Chris Viau’s move to Hill Arboretum was reason to celebrate. After a doctor recommended the Rainbow apartment building, the 28-year-old Chris applied for residency but had to wait three long years for an apartment to become available. He was thrilled to move on from the nursing home in south suburban Chicago that he shared with very elderly, infirm neighbors. Unfortunately, until Hill Arboretum called, he was unable to find any other appropriate housing.

Chris grew up in Waukegan, where his father, mother and sister still live. He liked the family home of course, but it was his parents’ home, he says, not his. Now he can look forward to family visits to his place.

“I love having my own apartment,” says Chris. He has hired two part-time personal care attendants to help him with housekeeping and other tasks at various points throughout each day. Although he has cerebral palsy, Chris easily works and plays games on the computer in his apartment and hopes to work in Arboretum Business Center. The computer skills Chris learned while in the Waukegan Public School system will come in handy. He also works part-time for a Waukegan-based philanthropic association.

Chris arrived at Hill Arboretum in time for the last Breakfast Club, so he’s beginning to meet his Hill Arboretum neighbors. He plans to enjoy lots of movies on the DVD player he brought with him and the Cubs, Bulls and Bears on TV. Everything is finally looking up for Chris Viau.