exactly what he was looking for.

Brayden’s, 19, story is one with a lot of pages still left to be written. It’s one that includes a fair amount of uncertainty, but also an incredible level of tenacity and an unwavering kindness and sense of self.

Brayden lived with his mother, father, and younger sister until after he finished school in May of 2025. Brayden’s Supports Coordinator, Debra Deeter, advocated for Brayden and facilitated his transition into adult life and all it entailed in many ways. One significant way was by arranging his enrollment into COI’s CPS program as he was finishing high school and therefore extending his support network.

Shortly after receiving our services, Brayden shared that he was being kicked out of his family home following graduation. Our teams came together and helped Brayden learn about our Supported Living program. His spot on the waitlist for a higher waiver was expedited because of his situation and he was placed in an apartment in Milton with a waiver that could afford him both CPS and SL. We helped Brayden discover and utilize community resources like a subsidized YMCA membership, food banks and community aid programs for furniture while he awaited his first social security check and beyond. Only a few months after living independently in his new home, connecting with his community and feeling comfortable in his environment, Brayden began working at Giant Supermarket in Lewisburg as a front-end associate retrieving carts.

Brayden celebrated 30 days of employment in March, 2026. Working for his own money (being able to take his parents out for a dinner he paid for at his favorite restaurant) is an accomplishment Brayden takes great pride in. He enjoys being out and loves the opportunity to socialize with coworkers and customers alike. He says he particularly enjoys helping people load their groceries and saving them the walk back to the cart return.

Brayden isn’t sure this is the job he wants long-term, as he has concerns about inclement weather and having to maintain such an active pace, but he says it’s exactly where he wants to be for now. Brayden is pursuing his goals with a youthful spirit, learning new skills and things about himself. His job is helping him understand that changing what you’re chasing is okay. Growth happens all along the journey, not just at the end.