DPD Resident Is a 'Happy-Go-Lucky' Guy

Craig Smitheman has been described as a ham, and a kind and gentle person with a beautiful smile. He’s a 56-year-old Jefferson resident, living at Columbus House, one of the homes of the . According to its web site, the DPD “provides residential, vocational, spiritual, and social services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.”

And according to those who have known him the longest, Craig Smitheman is the poster child for the DPD.

“He’s such a wonderful guy,” said Cheryl Slate, the director of Columbus, Smitheman’s home. “He has an amazing sense of humor, he’s happy-go-lucky and he loves to joke around and tease people. He’s always fun to be around.”

This is part one of a three-part series spotlighting Craig Smitheman and the DPD. On Thursday we’ll look at Smitheman’s life at his job with the DPD. Friday we’ll take a look into his background and how he ended up at the DPD.

As a resident of Columbus, Smitheman, like his housemates, has responsibilities. All of the residents help out with cooking, cleaning up the kitchen, light dusting and keeping their individual rooms clean, to the best of their abilities.

The residents, including Smitheman, start their days at about 7 a.m.

“We like to let them get up on their own, when they are ready,” Slate said.

After breakfast, which comes from a menu chosen by the residents and their nutritionist, based on their needs, the residents go off to work. Some, including Smitheman, work at the Gruenert Center, an adult training center in Lake Hopatcong. The workday goes from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

After arriving home from work, the residents get some leisure time, watching television, listening to music, exercising or, in Smitheman’s case, working out jigsaw puzzles.

“Many things are difficult for our residents due to their lack of ambulation,” Slate said. “But we stress choice. Everyone can do what they want, according to their abilities.”