On September 30th, during a visit to Washington D.C., Benjamin and his family attended an event at the White House. The event was to celebrate the U.S. Paralympic and Olympic Team members. During the ceremony, Benjamin and his dad Jeff, were able to find a place close to the stage where the President and others would speak to the crowd.

At one point, and unbeknownst to Benjamin’s mother and sister (who were in the back of the crowd), the president’s son Hunter walked up to Benjamin and Jeff and said, “Come meet dad!” Benjamin and Jeff were then escorted inside the White House where Benjamin met the president. Benjamin’s mother Karen sent the pictures to CLASS and everyone at CLASS and other CLA staff members who saw the pictures were very excited for Benjamin.

Most people are not able to meet the President of the United States, and all of us at Community Living Alternatives and especially CLASS Day Program are very happy and proud that one of our CLASS members was able to experience something that is very rare for most people. Benjamin’s mom Karen wants all of CLA to know that “We were all with Benjamin in spirit and he represented us well!” A White House staff member later told Benjamin’s sister, “I have two kids with disabilities, and caring for them is more than a full-time job. But I do it [her White House job] because I know how important your community and caregivers are to POTUS and this Administration. Our community has never had opportunities like these before, and I am so blessed to be able to help. Moments like these are why we serve.”