My Experience at Chapel Haven Schleifer Center and How it Changed My Life
By CHSC REACH Graduate, Rudy V.
My name is Rudy and I am 34 years old. If someone asked me a few years ago whether I thought my life would completely change, I would probably have said no. For many years, I believed that this was how my life was going to be. But today, I know I was wrong.
Before I came to Chapel Haven Schleifer Center, I lived in Singapore for 32 years. I went to school off and on because the schools did not accept me. Life offered very few opportunities for me. Eventually, it shut down completely which led to the following things: no outings, no friends and no social activities.
Looking back, those years felt lonely for me. I had no friends, rarely went out except for dinners and never had a social life. I spent most of my days at home watching DVDs, playing with my electronics and playing video games.
Initially, these electronic activities kept me occupied but over time, they became repetitive, lonely and boring for me and I was very angry all the time. In doing so, I wasn’t living- I was only passing the time.
When my mother passed away, I moved in with my father. Losing her was one of the hardest and saddest experiences of my life and although my family supported me, I still felt isolated, lonely and depressed. I wanted something to change but I didn’t know what that change looked like.
In 2024, my family and Dr. Laurie Sperry told me about a place called Chapel Haven Schleifer Center. We talked about the possibility of joining the program, and after doing some research, I became curious and interested in joining. It sounded exciting but it was also frightening. Moving to another country and starting my life over again was something I had never imagined doing before.
In April 2024, I came to Chapel Haven for a trial week.
Before the trip, I felt nervous because I didn’t know anyone and wasn’t sure what to expect. In fact, I was so nervous I made a big fuss at the airport and did not want to get on the plane. But, once I arrived, something surprising happened to me. Instead of feeling like an outsider and an outcast, I found myself enjoying my experience at Chapel Haven. I met different kinds of people, took part in activities and for the first time in my life, I imagined seeing a different future for myself – living in a community, being with others like me and not feeling as if I am weird.
That one week changed everything in me.
The Decision That Changed Everything and the CHSC trial week
Several weeks later, I officially joined the REACH program for two years. The first few days were confusing because everything was new and I was far away from my family.
Starting anything new is never easy for anyone like me. But, it didn’t take long for me to realize that Chapel Haven was unlike anywhere I had lived before. It wasn’t just a school or a program- it was a community. I met a lot of people on campus who understood me, made lots of friends and together, we learned new things, laughed together and supported one another.
For the first time in many years, I felt that I truly belonged.
Looking back today, I realize that coming to Chapel Haven wasn’t simply moving from Singapore to Connecticut. It was the beginning of a completely new and different life. I love chapel Haven and I am so grateful to the school!
The return to Swimming – Winning Gold Medals—and Winning Back My Life
I started swimming when I was very young. I loved being in the water. I had a coach who taught me how to swim for 3 years and trained me in different styles, and I became quite good at it. However, my mother was overprotective because I was bullied and made fun of. She did not want me to go to school, I stopped swimming and gradually I avoided the pool, even though it was just downstairs from my apartment. As I became more engrossed in my DVDS and electronics, I completely forgot about swimming.
When I joined Chapel Haven, I told the staff that I used to be good at swimming and that I wanted to restart it. My weeks now include swimming classes, and I am enjoying being in the water again. My swim coach, Rayna is a very nice young lady who encouraged me to join Special Olympics Swimming competitions. Every year, Chapel Haven participates in Special Olympics, and I enjoy going to these swim meets. In the summer of 2025, I participated and won one gold and one silver medal. The following summer 2026, I participated again and swam the butterfly stroke, which is very difficult, but I did well and won another gold medal. I felt proud of my success, and I am very grateful to my family, Bill and Rayna for their support. At Chapel Haven, young adults like me can flourish by developing their passions and hobbies. If it wasn’t for Chapel Haven, I would never have started swimming again or won gold medals.
This taught me something important. Sometimes we think we have lost our talents or forgotten things we love to do. But often, they are still there, waiting for someone to help us discover them again.
That is what Chapel Haven did for me. They didn’t just teach me how to swim better. They helped me to rediscover a part of myself that I thought had disappeared.
If you are a young adult on the autism spectrum and you are wondering what your future could be like, my wish is that my story gives you hope. Maybe you have talents you haven’t used in years, or dreams that seem impossible right now. But, with the right support, patient teachers, good friends and people who believe in you, amazing things can happen.
In my case, my support coordinator, Bill, has been my friend, guide and mentor. He is fantastic.
Learning Independence (PAVE program 2025-2026)
One of the biggest surprises I learned when I joined Chapel Haven was discovering that it is much more than a school. It is a place that helps young autistic adults like me to prepare for real life.
The goal is not simply to learn in a classroom but to learn life skills needed to become independent, find a job, and keep a job. For someone like me, who had never worked before, this was both exciting and frightening.
As part of Chapel Haven’s REACH curriculum, I joined the PAVE Program, which is run by the
CareerAbility Department. Through PAVE, students receive hands-on work experience with the support and coaching they need to succeed.
During my first year, I volunteered once a week at the Burlington Coat Factory. It was the first workplace I had ever been part of. I learned how to restock shoes and helped keep the store organized. At first, I was very nervous. I had never had a job before and wasn’t sure whether I could do it.
But, week after week, my confidence grew. I enjoyed going to work, and I discovered that I was capable of much more than I had ever believed.
In my second year, I was ready for a much bigger challenge.
Through the PAVE Program, I became an intern at Café J, located inside the JCC of Greater New Haven.
Before Chapel Haven, I had never held a kitchen knife or even went to the kitchen at home. I never made a sandwich, or a smoothie or knew about steaming milk! I was afraid of anything hot! Everything in the café was new to me. And frightening!
Looking back now, it is hard to believe all I have done and, fortunately, I was never expected to do it alone. My support coordinator, Bill, together with the wonderful CareerAbility staff, patiently guided me through every task. My direct boss, Jeremiah, has been so kind and understanding; he broke each job into small steps, encouraged me whenever I became anxious, and believed in me even when I wasn’t sure of anything.
Little by little, I learned.
Today, I can prepare hot lattes, iced coffees, sandwiches, pizza bagels, and fruit for smoothies. Every drink I make and every order I complete reminds me of how far I have come.
Sometimes I stop and think: From where… to where?
Before I came to Chapel Haven, I had never worked a single day in my life. I never imagined that one day I would have a job, wear a work uniform, serve customers, and be trusted with real responsibilities.
Today, I do. And I am very proud.
Chapel Haven didn’t just teach me about how to work; it taught me how to be independent. That one lesson has changed how I see myself forever.