Mom Sets Out To Help Disabled Son And Ends Up Helping A Community [The Buffalo News, N.Y.]

Jan. 08--Ben Muller probably didn't realize his quest to play soccer several years ago would turn into opportunities for him and other disabled young adults to live on their own.

Muller, who will be 27 Wednesday, (Jan. 11)was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which has produced challenges for him and his family.

"Twenty years ago, we envisioned that we would be caring for Ben for the rest of our lives," his mother, Christine Muller, said. "We did not envision he would be able to go to college."

But he did, graduating from Edinboro College in Meadville, Pa. He was among about 40 students using wheelchairs, and it was there he began playing wheelchair soccer.

Muller, recognizing all his mother has done for him before and after college, entered their story in an international contest for people who have made a difference.

The latest chapter in the Mullers' story started when Ben Muller came home from college to Elma and wanted to continue playing soccer. There were no teams in the area, so the Mullers started a league and then a nonprofit corporation that could provide the necessary insurance.

"When we started the foundation, our son had certain needs we felt were not being met," she said.

Today, the Independence Foundation not only sponsors a soccer league, it provides a broad range of support and assistance to children and people with physical disabilities so they can live independent, self-directed lives.

In addition to offering social activities and recreation, it operates three houses for 10 disabled young adults. The housing grew out of Muller's need for independence.

When he finished college, the options for living outside his home were a group home or a nursing home, his mother said.

"Those were not appropriate," she said.

Today, he is living in one of the homes in East Aurora, and he has thanked his mother in a big way. Without telling her, he nominated her for a Shire BRAVE award, an international contest sponsored by Shire, a global specialty bio-pharmaceutical company, seeking to recognize people acting with respect, courage, dedication, impact and patience. She was one of 10 selected from nearly 400 nominations to receive the top award of $10,000.

"The best part of the award is it all came about because my son thinks I'm doing something pretty amazing," she said.

Christine Muller has plans for the prize: continuing to help young adults with disabilities.

"We'll use it in the best way we can to help people," she said.

Through the years, she knew being a caregiver meant looking out for her son and fostering his sense of independence. For many young adults, living on their own is as frightening as it is exciting, she said.

"For the kids in the houses, some of them were very ready to be outside their parents' care and be adults on their own," she said.

Some have jobs, others do not. But they all choose what to do each day -- when they go to bed, what they eat.

"That's a huge blessing," Christine Muller said.

Those living in the houses are dependent on others for their care.

"Their lives are a challenge every day," she said. "We feel like we're making a difference, because they're able to have some control in a life."

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