Lesley Megarry and her brother Johnny have lived in Burlington for more than 60 years. Johnny passed away in the fall of 2025. Lesley was his advocate for 35 years of his life and continues her advocacy for developmental disability in Johnny’s honour. She is the author of “Let’s Be Friends Who Haven’t Met Yet” and “Let Me Introduce You to My Brother.” Lesley is trying to increase awareness around developmental disability and encourage greater inclusion and appreciation for individuals who are developmentally disabled, people who may need help in creating their lives.
What do you need to create your life? Do you need purpose? Do you need to be around people? I do; I hope you do too. With purpose and people, we’re off to a pretty good start.
Do you need routine and supervision? I wouldn’t say I need routine, but I definitely function better with it. Supervision? When I was younger, for sure; as for now, no question, when I’m learning something new.
What did Johnny need to create his life?
At the start of his day, Johnny would tell me something like, “Guess what I’m doing today? After I do my laundry, I’m going to art class. I really like my teacher; she’s showing me something new. We always go on Thursdays. Mel is taking me.”
Did you see it? Purpose, People, Routine, and Supervision. Johnny didn’t put this day together on his own; he needed help.
Do you need help in creating your life, in putting a day together?
Think about it. Do you make plans with a friend? Decide where you’re going to meet, not worrying about how you’re going to get there or get home? How do you decide what to wear when you start your day? Do you consider the weather? If it’s going to be a sunny day, perhaps you grab sunscreen and a hat because you’re going to be outside a lot?
Now, think about those who can’t put a day together on their own. And we all know that throughout life, nothing ever stays the same. It could be your friend cancelling the plans you made or perhaps, the day ends up being rainy. When life as we know it happens, Johnny also needed help in recreating his life.
These are very simple ways a day comes together and also how a day changes. And these have happened to Johnny. However, his days, and I believe others who are developmentally disabled, are far from simple.
What is simple? A “simple” day for you and me might be quite different from what a simple day means to someone else, especially for those who are developmentally disabled.
Many who are developmentally disabled need help in creating their life. What kind of help? This really is no different than you and I. Help depends on the interests, qualities, and abilities of the individual. It also depends on needs such as resources, programs, education, and organizations, to name a few. Considerations are housing, finances, cost, transportation, healthcare — once again, to name a few.
With Purpose, People, Routine, and Supervision, Johnny was off to a great start to each day; a day full of sharing smiles (so many smiles) with fist bumps, hugs, and a helping hand.
Do you see how easy it can be to help someone create his or her life? This is so important to understand and often is not.
If you’d like to continue the conversation about developmental disability, join Lesley on Saturday, November 7 from 11 a.m. to 12 at Burlington Public Library (BPL), Central Branch, on 2331 New Street. Register on the BPL website: Programs, Author Talks. Lesley will be sharing Johnny’s story, as well as her process in writing and self-publishing her books.
Through Burlington Local-News.ca, I am sharing a world that is part of our Burlington community, one that I may not have paid much attention to if not for my brother. I hope these conversations help you to think of people you may not have otherwise. It is a world full of compassion, kindness, love, and hope, no matter its many challenges. Johnny gave me the okay to share his story. I hope you follow this series of conversations, of which Johnny is very much a part. This is the fifth conversation in the series.
If you’re interested in purchasing Lesley’s book, it is available at Simply Gifted Burlington and Different Drummer Books, and on amazon.ca.
