A Wish Come True: Kristy & Michael
By Heather Gibson, ISS Family Liaison
Every night at Cinderella’s Castle, Tinker Bell asks the crowd to close their eyes and “Wish Upon A Star”. It’s a magical moment, that encourages each of us to believe in our dreams. Kristy and Michael wished upon star long before their honeymoon in Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Their wish was to find true love. Once upon a time, nearly six years ago, is where their fairy tale begins
Michael met Kristy at Life’s WORC; a day habilitation program which helped them build and develop important skills required for independent living. Their friendship began in the lunch room. It was there that they initially got to know one another. When I asked about first impressions, they quickly responded. “He’s so smart.” “She’s smart too.” Fitting for a man who was given the nickname “The Luminator” as a child. This was the community’s way of saying Michael was both intelligent, happy and radiated light; traits that Kristy recognized immediately.
Kristy left Life’s WORC to begin work at Center for Family Support. It was during that time that she lost touch with Michael. However, the universe had bigger plans. It was the pandemic that allowed them to reconnect on Facebook. It wasn’t long before they were Face Timing and calling one another regularly. When it was finally safe to meet face to face, they went out for a Mexican lunch. Michael shared, “That lunch turned into dinner where we decided over Chinese food that we’d be boyfriend and girlfriend”.
It was in June of 2023, when Michael got down on one knee and asked Kristy to be his wife. They were out in Montauk at one of their favorite places.
Not only were these two love birds planning a wedding, but Kristy, who had been in SD services for many years, was also busy finalizing her last steps in an effort to transfer FI’s. She began a new journey with ISS in September of 2025. Michael just began his journey this month!
They were married on November 15th, 2025; surrounded by their biggest fans. Family is very important to both of them. They expressed gratitude for their beloved relationships with their Mom and Dad, their siblings, nephews, and other extended family and friends.
They have recently begun the process of hiring Com Hab Staff; supporting their desire to become more independent in their local community. They are learning how to use their SD budgets to work toward both their personal and shared goals. Kristy attends Crunch Fitness, where she works with a personal trainer, in an effort to better her personal health and wellbeing. They are excited for the cooking class they take together every Wednesday evening. Kristy shared, “I am the better cook. He is very good at prep, but I am better at putting it all together.” Michael added, “Hey! I am getting better, with Kristy’s help.”
A housing subsidy has allowed them to move into a shared apartment. They enjoy sharing the household responsibilities; taking turns doing the chores. “I did the dishes last night, so tonight it’s his turn, but we like to do all chores together.” While Michael is looking for a job, he has been able to contribute a bit financially by recycling cans. They enjoy doing this task together and Michael joked they always seem to find more cans when Kristy comes along.
Michael shared, “Moving in together was a very big adjustment. It can be emotional when we take things out on each other.” I asked how they navigated those moments of conflict. Kristy shared, “We walk and talk. We take it outside the house. The walk helps us both calm down and we talk through it.”
When it comes to things that irk them about the other person, Kristy laughed out loud, “Michael snores. He shot back, “And you can be too sensitive.” She looked at me and said, “He doesn’t get it Heather. women are different, right?”
When I asked them what a lazy Sunday would look like, they agreed, “If we had that opportunity, we probably wouldn’t get out of bed.” They went onto talk about their love for the TV show Full House, and Monday Night Raw. Kristy wasn’t always into wrestling, just as Michael didn’t always like sushi. These are examples of how their personal likes were eventually adapted by the other, due to their willingness to try new things together. They also have over 30,000 songs downloaded on their Spotify account. He likes Classic Rock, and Old Skool Hip Hop. She loves Country. They both agree they dislike Bubble Gum Pop and most current Pop Culture.
Michael and Kristy reflected back on the steps they took when they were deciding to get married. He shared, “You have to ask for her parent’s blessing and get a job.” She added, “You have to be kind to each other, and be respectful.”
They believe respect is shown through good manners and they commit daily to saying nice things to one another. And when they struggle with that goal, “The Luminator” and “The Luminator’s Wife”, take a walk.
As they walk and talk, and make their own path, they dream aloud about what lies ahead. They are creating a bucket list of adventures still to come. They hope their next fairy tale escape will lead them to the castles of Ireland.
There was just one final question.
“What truly makes you happy?”
They turned to one another, eyes soft with affection and broke into laughter.
“Michael makes me happy”
“Kristy makes me happy”
The Bridge Between: A Sibling’s Perspective on Relationships
By Michaela McElhatton
We can support those who desire to date by fostering autonomy, providing education, and creating safe opportunities, while also respecting and celebrating those who find fulfillment in other forms of connection.
My brother Liam has a best friend named Tara. They have been friends for over fifteen years, having met at an inclusive running club called Rolling Thunder. Over the years, they have shared countless experiences from attending prom together to going on vacations, to simply enjoying each other’s company. Their relationship is rooted in consistency, trust, and joy. Liam’s friendship with Tara has been a source of steady companionship. They have built a bond that reflects just how deep and meaningful friendship can be.
While their connection is not romantic, it is a powerful example of how relationships take many forms. For those who do wish to explore dating, it is important that we approach it with thoughtful support and intention.
Below is a link to a resource from “The Arc” that can help foster safe, empowered, and informed dating experiences:
The Elephant in the Room
Elephant in the Room is a training program to assist parents in having those difficult conversations about sex, dating, relationships, and puberty. https://www.arcsc.org/elephant
